America’s pastime has impacted some Arizona business leaders
With Cactus League baseball in full swing and opening day just around the corner, some of Arizona’s most influential business leaders reflect on the impact of baseball on their lives.
R. Craig Coppola, founding principal, Lee & Associates: “I was drafted by and played professional baseball in the Minnesota Twins organization.”
Bret Helgeson, president and managing partner, Adopt Technologies: “My prized possession is a leather baseball mitt that my dad used as a kid and I played with through my baseball years. I hoped one of my boys would use it as well. However, it finally bit the dust after multiple repairs.”
Caleb S. Lihn, founding partner, Thies & Lihn: “I have a picture of my father and I at the Baseball Hall of Fame when I was 12 and he was 68. We are both wearing New York Mets uniforms. He was older when I was born and passed when I was 16 … This photo reminds me where I came from and how I got to where I’m at now.”
Al Stevens, president, the spr agency: “I’m a lifelong baseball fan, so my most prized possession is my Chicago Cubs season tickets. There’s just something magical about sitting in the stands at Wrigley Field and watching nine innings of baseball.”
Craig Zollinger, managing director and Intermountain Region head, JP Morgan Chase: “Our lives revolved around baseball as my two boys grew up. Both were fortunate enough to play Division 1 college baseball. They’ve since graduated and went back to their coaches and asked for their game jerseys to frame and give them to me for Father’s Day. Priceless.”
