DAN LEHV - PRESIDENT
Dan Lehv was named President of the Steel in August, 2015. Under his guidance, the Steel have increased their attendance in every season since moving to the Fox Valley Ice Arena in 2015 while expanding their business and hockey operations. The turnaround on the ice has included two Clark Cup titles (2016-2017; 2020-2021) three Eastern Conference titles, and two Anderson Cup Championships - the USHL regular-season title.
Lehv was named the 2019-2020 Dave Tyler USHL Executive of the Year, becoming the only two-time recipient of the award following his 2012-2013 honor as President of the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Lehv joined the Steel after four successful years building the Fighting Saints, a highly respected member club of the USHL, after an eleven-year career in minor-league baseball. During his tenure as President of Dubuque, Dan established corporate and sponsor relationships, deepened the club's ties to the local hockey and business communities and established Dubuque as a viable and sustainable long-term business franchise.
During his time in baseball, Lehv excelled in sales, marketing and media for the Goldklang Group, recognized as one of the premier ownership groups in baseball. Lehv served as Assistant General Manager for the St. Paul Saints (American Association) and in media relations/broadcasting for the Charleston RiverDogs (South Atlantic League), helping to develop and implement some of the most innovative and memorable promotions in minor league baseball history. Lehv was named South Atlantic League Media Relations Director of the Year in 2004.
Lehv currently serves on the USHL's Executive Committee as well as the League's Scheduling and Investment Advisory committees. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Dan resides in Geneva with his wife, Jess, and children, Miriam and Ari.
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SCOTT FOLEY - TICKET SALES DIRECTOR
Scott Foley joined the Steel in the role of ticket sales director prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season.
Most recently, Foley served as premium account executive and corporate sales manager for the Chicago Dogs from 2018-2022 after his time with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL from 2017-2018 as well as his experience in sales with the Atlanta Hawks.
A native of Naperville, Foley got his start in the sports industry by interning in the role of fan service representative for the Chicago Bears and Northwestern Wildcats.
Foley resides in Naperville with his wife Rachel and is 'dog dad' to a Pomeranian named Korver.
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OMAR ESPINOZA - TICKET SALES MANAGER
Omar joined the Steel during the 2021-2022 season in the role of account executive before being elevated to his current role of Ticket Sales Manager.
Before joining the Steel in a full-time capacity, Omar served as a game-night intern for the beginning of the 2021-2022 season. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Addison, Ill., native earned his Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Sport and Tourism with a concentration in Sport Management. While at the University of Illinois, Omar served as President of the United Greek Council, President of his fraternity, was a mentor for first generation Latino students and participated in the Sports Business Association.
Omar currently resides in Addison.
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CHRYSTE CADA - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Chryste Cada began her role of community engagement manager at the start of the 2022-2023 season.
The St. Charles native earned her Bachelors Degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University.
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JAKE HUMMEL - GRAPHIC DESIGN/VIDEO COORDINATOR
Jake Hummel started with the Steel in the role of graphic design/video coordinator prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season.
Originally from Elburn, Hummel has worked as a graphic designer/videographer for Fresh Films film studio in Rock Island, Ill., and web project coordinator for TAG Communications after graduating from Augustana College with a bachelors degree in Business marketing, graphic design and entertainment media studies.
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ALEXIS ABELOVE - COORDINATOR, PRESENTATION AND PROMOTIONS
Alexis Abelove started with the Steel in the role of Game Presentations & Promotions Coordinator prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season.
Prior to joining the team, Abelove worked as the Director of Marketing & Operations for the Chicago Union Professional Ultimate Frisbee Team from 2020–2022, a Soccer In the Community intern for the Chicago Fire Soccer Club during 2019 and a Street Team member for the Chicago Red Stars during the 2019 season.
Abelove graduated from Aurora University in Illinois with a Bachelor's Degree in Sport Management and Exercise Science and a Master's Degree in Business Administration. She also was a 4-year member of the women's soccer team for the Spartans.
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JEFF MADIOL - ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Jeff joined the Steel in the middle of the 2022-2023 season in the role of part-time account executive before being elevated to a full-time account executive role.Prior to joining the team, Madiol worked as a box office intern for the Chicago Dogs and baseball projects intern for the American Association of Professional Baseball.
The Wheaton, Illinois native graduated from Aurora University with a bachelor's degree in Sport Management and Marketing in 2022. Then receiving a Master's Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Sport Management in 2023. He was also a 4-year member of the baseball team for Aurora.
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KATIE SACK - MERCHANDISE COORDINATOR
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MARK CITRON - BROADCASTER
Mark Citron joined the Steel prior to the 2018-2019 season. He serves as "Voice of the Steel" for all home and road games. Prior to joining the Steel, Citron served as the Rinkside Reporter with the Chicago Wolves. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native studied Communications and Marketing at The University of Tampa. While there, he worked for the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hockey Program and was the Tampa Bay Lightning High School Hockey League broadcaster for two seasons.
RUSTY - MASCOT
Rusty is the Chicago Steel's lovable canine mascot and he resides at Fox Valley Ice Arena. This loyal mutt loves to dance, play hockey, and get into all sorts of mascot mayhem! Though he's a positive and fun-loving dog, Rusty is afraid of the zamboni as he thinks it's a vacuum cleaner! Rusty not only entertains Steel fans at home games, but also makes appearances across Chicagoland year round. School functions, block parties, business expos – any place where fun and cheer are needed, Rusty can be there. Additionally, the Read with Rusty program allows young fans to earn points and prizes for completing books.
GAME NIGHT STAFF
Public Address Announcer - Jim Leo
In-Game Promotions Lead -
Head of Production/Technical Director - Eric Krueger
Music Operator - David Leith
Team Photographer - Alina Nelson
Production - Patrick Catezone
Production - Joey Dalo
Production - Debbi Denison
Production - Nick Eriksen
Production - Mark Hoskins
Production - Sean King
Production - Rebecca McManus
Production - Abby Schaetzlein
Production - Alyssa Trivet
Fan Events Team - Ethan Chiu
Fan Events Team - Madison Eichhorn
Fan Events Team - Matthew Hulsey
Fan Events Team - Philip Leung
Fan Events Team - Bryce Maddox
Fan Events Team - Jeremy Mann
Fan Events Team - Edgar Metaj
Fan Events Team - Ryan Palek
Fan Events Team - Taylor Sannito
Fan Events Team - Ian Seemann
Fan Events Team - Ryan Schmidt
Fan Events Team - Julia Scalf
Fan Events Team - Aiden Stephenson
