Speaker Profile

Tom Garfinkel was hired as president and chief executive officer of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium in September 2013 and was given the title of Vice Chairman in 2018. Since his hire, Garfinkel has led the business turnaround of the Dolphins, highlighted by: the initiation, creation and execution of a plan to privately fund a more than $500 million renovation of a 27-year-old stadium; the sale of more than $450 million in future contractually obligated suite and sponsorship income, including the in-house sale of naming rights to “Hard Rock Stadium,” and unprecedented ticket sales revenue growth and three years of consecutive regular season sell-outs. Tom’s operating experience includes serving as president and chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres, Chief Operating Officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Executive Vice President of Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR, IndyCar and Grand-Am racing teams. Prior to working in sports, Garfinkel held different leadership roles in sales, marketing and branding with Miller Brewing Company and Texaco, Inc. Garfinkel serves on the board of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, the Gulliver School’s Board of Trustees, and the Sports Management Advisory Board and Ross School of Business Advisory Board at the University of Michigan.