Coffee Break: Brad Seymour, president, Windy City Bulls
Q: Tell us about the company.
A: The Windy City Bulls are a new NBA Developmental League franchise owned and operated by the Chicago Bulls. The organization is the 22nd NBA D-League franchise and will begin play at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates in November 2016. The team will play a 50-game schedule, with 24 home games, 24 road games and 2 neutral site games.
Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in the next year?
A: We are making significant investments in all areas of our operation to ensure the successful launch and long-term growth of the franchise, including hiring full-time staff, designing and building out of the company's office space at Sears Centre Arena, and investing in community events that will continue to introduce the franchise to our neighbors.
Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?
A: The primary challenge will be our on-going efforts to educate the marketplace about the Windy City Bulls, including the level of play on the court and the overall entertainment experience that our guests can expect when attending a game next season. We have challenged ourselves to create and execute the high level of entertainment value that the Chicago Bulls game experience is well-known for in an affordable and family-friendly manner that will attract the basketball, and non-basketball fan alike.
Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?
A: The NBA Developmental League continues to grow at a rapid pace across the country as the NBA and its member teams place a tremendous amount of resources behind the enterprise. The NBADL has a broadcast agreement with ESPN, which will provide us the opportunity to air games on national television. There is also an incredible amount of cross-promotion that continues to occur between the D-League clubs and the NBA.
Q: If you had one tip to give to a rookie CEO, what would it be?
A: Surround yourself with talented people and trust them to do their jobs while providing guidance when needed.
Q: Do you have a business mantra?
A: I expect everyone to collaborate and help each other no matter how big or small the task at hand is, which not only helps from a teamwork perspective, but also provides opportunities for individuals to gain insight and exposure to different areas of the company. This helped me significantly early in my career.
Q: From a business outlook, who do you look up to?
A: I admire and study companies whose leadership believes in "we" not "I" and provide an environment that encourages employee ideas and input, traits that I strive to achieve every day.
Q: What is one interesting fact about you or your company that most people may not know?
A: More than 30 percent of players on NBA opening night rosters this past season had experience playing in the NBA Developmental League, a number that continues to grow each year.
Q: How do you spend your free time?
A: I am a big golf fan and an avid golfer, so I am looking forward to getting my game back in shape now that my schedule during the summer months will be much more conducive to playing regularly after working 21 years in Minor League Baseball.
Q: What book is on your nightstand?
A: "The Devil in the White City." I picked this up shortly after I moved to Chicago in late February.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: The numerous details that are involved in starting a new professional sports franchise - it is an incredible honor to be working with the Chicago Bulls front office staff and oversee the birth of the Windy City Bulls and a unique challenge as we work to integrate the organization into the local community and position ourselves, and our partners, for long-term growth.
Q: What was your first paying job?
A: My first job in high school was as the souvenir attendant for the San Jose Giants Minor League Baseball Club during my sophomore year. That summer was the genesis of my interest in seeking a way to earn a career in the business of professional sports.
Q: What is one funny thing that has happened to you in your career?
A: I broke my foot a few years ago when I stepped awkwardly on third base while pulling the tarp off the field after a rain delay - while not funny at the time, a few laughs were had after the fact as we re-lived my scramble to crawl off the tarp in an effort to not get rolled up inside it as the staff continued pulling it off the field.
Q: Somone to follow on Twitter?
A: @BensBiz - Ben Hill is a Minor League blogger who has his finger on the pulse of all of the creative ideas that teams develop.
- Kim Mikus
Brad Seymour
<b>President</b><b>Windy City Bulls</b>5333 Prairie Stone Parkway Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
Industry: Professional Basketball; Sports & Entertainment
Number of employees: 10 Full-Time
Website: www.Bulls.com/DLeague
Age: 40
Family information: Wife, Michelle; Son, Brandon (15); Daughter, Ashley (12)
Hometown: Morgan Hill, CA