Front Office

Dan DeVos serves as chairman of the Orlando Magic and a member of the NBA Board of Governors. In this role, he focuses on long-term strategic planning for the organization and new business initiatives. He also represents ownership in business and public relations activities while working closely with the Magic’s CEO regarding business and basketball operations. DeVos is chairman of RDV Sports which, in addition to the Orlando Magic, includes the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, the Lakeland Magic of the NBA G League, and Magic Gaming of the NBA 2K League. He also leads the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation as the organization’s chairman. In addition to his commitment to the Magic, DeVos supports a number of sports, business and philanthropic endeavors. He is co-owner, CEO and governor of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) – the 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup Champions, and the top affiliate for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. DeVos serves as a member of the AHL’s executive committee as well. In business, DeVos is chairman and CEO of DP Fox Ventures, LLC, a diversified business development and management company with interests in real estate, transportation and sports. DP Fox employs more than 1,500 professionals through companies including Fox Powersports and Fox Motor Group, a retail transportation group representing 48 manufacturers at 50 locations in Michigan and Chicago. A member of the board of directors of Amway, the world’s largest direct selling company, DeVos also serves as president/CEO of Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. Additionally, DeVos is a partner in the Georgian Automotive Group, based in Barrie, Ontario, as well as a partner of CWD Real Estate Investment in Grand Rapids, Michigan. DeVos is involved in a variety of philanthropic organizations including serving on the board of trustees for Hope Network Foundation, as past president of the board of the Grand Rapids Symphony, and as vice chair of the Grand Valley University Foundation. He also serves on the board of trustees for Northwood University, his alma mater. His wife, Pamella, is president and creative director of PAMELLA ROLAND. They have two daughters and one son.

Alex Martins, who has spent 33 years in professional sports management and rejoined the Magic in June 2005, was promoted to chief executive officer on December 7, 2011. He previously served as president for more than one year and was the team’s chief operating officer from 2006-10. Martins also serves as CEO of SED Development, LLC, an affiliate of the Magic which is currently planning an entertainment mixed use development across Church Street from the Amway Center. Martins represents the Magic as the team’s alternate governor to the NBA Board of Governors, as well as managing partner of the Lakeland Magic, Orlando’s affiliate in the NBA G League. Martins is a member of the NBA’s Team Media Advisory Committee, Labor Relations Advisory Committee and Business & Basketball Committee, as well as having served on the NBA’s Season Restart Committee which has advised the league on the return to play from the COVID-19 hiatus. Martins, who served in various senior-level management capacities with the Magic between 1989-98 and as the organization’s executive vice president of marketing and franchise relations in 2005-06, oversees all operations of the club. During the past 14 years, Martins led the Magic in a transformation of its business operations, while overseeing a ticket sales, premium sales and corporate partnership effort which saw the most successful business year in the history of the franchise in the 2010-11 season. The transformation process received the recognition of the SportsBusiness Journal which named the Magic as a finalist for Professional Sports Team of the Year, the only NBA team to be named a finalist that year. Similarly, Martins has spearheaded the transformation of the current Magic basketball operations department, with the hiring and management of the current basketball administration leadership. Included in the franchise’s success has been the largest season ticket base in franchise history in 2010-11(14,200) and the most successful corporate sales effort in franchise history in 2014-15. Amongst these records are the largest increase in attendance in the NBA over that five-year period. Martins was instrumental in helping to secure the new state-of-the-art Amway Center in Orlando. The Amway Center is part of a public community venues program that also includes a new Performing Arts Center and a renovation of the Citrus Bowl Stadium. The new Amway Center opened in October 2010. The facility was named a finalist for the SportsBusiness Journal’s Sports Facility of the Year Award for two consecutive years and captured the award in 2012. Additionally, the Magic also contributed $20 million toward and constructed five community recreation centers throughout Orange County, Florida, as part of its commitment to build the new Amway Center. The Amway Center was also honored in 2013 with the Customer Experience Award during TheStadiumBusiness Awards presentation held in association with TheStadiumBusiness Summit in Manchester, England. At the annual NBA Sales and Marketing Meetings, the Magic organization has been awarded the “New Full Season Ticket Award” twice for being No. 1 in the NBA in new full season tickets sold, a “90 Percent Renewal Award” for being just one of five teams to achieve a 90 percent or higher season ticket renewal rate in 2007, a “Sponsorship Account Performance Award” for the extraordinary number of accounts secured by the global partnerships department and the “Retailer of the Year Award” twice, for the team’s retail sales performance. The team has currently led the NBA in group ticket sales for four consecutive seasons. Martins originally joined the Magic as director of publicity/media relations in April 1989. In September of 1996, he was promoted to senior director of communications. He also previously served as the Chairman of the Board of the Magic Action Team Community Fund. The Magic Action Team Fund developed into the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, which has distributed nearly $25 million to local nonprofit organizations during the last 30 years, including more than $1 million last season. Additionally, Martins served on the developmental board of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida. The program has been funded through a $9 million endowment by Rich and Helen DeVos and awards dual Masters degrees in Sport Management and Business Administration. Martins also has served as the senior vice president of marketing and branding for the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, vice president of communications and public affairs with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and vice president of sports ventures with the Tavistock Group. At Tavistock, Martins served as tournament director of The Tavistock Cup, a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. Martins started his career as a student assistant in the Villanova sports information department, assisted in the Philadelphia 76ers public relations department and was also the assistant sports information director at Georgetown University (1988-89). Martins currently serves as the Vice Chair to the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, also serving as Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee. He is also past chairman of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and The Central Florida Partnership, as well as past chairman of the Orlando Community Construction Corporation, the entity responsible for the construction of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Martins also has served on the board of directors of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Central Florida Commission on Homeless. He currently serves on the Central Florida board of directors for Seaside National Bank & Trust, and is the Chairman of the Governor’s Council of the Orlando Economic Partnership. In April 2015, Martins received the James B. Greene Economic Development Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the Orlando Economic Development Commission, and recognizes an individual whose work has contributed substantially to the economic prosperity of the region. In 2013, he was awarded the Charles Andrews Memorial Hospitality Award for Community Leadership by the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association. The award is CFHLA’s highest honor recognizing an individual’s achievements and contributions to the Central Florida hospitality industry as well as the community at large. Following the tragedy at Pulse nightclub in June 2016, Martins was chosen by the City of Orlando to Chair the board of directors for the largest fund for victims of the shooting, the city-sponsored OneOrlando fund. Martins earned his MBA from the University of Central Florida, where he is a member of the College of Business Administration’s Hall of Fame and recipient of University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also serves on the Dean’s Executive Council for the College of Business Administration at UCF, and was honored with the opportunity to serve as Commencement Speaker at UCF in August 2008. A native of Kearny, New Jersey, Martins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Villanova, where he graduated from in 1986. He resides in Winter Park, Fla., with his wife, Juliet, and daughters,Sophia (16) and Gabrielle (14).

