Posted on WorkInSports.com: 6/29/2007
By: Brandon McClung - SportsBusiness Journal
Dey stretches from the Hawaiian Islands to Long Island
Chris Dey is back in the sports industry in a role similar to that of a COO overlooking the sports properties of his father-in-law, Charles Wang. Dey and his wife have been working on the family’s real estate development company and other companies, and earlier this year he helped start a new video technology company, Hawaii IPTV. Dey has worked for the Hula Bowl, the now defunct Arena Football 2 Hawaiian Islanders and the Hawaii Sports Network.
Age: 40
New title: Senior vice president, sales, marketing and operations, New York Islanders (NHL), New York Dragons (AFL), Bridgeport (Conn.) Sound Tigers (AHL) and the Iceworks hockey facility
Previous title: Entrepreneur
First job: Working at Lou’s Bakery Deli in Sea Isle City, N.J.
College education: Bachelor of arts, sociology, University of Virginia (1989)
Resides: Hawaii and Long Island, with wife Kimberly and their children
Grew up: Long Valley, N.J.
Executive most admired: Ray Nagel, former executive director, Hula Bowl
Favorite vacation spot: Bora Bora
Last movies seen: “Cars,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”
Favorite movie: “Jerry Maguire”
Favorite musicians: Counting Crows
What will be the biggest challenge in your new position?
On the Islanders side, we have a team with a rich and proud tradition and we need to regain that sense of Long Island pride. Innovation is a big theme for us, starting at the top with Charles, so we need to be innovative and at the same time find a way to reach out to the various market segments that exist here on Long Island and find a way for them to participate in what we are doing.
What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?
When I stepped out to create my first company. I was working for Team Unlimited, and then in 1998 I went out on my own to create Hawaii Sports Network.
What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Coming into an organization of this size and stature and being able to provide some sound leadership.
What is your biggest professional disappointment?
When we were operating the Hawaiian Islanders, I was very proud of the organization and the work we were doing. We won the AF2 top marketing award two consecutive years, but we needed to close the team after the 2004 season. It was at no fault to the staff or the effort put forth by the organization. Hawaii just could not support the team from a corporate sponsorship standpoint at that time. I had a lot of good people that were working with me and we had a lot of loyal fans, but in order to make the team work financially, we needed a bigger corporate sponsor base.
This career spotlight is courtesy of the SportsBusiness Journal. CLICK HERE to visit their official website.
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