It takes time to make history.
Buffy Filippell has been a force of nature in fast forwarding proactive progress in the business of sports. We believe that she is more than worthy of being honored as a member of SBJ Champions: Pioneers and Innovators in Sports Business. We have been lucky enough to spend our lives working for teams, leagues, media organizations, professional tours, agencies, venues, governing bodies, startups, foundations, schools and conferences.
Buffy has devoted her career to building, innovating, nurturing, teaching and mentoring the sports industry’s most critical resource, its people. She is a Ph.D in personnel. Buffy is the “Joanie” Appleseed of planting and promoting the past, current and future generations of leaders in every sector of sports.
In 1987 TeamWork Consulting launched the first retained executive search firm dedicated to sports.
TeamWork created the first online recruiting tool for sports, which has placed over 100,000 candidates, many who are first-time sports job careerists.
Buffy was the first to customize the concept of sports career job fairs.
TeamWork was a beacon of diversity before glass ceilings and closed doors were shattered.
Buffy sprinted forward in the business of sports by navigating through the windshield rather than the rear view mirror decades before GPS, analytics, metrics or algorithms.
Her unparalleled intergalactic network of sports careerists never stops growing and paying dividends. Résumés be damned! Her heart, soul and institutional knowledge maximizes their passion, skill set, education, life-work balance, pay it forward, upward mobility, opportunity and increased bank balances.
When asked how he created the statue of David, Michelangelo replied: “I just chipped away all the pieces that weren’t David.” Buffy’s talented chisel has brought forth thousands of men and women who have made the world of sports a positive societal force.
The seeds of innovation planted by Buffy Filippell have matured into a powerful engine of institutions and individuals that are crafting the future leaders of the sports industry.
We sincerely appreciate you having Buffy Filippell join those who have revolutionized the business of sports.
With respect and TeamWork,
Randy Bernstein, President & CEO, Premier Partnerships; Ron Bremner, President, Gold Medal Consulting; Andrew Craig, CEO, The Craig Company; Andy Dolich, Dolich Consulting; Greg Jamison, CEO, Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center; Mike Hargrave, President, Discover Sports & Entertainment; Steve Hatchell, President & CEO, National Football Foundation; Len Komoroski, CEO, Cleveland Cavaliers; Tim Leiweke, CEO, Oak View Group; Tod Leiweke, CEO, NHL Seattle franchise; Doug Logan, Managing Member, Empressario; Leo McCullagh, CEO, McCullagh & Associates; Steve Miller, CEO, Agassi Graf Holdings; Bernie Mullin, Chairman, The Aspire Group; Steve Patterson, President, Pro Sports Consulting; Larry Scott, Commissioner, Pac-12; Jon Spoelstra, Partner, SRO Partners; Mike Stevens, Senior VP/CMO, New York Giants; Bill Sutton, CEO, Bill Sutton & Associates; Tom Wilson, President & CEO, Olympia Entertainment
