WILL PACKER

Minority Owner, Atlanta Falcons
Founder, Will Packer Productions

Will Packer, Founder and CEO of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media is one of Hollywood’s most prolific and commercially successful producers with a wide variety of projects on his slate. He can currently be found on The Hollywood Reporter’s illustrious Forces for Change list which draws attention to the heavyweights in Hollywood pushing for change. Most recently, Packer produced the critically acclaimed limited series “Fight Night” for Peacock, which launched on September 5, 2024. It was the most-watched premiere in Peacock history and the #1 drama through its first weekend.

On February 18, 2025, Packer released WHO BETTER THAN YOU? The Art of Healthy Arrogance and Dreaming Big. The memoir showcases his powerful and illuminating stories from the front lines of Hollywood.

Packer has produced or executive produced a wide range of movies grossing more than $1 billion worldwide at the box office, including “Girls Trip”, “Night School”, “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man," and “Straight Outta Compton.” Packer’s television, digital, and branded content company, Will Packer Media, produces episodic scripted and unscripted series across television, podcasts and digital platforms and compelling content for brand clients and short-form digital content.

In 2022, Packer made history as the first Black producer and producing team to preside over the Academy Awards, for which he received an Emmy nomination. On May 21, 2024, it was announced that Packer became one of four new limited partners to the Atlanta Falcons ownership group. He serves on the board of the Atlanta Hawks Foundation, is a longtime supporter of HBCU initiatives, and a magna cum laude graduate of Florida A&M University (FAMU).

CHRISTINA FRANCIS

President
Magic Johnson Enterprises

In January 2019, Christina Francis became the first female President of Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) where she is responsible for managing and directing the corporation’s day-to-day operations including strategy, business development and investments. She oversees the organizations ownership properties and prestigious partnerships including JLC Infrastructure, SodexoMagic, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Commanders, the Los Angeles Football Club, the Los Angeles Sparks and Team Liquid. Most recently, she added the Washington Spirit to Magic Johnson’s portfolio of teams. In 2024, Ms. Francis was awarded an Emmy for Co-Producer of Showtime Sports Program and holds the distinguished title of Executive Producer for, “They Call Me Magic,” the highest grossing docuseries per episode upon its release in April 2022 on AppleTV+. Francis joined the company in 2014 as the senior vice president of marketing and communications.

Prior to Magic Johnson Enterprises, Ms. Francis was the vice president of marketing & events for NFL PLAYERS INC., where she led the group’s extensive brand and event marketing initiatives, including innovative player promotions, special events, advertising, digital and broadcast media, and public relations. In this role Ms. Francis created the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which showcases collegiate talent to NFL scouts and has continued successfully since its inception.

Before joining NFL PLAYERS, INC. Ms. Francis served as chief marketing officer for the Orange Bowl Committee overseeing the Fedex Orange Bowl and BCS National Championship game.

In 2023 Ms. Francis was named a Sports Business Journal Game Changer and in 2022 Sports Illustrated on SI.com highlighted her as one of the “Top 100 Influential Women in Sports”. In 2019 she received the “Visionary Award” from C-Suite Quarterly and was named one of 500 most influential people in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Business Journal.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ms. Francis was valedictorian of her graduating class and received her BA from Xavier University, an MBA from the University of New Orleans, and was a Fellow for the Consortium in Graduate Study and Management at the University of Texas.

PAXTON BAKER

Minority Owner
Washington Nationals
Washington Old Glory

Paxton K. Baker is an American businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has served in the entertainment, music, sports and production industries for over 30 years.

Mr. Baker is a minority owner of the Washington Nationals Baseball club and currently serves as chairman of the Washington Nationals Founding Partners Group. He is also a governing Board Member of the Global Sports Summit, a private and exclusive gathering of global professional sports franchise owners and industry leaders. Mr. Baker has held ownership interest in both the Washington Kastles World Team Tennis League and Washington Spirit National Women’s Soccer League, with each team becoming reigning champions during his tenure.

For 16 years, Mr. Baker served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of CENTRIC (formerly BETJ), BET’s complementary network targeting the African American and multicultural adult. Baker was also President of BET Event Productions, which produced music festivals, award shows, TV specials and concerts throughout the world.

JONATHAN MARINER

Former Chief Financial Officer

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Jonathan Mariner is a private investor, entrepreneur, and independent board member with more than two decades of experience working at the highest levels in professional sports. Mr. Mariner is the Founder and President of TaxDay, LLC, a private software firm that developed and operates a mobile app to help track multi-state travel for tax residency. He also currently serves as a Senior Advisor in the Sports Advisory practice for Andalusian Private Capital and Advisory.

