And the Alumni Award Goes To ... Miami HEAT Business Operations President Eric Woolworth ’80 Reflects on the Importance of Social Responsibility The New Canaan Country School Alumni Award is presented each year to honor an alumna or alumnus who has had the courage and confidence to make a positive contribution to the world. This year, the honor went to Eric Woolworth ’80.
Speaking on Oct. 30 from his Florida home
equity and inclusion space and asked for
to Middle and Upper School students,
the details surrounding the decision to
faculty, staff and alumni assembled
make that a priority.
virtually, Alumni Award recipient Eric
“When we decided that we wanted to
Woolworth ’80 spoke candidly about his
make the HEAT the very best organization
path to the executive office of the Miami
it could be, I told my staff that we needed
marketing and community affairs to sales
HEAT Group and discussed in depth
to embrace the community around us,”
and service, human resources, merchan-
his feelings about the importance of
explained Eric. “The people who lived in
dising, finance, event and arena opera-
creating diverse, equitable and inclusive
Miami needed to feel comfortable coming
tions, and more.
environments, professional organizations
to games and events, but also to our
Under his guidance, the HEAT was
and communities.
business offices. In order for them to feel
the inaugural winner of the NBA’s 2018
“Eric responded to our students’ ques-
comfortable, they needed to see someone
Inclusion Leadership Award for the
tions with wisdom and humor, tackling
who looked like them. Over time, we
franchise’s lengthy history and ongoing
complicated themes such as the role of
became more diverse and then learned
commitment to diversity and inclusion.
social responsibility within professional
how to actively and intentionally get
sports head-on with confidence and
and harness the diverse experiences and
conviction. His wisdom and experience
world views of our employees, ultimately
really resonated with the students,” said
creating the successful multicultural orga-
Head of School Aaron Cooper.
nization we are today.”
“I took a risk,” explained Eric when
Following graduation from Country
asked by eighth grader Ifeanyi Ndokwu
School, Eric went on to attend The
if he had dreamed of a career in profes-
Taft School. He graduated cum laude
sional basketball. “I left a profitable
from both Georgetown University and
career in law, took a pay cut and moved
Georgetown University Law Center and
Nominations!
to Miami. Sometimes you’ve got to go for
then pursued a successful legal career in
We welcome your suggestions
it. It’s worked out for me. It was a dream
Washington, D.C. Eric joined the HEAT as
for future Alumni Award
to work in the sports world, although not
general counsel in 1995 and then steadily
candidates. Please send nominations
necessarily in basketball.”
climbed the ranks of The HEAT Group.
to Director of Alumni Affairs
While attending NCCS, Eric
His business acumen and key role in the
Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at
co-captained three varsity teams:
development of the AmericanAirlines
hcasella@countryschool.net.
soccer, hockey and baseball.
Arena in Miami led to his promotion
Please include name, class year
“I have always loved sports, but I
to President, Business Operations in
and a short explanation of the
still cannot dribble left-handed,” he
January 2001.
candidate’s accomplishments.
confessed with a wry smile.
The 2020–21 Miami Heat season marks
Ninth grader Waverly Walters, who
Eric’s 25th year with the HEAT Group and
To find out about previous
attended the 2020 Student Diversity
20th as President, Business Operations.
New Canaan Country School
Leadership Conference, noted that the
His primary responsibility consists of
Alumni Award recipients, visit
HEAT Group had won several awards
directing and overseeing all non-basket-
www.countryschool.net/
and recognition for work in the diversity,
ball aspects of the organization from
alumniaward.
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