Robert Rowell will speak to the membership on Saturday, June 30 at noon on career development as well as motivating and supervising employees.
He is currently in his fourth season as the Warriors president after being promoted to that position on June 8, 2003 by team owner Christopher Cohan. His responsibilities include directing all aspects of the clubs entire management team in its day-to-day business and basketball operations.
Rowell also represents the organization as a member of the NBA Board of Governors and serves as the teams NBA chief marketing officer. The 39-year-old native of Alton, Illinois is the youngest executive to occupy his position (President) in the NBA.
In each of Rowells first three years as president (2003-04, 2004-05 & 2005-06), the Warriors established all-time single-season franchise records in home attendance, surpassing a mark that was originally set four seasons ago when he served as the teams chief operating officer. The record-setting attendance figures, buoyed by an increased commitment to customer service and enhanced fan experience, have enabled the Warriors to register an overall increase in home attendance for six consecutive seasons -- making Golden State the only team in the NBA to see such an increase in each of the last six campaigns.
Rowell was also instrumental in the naming of Chris Mullin as executive vice president of basketball operations on April 22, 2004, solidifying the organization with strong leadership and direction in all facets of the business.
Prior to being promoted to his current position, Rowell served two seasons as the clubs chief operating officer, during which time he continued to serve as the catalyst in the Warriors steady resurgence in the Bay Area sports business community. He played a major role in the initial hiring of Mullin as a special assistant in the summer of 2002 and oversaw the renewed excitement of Warriors basketball, both locally and nationally, as the 2002-03 Warriors team finished with the most improved record in the NBA (+17 wins). That excitement allowed the Warriors to renew 92% of their season ticket holders for the 2003-04 campaign and the team ranked second in the NBA in new season tickets sold (trailing only the Cleveland Cavaliers).
Other business accomplishments under Rowells leadership include increasing ticket revenue each of the past five seasons, despite keeping tickets prices relatively the same for six consecutive years at one point (1998 2004). In fact, the Warriors team payroll doubled (roughly $26 million to $52 million) prior to initiating their last increase (from 1998 to 2004). Additionally, the club has doubled its season ticket holder base over the last six years. From a corporate sponsorship prospective, the Warriors have increased both their number of corporate partners and gross revenue each of the last five years.
The Warriors have also been one of the leagues most aggressive and successful teams from an e-commerce standpoint. In 2002-03, the Warriors website -- www.warriors.com -- produced a dramatic 200%-plus increase in revenue generated via the internet (ticket sales, merchandise, etc), the largest such increase in the league. In the summer of 2003, Rowell created the In The Paint program as a company-wide employee-based endeavor, designed to increase season ticket holder retention rates through impeccable customer service.
Prior to serving his tenure as COO, Rowell spent two seasons as the clubs vice president of business operations. In that role, Rowell spearheaded the creation of the marketing arm of the Warriors -- Great Time Out Entertainment (GTOE). The branding campaign, Its A Great Time Out, helped the Warriors earn the distinction of possessing the NBAs highest regular-season attendance increase mark (16.3%) during the 2000-01 season. Following that season he was named one of
Street & Smiths Sports Business Journals Forty Under 40 Award winners. The Forty Under 40 Awards, for which there were over 600 nominations, annually celebrates the achievements of the top 40 executives in sports under the age of 40.
Rowell initially joined the Warriors management team in August of 1995 as assistant controller. He also served as director of finance/controller for two seasons. His responsibilities included handling day-to-day business operations and fiscal management of the clubs renovated $110 million arena and $10 million practice facility.
Prior to joining the Warriors, Rowell worked for his alma mater Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the Intercollegiate Athletics Department for six years. He spent three years (1989-91) as business manager before being promoted to assistant athletics director in 1992, and an associate athletics director in 1994. During his tenure, Cal Poly moved from an NCAA Division II athletics program to NCAA Division I-AA status.
Born May 31, 1967, Rowell received his bachelors degree in broadcast journalism in 1989, and a masters degree in business administration in 1994. He currently serves on the boards of the Childrens Hospital of Oakland and the Omega Boys Club.