Sports

Item Description

(This is an opportunity to have a joint two hour meeting with Michael Cooper, LA Sparks Head Coach, Kristin Bernert, President of LA Sparks, and Penny Toler, GM of LA Sparks. This package includes the opportunity to see the LA Sparks in action at Staples Center.)

Kristin Bernert

Kristin Bernert began her first season at the helm of the Los Angeles Sparks franchise in October 2008. Since that time, her impact on the organization has been swift and dramatic as she has begun implementing her strategic plan to position the Los Angeles Sparks as the marquee team of the WNBA. Her vast business and basketball knowledge have enabled her to continue achieving the goals of the organization through a balance of leadership, hard-work and a foundation on team-work.

Prior to taking her post as Team President, Bernert spent three years as the Vice President of Team Business Development with the WNBA. In this position she was responsible for driving growth in all areas of team business for the WNBA’s 14 teams. She was also in charge of facilitating the development and execution of league events and integrated initiatives.

Bernert spent 2002-2005 as the Vice President of Operations for the Detroit Shock. In this role she was responsible for the coordination of all aspects of Shock business, including ticket sales, marketing, corporate sponsorship, community relations, public relations, and event operations.

Widely known as a "go-getter" and self-motivated leader, Bernert has over 10 years of sports business experience in leading teams, growing sales, creating dynamic marketing campaigns, closing sponsorships and raising the bar in general wherever she is. As President of the Los Angeles Sparks, her duties of managing and developing all aspects of business and basketball operations are second nature to her.

A native of Stow, Ohio, Bernert began her professional sports career in corporate marketing with the Cleveland Indians. Prior to that she held the positions of Assistant Director of Athletics Marketing at the Ohio State University and Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Communications at Bowling Green State University.

Bernert, who currently resides in Los Angeles, was a four-year letter winner in basketball at Siena College and was named to the GTE/CoSIDA District II Academic All-America, First Team in 1996.

Penny Toler's Bio

Penny Toler is entering her 10th season as General Manager and first as Vice President of the Los Angeles Sparks. Her skill at building rosters of the most talented female athletes in the world and keen sense of basketball operations are complimented by her years as a professional athlete. Through her experience she has built the rosters of two back-to-back WNBA championship teams with the Sparks in 2001 and 2002.

Toler’s duties include a variety of responsibilities year-round, with overall attention to the day-to-day management of the team. Her management decisions include contract negotiations, salary cap relations and strategy, and the scouting of collegiate and international players. In addition to those tasks, she also works in various marketing, public relations, and other management functions.

Toler retired from playing professional basketball in November 1999 with a combined 13 years overseas/WNBA experience to become the second General Manager in team history. In just two years, Toler became the fastest person in any men’s or women’s professional sports league to win a championship after being named General Manager from player status. Toler delivered the first WNBA Championship to the city of Los Angeles by dethroning four-time WNBA champion Houston Comets (2001).

In her nine years as General Manager, Toler has guided the team to the WNBA Playoffs in nine seasons, (1999-2006, 2008), as well as three conference championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and two WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. In an effort to advance the women’s game, Toler was a strong advocate in implementing the 24 second shot clock and turning the two, twenty minutes halves into four, ten minute quarters.

After being named Sparks General Manager, Toler was invited to join the USA Basketball Women’s Competition Committee where she assisted in the selection of three gold medal winning teams: the 2002 World University Championship games, the 2004 Olympic team and the 2008 Olympic team.

Widely recognized as the first player to score a basket in WNBA history, Toler began her career with the Sparks as the starting point guard in the league’s inaugural game on June 21, 1997 at the Great Western Forum against the New York Liberty. Originally allocated along with Lisa Leslie, as one of two Los Angeles franchise players, she ranked second in points per game (13.1) and first in free throw percentage (83.9%). Toler shot 41.7% from

Michael Cooper's Bio

Michael Cooper is in his second tenure as Head Coach and his seventh season with the organization. After two seasons coaching in the NBA and NBA Development League, he returned for his second stint with the team in 2007 finishing 10-24 (.294). His first stint as Sparks head coach spanned the 2000-2004 seasons. After originally joining the Sparks as an assistant coach in 1999, Cooper was then named head coach in November of that year. In his first season as head coach, he earned the 2000 WNBA Coach of the Year Award after leading the Sparks to their best record in franchise history (28-4). In more than four seasons, Cooper guided the Sparks to a 116-31 (.789) regular season record, four playoff appearances and three finals appearances. Under his direction, the Sparks became WNBA Champions in 2001 and 2002.

Following his 12 year playing career, he served as Special Assistant to Lakers general manager Jerry West for three years before joining the Lakers coaching staff in March 1994. Cooper spent the 2004-05 NBA season as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets, including a stint as interim head coach. In 2005, he took over the basketball operations responsibilities for the NBA D-League’s Albuquerque Thunderbirds. In His first season, the Thunderbirds took home the NBA D-League championship.  

Drafted out of New Mexico by the Los Angeles Lakers in the third round (60th overall), Cooper became an integral part of the "Showtime" Lakers teams of the 1980s with his defensive prowess. In his twelve year playing career with the Lakers (the only team he ever played for in the NBA), he earned eight NBA All Defensive Team selections – including five First Team honors – and was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. Cooper was a member of five NBA Championship teams (1980, ’82, ’85, ’87, and ’88). Retiring after the 1989-90 season, he was ranked among the club’s career top 10 in three-point field goals (428), games played (873), minutes played (23,635), steals (1,033), blocked shots (523), assists (3,666), defensive rebounds (2,028), offensive rebounds (741) and free throw percentage (.833).  

Cooper played two seasons with the University of New Mexico Lobos (1976-78) and was selected to the Lobo Hall of Honor in 1992. He was named to the first team All-Western Athletic Conference and led the Lobos to the conference title as a senior, averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. In addition to being a success on the court, Cooper was recognized for his community efforts off the court. During the 1985-86 seasons, Cooper, along with New York’s Rory Sparrow, was selected by the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association as the recipients of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

 Cooper was honored with the Commitment to Excellence Award during the 2007 Los Angeles Sports Fans Choice Awards. Cooper has four children, Michael II 27, Simone 24, Miles 18, and Nils 3.

Item Special Note

(This is an opportunity to have a joint two hour meeting with Michael Cooper, LA Sparks Head Coach, Kristin Bernert, President of LA Sparks, and Penny Toler, GM of LA Sparks. This package includes the opportunity to see the LA Sparks in action at Staples Center.)

The executives will meet with the winning bidders at a time convenient to both parties, on or before December 1, 2009, except in the case of some celebrities which may carry over to the first quarter of 2010.

Once the winning bid has been validated and collected, CAAO will request the winning bidder's bio/resume and reason for wanting to meet the executive and communicate that information to the executive. CAAO will also pass on the necessary contact information for the winning bidder to make their appointment.

If the winning bidder cancels or wishes to change the date/time of the meeting once it has been scheduled, the winning bidder will be responsible for contacting the executive to communicate any changes.

The winning bidder is responsible for all travel expenses to attend this meeting.

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