Chris Heller is currently the President of the Orlando Solar Bears. He began his career with the Solar Bears in November of 2011 as the Director of Finance and Legal Services. Heller previously worked as an attorney in Wheeling, WV. Heller earned his law degree at the West Virginia University College of Law in May of 2004. Originally hailing from Wheeling, WV, he earned a B.A. in Accounting in 1998 from Bethany College in West Virginia. He previously worked as an accountant in Columbus, OH and Pittsburgh, PA, for CroweChizek and PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1998 – 2001. Chris and his wife Natalie reside in Winter Garden, FL, with their three children Sophia, Maddox and Emerson.

Dylan, originally from South Florida, graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Business Management. He had spent the past few season interning and working part-time for the Solar Bears, before joining the team full-time as the Corporate Partnership Sales Manager. He was promoted to the role of Director, Global Partnerships, in July of 2021, and assumed his current role as Chief Revenue Officer in July of 2022. Dylan’s passion and commitment for the sport can be seen in everything he does from his involvement in community events, his devotion to friends and family as well as his clients.

Chris Carmichael was born in California but spent the most of his life in Manalapan, NJ. Chris graduated from Monmouth University, remaining close to home during his time in college. His love for sports started at a young age, admiring his father who has also worked in the sports industry. Chris started as an intern for the New York Jets right out of college and continued to gain experience as he took on a roll with Prodigy Sports prior to joining the Solar Bears for the 2012-13 Out of Hibernation Season. Chris currently resides in Davenport, FL with his wife Nicole and daughter Arabella.

Jesse was born and raised in East Meadow, New York. Growing up less than a mile away from the Nassau Coliseum, former home of the New York Islanders, hockey has always been in his blood. Jesse played sports all throughout his childhood and into college where he played football at The Catholic University of America. Before moving from New York to Orlando, Jesse was working as an event coordinator with the New York Islanders. His family owns pizzerias throughout Long Island where he grew up working. Jesse joined the Solar Bears in March of 2023 and he is ecstatic to join the team. Jesse enjoys playing pickleball, watching sports, going to concerts and spending time with family and friends.

