Thunderbirds' Catalano wins 2024 NLL Executive of the Year Award
May 13, 2024
(HALIFAX, NS) May 13, 2024 – The National Lacrosse League announced today that Halifax Thunderbirds President and CEO John Catalano has been named the winner of the 2024 Executive of the Year Award.
"It is a privilege to receive this award," said Catalano. “It is a testament to our entire Thunderbirds family. It all starts at the top with Owner and General Manager Curt Styres, whose vision, support and belief in our front office staff has provided us an environment to succeed."
"I can't say enough about our front office staff, who have worked tirelessly to achieve our objectives. They have been an integral part of the team's success this season. A special thank you goes out to our players and coaches for always being willing to help support our business goals.”
"Lastly, we must thank the City of Halifax, whose support of our organization has been amazing. That is why we strive to improve every year and provide the most entertaining environment at every game.”
Catalano, a four-time finalist for the NLL’s Executive of the Year Award, most recently won the league’s highest honour following the shortened 2019-20 season for his efforts in bringing the Thunderbirds to Halifax.
Under John’s guidance, the Thunderbirds saw a 32-percent increase in ticket revenue this season. The franchise has also broken the previous record for single-game ticket revenue on three separate occasions this year.
Along with the increase in ticket sales, he has been instrumental in fostering three new season-ticket representatives to the top three spots across the league in revenue for first-year sales representatives.
"As an organization, we could not be more proud of John Catalano’s 2024 NLL Executive of the Year Award. Voted on by NLL team owners, it is such a testament to his unmatched dedication to the Halifax Thunderbirds, advancing the sport and fostering a culture of excellence with the Halifax fan base," Thunderbirds Owner and General Manager Curt Styres said. "Thank you to our fans for supporting the Thunderbirds to make John’s award a reality."
