Michael T. Lehr serves as the executive vice president of business development for Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment and the governor of the Worcester Sharks. Lehr’s experience and expertise direct the day-to-day business operations of the Sharks minor league operations, while serving as the direct liaison to the SVS&E ownership group. In addition, he’s responsible for various parts of the SVS&E operations, including the exploration of new opportunities in domestic and international properties.

This division of the company, created in the summer of 2000, oversees all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks, HP Pavilion at San Jose and select HP Pavilion events. In addition, SVS&E manages all or parts of Sharks Ice at San Jose (the Sharks official training facility), Sharks Ice at Fremont, Oakland Ice Center operated by Sharks Ice, the SAP Open (San Jose) and Regions Morgan Keegan Championships (Memphis, Tenn.) ATP Tour Tennis tournaments, Cellular South Cup (Memphis, Tenn.) WTA Tour tennis tournament, the American Hockey League’s Worcester Sharks (the Sharks top development affiliate) as well as select HP Pavilion events such as Strikeforce Mixed Martial Arts

Over the past four seasons, Lehr has guided the Worcester Sharks to become one of the top regarded franchises in the AHL. Along with current Worcester President Michael Mudd, Lehr was instrumental in developing and producing the Worcester bid to the AHL Board of Governors in order to secure the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic for the city of Worcester, the first time in 50 years the AHL All-Star Classic was held in Massachusetts. The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic was a tremendous success, with all four events filled to capacity and showcased the city of Worcester to host such an event.

Under the direction of Lehr, the Worcester Sharks have developed and implemented several groundbreaking community initiatives including the “Be a Leader” program and the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics Massachusetts. He also serves on the board of directors for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Before joining SVS&E, Lehr successfully worked in Major League Baseball and for regional sports networks. He served as the regional director of programming and network operations for SportsChannel Ohio in Cleveland and Cincinnati from 1991-93. Under his direction, SportsChannel captured its first local Emmy Award for "Outstanding Sports Coverage" of Indians Baseball. He also spent time in management roles with Prime Cable of Chicago and Westinghouse Broadcasting, Inc.

In 1993, Lehr became director of broadcasting for the Cleveland Indians. During his tenure with the Indians, he oversaw the creation of the Indians Radio Network, negotiated broadcasting contracts and successfully engineered the formation of ballpark entertainment at Jacobs Field.

In 1996, he joined the Baltimore Orioles as vice president of marketing and broadcasting. While with the Orioles, Lehr was responsible for overseeing many facets of the organization including marketing, broadcasting, advertising, corporate partnerships, luxury suite sales, retail operations, on-line ventures, ballpark entertainment, publishing, fantasy camps, spring training operations, promotions and ticket sales. Under his leadership, the Orioles more than doubled their corporate sponsorship and broadcasting revenues while setting a franchise high in ticket sales. He was a member of both the marketing and advertising committees for Major League Baseball.

Immediately before joining Sharks Minor Holdings, he served as managing partner and co-founder of Power Plant Studios, a full-service marketing, management and communications group whose clients included Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr
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Lehr’s commitment to the community has followed him in each city he has lived. He has been active for such charity groups as Big & Little Brothers, Cleveland Indians Charities, Orioles Foundation, American Lung Association, Grant-A-Wish, YMCA, Special Olympics, Cleveland Sports Commission and several other youth sports organizations.

A native of Chicago, Lehr earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.