Atlanta Hawks

Since 2022, our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) Leads have built meaningful spaces where team members feel empowered to share their stories; building a community where identities are honored and interests explored, in a way that has remained true to the people that help our internal community thrive. We recently gathered to celebrate our 2024 – 2025 ERG Leads and the outstanding work that they have done. Through intentional programming, our Leads have amplified the voices of our team members, advocating for them on matters that are most important; provided health and wellness workshops to encourage better living; created mentorship programming to support team members across all career levels; and encouraged financial literacy in a way that was fun and impactful. Our ERGs continue to make a meaningful impact across our organization, highlighting how community, collaboration, and culture work together to strengthen our connections and deepen our commitment to being True to You and True to Atlanta. We would like to extend a special Hawks ‘thank you’ to our ERG Leads: Portia Benbow, Nick Darby, Kim R., Tia Washington, Quinton Stephens, Michael McLendon, Bryan Harris, Matt Carrillo, Jo-El Rowell and Rachael Starr; and Executive Sponsors Amy Phuong, Chris Holdsworth, Allie Chinsky, Caren M. Cook, Will Stephens, Amy S., and Geoffrey Stiles. This work could not be possible without our Support Team, Jonese Washington, MBA, Breanna Chisolm and Tai McDonald. Lastly, a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Camye Mackey, Alexis Roe and Amanda Battle for their unwavering support, leadership, and guidance. We appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to building a culture of belonging and inclusion for our team members. Please join us in congratulating our outstanding ERGs on another successful year!

Our very own Olivia Begalla represented our organization as a featured panelist during Atlanta Dream WNBA’s Women in Sports Night, where she shared insights on navigating and thriving in the sports and entertainment industry.   From mentorship and career pivots to building confidence in male-dominated spaces, Olivia brought valuable perspective to the conversation – highlighting the importance of visibility, community, and paving the way for the next generation of women in sports.

As an organization, our goal is to support the growth and development of our team members at every stage of their careers. Our Young Professionals Group ERG launched ‘Connections’, a group mentorship program with the goal of providing an informal environment that is welcoming of early career and experienced team members. The program is guided by monthly topics that help members build a diverse set of skills, navigate constructive feedback, set effective personal and professional goals, align their health and wellness with the demands of the sports and entertainment industry, and connect with team members across departments. Throughout the ‘Connections’ program, we took part in the following: ·  Personal Goal Setting – Janice F. Koon provided insight on how to align personal goals with professional advancement by setting strong attainable goals to help navigate the path between the present and the future. ·  Career Planning – Camye Mackey shared tips on how to design and own one’s career plan by setting a clear vision, assessing the skills needed and constantly working towards a career that is fulfilling. ·  Self-Advocacy Conversation – Melissa M. Proctor provided ERG and Connections members with insights and advice on how to show up authentically, harness the power of innovation, and understanding one’s place in the larger framework of workplace culture. ·  Mental Health Discussion – Our very own therapist, Kensa Gunter, PsyD, CMPC shared strategies, tips and resources for team members to live a well-balanced life.  ·  Physical Wellbeing Courtside Conversation – To drive home the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with our bodies and maintain good practices, Ben Peterson PhD, CSCS shared helpful practices for achieving personal physical wellbeing. Our ‘Connections’ members have shared that they feel more encouraged, equipped and empowered to continue advancing their careers. Connections would not be possible without the amazing partnership from our leadership team, engagement from our team members and vision from our ERG Lead, Matt Carrillo and Executive Sponsor, Will Stephens. We are so proud of what this program has accomplished in its first year and we look forward to what the future will bring.

Our commitment to expanding educational opportunities and fostering a diverse learning environment for our community is a part of what makes us proud to be True to Atlanta. We are uniquely positioned to support the future career aspirations of students within the Metro Atlanta area and this past season, we took advantage of this! Our very own team members served as visiting professors, providing students with in-class sessions, delivering insights on how to build a lasting career within the Sports and Entertainment space. Each session explored how students majoring in Sports & Entertainment can utilize their knowledge and capabilities to impact the industry and drive innovation across the retail, marketing and legal departments. ‘Thank you’ to our amazing team members, Alyssa A., Narcis Alikhani, Devan Carter Jr., and Michelle Leftwich for supporting these future leaders. We are also grateful for Markesha Henderson, Ed.D. and Clark Atlanta University for providing us with the opportunity to connect with their student body. We look forward to seeing them succeed!

Happy National Intern Day!   As we wrap up the celebration of our 2025 Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena interns from our HBCU Pathways Program presented by Georgia Power Company, today’s intern spotlights are Victoria Samedy, Zuri Taitt, Kampbell Mack and Ojochide Usman-Aguda. This summer, Victoria is interning with our Hawks Studios team, Zuri is interning with our Ticket Sales team, Kampbell is interning with our Brand Communications team, and Ojochide is interning with our Project Management Office team.   Please join us in celebrating these rising professionals!

We are thrilled to announce the return of our FIFTH Million Meal Pack! Join us Saturday, Sept. 27 as we partner with State Farm to assemble one million meals to fight food insecurity in Atlanta. 🍽️ Sign up now to volunteer: https://lnkd.in/gWZn9tN2

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Tom Cousins, a visionary builder of communities, unmatched philanthropist, and a former Hawks owner who had an enduring impact on the city’s sports landscape and the geographic footprint that now makes up our thriving Downtown Atlanta region. Developed by Cousins, the original home of the Hawks - the Omni Coliseum - shaped fans, memories and downtown for a quarter of a century. Mr. Cousins, along with former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, purchased and moved the Hawks from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1968, affirming Atlanta as a major metropolitan sports city and hub for the southeast. He was also a transformative leader in the community, whose many projects included the revitalization of Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. We are grateful for his legacy and the countless lives he impacted.

As we continue to celebrate our 2025 Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena interns from our NBA HBCU Fellowship Program, today’s intern spotlights are Juliana Hilton and Parker Duncan. This summer, Juliana is interning with our DEI and Internal Communications team and Parker is interning with our Guest Engagement team.   Please join us in celebrating these rising professionals!

This summer, we brought the game to life for more than 750 young athletes across Metro Atlanta through our 2025 Jr. Hawks Summer Camps presented by adidas. From full-court drills and guided yoga to leadership-building activities, campers aged eight to 15 sharpened their basketball skills while building confidence both on and off the court. A signature moment of the summer was our Lady Ballers Summer Hoop Fest powered by Google, where young female athletes engaged in elite basketball training alongside STEM education and empowerment activities. With surprise appearances from our Hawks players and alumni, along with generous scholarships from Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. - Attorneys at Law Score for Scholarships program, the camps created unforgettable experiences while helping remove barriers to play for hundreds of youth. Read the full recap: https://lnkd.in/e6DD4ANc