GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- General Manager, Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando
Benjamin McCarney was Born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University. He is a partner at Bridges & Bourbon, a molecular mixology bar in Pittsburgh, and a certified Sommelier. McCarney Joined the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, May 2023, his third Kessler property. He was the Director of Food and Beverage at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston and, most recently, General Manager of the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront. He also held senior leadership roles with the PGA TOUR, Concord Hospitality, and Gerber Group. McCarney has proven leadership skills focused on developing and empowering staff to achieve goals, along with a thorough understanding of the market trends. He is committed to ensuring guest satisfaction through efficient hotel operations.
With an unwavering passion for his local community, McCarney is proud to serve on the board for several organizations including Downtown Orlando Partnership, Orlando Economic Partnership, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. He also believes in the purpose of mentorship in youth, and is actively involved in volunteering by adapting a period of culinary class at Jones High School.
In his free time, McCarney enjoys exercising at F45 Training, playing golf, hiking, trying new restaurants, reading, and cheering for his favorite sports teams from Detroit.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Business Development
- Team Member
A native of Winter Springs, Florida, Brent Nelson began his career with GO Sports in 1995 after graduating from Florida State University with a B.A. in Marketing. Nelson served on the Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA) Board of Directors from 2018-2022, is a recent Past-President of the Point East Condominium Association Board, and is a member of SKAL International Orlando. Read Full Bio
A native of Winter Springs, Florida, Brent Nelson began his career with the Greater Orlando Sports Commission in 1995 after graduating from Florida State University with a B.A. in Marketing.
During his 27-plus years within the sports tourism industry, Nelson has been an active team member in the creation of a true regional partnership at the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. In his role as Senior Vice President of Business Development, he is charged with the attraction and retention of key relationships within the overall sports marketplace which has in return produced over 1,500 new events being staged in Greater Orlando sports venues and hotels. More importantly, this activity has created over $1 billion of new direct spending in Central Florida. He has also participated in the relocation of three major sports related businesses to Greater Orlando, which has helped to create a significant number of high wage jobs, and new public and private facilities for the region
Nelson previously served on the Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA) Board of Directors from 2018-2022, is a recent Past-President of the Point East Condominium Association Board, and is a member of Skal International Orlando. He also volunteered on the Connect Sports Marketplace Advisory Board in 2014 and 2015 and was a member of the Tourism Orlando Leadership Program Class of 2012. Nelson's charitable contributions within the Greater Orlando community include his past involvement with New Hope for Kids and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Born and raised in Orlando, Carter Gravitte began his career at GO Sports in 2024 following his graduation from the University of North Florida with a bachelor's degree in communications. While earning his degree at UNF, Carter interned for Special Olympics Florida, where he continued his passion for volunteering and helping others. Prior to working with Special Olympics, Carter interned with the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp where he learned everything from sales and prospecting to being a promotional mascot. Carter is a proud member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and continues to look for new ways to serve his community and the city he loves.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President of Corporate Partnerships
Chase Skylar DeMayo was born and raised in Central Florida. Upon graduating from Winter Springs High School, he joined the United States Air Force as a SERE Instructor. After sustaining injuries, Chase was sent to Fort Meade, MD, headquarters of the NSA to attend the Defense Information School and became a Public Affairs Officer at Langley AFB. Chase was retired due to his injuries, and returned to Orlando in 2016. He held roles with iHeartMedia Orlando and the XFL's Orlando Guardians before being hired by GO Sports as a Project Coordinator for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, which led to his full-time role.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Seminole State College
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Manager of Business Development & Events
A native of Scottsdale, Arizona, Elizabeth Caldarelli joined GO Sports in 2022 after graduating from Troy University with a Masters in Sport Management. While earning her degree at Troy, she interned in Recruiting and Operations with the Football Program, contributing to 'junior days,' spring practices, sourcing and procuring products and supplies for events, and establishing budgets. She was also a member of the Troy Women's Golf Team from 2020-2022. Prior to attending Troy, Elizabeth graduated with a BS in Sport Management from Texas A&M University in 2020, where she was a member of the Women's Golf Team as well as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Gary Cohen is from Chicago and started working with GO Sports in 2014. When not spending time with his wife, Jill, and daughters Monica and Valleri, he serves as the Treasurer at The Lifeboat Project (2012-present). Cohen graduated with an M.S. in Accounting from Appalachian State University, and previously served as Treasurer for the Wekiva Wildlife Trust (2004-2009). Read Full Bio
Gary Cohen has experienced 40 years of achievement and accomplishments in financial management and strategic planning. He is currently in his eighth year as CFO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) after serving the previous five years as GaryCohenRunning founder & President/CEO.
