John Orkis has been making a difference in Sports and Business for over 25 years. He has managed or led organizations with more than 350 people for several Fortune 500 companies including: Rockwell International, Frito Lay, Inc., Sara Lee Corp., Sysco Food Services, and Corporate Express. He has extensive experience in a variety of corporate roles such as: Marketing, Sales, Distribution, Operations, Community Affairs, Business Planning and Business Development.

John has a unique ability to identify an individual or organizational needs, and then define and deliver the best ideas to solve their problems in a timely and cost-effective manner. John’s extensive business experience has positioned him to lead several major company divisions through turnaround situations while developing and earning formal Operational Excellence Awards and acknowledgements. He offers transitioning professional athletes an extensive network of business contacts and a thorough knowledge of how things get done in today’s highly complex organization.

John has been a team member and business consultant for Sports Professionals Founder, Kirk Dixon for over 22 years. John has helped the SPI business develop winning strategies in the area of sports transition, alumni communications and development. He has also served in numerous sports leadership roles including, but not limited to:

· Florida Citrus Sports, Inc. (Florida Citrus Bowl & Tangerine Bowl), Orlando, Florida
· Corporate sponsorship deals with MicronPC.com Bowl, The Orange Bowl, Florida Panthers NHL Hockey,
· Miami Heat NBA Basketball
· PGA Seniors Tour Event Key Biscayne, Florida.
· Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, June Jones All American Golf and Tennis Classic & the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
· The Orlando Business Journal
· Junior Achievement of Central Florida & South Florida.

John earned an Executive M.B.A. in Domestic and International Marketing from The Goizueta Business School at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. John has a B.S.B.A. degree in Finance from The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio.

John was a football and baseball stand-out in high school earning all-state honors and numerous MVP awards and batting crowns. He earned college athletic scholarships to Seminal Community College in Florida, and The Ohio State University his junior and senior year. While at Ohio State, John was selected a Division I All American, earned All Big Ten 1st Team honors, was the 1982 Big Ten Batting Champion, and was recognized as the 1982 Big Ten All Tournament Team MVP. Many of his batting records at OSU, still stand today.

John is the father of 3 children: Kristen 16, Kenny 14, and Kevin 12, that are all involved in sports and academic scholar activities. He resides in Winter Springs, Florida

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