Jim Kahler has been the executive director of the sports business specialization in the W. P. Carey MBA and a lecturer in the department of marketing since 2002. His teaching interests include sports business marketing, customer relationship management in sports, sports sponsorship activities, recruiting and retaining top performers, economic impact of sports events, and organizational structures for sports organizations.

Kahler came to the W. P. Carey School from the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) and Rockers (WNBA), where he was senior vice president of sales and marketing. He was named to that position in November 1991 and was responsible for ticket, corporate and broadcast sales, as well as marketing and public relations for the Cavs / Gund Arena Company. During these years his responsibilities included the development of MAC Properties and Gund Sports Marketing, two subsidiaries of the organization that focused on collegiate sports marketing and sponsorship sales for the Mid-American Conference, Miami University and Bowling Green State University.

Previously Kahler was director of marketing for the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, director of marketing for the St. Louis Arena, and vice president of sales and marketing for SRO/PACE in Chicago.

Kahler received a B.A. in Business Administration from Xavier University in 1980 and a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University . He was honored in 1994 with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Ohio University Sports Administration Program. This award has been given annually since 1982 and is the program’s highest honor. He has remained actively involved with Ohio University as a guest lecturer, an alumni advisory board member, and is currently the chairman of the Ohio University Sports Administration Host Program. This program was designed to build a bridge between sports administration alumni and Ohio University ’s development team.

Kahler is a member of the board of trustees at St. Edward High School, a member of the steering committee for the National Sports Forum and Vice President of Industry Relations for the Sports Marketing Association. He was also recently named to the editorial board of The Migala Report, a world wide publication providing best practices to the sports business industry. He also served a three-year term (1997–2000) on the NBA Marketing Advisory Committee. Kahler also taught a class at Cleveland State University, guest-lectured at John Carroll University and served on the editorial review board for Sports Marketing Quarterly.

Kahler served on the ASU women’s basketball marketing committee (2002-2003), advised the Fiesta Bowl economic impact study team (2002-2003), and participated in the economic impact study for the Phoenix Open (2002-2003).

Jim and his wife, Katie, have four children - Peter, Meaghan, Jimmy and Caitlin.