MATT SILVERMAN

PRESIDENT, TAMPA BAY RAYS, ST. PETERSBURG

The Tampa Bay Rays have proudly served as Tampa Bay’s Major League Baseball team for more than 25 years. It has a workforce of more than 500 full-time employees as well as several thousand part-time employees. Silverman has been a Rays senior executive since 2005. From 2008-2023, the Rays were the third winningest team in Major League Baseball and have reached the playoffs for five consecutive seasons. The team, whose lease on Tropicana Field expires in 2027, has announced its intention to stay in St. Petersburg after reaching a deal with the city and Pinellas County to build a $1.3-billion stadium.

EDUCATION: Harvard University (AB)

LISTENING: The Knowledge Project podcast

MENTOR: Rays owner Stuart Sternberg. We met in 2001 while we were both working at Goldman Sachs. For more than 20 years, Stu has been a trusted colleague, mentor, partner, and friend.

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: Marjory Stoneman Douglas, for her advocacy and especially her work to protect the natural ecology of Florida and its Everglades.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: Who you surround yourself with is who you become.