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Doing Well While Doing Good: How TUMI Makes the Connection
Steele Ford has served for 10 years at ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since 2014, he has led the Strategic Partnerships team at ALSAC, most recently as Senior Vice President. He is responsible for advancing key strategies for cause marketing, sponsorship, campaigns and promotions, and employee engagement programs. Steele’s team had doubled its annual revenue from just over $100M to almost $200M during his 5 year tenure as Senior Vice President.
Today, more than 100 of America’s most recognized brands partner with St. Jude to drive critical funds and awareness for the hospital’s lifesaving mission. In addition, Steele and his team have forged multiple partnerships with professional sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, PGA and the LPGA. Also, during his tenure, the Strategic Partnerships team has grown their workplace giving program to include more than 1,600 companies.
Prior to joining ALSAC, Steele served as Executive Director of Harbor of Health, a primary care clinic and wellness center developed in coordination with a national demonstration project for healthcare improvement. During his tenure, Harbor of Health achieved a No.1 national ranking in patient satisfaction by the American Academy of Family Physicians’ prestigious TransforMed program. Steele started his career with the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, where he advanced to the position of Assistant General Manager. While with the Redbirds, he supervised the baseball and ballpark operations for the team and nationally-recognized AutoZone Park.
A native of Wilson, Arkansas, Steele graduated with honors from Rhodes College with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He also holds a Master of Science in Sport and Leisure Commerce from the University of Memphis. He and his wife Megan are the proud parents of two daughters; Merrill (16) and Lydia (12).