Penguins hire new president
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As a boy in the 1970s, David Morehouse snuck into the Civic Arena to watch the Penguins. He figures in a pinch he could finagle entry into what is now called Mellon Arena.
"I think I could still do it -- in this arena. In the new arena, you won't be able to sneak in," Morehouse said yesterday.
Not that he'll need to be surreptitious anymore.
Morehouse, 46 and a Beechview native, was named president of the Penguins after spending the past 2 1/2 years as the team's senior consultant in its quest for a new arena.
Last month, the team reached a deal for the new facility, which will be built across Centre Avenue from Mellon Arena. Morehouse will be heavily involved with the redevelopment of the Mellon Arena site, governmental affairs and corporate relations. The ticket sales, marketing, corporate sales and communications departments also will fall under his watch.
Ken Sawyer had served as president and CEO since owner Mario Lemieux stepped down as CEO more than a year ago. Sawyer remains the CEO. Lemieux, Ron Burkle and several minority partners decided to retain ownership of the club after the arena deal.
Morehouse's background is heavy in politics. He was a senior advisor to the Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, including serving as Kerry's traveling chief of staff. He worked in the Bill Clinton-Al Gore White House, at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill for much of the 1990s. He was senior counselor to vice president Gore from 1999-2001.
"I always thought I'd be working for a president, but not of a major sports franchise," Morehouse said. "But this is much better."
Morehouse worked with Penguins ownership and management during its arena negotiations, but said joining the Penguins in a permanent capacity didn't come up until after the deal was struck.
It's a heady job for someone who began his higher education at CCAC-Allegheny and his political career as a motorcade driver.
"It's going to be very rewarding," Morehouse said of his new job. "Growing up in Pittsburgh and knowing the challenges the Penguins have faced the last few years, and knowing that we have an arena deal in place and the opportunity to build a world-class facility. And the team's performing unbelievably well. And then the 20-acre development -- it could be a catalyst for much greater things for the region."
Morehouse is a graduate of South Hills Catholic High School (now Seton-LaSalle). After CCAC, he attended Duquesne University. From 1997-98, he was deputy director of D.A.R.E. America, the worldwide drug prevention program.
He received a master's degree in public administration from Harvard in 1999 and worked as the deputy director of executive education at Harvard's John F. Kennedy school of government from 2001-03.
Morehouse's appointment as Penguins president means he'll still be dealing with politicians, as well as working for a team he grew up admiring.
"It's a dream come true for a kid from Pittsburgh," he said. "It's a dream job. It gets me out of politics and into an honest living."
The Penguins pared their organization a few years ago in anticipation of the work stoppage that wiped out the 2004-05 season, but they are ready to branch out again.
"We're going to move from a phase of consolidation pre-lockout and lockout to a much broader expansion-based strategy," Morehouse said. "We're going to have to build this arena. We're going to have to expand our presence in the community and the corporate community."
His new job will bring him into contact with many people from various walks. They shouldn't expect him to divulge tips on sneaking into Mellon Arena.
"I did it a number of different ways, but I can't give away my secrets," he said, "in case I still have to get into games."
Steve Mellon, Post-GazetteDavid Morehouse
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First Published April 5, 2007 12:00 am
