Lightning executive bios

By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 10, 2002

WILLIAM DAVIDSON

• TITLE: Owner
• AGE: 79

ROLE: The owner of Palace Sports & Entertainment, Davidson is worth $1.9-billion, according to Forbes magazine, and is the 92nd wealthiest person in the country. He lives in Auburn Hills, Mich., and also owns the NBA's Detroit Pistons and the Palace at Auburn Hills. Davidson, who travels infrequently to Tampa, took over the Guardian Glass Co., a global glass and automotive supply company, and built it into the world's fourth-largest glass company.

TOM WILSON

• TITLE: CEO and Governor
• AGE: 53

ROLE: He handles the day-to-day operation of Davidson's empire. Although it is Davidson's money, Wilson, in a practical sense, is the owner of the Lightning, overseeing all franchise operations. As governor, Wilson represents the Lightning at league functions and votes on league matters.

RON CAMPBELL

• TITLE: President
• AGE: 46

ROLE: He is responsible for the Lightning's day-to-day operations and was instrumental in Palace Sports & Entertainment's purchase of the team and St. Pete Times Forum lease. He must sign off on all player moves suggested by general manager Jay Feaster, but his main focus is on the team's business side and the arena.

JAY FEASTER

• TITLE: General manager
• AGE: 40

ROLE: In his first job as an NHL GM, Feaster makes all personnel decisions and is in charge of the product on the ice as well as negotiating player contracts. A long-time executive with AHL Hershey, Feaster's first NHL job was as Tampa Bay's assistant general manager. He moved up in February when Rick Dudley resigned. The only lawyer in the Lightning front office, it would be difficult to find anyone with a more extensive knowledge of the rules and regulations of the NHL and the players association.

BILL BARBER

• TITLE: Director of player personnel
• AGE: 50

ROLE: He is Feaster's right-hand man when it comes to player evaluations. Barber will consult on all trades and transactions, and will scout NHL teams and the Lightning's farm system. He is a Hall of Fame left wing who played 12 seasons with the Flyers and is a former Flyers coach and director of pro scouting.

JOHN TORTORELLA

• TITLE: Coach
• AGE: 44

ROLE: He is in his second full season after taking over in January 2001, when Steve Ludzik was fired. He is 39-67-12-7 with Tampa Bay. Tortorella was the Rangers interim coach for four games at the end of 1999-2000 after John Muckler was fired. Tortorella joined the Rangers after two seasons as an assistant with the Coyotes. Before that, he spent eight seasons with the Sabres organization: six (1989-95) as an assistant and two (1995-97) as head coach of its Rochester affiliate, which he led to the 1995-96 Calder Cup championship.

CRAIG RAMSAY

• TITLE: Associate coach
• AGE: 51

ROLE: Ramsay handles Tampa Bay's special teams and is in his second full season with the organization. He is a former Flyers coach and interim Sabres coach and had stints as an assistant with the Flyers, Sabres, Panthers and Senators. Ramsay played 14 seasons in Buffalo. His 27 shorthanded goals are still a team record as are his 1,070 games for a left wing.

JEFF REESE

• TITLE: Goaltenders coach
• AGE: 36

ROLE: In addition to working with the goalies, he is the team's eye in the sky during games. In his third season. Appeared in 174 games with the Maple Leafs, Flames, Whalers, Lightning and Devils with 53 victories. Was in net for Tampa Bay's most memorable victory: 5-4 over the Flyers in overtime during the 1996 playoffs.

JAKE GOERTZEN

• TITLE: Scouting coordinator
• AGE: 51

ROLE: Goertzen is in charge of the team's amateur scouting and runs the staff that runs the June draft. He is based in Seattle.

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