Eric Knowles Pro Player Stadium’s Senior Director of Guest Services and Community Relations. Each department is distinct and plays an important role in the organization. The Guest Services department is responsible for addressing all guest concerns before, during, and after a game or other stadium event. Under his guidance, the department conducts continual training classes throughout the year to ensure that each patron receives the proper attention. Guest Services also supervises the part-time and seasonal staff for baseball, football, and other stadium events. The department provides motivational programs for Pro Player Stadium event staff, as well as, implements and enforces the Stadium Rules of Conduct. Guest Services is the catalyst of Pro Player Stadium’s commitment to the comfort of all guests who visit the facility.
At the same time, the Community Relations department is responsible for communicating the Stadium’s mission and acts as a liaison to the community, media, and governmental agencies. The department is responsible for overseeing the Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations whose emphasis is placed upon youth-related programs in education, sports, and drug-prevention. To do this, the department hosts several events to raise funds for the Foundation. Further, the Community Relations department implements and coordinates several yearly family-oriented events to serve the residents in the areas that surround the facility. As a part of their service to the community, the department also conducts tours, giving valuable insight into the world of sports facility management.
SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY
Eric Knowles has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognition for community service throughout South Florida. Eric’s professional career has been focused upon youth related initiatives, which include academics, drug-prevention and -intervention programs. He developed Pro Player Stadium Reads to the Community program addressing literacy with elementary school aged students. The program allowed employees to work one hour each week in their child’s school or an inner-city school of their choice.
In 1997, Eric was instrumental in facilitating sailing programs through Shake-A-Leg, allowing inner-city children throughout South Florida the opportunity to learn to sail. In 1999, he spearheaded a tutorial/computer program with the South Florida Youth Football League.
Eric has participated a Visiting Professor at Florida Memorial College during their Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) and he continues to be a motivational speaker for children throughout the metropolitan area.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Current Board Memberships
M. Athalie Range Cultural Arts Foundation / Co-Chair
100 Black Men of South Florida
5000 Role Models of Excellence
Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce
North Dade Regional Chamber of Commerce
Visitor Industry Council
Current Committee Memberships
Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association – Community Relations Committee
Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce – Education Committee
Former Board Memberships
Caribbean Hotel Association
Caribbean Tourism Organization
Coconut Grove Playhouse
Coconut Grove Local Development / Family & Youth Intervention Center
Community Crusade Against Drugs / Chair
Hands on Miami
Miami Job Corp / Advisory Board
South Florida Inner City Games
PROFESSIOANL CAREER
2001-Present Pro Player Stadium
Senior Director of Guest Services
& Community Relations
2000-2001 American Airlines
Director of Marketing Atlantic/Caribbean
1997-2000 Pro Player Stadium
Director of Community Relations
1994-1997 Coconut Grove Family & Youth Intervention Center
Project Coordinator
1985-1997 Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation
Affordable Housing Rehab Specialist
1982 Florida International University
B.S. Apparel Management
1978 Miami Dade Community College
A.A. Merchandising
1977-1997 Commercial Actor – Member Screen Actors
Guild. Appeared in numerous national commercials, Wendy’s International, Sears, Toyota, Carnival Cruise Line, Marriott Hotels
1973-1976 U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division - Honorable Discharge
PERSONAL INTRESTS
As a former actor/model, Eric was featured in Ebony Man and several national and international publications in addition to appearing in numerous commercials.
As a family man, he takes much pride in his home and spends his free time landscaping or writing poetry. Eric resides in Biscayne Gardens with his wife Shelia, and three year old daughter Catherine. Erica, his twenty-two year old daughter is a recent graduate of Rutgers University and resides in Philadelphia, PA.
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