Amelia was born and raised in Minnesota. She grew up watching the Wild and knew she wanted to be involved in the sport when she grew up. She was a hockey cheerleader in high school, then continued her cheerleading career with the University of North Dakota. Right before moving to Orlando, Amelia worked for UND’s Men’s Hockey team for the 2019-2020 season as she finished her Bachelor’s Degree. Go Sioux! Amelia was a game night intern for the beginning of the Solar Bears 2022-23 season and she was very happy to end it as a member of the full time staff! In her free time, Amelia loves to read, paint her nails, watch movies and FaceTime her family.

Jared was born in Long Island, New York and grew up in Boca Raton, Florida. He is an avid sports enthusiast who can’t get enough of the game-day atmosphere.

Jared received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida and has his MBA from Florida Atlantic University. His career in sports started with the Solar Bears as a Corporate Partnership Intern in 2019. He then worked at FanDuel during his graduate program. He enjoys traveling, watching sports, and spending time with family and friends.

Born in Santa Maria, California but raised in Orlando, Michael graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2019. Following graduation, he received his first opportunity to work in sports with the Orlando Magic as a Tourism Sales Representative. Michael then joined the Solar Bears as an intern in 2020, leading him to his current position with the Solar Bears. Michael enjoys travelling and seeing new places, going to sporting events and concerts, and spending time with his family.

Christa was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. Although she is a Florida native, she is also half-Canadian, and her love for hockey started at a very young age. Her first Solar Bears game was when she was just two years old. For her, “hockey feels like home.” Christa has always been involved in sports. She was an All-Star Cheerleader and Dancer for 10 years and went on to coach for eight years winning over 20 World Championship Titles. Christa began working with the Solar Bears through the team's internship program in 2020 and has has since joined the team as a Ticket Sales Account Executive. Christa cannot wait to help more people get involved in the greatest sport in the world.

Nicole grew up in Batesville, Indiana and moved to Orlando while completing the Disney College Program. She attended Northern Kentucky University and graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Marketing. Nicole interned for the Solar Bears during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 season, and joined the team full time as its office manager prior to the 2019-20 season, before assuming her current role in the summer of 2021. Nicole found a love of sports at a young age through listening to Cincinnati Reds games on a transistor radio with her grandfather and watching football and racing with her Dad. Her love of sports has continued to grow, and she now spends most of her free time attending local sporting events, hiking, or traveling to explore sporting venues with her husband Charles.

Joshua is originally from Boca Raton, Florida where he grew up playing sports. He moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida, graduating with a B.S. in Marketing in 2015.

Joshua interned with the Orlando Solar Bears during the 2014-15 season and worked with several other local teams following graduation, including Orlando City Soccer Club, the Orlando Predators, Florida Fire Frogs and UCF Athletics. He’s excited to bring his passion back to the Solar Bears and share this one-of-a-kind experience with the community. 

Joey is in his second season as the Voice of the Solar Bears. Prior to joining Orlando, Battaino spent six-plus seasons (2015-2020, 2021-22) as the Vice President of Broadcasting and Communications for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, two seasons (2013-2015) as Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting for the Odessa Jackalopes and three seasons (2010-2013) as Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting for the now defunct Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League. Battaino began his broadcasting career as an 18-year old as the voice of the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League 2, calling the last Turner Cup Final between the Generals and the Fort Wayne Komets in 2010. During the 2020-21 COVID shutdown of the Ontario Hockey League, Battaino worked six American Hockey League games for the Grand Rapids Griffins, who are owned and operated by Dan DeVos. A Detroit, Michigan native, Battaino is a graduate of Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts (Now Specs at Lawrence Tech University) with a concentration in Television Broadcasting degree. Joey currently resides in Maitland, Fla.

Caroline, originally from Tampa, graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Marketing. Having always loved sports growing up, especially hockey and football, Caroline has dedicated her young career to finding a home somewhere in the sports industry. She began working with the Orlando Solar Bears through our internship program, then Office Manager, and is now our Event Presentation and Marketing Manager. Her enthusiasm and commitment for the team and the Solar Bears organization is apparent in everything she does.

Denise Ferioli joined the Solar Bears in July of 2022. A second-generation Filipino American born in San Diego but raised in Jacksonville, Fla., Denise grew up always passionate for the arts, and gained an appreciation for sports by attending local football and baseball games with her dad. Denise completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida and graduated with a BFA in Emerging Media in May 2022. On the side, Denise maintains a lifestyle photography business she started as a hobby in high school, as well as volunteering her design abilities towards strengthening the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) community on local and national levels. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, friends, going to theme parks and concerts, and exploring all Orlando has to offer.