2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

has been the P.R. Chairman of the NFC Central
division and Chairman of the Public Relations
Special Projects Committee.
In 2002, Keenist was honored by the Detroit
Sports Broadcasters Association with the “Best
of the Best” award, which annually honors the top
sports public relations person in the Detroit media
market. In 2003, the Lions’ 2002 club seat ticket
commercial, produced by Keenist, was nominated
for an EMMY, a first for any Lions’ production.
Also among Keenist’s accomplishments, he
served as a member of Detroit’s Super Bowl XL
Communications Task Force Committee, and
played a key role in the organization’s public
relations efforts during several Super Bowl XL
related events.
Keenist holds a master’s degree in sports
administration from Ohio University. He also
received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from
Ohio and was a recipient of a Sports Administration
Scholarship from the NFL in 1981. As sports editor
of The Ohio University Post in 1980, his sports
section was named the Best College Sports Section
in America by a national panel of sportswriters and
columnists, an honor for which he received a postgraduate
scholarship.
He then served a graduate internship at
Duke University where he worked in the athletic
department.
In 2004, Keenist, who was a member of the
school’s graduating class of 1976, was inducted
into the Elizabeth Forward High School Hall of
Fame in his hometown of Elizabeth, Pa.
In 2006, Keenist was awarded a medal of merit
by Ohio’s Alumni Association, which annually
honors alumni who have distinguished themselves
in their respective professions.
Among his philanthropic endeavors, Keenist is
on the Board of Directors of The Charlie Sanders
Foundation. Keenist worked closely with Sanders,
the Lions Hall of Fame tight end who passed away
this past July, to execute the Have a Heart, Save a
Life program that raises awareness and funding for
the detection of potentially serious heart conditions
in young athletes’ through free heart screenings.
Keenist is also on the Board of Directors for Team
Joseph, a local charity fighting Duchene Muscular
Dystrophy.
Keenist, 57, lives in Oxford with his wife Cindy
and their three children: sons, Billy and Christopher,
and daughter, Lindsay. He is a member of Oxford
High School’s Athletic Boosters and Oxford’s Turf
Committee. He also has served on the Oxford
School District’s Strategic Planning Committee,
and for seven years serving parts of three terms
on Oxford’s School Board.
Both sons, Billy and Christopher, played college
football at Adrian (Mich.) College. Billy is a teacher
and assistant football coach at Troy Athens High
School. Christopher is an assistant basketball
coach at Oxford High School.
ALLISON
MAKI
Senior Vice President,
Administration and Chief
Financial Officer
Years with Lions: 12
Allison Maki enters the 2015 season in her
new role as the Lions Senior Vice President,
Administration and Chief Financial Officer. Maki will
now oversee the finance group, human resources
and facility operations at the Lions Headquarters
and Training Facility in Allen Park, and will also
assist in the oversight and management of key
business partners. Maki will also maintain her role
as an officer for Detroit Lions Charities.
Maki begins her new role as one of only
eight female chief financial officers in the NFL,
joining Karen Murphy (Chicago), Kelly Flanagan
(Jacksonville), Christine Procops (New York Giants),
Jeanne M. Bonk (San Diego), Cipora Herman (San
Francisco), Karen Beckman (Seattle) and Jenneen
Kaufman (Tennessee).
In her previous role as the team’s Vice President
of Finance and Administration, Maki managed the
financial and human resources operations for the
Lions and Ford Field. She was also responsible for
the organization’s treasury functions and managing
all internal and external audits while working
closely with the NFL finance staff.
Before coming to the Lions in 2004, Maki spent
seven years at Ernst & Young LLP where she
excelled as an Assurance and Advisory Business
Services Manager, overseeing audits of public and
private companies. Maki also led the Employee
Benefit Plan audit group for the Detroit office.
DETROIT LIONS
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING