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Curt Styres - Owner/GM
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John Catalano - President & CEO
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Tracy Johnson - Vice President Team Operations
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Email: [email protected]
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Avery Light - Vice President Marketing and Corporate Partnerships
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Email: [email protected]
University/degree: St. John Fisher College. BS, Sports Management and Marketing.
Sports idol(s) as a youth: Pat Summit, Candace Parker
What you love most about working for the Thunderbirds: Working as a team. Everday is different filled with new and exciting challenges that we have to tackle together.
As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Zoologist
First job/your age: Youth commision basketball referree/ 13
Favorite Quote: "Who you are is defined by what you're willing to struggle for" Mark Manson
Proudest professional accomplishment: Having an integral role in building a franchise from the ground floor.
Sports played growing up: Basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.
Favourite music artists: Volbeat, Metallica, The Killers, Queen, Maren Morris
Favourite show(s): The Office, Rick and Morty
Favourite author: Mark Manson
Favourite sports teams: Buffalo Bills, Detroit Pistons
What or who are you a closet fan of: Coldplay
If you could have any super power what would you choose? Psychokinesis
Favorite vacation spot: Buena Vista, Colorado
Who was your role model/who motivated you: My parents and my aunt
Celebrity look alike? Becca Tilley?
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Charlie Ragusa - Director of Business Development and Digital Media
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Email: [email protected]
Hometown: Rochester, NY
University/degree: St. John Fisher College, B.S. Sport Management, Communications/Journalism
Sports idol(s) as a youth: Paul Kariya, Martin Biron, David Ortiz
What you love most about working for the Thunderbirds: Working with an incredible staff and players
As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Firefighter
First job/your age: Dishwasher, 14
Favourite Quote: Be on your guard, stand firm in the Faith. Be men of courage. Be Strong.
Proudest professional accomplishment: Being apart of a Three-Peat NLL Championship run (2012-2014)
Favourite charities/charitable causes: Veterans Outreach Center, VETS Canada
Sports played growing up: Baseball, Hockey, Lacrosse
Favourite music artists: Avicii, Kygo, Queen, AC/DC
Favourite movie: Miracle
Favourite book or author: Vince Flynn (Mitch Rapp Novels)
Favourite sports teams: Buffalo Bills, Florida Gators
Favourite recreational activities/hobbies: Photoshopping, Men's League sports
What or who are you a closet fan of: Fifth Harmony (R.I.P)
If you could have any super power what would you choose? Fly
Favourite vacation spot: Cancun, Mexico
Who was your role model/who motivated you: My Grandparents
Celebrity look alike? Love child of Juni Cortez (Spy Kids) + Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean)
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Kyle Jackson - Director of Lacrosse Development & Promotions
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Email: [email protected]
Hometown: Sarnia, Ontario
University/year/degree: The University of Michigan/2016/Bachelor degree
Sports idol(s) as a youth: Doug Gilmore
What you love most about working for the Thunderbirds: Being able to work in the city that I can now call home
As a child, you dreamed of becoming: A Pro Lacrosse Player
First job/your age: Laying Pavers/13
Favourite Quote: “Failure is a prerequisite for great success. If you want to succeed faster, double your rate of failure.” – Brian Tracy
Proudest professional accomplishment: Being able to go to work with the greatest lacrosse players in the world & learning from them about what it takes to be a great husband, father and friend.
Favourite charities/charitable causes: Special Olympics
Sports played growing up: Badminton, Hockey, Lacrosse, Tennis, Track&Field, Volleyball, Basketball
Favourite music artists: Bryce Vine
Favourite movie: Mighty Ducks
Favourite book or author: Bob Probert
Favorite pro/college sports teams: The University of Michigan/Anaheim Ducks
Favorite recreational activities/hobbies: Tennis, Watching movies
What or who are you a closet fan of: My Parents
If you could have any super power what would you choose? Speed
Favorite vacation spot: St.Lucia
Who was your role model/who motivated you: My Parents -
Reilly Simmonds - Director, Ticket Operations
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Email - [email protected]
Hometown: Port Moody, British Columbia
University/degree: Brock University
Sports idol(s) as a youth: Joe Sakic
What you love most about working for the Thunderbirds: Getting the city excited about a new franchise and meeting people in a new city.
