silicon valleylocal Your Silicon Valley Connection

FALL 2012

MeetJed YorkCEO of theSan Francisco 49ers

M A G A Z I N E

Born to Make Good

Things Happen

Meet Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers

Jed York, center, with his mother, Denise DeBartolo York, and his father, John York, at his side during the New Santa Clara Groundbreaking Ceremony in April 2012.

Imagine being surrounded by a very successful family, with very successful family members, since birth. There is Jed’s grandfather, Edward DeBartolo, Sr., Chairman of his No. 1 Retail Shopping Center Corporation in the US, who for years would be his role model and mentor. There is his uncle, Eddie DeBartolo, former Owner of the 49ers, who was in the midst of a five Super Bowl Trophy run. There is his mother, Denise DeBartolo York, who as President of the Pittsburgh Penguins, was the first woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Her husband and Jed’s father, John York, is one of the pre-eminent Cancer Research Doctors in the US. The Yorks would become co-owners of the 49ers, and in December, 2008, they would proudly announce that Jed York, at 27 years of age, would lead the franchise’s daily operations moving forward. Indeed, Jed was ready for that day.

Who is Jed York? To all of you out there, if

you didn’t already know, this is not your ordinary Jed! This is not your typical, now 31-year old, NFL team owner. In just a few years, what Jed York has accomplished as CEO of the San Francisco 49ers is astonishing.

I recently met with Jed. It was very special. What he said was focused, enlightening and empowering. Listening to him seemed worthy of a two-year MBA course. We talked about last season. It was a great season. To make the playoffs was great. Of course, we were disappointed to be so close to the Super Bowl and not be able to finish the job. Important, though,

is not to dwell on that, but to reset, look ahead and prepare … and prepare they have. Jed said he doesn’t look at wins and losses, but on the progress made. Teams get into the playoffs with different records … it’s the playoffs, though, where they have that second season, that really matters, where they need to be ready and well-prepared.

You do not need to be a sports fan, a football fan or specifically a 49er fan to appreciate this story. You are living it now and Jed York is the man of the

hour.

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A young Jed York, left, with legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh and his uncle, Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr.

Jed talked about the importance of having goals, progressing in the right direction, looking at things in steps, reaching certain milestones. It’s like building a stadium; it’s a process and he would see the entire picture (the macro) and make sure each step up the ladder was accomplished (the micro). Jed’s working slogan seems to be: What will it take to make it happen and let’s make it happen.

It was a great year. The first step was naming Trent Baalke General Manager, to oversee the team’s football operations. From that point, Jed and Trent set out to find the perfect man to lead the 49ers onto the field. Jim Harbaugh was the clear-cut choice.

Last preseason, there was a labor stoppage where the coaches and players were not allowed to meet or practice together - a huge disadvantage for a new coach and system. Harbaugh took the challenge and became just the 4th head coach in NFL history to win 13 games in his rookie regular season, and the first to do so with a team who had a losing record the year before. To quote Coach Harbaugh: “Who’s got it better than us? ... Nobody!”

No time to look back, or dwell, but to reset and look forward ... time moved quickly.

The 49ers swiftly made helpful off-season acquisitions through the NFL draft and a free agency period on the eve of training camp. Jed, Trent and Jim thrive on competition. No successful team, coach or player rests on their laurels. There is competition at every position. This breeds improvement. And by the end of the 2011 season, the 49ers had reached the NFC title game and staked their claim to a spot among the NFL’s elite teams once again.

In Santa Clara, there is lots to look forward to, both on the football field, and right next to the team’s practice facility. In 2010, the team attained city approval to move forward on plans to build the world’s premium outdoor sports and entertainment venue in Santa Clara. Over the last year, the team took massive steps towards making a new Santa Clara Stadium a reality. The team secured an $850 million construction loan, $200 million in NFL funding and later broke ground in April, 2012.

It is with wonderment and excitement to see this beautiful, state-of-the-art, first ever LEED Seal, fully Wi-Fi and Electric Grid Neutral Stadium under construction. This is a sign of

The York family established the San Francisco 49ers Foundation in 1991 to serve the Bay Area community. The Foundation supports develoment programs for underserved youth that keep them, “Safe, On track and In School.”

Jed York addresses the 49ers Faithful at the team’s State of the Franchise.

how appreciative we can be of everyone’s hard work coming together. This means many more jobs (all local contractors), office buildings going from vacancies to occupancies, a new hotel rightly called The Montana, all-creating a boom to the regional economy. Remarkably, this is also the first pro football stadium to be built in California in 47 years.

It was instilled in Jed from an early age by his grandfather, to “Win With Class,” both on and off the field. It is clear that Family, Team and Community seem to blend together as one. Jed is a man of passion, compassion and a competitive desire to win. He also takes great pride, as do all the 49ers, that there is 100% participation from the organization in volunteering to help support our community, as well.

Jed also makes time in his very busy schedule to serve on the Board of Directors of two Non-Profits. One is Tipping Point, based in San Francisco. The Board covers all the operating expenses, while last year alone, $14 million was raised, which benefitted fight-against-poverty non-profit organizations. The other non-profit is the Commonwealth Club, based in both San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, which

provides a distinguished forum to hear from first-hand experts and leaders from throughout the United States and the World. Jed believes in the importance of such a forum, to be able to hear, learn and discuss important issues without political bias.

What was also grand about this last season, Jed and his wife,

Danielle, were married and then recently celebrated their one year anniversary. They were married during the labor stoppage, when Jed and no one else knew if there would even be a season. Jed needed to stay close to the 49er Headquarters, so there was no real Honeymoon. Their honeymoon happily came with their first anniversary … and a wonderful trip where both families came to enjoy it with them. A great year, indeed.

As 49er fans, we have a lot to be thankful for. A winning team inspired by a first-class coaching staff. Soon,

a state-of-the-art stadium, that will proudly showcase our 49ers team and organization, will be realized under special leadership that is being provided and driven by Jed York . Nothing can be finer than being a 49er!

Jed York congratulating QB Alex Smith in the locker room following the 49ers playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints on January 14, 2012.

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