MEET OUR TEAM

Don Smiley

President / Chief Executive Officer

Don is a seasoned veteran of the entertainment and marketing industry and Milwaukee World Festival’s first President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to MWF, he served as the Chairman of Pro Player Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins, where he was responsible for event management during the 1995 NFL Super Bowl, professional sports, concerts and other events. Don simultaneously served as President of the Florida Marlins Baseball Club and led the team to a World Series victory in 1997. Don began his career with the Marlins at the team’s inception and held positions in the sales department and as Vice President of Marketing.

Additionally, Don was involved with Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. at its beginning stages. While at Blockbuster, Don served as an Assistant to the Chairman of the Board, and worked with the franchising, real estate, merchandising operations and branding programs, and helped grow Blockbuster into a position of world leadership in the video rental and entertainment industry.

Don has also successfully served as Marketing Director of the Honda Classic golf tournament, one of the top events on the PGA Tour, and as Vice President of Marketing for Huizenga Holdings. Most recently, Don was owner and president of Smiley / Chirkinian Golf Ventures, Inc., which organized and developed a televised junior golf tour. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.