He previously served as Chief Administrative Officer and board member of Enjoy Technology, Inc., (Nasdaq: ENJY), a premium home delivery company founded by Ron Johnson, who pioneered the Apple Retail Stores under Steve Jobs. In 2019, he was appointed by The Walt Disney Company as the Interim Head of Regional Sports Networks for the Fox Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), where he was responsible for overseeing the independent operation of the RSNs, including all programming, distribution, sales, and operational functions until Disney successfully sold them to Sinclair Broadcasting.

In 2002, Mr. Mariner joined Major League Baseball, Office of the Commissioner, serving for over 14 years as Executive VP/CFO and, as Chief Investment Officer, where his responsibilities included overseeing the League’s accounting and treasury functions; League and team financial reporting; reviewing all franchise purchase and sale transactions; and providing quarterly updates at MLB Owners’ Meetings. His sports career also included a nine year stint as Executive VP/CFO of the Florida Marlins Baseball Club, where he also concurrently served as VP/CFO of the Florida Panthers Hockey Club.

He currently serves on the Boards of Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN); Rocket Mortgage (NYSE: RKT); Five9, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVN); Overtime Sports, Inc., and more. He also serves on the board of Little League Baseball International; and recently completed an eight year term as a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Sports.

Mr. Mariner has been a frequent public speaker on the topic of the business of professional sports, including participation in symposiums and sports conferences at Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, Wharton, Princeton, MIT’s Sloan School, NYU’s Stern School, Columbia, the Booth School at the University of Chicago, the Darden School at UVA, and more.

Mr. Mariner graduated from the UVA with a BS in accounting, received his MBA from Harvard Business School, and is a former CPA.

DAVE DASE

Global Co-Head of Sports Investment Banking
Goldman Sachs

Dave is head of the Southeast Region and global co-head of the Sports franchise in Investment Banking. Previously, he served as co-head of Workplace and Personal Wealth in Asset & Wealth Management.

Prior to moving to Atlanta, Dave served as co-head of Client Coverage for the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector and a member of the Investment Banking Division (IBD) Commitments Committee. He has worked in the firm's New York, Menlo Park, San Francisco and Los Angeles offices.

Dave serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. He has also served as a member of the Taskforce to Restore Georgia's Economy, a member of the Cornell University Council and an adjunct professor at Cornell.

Dave earned a BA in Economics from Cornell University, where he played varsity football and baseball, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

ASRAT ALEMU

Vice President

Project Level (Ariel Investments)

Asset management firm Ariel Investments recently launched Project Level, its dedicated women's sports fund. Asrat is responsible for sourcing and executing investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, and implementing portfolio management and value creation strategies. The fund is currently a leading investor in the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) newest expansion team in Denver.

Before joining Ariel, Asrat served as Chief of Staff of the Washington Commanders. During his tenure, the Commanders successfully transitioned to a new ownership group, renovated their stadium, onboarded new leadership, secured a stadium naming rights deal and helped pass a bill in Congress. Prior to the Commanders, Asrat worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company where he focused on growth and transformation strategies in the media, sports, retail and private equity industries. His contributions to McKinsey’s sports practice included analyzing Gen Z sports fan behavior and exploring the future of college sports. Born and raised in Ethiopia, Asrat earned a BS and an MS from Stanford University.

COLLEEN CRAIG

Owner

Atlanta Vibe Pro (Volleyball)

Colleen Craig is the founder and sole owner of the Atlanta Vibe pro volleyball team, a founding member of the Pro Volleyball Federation. In the league’s inaugural season in 2024, the Vibe finished with the league’s first ever Regular Season Championship title, just one of several firsts for the trailblazing franchise.

Craig is also the founder of Rally Sports Management (RSM). RSM invests in and operates various sports and sports-related properties. She has spent the last eight years specifically in the volleyball market, developing an understanding of the landscape and building relationships. She is CEO of Rally Volleyball, operating volleyball events, camps and clinics across the youth, collegiate and national levels.

Craig was a dual-sport Division-I athlete while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Cornell University, where she played both volleyball (middle hitter) and ran track. Postgrad, Craig received her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Currently, Craig serves on several boards including the First Point Volleyball Foundation - chaired by Men’s Olympic team coach John Speraw, who donated $1M to HBCU’s to grow the men’s game. She also serves on the Southern Region Volleyball Association Board (SRVA), Cornell Track Alumni Board, Cornell Volleyball Alumni Board, among others.