Under his financial leadership, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission serves one of the largest sports tourism regions in the country and reports to the City of Orlando and Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. Additionally, GO Sports is following required reporting to event partners including the NCAA, Florida Sports Foundation, FHSAA, American Athletic Conference and the University of Central Florida.
Cohen's tenure at GO Sports is a part-time role as he serves many clients in central Florida as a Principal with Nperspective CFO and Strategic Services. During his nine years with Nperspective his clients are broad-based and include the areas of health care, manufacturing, nonprofit, appliance sales, technology start-up, roofing and siding contractor, furniture sales, distribution and aircraft services. Serving Florida from offices in Orlando, Tampa and south Florida, Nperspective is the leading CFO and Strategic services firm in Florida.
Cohen served as CFO of Florida Citrus Sports from 2005-2007 and as CFO of Florida Eye Clinic and Laser Center from 1993-2005. Prior financial experience from 1985-1993, includes serving as Corporate Controller for Signature Flight Support, Regional Controller for Canteen of Florida and Director of Finance for the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors' Bureau (OOCCVB).
Before joining OOCCVB, Cohen spent four years in public accounting with then ‘Big Eight' firms of Ernst and Whinney in Roanoke, Virginia and Coopers and Lybrand in Orlando, Florida.
Cohen has served since 2012 as Treasurer of The Lifeboat Project, a central Florida nonprofit which battles human trafficking. Along with his firm, Nperspective, he is one of the founders of CEO Leadership Forums. From 2010 to 2019 he served on the Finance Committee of Maitland Presbyterian Church. From 2004 to 2009 he was Treasurer of the Wekiva Wilderness Trust.
Born in Chicago and raised in Wisconsin and Miami, Gary attended Appalachian State University on a scholarship for cross country/track and field where he was a Southern Conference Champion in indoor track and Outstanding Athlete in cross country. Gary's passion for running and fitness has extended to the present day as he has run over 120,000 lifetime miles and fifty marathons. His GaryCohenRunning (GCR) website was recognized by the Track and Field Writers of America in 2017 with the Alan Jacobs Award for excellence in online journalism. A highlight of GCR are the over 160 monthly interviews with Olympic Champions, major marathon winners, NCAA Championship Coaches and Olympians. In 2008, Gary published ‘All in a Day's Run,' a collection of seventy-five essays on various topics of running and fitness.
Gary and his wife Jill, founder and CEO of The Lifeboat Project, reside in Apopka, FL. Their daughters Monica (36) and Valleri (34) reside in Maitland and Sebastian, respectively and are both educators. Gary and Jill enjoy spending time at the Disney World Parks, travelling and camping in their RV, playing cards and games, and chasing after their two dogs, Winston and Baxter, and several cats.
