Jeff Vinik
Jeff Vinik purchased the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2010, promising a comprehensive transformation of the franchise and aiming to secure its place as a leader in the community. Vinik pledged to make the organization “world-class,” creating a first-rate fan experience while putting together a team of which local sports fans would be proud, on and off the ice. Vinik and his wife, Penny, made an impact on the local community by pledging more than $10 million to be donated through the Lightning Foundation over five years to the Lightning Community Heroes program. They both served as the chairs of the American Cancer Society’s 2012 Cattle Baron’s Ball, and the family has extended its charitable giving in the community as well. Vinik graduated from Duke University with a bachelor’s in engineering and economics. He went on to earn his master’s of business administration from the Harvard Business School. Vinik was awarded Duke University’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 1994 and serves on the Duke University Board of Trustees.
