In 2008, the Sport Marketing Association launched its annual “Veeck Address” that honors legendary sport innovator Bill Veeck. The honoree of the Veeck Address serves as a Keynote Speaker for the SMA conference. Past keynoters (see below) include some of the industry’s pioneers and lead innovators.

Matt Silverman enters his 20th season with the Tampa Bay Rays and 15th as team president. Together, he and Brian Auld lead the club’s operations both internally and externally.

Silverman returned to the team president role in the fall of 2017 after serving three seasons (2015-17) as the president of baseball operations. He was first promoted to team president in October 2005 at the age of 29, and over the next nine years guided the franchise through the most progressive growth stage in its history. At the top of the list is the revitalization of the Rays. In the fall of 2007, Silverman directed a complete organizational rebrand including a new name, colors, uniforms and logo, a bright yellow sunburst.

While steering the baseball operations department, Silverman oversaw significant leadership changes, both on the field and in the front office. During this time, he and his staff engineered 36 trades involving nearly 100 players, restocking the organization’s minor league pipeline (including the July 2017 signing of SS Wander Franco from the Dominican Republic). In December 2014, he hired Kevin Cash to become the fifth manager in Rays history. In November 2016, he then elevated Erik Neander and others within the baseball operations department. One year later, his move back to team president completed the transition of baseball leadership, passing the baton to Neander as the team’s top-ranking baseball official. Neander would eventually be recognized as MLB Executive of the Year and Cash AL Manager of the Year twice.

Silverman is board chairman of Starting Right, Now, which helps homeless high school students reach their potential. He is in his 10th year as the first chairman of the board of the Positive Coaching Alliance Tampa Bay, the regional chapter of the national nonprofit that provides youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience. He also serves on the board of the Rays Baseball Foundation.

Prior to joining the Rays, Silverman worked closely with Stuart Sternberg at Goldman Sachs and orchestrated Sternberg’s purchase of controlling interest in the franchise. In 2018, Silverman and Auld oversaw the Rays purchase of the Tampa Bay Rowdies USL soccer team, based in St. Petersburg. They now also serve as vice chairmen of the Rowdies, overseeing all franchise operations.

The Dallas native first met Auld in high school, and they graduated one year apart. He holds a bachelor of economics degree from Harvard University. Matt and his wife, Andrea, reside in St. Petersburg with their three daughters: Alexa, Samantha and Casey.

Previous Veeck Address Speakers

2022 – Shawn McIntosh, Chief Fan Officer, Charlotte Football Club
2019 – Colin Faulkner, Senior VP Sales and Marketing, Chicago Cubs
2018 – Chad Estis, Executive Vice President, Dallas Cowboys and Legends
2017 – Amy Latimer, President, TD Garden and Delaware North’s UK Operations
2016 – Len Komoroski, CEO, Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena
2015 – Mark A. Tatum, Deputy Commissioner and COO, NBA
2014 – Scott O'Neil, Chief Executive Officer, Philadelphia 76ers
2013 – Donna Orender, Former President, WNBA
2012 – Pat Williams, Senior Vice President, Orlando Magic
2011 – Jamey Rootes, President, Houston Texans
2010 – Rick Welts, President, Golden State Warriors
2009 – Bernie Mullin, Chairman And Chief Executive Officer, The Aspire Group
2008 – Bill Sutton, Former President of Team Marketing and Operations, NBA