Glen Taylor
Owner
On March 23, 1995, Glen Taylor closed the deal that made him majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He added the title of NBA owner to a list that already included international businessman, state senator, entrepreneur, philanthropist and executive of the year.
Before he even completed his first full year season as owner, Taylor set in motion his plan for making a mark on the Minnesota sports scene. Prior to the completion of the sale of the team from Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner, Taylor installed Rob Moor, Roger Griffith and Chris Wright to run the business functions of the franchise, and promoted Minnesota and NBA basketball legend Kevin McHale to develop the team. With the move of McHale to vice president of basketball and the addition of general manager Jim Stack and head coach Randy Wittman, Taylor has assembled a basketball staff with years of experience in the pro ranks.
Taylor is Chairman of the Board of Taylor Corporation, located in Mankato, Minn., 75 miles southwest of the Twin Cities. The Taylor Companies, which are involved in the printing, marketing and electronics industries, include more than 70 operating divisions in 19 states, three Canadian provinces, the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico. Their employees number more than 14,000, including more than 5,000 Minnesotans.
Taylor built his company from modest beginnings. While a student at Mankato State University in 1959, he took a part-time job at Carlson Wedding Service, Fifteen years later, in 1974, he acquired a majority interest in the company, laying the foundation for what would soon grow into Taylor Corporation.
Taylor's business savvy has been recognized by Corporate Report magazine, which honored him as its Executive of the Year (1987), and the Sales and Marketing Executives of Minneapolis/St. Paul, who awarded him with their Sales Executive of the Year Award (1999). He was also inducted into the Minnesota Hall of Fame (2002) by Twin Cities Monthly Magazine.
Taylor was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1980, where he served until 1990. He became assistant Senate minority leader in 1982. From 1984 to 1986, he served as Senate minority leader. While in the Senate, Taylor was instrumental in providing leadership in the areas of higher education, child care and economic development policies.
Through personal involvement, Taylor has remained active in many civic and charitable causes. In Mankato, he has served as YMCA President, Chamber of Commerce Director, Mankato Jaycees President and United Way Campaign Chairman. He has also has served on his church's board of deacons and board of trustees and on the Mankato State University Foundation board of directors. On the state level, Taylor has served as the director of the Minnesota Business partnership, director of the Greater Minnesota Corporation and president of the International Thermographers Association.
Nationally, Taylor has provided expert testimony on business and child care issues to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and served as a committee chair on the 1991 Commission on Reform and Efficiency (CORE).
In 1997, Mankato State University awarded Taylor his first honorary doctorate. Taylor received the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws for his distinguished professional career and volunteer service. In October 2001, Taylor was inducted into the Minnesota State University, Mankato Hall of Distinction.
Taylor was born April 20, 1941, and raised on a farm 60 miles west of his current home in Mankato. He graduated from Comfrey (Minn.) High School in 1959. In just three years, he earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics, physics and social science from Mankato State University. He later continued his education at the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Taylor lives in Mankato with his wife Becky. His children, Terri, Jean, Taylor Moor, Jeff, and Kendahl, and grandchildren, Andrea, Melissa, Grayson, Emma and Abby, and great-granddaughters, Piper and Riley, enjoy attending many of the Timberwolves and Lynx games.
Rob Moor
Chief Executive Officer
Rob Moor became chief executive officer of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004 following 10 years as the team's president. While reorganizing the Timberwolves and building a first-class staff, Moor was also involved in securing a WNBA franchise for Minnesota in 1998 and, in 2004, leading the effort to form Midwest Entertainment Group and manage Target Center until the spring of 2007.
Moor's strategic goals for the Timberwolves and Lynx revolve around customer service and a fan-centered attitude. "If we provide great customer service and great entertainment we will always be successful," Moor says.
Prior to coming to Minnesota, Moor was the executive vice president of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. Moor began his career in entertainment at MGM Studios in film production. He was involved in the merger with United Artists and subsequent sale of the studios to Ted Turner. Later, he joined 20th Century Fox working in the areas of film distribution.
Moor has worked on a number of non-profit boards and continues to serve on the boards of the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association and the Downtown Council.
A native of Geneva, Switzerland, Moor moved to the United States in 1966, living in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, California. Moor currently resides in Plymouth, Minn.
Chris Wright
President
This season marks Wright's 18th year with the Timberwolves organization and fourth as the team's president. Wright is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the team.
He leads a senior management group that is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the business operations of the franchise. By developing a culture of success, Wright and his senior management team are integrating the business and basketball operations to meet the strategic and financial goals of the team.
As president, Wright also articulates the mission for the organization which is to surround fans with the world-class athleticism and complete entertainment of the NBA and WNBA. Whether coming to the arena, watching a game on television, purchasing a ticket online, or meeting players and staff in the community, Timberwolves fans know that they are the sole focus of the organization's efforts. To fulfill this mission, Wright has established company-wide priority around the following goals: Having the Best Staff, Embracing a FansFirst Attitude, Embodying the Timberwolves Brand, Being an Active Member of the Community and being Good Stewards of Budgets.
A native of England, Wright came to the United States in 1978. Prior to joining the Timberwolves, he spent three years working for the state of Minnesota, first as a consultant working on bids for major national and international events, including the programming of the $17.4 million National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. Prior to that, Wright also served as general manager for two Major Indoor Soccer League Teams, the Pittsburgh Spirit (1981-86) and the Minnesota Strikers (1986-87).
Wright, who graduated from Carnegie College of Physical Education in Headingly Leeds, Yorkshire, England, is very involved in and consults with many local charities and youth sports programs. He resides in Eden Prairie, Minn., with his wife, Walla, their sons Jeff and Ned, and their daughter, Christy.
