Jeanie Buss

From Hoopedia

Entering her eighth season as the Lakers Executive Vice President of Business Operations, Jeanie Buss is responsible for overseeing all of the Lakers business operations including relationships with the team's broadcast partners, FSN West, KCAL-TV and XTRA Radio. Working closely with Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, Vice President of Player Personnel Jim Buss and Assistant General Manager Ronnie Lester, Buss is also involved with the team's marketing, sponsorships and other business dealings.

Buss began her career at the age of 19 as general manager of World Team Tennis' Los Angeles Strings. While guiding the team to two league titles, she also created the Forum Tennis Challenge Series which became a regular part of the Great Western Forum calendar for years. Buss was responsible for bringing in players such as John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Steffi Graff, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and many other top professionals.

In 1993, Buss brought professional roller hockey to Los Angeles as the owner of the Los Angeles Blades. Her outstanding leadership and dedication earned her Executive of the Year honors by Roller Hockey International.

Prior to assuming her current position with the Lakers, Jeanie spent four years serving as the President of the Great Western Forum. Throughout her tenure with the Forum, Buss' involvement with the Lakers continued to increase and she has served as an Alternate Governor on the NBA Board of Governors since 1995.

Named by the Sporting News in April 2005 as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Women in Sports, Buss serves as a board member on the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games working to bring the Olympics back to Los Angeles. She also is a co-host of Basketball 101, a yearly event presented by the LA Sports and Entertainment Commission, a nonprofit organization which attracts events and attractions to Los Angeles.

Actively involved in the community, Buss serves as a spokesperson for the Sister to Sister Foundation, an annual event which promotes awareness for woman's heart health. Buss also works internally with the Lakers Youth Foundation to raise money for Southern California Youth charities.

Buss graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in business. She currently resides in Playa del Rey.