Tampa Sports Authority

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Tampa Sports Authority Administration

Executive Director
Henry Saavedra

Henry Saavedra was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. He is a graduate of Florida State University, with a B.S. in accounting, and received his M.B.A. from the University of Tampa.

Saavedra has been a practicing CPA for over 25 years. He has worked for the State Auditor General's Office, owned a private CPA practice, has been the Director of Finance for the Tampa Port Authority and is currently employed as the Executive Director for the Tampa Sports Authority, owners and managers of Raymond James Stadium®.

In January 2001, Raymond James Stadium was the site of Super Bowl XXXV. Saavedra served as the treasurer of Tampa's Super Bowl Task Force, for the highly acclaimed premier event.

Community and national involvement includes:

Stadiums Managers Association
Tampa Bay Sports Commission
Tampa Bay CVB
Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Tampa Chamber of Commerce

Director of Stadium Operations
Mickey Farrell

Mickey Farrell began working for the Tampa Sports Authority in 1987 as Assistant Director of Stadium Operations. He became the Director of Stadium Operations in 1992.

Farrell obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tampa in 1984 and Masters degree in Sports Administration in 1985, from St. Thomas University in Miami. He became the Event Coordinator/Facilities Manager at the University of Tampa in 1985, then moved into the position of Facilities Director at the University of Tampa in 1986.

Along with this position, Farrell has found time to teach at the University of Tampa as an adjunct professor in the Sports Administration program. In past years he has served as the treasurer for the Stadium Managers Association and Practice Site Committee Chair for the Outback Bowl Association. He served on the Super Bowl XXV Stadium Committee for the Super Bowl Task Force and served as Chairman of the Stadium Committee for Super Bowl XXXV. Other committees and associations are listed below.

Farrell is married to Valarie Denicola and has two children, son Kyle and daughter Kelly.

Community and national involvement includes:

Outback Bowl Association, Committee Chair
Stadium Managers' Association, past Treasurer
Florida Facilities Managers' Association, Member
Sports Turf Association, Member
Mayor's Alliance Advocacy Committee, Member
International Association of Assembly Managers Member
Adjunct professor of sports management at the University of Tampa

Director of Finance and Administration
Jeanette Baker

Jeanette Baker is a Florida licensed CPA with over 15 years of accounting experience. She is a proud graduate of Tampa's University of South Florida and received her M.B.A. from Baylor University in Texas.

She is also a retired military officer, having proudly served a combined total of 20 years of active and reserve time in the Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following a variety of active duty assignments in the United States and overseas, Baker entered the Reserves from her final active duty tour in Washington D.C. where she was assigned to the Joint Staff in the Pentagon.

Baker has worked for the Hillsborough County School District, and Humana HealthCare as Finance Director for the Tampa market. She also was in private practice, primarily consulting with hospitals and insurance groups on billing practices and Medicare regulations. Most recently, she worked in the social services sector and served as the Vice President of Finance for Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).

Baker is married to Lee Baker Sr. and is the proud parent of two sons Lee Jr. and Michael, both of whom are Eagle Scouts.

Community and national involvments include:

Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Government Finance Officers Association, Hillsborough Chapter
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Member Beta Gamma Sigma
Treasurer, Board of Directors, Abe Brown Ministries

Public Information Officer
Barbara Casey

Barbara Casey has served the Tampa Sports Authority as Director of Community Relations and Development since 1992. In this role she has assisted the Stadium and Authority in directing communications, programs and marketing. Her experience as Executive Director of the Super Bowl Task Force for Super Bowls XVIII and XXV was a great match for the Sports Authority and enabled the organization to continue to expand its development.

Prior to joining the TSA, Casey served as Director of Tourism for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and Director of Membership and Public Affairs for the Tampa Hillsborough Convention & Visitors Association.

Casey serves on numerous local committee boards, and obtained degrees from the University of Florida and the University of South Florida. She has two daughters.

Community and national involvments include:

Advisory board of the Women's Sports Foundation
Member of the Stadium Managers Association
United Way Committee
University of Tampa - Board of Counselors
Community Relations Roundtable
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Executive Sports Club Board Member
Habitat for Humanity