OUR ORLANDO PANEL
Listen and learn as these amazing WOMEN IN THE GAME discuss how the female gender and their specific roles affect the sports industry.
MEET OUR PANELISTS - THE ORLANDO LAUNCH - SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
Latria Leak
Mrs. Leak is employed with the NBA’s Orlando Magic as the Community Relations and Cause Marketing Manager.
In her role, Latria implements and manages all community relations, cause marketing, and player program initiatives that align with the company’s focus areas of education, health and wellness, arts, multi-cultural inclusion and the economically underserved.
These programs include, but are not limited to: Baskets for Books, NBA Cares, holiday outreach programs, Magic Volunteer Program (MVP), player initiatives and cause-related philanthropic programs. Leak also manages community leader relationships and currently serves on several boards including the City of Orlando Mayor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Art Education Center, Big Brother Big Sisters of Central Florida, Beta Center, University of Florida Black Alumni Association, UCF’s Multicultural Academic and Support Services Advisory Board (MASS), and the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) VIP Grant Committee. Latria is also a member of the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS). She is the former President of Central Florida’s National Association of Black Sports Professionals (NABSP).
Leak graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Telecommunication News and Sports Management Minor. She holds a Masters of Arts in Communication Management from Webster University and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She resides in Orlando with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Trinity Denise.
Tara Gibson
The University of Memphis women's basketball team added Tara Gibson as the program's video coordinator before the 2011-12 season. Gibson brings a wealth of basketball experience to the Tigers, having previously served as the video coordinator with the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League after an extensive coaching career with stops in high school, college and professional basketball.
A graduate of UCF, Gibson started her coaching career as an assistant coach at Daytona Beach Community College from 1997-2002. In 2002, she was named the first assistant coach at Seminole Community College. While at Seminole, she also doubled up as a Director of Scouting/Player Promotions with the Clark Sports Group.
In 2005, Gibson served as the assistant general manager of the Daytona Beach Hawgs in the NIFL, overseeing business operations and overseeing interns while handling sales, media relations and administrative duties. She moved back to the coaching side in August of 2005 when she was named the head coach at Seminole Community College. She spent one season at the head of the Seminole CC program before becoming the head coach at Warner Christian Academy in 2007.
She moved into NCAA athletics in August of 2009, serving as an academic advisor at Bethune-Cookman University. She left Bethune-Cookman to go to work for Nancy Lieberman at the Texas Legends as an assistant coach and video coordinator in October of 2010.
Gibson has also coached at a men's Italian League Backcourt camp in 2005 and has served as an independent pro scout and consultant for various players and teams for overseas basketball and football. She also coached at Tom Newell's Winning Ways Men's Pro Combine.
Wendy Conner
Wendy Connor is President of TRUE Marketing, an entertainment and sports marketing firm based in Orlando, Florida, specializing in Marketing and Public Relations Consulting, Graphic Design, Branding and Social Marketing Strategy, as well as Video Production.
TRUE Marketing clients include the Orlando Solar Bears, Major League Soccer Spring Training, Orlando Predators, Orlando Venues, Stonehenge Telecom and Tupperware as well as the national Broadway tours of DREAMGIRLS, SPRING AWAKENING, MY FAIR LADY and THE WIZARD OF OZ.
In addition, Wendy is the co-owner of two of Orlando's newest downtown event spaces, The Abbey and The MEZZ, located in Eola Square's Sanctuary building.
Wendy serves on the Downtown Development Board, Florida Theatrical Association Board of Directors (former Chairman) and formerly served as a board member for Downtown Orlando Partnership and Orlando ASPCA. She also serves on the Circle Council for DPAC and spearheaded the effort to bring "The Wall That Heals" Vietnam Memorial replica to Lake Eola in January 2012.
Tiffany Greene
Tiffany Greene is back to her first love! She is a Sports Reporter for Brighthouse Sports Network.
Tiffany is an avid sports fan and is truly passionate about reporting the Xs and Os, as well as sharing the stories beyond the score with the Central Florida & Tampa Bay communities.
Inspired by her own father, the first black anchor/reporter in Tampa and Tallahassee, Tiffany proudly followed in her father's footsteps. She knew as early as kindergarten that she wanted to be a TV reporter. The Tampa native attended Florida A&M University to study Broadcast Journalism as an NCAA Scholarship athlete, for bowling of all things! While attending college, Tiffany won the Hearst Award for Radio News Feature Reporting.
After graduation, Tiffany started her TV career as a Production Assistant/ Photographer at WB38 in Tampa. For the next three and a half years she would call Savannah, Georgia her home, covering both sports and general assignment reporting at WJCL/ FOX 28 and then at WTOC. Before joining the BHSN family, Tiffany was a reporter for Central Florida News 13 in Orlando.
Tiffany serves as a Board Member for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida (Universal Branch) and is an active member of the Greater Orlando FAMU Alumni Association. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, The Links, Inc. and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Danielle Pollard
Administrator Director
The Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative
Danielle Pollard serves as the Administrator Director of the Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative (PAFI). A multifaceted professional with experience in the sports and entertainment; telecommunications; food and beverage; hospitality; and non-profit sector, Danielle is a high-impact project leader. A former sales and marketing communications specialist for such companies as MCI, Verizon Business, and CarMax, Danielle knows how to build, brand, and market successfully.
As Administrator Director, Danielle leads the operations and communications of the organization. She manages the educational programs as well as the pro athlete and outreach events. Danielle also oversees production of PAFI’s publications, newsletters and magazine.
Danielle attributes her success to her undying drive, positive attitude, tremendous vision, and faith. In her spare time the Virginia native enjoys traveling, dancing, as well as spending time with her family and friends.
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