Sam Garvin

Sam Garvin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/news/garvin_bio.html|title=Sam Garvin Bio|website=NBA}} He was educated at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and German studies.{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|225067446}} |last1=Michalski |first1=Karen |title=FORTY UNDER 40 AWARDS: Samuel Garvin |journal=The Business Journal |volume=21 |issue=27 |date=30 March 2001 |pages=38 }} Later, he studied at the Thunderbird School and graduated in 1988.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/08/18/story2.html|title=Thunderbird School of Global Management grads look to franchise|website=Phoenix Business Journal}}

During Ronald Reagan's administration, Garvin worked as a staff assistant in the White House for the Presidential Commission of the German-American Tri-Centennial.{{cite book|editor-first=Julie|editor-last=Fie|title=2019–20 Phoenix Suns Media Guide|chapter=Ring of Honor|year=2019|publisher=Phoenix Suns|url=https://sunsdigital.com/pdf/2019-20%20Suns%20Media%20Guide-FL.pdf |page=10|access-date=October 30, 2023|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307234815/https://sunsdigital.com/pdf/2019-20%20Suns%20Media%20Guide-FL.pdf |url-status=live}} After working under Reagan's administration, Garvin then worked for Heinz as a sales merchandiser, where he learned the marketing of packaged goods from the ground up. In 1989, Garvin created the Continental Promotion Group, a mail-in rebate and consumer promotions company, in Scottsdale, Arizona and served as its CEO and chairman until the time he sold his shares off in 2005. Due to his work for the Continental Promotion Group, he was recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of Arizona's "Top 40 Under 40" most influential business leaders in 1998, was recognized by then-Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull with the "Governor’s Spirit of Success" award in 1999, and was twice nominated for Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" award.

In 2004, Garvin gave $60 million to the Thunderbird School of Global Management as a donation, with the school later being renamed after him from 2004 until 2007 as "Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management" before changing their name in 2007 as the "Thunderbird School of Global Management".{{cite news |last1=Korn |first1=Melissa |title=You give until it feels good… |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2d2569e4-18c4-11db-b02f-0000779e2340 |work=Financial Times |date=21 July 2006 }}{{cite news |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Della |title=A dash of Spanish verve in Arizona |url=https://www.ft.com/content/443638ee-6b86-11d9-94dc-00000e2511c8 |work=Financial Times |date=24 January 2005 }} However, only a portion of the pledge by Garvin was paid.{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Taylor |title=Inside Thunderbird B-school's chronic decline |url=https://fortune.com/2013/07/11/inside-thunderbird-b-schools-chronic-decline/ |work=Fortune |date=11 July 2013 }} Also in 2004, he acquired a stake in the Phoenix Suns NBA organization after Robert Sarver's group purchased the team from longtime associate and owner Jerry Colangelo. From 2007 until 2022, he's also served as an alternate governor of the team. Additionally, between 2004 and 2010, he was a member of Suns Charities Board.{{cite news |last1=Gonzales |first1=Angela |title=Jonah Shacknai launches foundation in honor of late son Max |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2012/06/07/jonah-shacknai-launches-foundation-in.html |work=Phoenix Business Journal |date=7 June 2012 }}{{cite news |last1=Ortega |first1=Josh |title=Footprint Steps Up |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2021/08/20/behind-the-deal-footprint-center.html |work=Phoenix Business Journal |date=20 August 2021 }}

On September 15, 2022, it was announced that Garvin would become the interim team governor of the Phoenix Suns, replacing Robert Sarver's position there for the majority of the 2022–23 NBA season. Previously, he has served as the vice-chairman of the Phoenix Suns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/11/05/daily32.html|title=NBA All-Star game announcement expected to confirm Phoenix location}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2014/09/27/phoenix-suns-owner-robert-sarver-applies-lessons-learned-years/16344759/|title=Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver applies lessons learned over 10 years|first=Paul|last=Coro|website=The Arizona Republic}} His first major move as acting team governor was promoting James Jones from general manager to president of basketball operations on November 20, 2022.{{cite press release |title=SUNS PROMOTE JAMES JONES TO PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS AND GENERAL MANAGER |url=https://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-promote-james-jones-to-president-of-basketball-operations-and-general-manager |publisher=Phoenix Suns |date=28 November 2022 }} He then approved of point guard Saben Lee (previously a part of the Suns' preseason team in that same season) signing multiple 10-day contracts on January 11 & 21, 2023,{{Cite web |title=OFFICIAL: Phoenix Suns sign Saben Lee to a 10-day contract. |url=https://twitter.com/suns/status/1613302208870912000 |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=Twitter |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Suns Sign Saben Lee To Second 10-Day Contract |url=https://twitter.com/geraldbourguet/status/1616848485034360835 |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=Twitter |language=en}} before signing him to a two-way contract and waiving Duane Washington Jr. on February 1, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Duane Rankin on Twitter: "#Suns re-sign Saben Lee to two-way, waive Duane Washington Jr., who was on a two-way deal." |url=https://twitter.com/DuaneRankin/status/1620931693740986369 |access-date=February 1, 2023 |website=Twitter}} In what became his final announcement as interim team governor, Garvin announced via e-mail that Suns team president and CEO Jason Rowley (who was with the team's front office since 2007 and held his positions in question since 2012, as well as previously held the general manager position for the Phoenix Mercury) resigned from his position with the team on February 6, 2023, after previously being considered safe for his position earlier in the season.{{cite news |last1=Holmes |first1=Baxter |title=Suns president, CEO Rowley resigns, sources say |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35603388/phoenix-suns-president-ceo-jason-rowley-resigns-sources-say |work=ESPN |date=6 February 2023 }}

