Jazz CEO GREG MILLER appeared on CBS' "UNDERCOVER BOSS" Friday night. Miller said, "When I took over, my primary concern was just perpetuating all of the values that had become part of our culture over the years. As a Mormon, I think the Mormon doctrine is consistent with the way we try to run this family business: Hard work, no short cuts; those are what make the Utah Jazz great." While preparing to go undercover and change his appearance, Miller said it was "going to be hard to disguise me for a couple of reasons: No. 1. I'm 6' 4'' (and) No. 2, I am the face of the Utah Jazz. I'm on TV a fair amount." Miller's alias was "Mark Scott, an auto repair shop owner from Preston, Idaho, competing to win a $250,000 dream job. The employees will think they're on a fake reality show that isn't 'Undercover Boss.'"
IT'S A DIRTY JOB, BUT...: Miller's first job with the Jazz was at Energy Solutions Arena in the Game Operations Dept. in the hopes "to learn things we can do better." Miller helped place the flooring down for an upcoming event without gloves, noting the wood sections "look like they got some miles on them." Miller: "I was actually getting frustrated by the number of things I saw that were not as efficient as they could have been." The next gig for Miller with the Jazz was as an "Interactive Team Member." Miller said it is "really important to me that the Utah Jazz fans have a great experience when they come to a game and that's why the Interactive Team is so important." Miller worked with Interactive Team member AMBER, who said they "go out into the crowd and we get people super-pumped up and excited to be at the game." Amber said Miller's first attempt at a "giveaway" was a "little rocky" with "not a whole lot of energy." Miller then tried to lead a section of fans in a "Go Jazz" cheer, but Miller told the camera he is "not one that normally seeks the limelight." Miller then practiced with the organization's acrobatic dunk team, with Miller noting his father "knew how important it is to make Jazz games unique and entertaining for the fans. We're famous for our mascot and dunk team." Miller said of the dunk team, "I'm surprised to learn that they really don’t have a point-of-contact in the Jazz organization and there's really not a lot of clarity on their budget either."
THE REVELATION: Miller's final role was working in the concession area, where he was paired with MANNY. Miller had trouble with the cash register with Manny noting the "line is getting longer, you need to go fast." Miller said, "Normally, when I come to a Jazz game I eat in one of the clubs down near the floor so I don’t have a lot of interaction with concessions." The final segment featured Miller revealing his true identity to the employees he worked with while undercover. Miller donated $10,000 to each of Dunk Team Leader MATT's children for their college educations, gave the dunk team a $25,000 budget and offered a suite for the dunk team's families to watch them perform during a game. Miller promoted DENNIS, a game operations staff member, to a supervisory role, paid off his large car loan and sent him and his family to Disneyworld. Dennis said, "I work for a good company." Miller gave Amber $30,000 to help with medical expenses her family has incurred and gave her $20,000 to "make life a little bit easier." Manny from concessions was invited to sit courtside after he graduated high school and was awarded a college scholarship ("Undercover Boss," CBS, 2/28).