George Diaz is a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism. He worked at The Miami Herald and Cincinnati Post before joining The Orlando Sentinel sports department in 1989 to cover the Florida Gators. He covered a wide range of sports including eight Olympics, a half dozen Super Bowls, numerous world championship boxing matches, and NBA Finals before leaving sports to join the Sentinel Editorial Board in July of 2006. He rejoined the Sentinel's sports department as a columnist in the spring of 2009 until November of 2018. He has since worked with Growing Bolder, a multi-media organization focused on older adults who have inspirational stories to share, and most recently, as a contributor with Orlando Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @georgediaz
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Jason Siegel has enjoyed more than 30 years of success and accomplishments in sports tourism, major and minor league professional sports, as well as intercollegiate athletics. He is currently in his seventh year as President & Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports!). Read Full Bio
Jennifer Lastik began working for GO Sports in 2007 and hails from Pittsburgh, PA. After graduating from Slippery Rock University with a B.S. in Sport Management, she went on to West Virginia University where she earned an M.S. in Sport Management. Lastik currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Orlando Partnership and the Greater Orlando chapter of WISE (Women in Sports & Events), and was a member of the ATHENA NextGen Class of 2016 and Leadership Orlando Class 96. She was named to Orlando Business Journal's Forty Under 40 in 2014 and 2018 and was a 2021 Orlando Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree. She was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Slippery Rock University Sport Management Hall of Fame and is a graduate of the WISE Executive Leadership Institute. Read Full Bio
Jennifer Lastik joined the Greater Orlando Sports Commission in February of 2007 as the Orange County Sports Marketing Manager and currently serves as Executive Vice President.
In this role, Lastik oversees event logistics for a four-county region while managing business operations, the state grant program, budgets and contracts. She co-authored Orlando's FIFA World Cup Bid, and is playing a key role leading the charge for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon. In addition, she has managed local organizing committees for the NCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship, Copa America Centenario, WrestleMania 33 and MLS All-Star Game.
Prior to joining GO Sports, Lastik served as an Event Manager for Global Spectrum at the UCF Arena. She managed events including concerts, varsity athletes, family shows and university graduations. Before Global Spectrum, she spent a year with Disney Sports on the 3 rd Party Sales and Events team. In this role, Lastik assisted programing and executing events at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.
Lastik is from Pittsburgh and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management at Slippery Rock University and a Master's degree in Sport Management from West Virginia University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Orlando Partnership and Greater Orlando chapter of WISE (Women in Sports & Events), and is a member of Leadership Orlando Class of '96 and ATHENA NextGen Class of 2016. Lastik was named to Orlando Business Journal's Forty under 40 class in 2014 and 2018 and was a 2021 Orlando Business Journal 'Women Who Mean Business' Honoree. She was inducted into the inaugural class of Slippery Rock University's Sport Management Hall of Fame and is a graduate of the WISE Executive Leadership Institute.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Associate Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Special Events
- Senior Director of Marketing, Communications & Special Events
Kyle Sturley graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Psychology, and went on to receive her M.S. Ed. in Sport Management from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. After interning at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex followed by three years with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), she joined GO Sports in November of 2013. Sturley currently serves as Chairman of the Downtown Arts District Board of Directors and also serves on the board for WISE (Women in Sports & Events) Greater Orlando. Read Full Bio
Kyle Sturley joined the Greater Orlando Sports Commission in November of 2013 as Special Events Manager and currently serves as Senior Director of Marketing, Communications & Special Events.
In this role, Sturley is responsible for management and oversight of marquee events hosted or co-hosted by GO Sports, as well as marketing, communications and public relations for the organization as a whole.
Prior to joining GO Sports, Sturley served as Director of Championships and Special Events with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). In that role, she was responsible for a number of conference and NCAA championships each year, including those hosted at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. She also assisted with corporate partnerships and coordination of MAAC basketball broadcasts on ESPN, the development of in-season championship policies, oversight of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, and organized the annual league meetings each summer. Before the MAAC, Sturley worked on the 3rd Party Sales & Events team at Disney Sports.
Sturley currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Arts District and is Vice Chair of the Marketing & Communications Committee for the Greater Orlando chapter of WISE (Women in Sports & Events).