On February 7, 2023, the ownership of Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury franchises were transferred to a group led by Mat Ishbia and his older brother Justin Ishbia,{{Cite web |date=2022-12-20 |title=Ishbia agrees to Suns purchase for record $4B |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35292815/sources-mat-ishbia-finalizing-suns-purchase-4-billion |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Holmes |first1=Baxter |last2=Wojnarowski |first2=Adrian |title=Sources: Suns purchase to be made official soon |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35523911/mat-ishbia-purchase-suns-mercury-official-soon |work=ESPN |date=25 January 2023 }}{{Cite web|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3487485/mat-ishbias-purchase-of-phoenix-suns-approved-nba-official/|title=Mat Ishbia's purchase of Phoenix Suns approved by NBA vote|first=Arizona|last=Sports|date=February 7, 2023|website=Arizona Sports}} with the minority ownership maintained by Sam Garvin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2023/02/07/report-nba-approves-mat-ishbia-as-new-owner-of-phoenix-suns/69879302007/|title=Official: Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia new majority owner of Phoenix Suns|website=The Arizona Republic}} He is also the current vice chairman and NBA alternate governor of the Phoenix Suns.

On July 1, 2023, the Spanish La Liga (Primera Division) team RCD Mallorca announced that American billionaire Sam Garvin, participating with Andy Kohlberg, increased their investment in RCD Mallorca and was elected to the Board of La Liga team RCD Mallorca.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-01 |title=Un multimillonario estadounidense se incorpora al accionariado y al consejo del Real Mallorca |url=https://www.ultimahora.es/deportes/real-mallorca/2023/07/01/1967793/quien-nuevo-consejero-del-real-mallorca-sam-garvin.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Ultima Hora |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Chacártegui |first=Miguel |date=2023-07-01 |title=El empresario estadounidense Sam Garvin sustituye a Robert Sarver en el consejo de administración del Real Mallorca |url=https://www.diariodemallorca.es/rcd-mallorca/2023/07/01/empresario-estadounidense-sam-garvin-sustituye-89350029.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Diario de Mallorca |language=es}} Previously, Sam Garvin played a significant role in facilitating the ownership transition of the Phoenix Suns basketball team from Robert Sarver to Mat Ishbia, while maintaining a minority ownership stake himself.{{Cite web |last=Lingeswaran |first=Susan |date=2023-06-20 |title=Kohlberg becomes majority shareholder of RCD Mallorca |url=https://www.sportcal.com/news/kohlberg-becomes-majority-shareholder-of-rcd-mallorca/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Sportcal |language=en-US}} Now, as a member of the Real Mallorca board, Garvin collaborates with Andy Kohlberg, former soccer player Graeme Le Saux, and Glenn Richard Carlson, who assumed the role following Steve Nash's appointment as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA.

In May 2024, Garvin acquired a partial ownership stake in Portland Thorns FC alongside other investors including Tim Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear and Nehal Raj, co-managing partner of TPG Capital.{{Cite web|url=https://www.koin.com/sports/oregon-billionaire-phoenix-suns-co-owner-among-new-portland-thorns-investors/|title=Oregon billionaire, Phoenix Suns co-owner among new Portland Thorns investors|date=May 23, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportico.com/business/finance/2024/portland-thorns-add-new-investors-1234780067/|title=NWSL's Thorns Add New Investors Months After $63M Takeover|first1=Asli Pelit,Eben|last1=Novy-Williams|first2=Asli|last2=Pelit|first3=Eben|last3=Novy-Williams|date=May 23, 2024}}

Subsequently, Garvin also joined the Board of Directors of the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40204400/phoenix-suns-co-owner-portland-thorns-ownership-group-investor|title=Suns co-owner among new Thorns investors|date=May 23, 2024|website=ESPN.com}}

• Governor's Spirit of Success (1999)
• Thunderbird School of Global Management was renamed after his contributions to the school. (2004–2007)

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Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:NBA executives

Category:Phoenix Suns executives

Category:Phoenix Suns owners

Category:Businesspeople from Pittsburgh

Category:Reagan administration personnel

Category:Thunderbird School of Global Management alumni

Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni