Milwaukee Admirals president recognized as a top Wisconsin executive amid winning streak
The Milwaukee Admirals are making headlines with an 11-game win streak following an overtime victory Jan. 30 against the San Diego Gulls.
But the players aren't the only ones bringing in the accolades for the franchise.
Team President Jon Greenberg was selected as one of Wisconsin's Titan 100. This award recognizes C-level executives (chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operation officer, etc.) who hold the highest strategic roles in a company.
Those selected “demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision, passion, and influence,” according to the Titan 100 website. Winners must be nominated, and Greenberg didn’t even know he was in the running until he received an email last fall saying he was chosen.
“For them to recognize me is humbling, without question,” he said. “I don’t know who did it but I’m certainly grateful for (the nomination). I wish I did know so I could thank that person personally.”
The awards were presented during a ceremony Jan. 18 at Fiserv Forum.
Greenberg shares credit for the Titan 100 selection with everyone in the organization, saying the award is “a sign the Admirals are on the map.”
From four employees to a successful franchise
A St. Francis resident for about 40 years, Greenberg is currently in his 19th year with the Admirals. He joined the team in April 2005 ― when it was purchased by Harris Turer ― after spending 22 years with the Milwaukee Brewers in various roles.
When Greenberg started with the Admirals, the franchise had just four employees.
“The organization was very close to going out of business,” Greenberg said. “So, we had a blank slate to be able to make the organization into what we hoped it could be.”
During his tenure, Greenberg saw the team transition from the BMO Harris Bradley Center to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. He has also helped the team see “significant increases in attendance, corporate support and community involvement,” according to the Admirals website, and has attracted nearly 4 million fans during his leadership.
Greenberg said his goal was to make the Admirals, who play in the American Hockey League, an important part of the community.
“We’re minor league, but we operate this like it’s a major league franchise,” he said.
Learning a lot of his leadership style from Bud Selig, who currently serves as the Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball, Greenberg operates the Admirals as “a family-style organization” and works to always keep his staff top of mind.
“(Servant leadership) has been drilled into me all my life from my parents all the way through my time at Marquette High School to working for the Brewers and Mr. Selig to my time here,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful journey and I’m glad to be able to continue it.”
This isn’t Greenberg’s first award; he's one of six people to receive the AHL’s James C. Hendy Memorial Award twice ― once in 2007 and again in 2017 ― in the 80-plus year history of the league.
What is behind the recent success of the Milwaukee Admirals?
The Admirals had a successful season last year, getting to the Western Conference Finals, and this year are currently on an 11-game winning streak, knocking on the door of the franchise record of 13 wins in a row from the 2019-20 season.
The Admirals are currently first in their division with an overall record of 28-10-1.
Greenberg said a big part of the team’s success lies with the Nashville Predators, the Admirals’ National Hockey League affiliate. He said the Predators provide all the coaches and players.
“Our coaches are exceptional; probably should be at the NHL level, but we’re blessed to have them here,” he said. “They do a really good job of blending these players into really good teams over the years. It’s just very much a winning atmosphere here.”
The players are talented on the ice, but Greenberg said they are also “people with good character” who carry the franchise off the rink into the community.
The Admirals are going for win number 12 on Friday, Feb. 2, against the Manitoba Moose at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. After that, the team is on a brief hiatus during the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic but will be back Feb. 9 against the Chicago Wolves, also on Milwaukee ice.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Admirals win streak at 11 as team president Jon Greenberg recognized