She continues to stay active in college athletics, freelancing on events such as ESPN's Orlando Invitational, Inspirus Sports London Basketball Classic, the MAAC/ASUN Challenge and more. She worked the NCAA Men's Final Four in 2015 and 2016, and has freelanced as a part-time research assistant with SportsImpacts since 2011, collecting data and providing analysis on the economic impact of events around the county, including Super Bowl XLV and Super Bowl 50.
Born in Atlanta and raised in East Lansing, Michigan, Sturley is an avid traveler and photographer. She received her bachelors in psychology from Michigan State University in 2005 and her master's in sport management from Old Dominion University in 2011.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President of Events, Operations & Business Development
Lindsey McBride is an Orlando native, and attended the University of Florida where she earned her B.S. in Sport Management. Having previously worked for GO Sports in 2005, McBride returned to begin her new role in 2016. She recently served two years as Chair of the Membership Committee for the Greater Orlando chapter of WISE (Women in Sports & Events).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission
Michael D. Kalinich joined the GO Sports team as Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships in November 2018, where he is responsible for developing and managing the commission's network of corporate partners. Prior to joining GO Sports, Kalinich enjoyed a successful 5-year career in the same capacity for the Orlando Solar Bears professional ice hockey team. Under his leadership, the team's corporate partnership sales tripled during his tenure. Read Full Bio
Michael Kalinich began working as Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission in November 2018, where his responsibility is to develop and manage the GO Sports corporate partnership network. He also currently serves on the Florida Collegiate Summer League Board of Directors.
Prior to joining GO Sports, Kalinich enjoyed a successful five year career in the same capacity for the Orlando Solar Bears professional ice hockey team. Under his leadership, the team's corporate partnership sales tripled during his tenure.
Kalinich and his family moved to Orlando in 2013 from Binghamton, New York where he flourished as Assistant Athletic Director of Corporate Partnership at Division-I Binghamton University. Like his accomplishment with the Orlando Solar Bears, Kalinich was able to triple corporate partnership revenues during his five years at Binghamton. He lists his fondest moment as traveling to watch the BU Bearcats men's basketball team take on the Duke Blue Devils during the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Prior to making the transition into sports, Kalinich owned and operated Sawtelle Travel Service - American Express. Under his direction the company grew and earned numerous prestigious honors including the American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award as one of the top-20 travel agencies in the country. The company was also recognized by the Press & Sun Bulletin as the region's premier travel agency for 11 consecutive years. Kalinich served on many local boards including the Binghamton Regional Airport, Broome County Arena and the Broome Sports Foundation. He proudly served as an advisory board member for American Express Travel as well as for Traveling Times, Inc. out of California.
Kalinich graduated from Susquehanna Valley High School and SUNY Broome Community College. He played numerous sports growing up including football, basketball and baseball and settled on ice hockey in college where he was named the Broome Hornets Most Improved Player during his final season. He furthered his education with a series of travel industry short-courses in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Kansas City, Phoenix and Los Angeles and eventually earned a degree as a Certified Travel Consultant from the Wellesley Institute in Massachusetts.
Without a doubt, Kalinich lists his family as his greatest accomplishment. He and his wife Mylene Serrano-Kalinich have been married for 23 years and have two sons, Michael (18) and Maxwell (15). The boys, like their dad, are avid sports fans and participate in school and travel baseball. Mylene is a Vice President Wealth Advisor at Regions Bank. The Kalinich family loves to travel and attend sporting events as often as possible.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Corporate Partnerships, Marketing & Events
Nolan McDonald is an Orlando native who received his B.S. in Sport Management as well as a Certificate in Spanish for the Professions from the University of Florida. During his time at UF, McDonald worked in athletics during in a variety of fields, including marketing, promotions, operations, and equipment. McDonald interned with GO Sports in 2019 and 2021, which led to his current full-time position.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Executive Board
- Hospital ( past Chair
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Member of the Executive Committee