Dream Hire Canalichio as CEO
ATLANTA, January 4, 2012 The Atlanta Dream today announced that Peter J. Canalichio has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Lisa M. Borders will join the Advisory Board.
Canalichio is the founder of Licensing Brands, and held leadership roles at Newell Rubbermaid, Tula Communications and Coca-Cola, specializing in branding and sports marketing across the Olympics, MLB, NHL, NASCAR and the FIFA World Cup. He earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and was an award-winning Naval aviator and instructor pilot.
Said Canalichio, The opportunity to help lead the Atlanta Dream to the next level of success is truly exciting and aligns with my experience of building brands and businesses. I look forward to working with the team to ensure that our growth continues.
Borders is the President of the Grady Health Foundation and the former President of the Atlanta City Council. She was CEO of LMB LLC, advising clients on community reinvestment, external affairs and communications. She held prior senior executive roles at Cousins Properties and in the healthcare industry. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Duke University and a Masters of Science in Health Administration from the University of Colorado.
Said Borders, As the Dream enters its fifth season, I am proud to join the Advisory Board to support this accomplished team, which is making sports history. The Dream is not only an important asset for Atlanta, but offers a tremendous athletic and entertainment experience.
Said Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler, co-owners and chairmen of the Atlanta Dream: We are thrilled to welcome Pete in this leadership capacity. His experience, enthusiasm and commitment will enable us to take the Dream to the next level. Lisa has been an integral part of the Dream since day one. We are honored to have her counsel as we continue to invest in building a world-class team, both on and off the court.
The Atlanta Dream tips off its fifth season in May at Philips Arena as part of the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA), the worlds longest-running womens professional sports league. The Dream is the defending two-time, back-to-back Eastern Conference Champion.