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background producing Sunday morning worship services for a Cincinnati megachurch has proved particularly influential for Karen Forgus, the Reds’ senior vice president of business operations.
Karen Forgus
CINCINNATI REDS
“It was an especially important experience for me,” she said of her prior work with Horizon Community Church. “It really taught me about what it’s all about to take people on an emotional journey over the course of an hour. There were so many lessons that carried over to what we’re doing at the Reds and the journey we take people on at Great American Ball Park.”
Now an eight-year veteran with the club, Forgus was brought in by team owner Bob Castellini and his son and chief operating officer, Phil, specifically because she wasn’t working in the sports industry.
That meant she wouldn’t have preconceived notions about what she was getting into.
Also holding extensive experience in radio advertising sales, Forgus has helped reshape the Reds’ marketing, ticketing and game-operations strategies. Additionally, she is a key figure in an accelerating run of MLB jewel events and league-level initiatives happening in Cincinnati, including next year’s All-Star Game, two recent Civil Rights Games (2009 and 2010), and a recently opened MLB Urban Youth Academy.
“The Reds are such a powerful force in this community,” Forgus said. “There’s nothing more popular or [that] galvanizes the region in quite the same way, so it’s been amazing to be achieving things that will have real legacy impact.”
— Eric Fisher
