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273-304 hpc 9/26/06 7:40 AM Page 276front officeMichael T. LehrWorcester Sharks President - Sharks Minor Holdings PresidentMichael T. Lehr is the president and alternate governor of SharksMinor Holdings, LLC and the Worcester Sharks. Lehr’s experienceand expertise are used to direct the day-to-day business operationsof the Sharks minor league operations, while serving as the directliaison to the Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment ownership group.He’s the day-to-day representative on the American HockeyLeague’s Board of Governors.It was through his due diligence and intuition that the Worcester Sharks came intoexistence on Jan. 9, 2006. Lehr immediately knew the possibilities of the Worcestermarket and the city’s passion for hockey. He worked extremely hard to form a mutuallybeneficial partnership with the DCU Center and city leaders to return the AHL toWorcester. Lehr knew that pacts as strong as the current one between the team, cityand building are what make successful franchises at all levels of sport. His close workingrelationship with AHL President David Andrews and the AHL Board of Governors ledto the unanimous approval of the franchise for the 2006-07 season.His mission is threefold: 1) to help the Sharks develop their young talent to play in theNHL, while winning both the Stanley and Calder Cups; 2) make the Worcester Sharks asuccessful member of the business community as a stand-alone business; and 3) integratethe Sharks into the fabric of the Worcester community.Before joining Sharks Minor Holdings, Lehr successfully worked in Major LeagueBaseball and for regional sports networks. He served as the regional director of programmingand network operations for SportsChannel Ohio in Cleveland and Cincinnatifrom 1991-93. Under his direction, SportsChannel captured its first local Emmy Awardfor “Outstanding Sports Coverage” of Cleveland Indians baseball. He also spent time inmanagement roles with Prime Cable of Chicago and Westinghouse Broadcasting, Inc.In 1993, Lehr became director of broadcasting for the Indians. During his tenure withthe Indians, he oversaw the creation of the Indians Radio Network, negotiated broadcastingcontracts and successfully engineered the formation of ballpark entertainmentat Jacobs Field.In 1996, he joined the Baltimore Orioles as vice president of marketing and broadcasting.With the Orioles, Lehr was responsible for overseeing many facets of the organization— including marketing, broadcasting, advertising, corporate partnerships, luxurysuite sales, retail operations, on-line ventures, ballpark entertainment, publishing,fantasy camps, spring training operations, promotions and ticket sales. Under his leadership,the Orioles more than doubled their corporate sponsorship and broadcastingrevenues while setting a franchise high in ticket sales. He was a member of both themarketing and advertising committees for MLB.Immediately before joining Sharks Minor Holdings, he served as managing partnerand co-founder of Power Plant Studios, a full-service marketing, management andcommunications group whose clients included baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.Lehr’s commitment to the community has followed him in each city he has lived. Hehas been active for such charity groups as Big & Little Brothers, Cleveland IndiansCharities, Orioles Foundation, American Lung Association, Grant-A-Wish, YMCA,Special Olympics, Cleveland Sports Commission and several other youth sports organizations.Lehr graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1984 with a bachelor of artsdegree in communications and political science.David DanielsVice President of Sales and MarketingDavid Daniels joined the Worcester Sharks as their vice presidentof sales and marketing on Feb. 9, 2006. Daniels will oversee theSharks marketing, promotions, corporate sales and ticketing.Before joining the Sharks, Daniels served as the director of salesand marketing for Adelphia Communications. While at Adelphia, he276 sharksahl.com