Ted Leonsis, vice chairman and president of core service for America Online (AOL), is scheduled to speak at the Chairman's Luncheon of the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce Jan. 18.
Responsible for strategy development for the AOL division and all business and creative functions of the AOL brand and service, as vice chairman Leonsis also oversees efforts to capitalize on growth opportunities.
Previously — as president of AOL Interactive Properties Group — credited with originally positioning AOL as a media company, Leonsis was responsible for local Web-based properties and portals, the company's interactive music and ticketing initiatives and strategic development in key areas such as the AOL voice services platform — the AOL Interactive Properties Group managed several brands including AOL Instant Messenger.
Prior to joining AOL, Leonsis was founder and CEO of Redgate Communications Corporation, considered the first new-media marketing company — AOL acquired Redgate in late 1993.
Leonsis — author of four books and four magazines on the personal computer — has also worked with Apple Computer Company on the introduction of the Macintosh, with IBM on the PC launch, and with Wang on office automation.
For his work, Leonsis has received numerous business accolades including being named one of the "200 Global Leaders of Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum, one of the "Top 100 Marketing Executives" by Ad Age and one of the "Top 12 Entrepreneurs" by Inc. Magazine Entrepreneurs Program.
Outside of the computer world, Leonsis is a philanthropist and the majority owner of the area's National Hockey League (NHL) team the Washington Capitals as well as a minority share holder of the area's National Basketball Association (NBA) Washington Wizards and the Women's NBA Washington Mystics.
Leonsis is also has a minority share in the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., the USAir Arena in Landover, Md. and the Washington/Baltimore Ticketmaster franchise.
In addition he was a former mayor of Orchid, Fla. for five years and sits on numerous charity boards including Best Buddies and the Leonsis Family Foundation.
The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hyatt Dulles Hotel, 2300 Dulles Corner Blvd. in Herndon.
Lunch will be served starting at noon and a meeting of the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce membership will take place.
Reservations are due by Thursday, Jan. 13. Prepay online at the events page or www.herndondulleschamber.org or call 703-437-5556, ext. 100. Cost is $40.
<1b>—Brynn Grimley