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ERIC GRILLY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
VStar Entertainment Group, Minneapolis
HOMETOWN: Anchorage, Alaska
UNIVERSITY: UC Davis
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR JOB: (While working as president at Alli Sports at NBC Sports Group) I got a phone call from a headhunter when I was thinking about what was next for me, whether that was to continue on my career with NBC or do something else. The VStar opportunity just spoke to me in terms of challenges and the opportunity that we have with these assets.
MENTORS: My dad (Gerald) was quite instrumental in my executive development. I worked with him and he counseled me when I owned my own newspaper business. Ray Warren, who is executive vice president and chief revenue officer at NBC Sports Regional Networks, has become a great friend and mentor of mine.
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I hate confrontation. It’s the negative energy around it. I think it would surprise people because I’m very good at dealing with it. Sometimes I create it. But I always try to strive towards harmony.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU’VE ATTENDED: The Dew Tour in Breckenridge (Colo.) was a lot of fun.
(651) 766-2800
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BRANT BEENE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, Ala.
HOMETOWN: Thomasville, Ga.
UNIVERSITY: I began at Ole Miss and finished at the University of Georgia.
FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY: Writing commercial music for ads and films.
HOW YOU GOT YOUR JOB: A chance meeting with the board chairman at a grocery store. We had a mutual friend who was also on the board. That friend had known us separately for 30 years so I was quickly vetted as a possible successor to a 74-year-old executive director. That exec died nine months later and there was really no one in place other than me. I’ve been lucky that things have fallen in place.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Seeing the happiness on people’s faces when entering our historic theaters.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE YOUR JOB: Something music related.
MENTORS: My dad; Jeff Greene, Evergreene; and Danny Evans, ATTY, board chair.
WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP: An advertising creative.
IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR THE DAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO: Quail hunting.
SPORTS TEAMS: All things SEC (I played baseball at Ole Miss).
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I wrote a Top Ten Billboard song, recorded by Barbara Mandrell long ago.
FAVORITE LIVE EVENT YOU’VE ATTENDED: Seeing (but not hearing) the Beatles in Atlanta in the mid-60s.
(205) 776-1620
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CHRIS LOPEZ
VICE PRESIDENT
Ray Cammack Shows Inc., Laveen, Ariz.
HOMETOWN: Casa Grande, Ariz.
UNIVERSITY: University Anchorage, Alaska, for a short time.
HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB YOU HAVE NOW: I worked hard for it.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: Bringing safe, fun entertainment to all.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T IN YOUR JOB: Possibly politics.
MENTORS: Claire Morton and Guy and Charlene Leavitt.
IF YOU COULD ESCAPE FOR THE DAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO: Somewhere warm with a beach and no cell service.
SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I’m really not on my phone all the time.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED: You have two ears and one mouth, listen more than you speak. I’ve learned to do that more.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Donuts.
FAVORITE FAIR FOOD: Fresh-popped popcorn.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Invisibility.
(800) 678-9908