As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Professional Baseball Player
First job/your age: Ticket Taker at Vancouver Canadians Baseball – Age 15
Favourite Quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” Marianne Williamson
Proudest professional accomplishment: Accepting this job and moving to Halifax to help build a franchise
Favourite charities/charitable causes: Environmental Causes, Cleaning up the ocean
Sports played growing up: Baseball, Soccer, Volleyball
Favourite music artists: Thomas Rhett
Favourite movie: Blood Diamond
Favourite book or author: Harry Potter Series or Joyland by Stephen King
Favourite sports teams: Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Mariners
Favourite recreational activities/hobbies: Bouldering/ Climbing, Hiking
What or who are you a closet fan of: Demi Lovato
If you could have any super power what would you choose? Flight
Favourite vacation spot: Banff National Park
Who was your role model/who motivated you: Parents
Celebrity look alike? Michael Cera maybe?
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Tyson Geick - Communications Manager
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Email - [email protected]
University/degree: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology - Queens University. Master of Science in Broadcast Journalism - Quinnipiac University
Sports idol(s) as a youth: Mike Peca, Steve Yzerman
What you love most about working for the Thunderbirds: The city of Halifax and their passion for their home teams.
As a child, you dreamed of becoming: A sports broadcaster/professional general manager.
First job/your age: Stars Hockey Camp Counselor, 16.
Favourite Quote: "Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor." - Alexis Carrel.
Proudest professional accomplishment: Winning the Tom Borrelli Award as the NLL's Media Person of the Year in 2019.
Sports played growing up: Hockey & Lacrosse.
Favourite music artists: Queen, The Rolling Stones & Kendrick Lamar.
Favourite show(s): The Walking Dead, Friday Night Lights, Dateline NBC.
Favourite book or author: Mark Manson.
Favourite sports teams: Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Raptors.
What or who are you a closet fan of: The Bachelor (TV Show).
If you could have any superpower what would you choose? It wouldn't make sense to say anything but move at the speed of light (The Flash).
Favourite vacation spot: Japan. Anywhere in Japan.
Who was your role model/who motivated you: My Mom, Christina.
Celebrity look alike? Tom Hardy.
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Josh Mahar - Account Executive
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Email: [email protected]
Education: The Mount Saint Vincent University, 2021, Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing)
Sports idol as a kid: Steve Yzerman
As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Firefighter
First job/your age: Skate Patrol, Age 15
Sports played growing up: Lacrosse, Football
Favourite music artists: Morgan Wallen and Riley Green
Favourite movie: The Fast and the Furious
Favourite book: Offside: My Life Crossing the Line by Michael McKinley and Sean Avery
Favorite pro/college sports teams: Toronto Maple Leafs
What or who are you a closet fan of: Romantic Comedies
If you could have any super power what would you choose? Time Travel
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Piper Atwood - Account Executive
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Email: [email protected]
Hometown: Cole Harbour, NS
How long you have been dancing: Since I was 2
Favourite types of dance: Hip Hop and Contemporary
As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Being a backup dancer for Michael Jackson
First job/your age: teaching dance at age 16
Proudest professional accomplishment: Winning Senior Miss Titled Soloist Nova Scotia and dancing on broadway in NYC
Favourite charities/charitable causes: Canadian Cancer Society
Favourite music artists: Post Malone
Favourite movie: The Lion King
Favorite pro/college sports teams: Montreal Canadians
Favorite vacation spot: Italy
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Torrye Keen - Account Executive
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Email - [email protected]
Hometown: Halifax
University/degree: Honours degree in Psychology at Saint Mary's University
What you love most about working for the Thunderbirds: The connection to the community of Halifax.
First job/your age: Selling cosmetics at Shoppers Drug Mart. 16 years old.
Favourite Quote: "Fortune favors the bold"
Proudest professional accomplishment: Presenting my Thesis at The Annual Psychology Conference at Saint Mary's University, and contributing to an academic journal publication.
Favourite charities/charitable causes: Shelter Movers and Circles of Support.
Sports played growing up: Soccer and Volleyball
Favourite music artists: Red Hot Chillie Peppers and Lana Del Rey
Favourite movie: Columbiana and Pulp Fiction
Favourite book or author: Without Conscience by Dr. Hare
Favourite recreational activities/hobbies: Yoga and Meditation
If you could have any superpower what would you choose? Teleportation
Favourite vacation spot: Barbados
Who was your role model/who motivated you: Karen Horney- An influential neo-Freudian psychologist known for her take on feminine psychology.
