RON BURKLE Ron Burkle has now added a new arena — Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center — to his tremendous list of accomplishments in the business world. Burkle, widely recognized as one of the preeminent investors in retail, manufacturing and distribution industries, is in his 12th season as co-owner of the Penguins. Among Burkle’s many significant contributions to the Penguins was his role in negotiations for the new arena deal. Burkle founded the Yucaipa Companies in 1986 and has served as Chairman of the Board and controlling shareholder of numerous companies, including Alliance Entertainment, Golden State Foods, Dominick’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Food4Less. Ron is co-chairman of the Burkle Center for International Relations at UCLA and is broadly involved in the community. He is a trustee of the Carter Center, the National Urban League and the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy. He has received numerous awards, including the AFL-CIO’s Murray Green Meany Kirkland Community Service Award, the Los Angeles County Federation Man of the Year and the Los Angeles County Boy Scouts Jimmy Stewart Person of the Year award.
MARIO LEMIEUX Mario Lemieux will always be remembered for the magic he created on the ice, but one of the crowning achievements of his remarkable business career came this season — the opening of CONSOL Energy Center, home of the Penguins and Pittsburgh’s new multi-purpose entertainment venue. Even before the reality of CONSOL Energy Center, Lemieux and coowner Ron Burkle had turned the Penguins into a premier NHL franchise. The Penguins have been named No. 1 in Fan Relations by ESPN the Magazine, sold out a team-record 166 straight games, sold out every suite for three straight seasons and established records for local television ratings, merchandise sales and website hits. Lemieux was one of the greatest players in NHL history from 1984-97 and 2000-06, winning six league scoring titles, three MVPs trophies and two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP, in addition to two Stanley Cups. A gifted centerman, he dominated play for parts of three decades. He retired in 2006 as the No. 7 all-time scorer in NHL history with 1,723 points. In addition to his legendary hockey accomplishments, he continues to oversee the Mario Lemieux Foundation for cancer research and neo-natal research and hosts its celebrity golf tournament, which has raised more than $8 million for charity. More information is available at mariolemieux.org. Mario, his wife Nathalie and their four children live in Sewickley. For extended bios please visit pittsburghpenguins.com 10