Kristen Rose
Published: March 11, 2010
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
Happy that ‘sports found her’
Kristen Rose said she didn’t dream of being in sports as a child. Rather, sports found her. As the first president of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, she said she’s happy things turned out this way. “I am thrilled to be here and to be a part of Mandalay Baseball Properties and affiliated with the most legendary brand in sports — the New York Yankees,” she said.
Rose began her career selling radio — then television — advertising after college. In 1992, she answered a call from the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves, where she spent the next 14 years overseeing suite sales and marketing. She also served on the board of the Association of Luxury Suite Directors, then co-founded a company, Executive League Group, before joining the SWB Yankees after the team conducted a national search for a president in late 2008.
As president, she oversees all day-to-day business operations of the team, including sponsorships, ticketing, suites, stadium operations, entertainment, front office staff and more. She said she handles virtually everything except for the players.
Rose believes everything comes down to building relationships. “Whether it is with clients, employees or peers, relationships are critical,” she said.
What has she learned from being in a male-dominated industry? “You can be the only woman in the room, and still be true to yourself and find success,” she said. She said she has been fortunate in receiving a great deal of help and support — beginning with her family.
“I was raised believing I could do anything. My parents are still my biggest cheerleaders, followed by my 15-year-old daughter, Taylor, who wants to be just like me. That’s the greatest compliment,” she said.
She has also had the support of her brother, who now lives in Australia with his family; her superiors; several clients and CEOs (some of Fortune 500 companies) and a variety of colleagues and good friends.
Her words of wisdom for young women are: Believe in yourself, give it your best every day and the rest will take care of itself.
In her spare time, Rose loves to travel, downhill ski, read and “do anything that involves spending time with my daughter.”
