Legacy Foundation Staff
The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation team strives daily to grow relationships with those that have been positively impacted by the venue’s iconic history.
The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation team strives daily to grow relationships with those that have been positively impacted by the venue’s iconic history.
Dedan Brozino
President, Legacy Foundation and Chief Development Officer, Rose Bowl Stadium
Dedan Brozino is the President, Legacy Foundation and Chief Development Officer, Rose Bowl Stadium, bringing sports administration experience with a heavy background in fundraising, resource acquisition, sales, and marketing to the position. Mr. Brozino is primarily responsible for developing a strategic long-range fundraising plan for the stadium and the surrounding Central Arroyo through increasing philanthropic resources and financial support through the Legacy Foundation.
Prior to coming to Pasadena, Mr. Brozino served on the Senior Administrative Staff at Long Beach State as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations, with oversight of all revenue-based activity. During his time on the coast, he managed record volumes of revenue production. His involvement in fundraising included short- and long-term major gift solicitations, stewardship and planning for more than $27 million in capital projects. Brozino also provided direct oversight of the operational and budget components for the Marketing (19 NCAA Division I sports programs), Sponsorships (Learfield Sports Properties), Ticket Sales, and Media Relations departments.
During his tenure at the Beach, LBSU’s fund development and marketing initiatives were nationally-recognized on 13 different occasions, winning major awards from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) for grassroots resource initiatives.
In addition to his fundraising and revenue directives, he also continued to develop and maintain the external communications strategy to elevate visibility and exposure for the Beach brand, which became nationally-recognized during his tenure.
Brozino also volunteers time with several community and professional organizations, including the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation (board member), First Tee of Greater Pasadena (board member), NAADD and NACMA. He is also an adjunct sport management instructor at USF and CSULB, while serving as an Advisory Committee member for the Long Beach program.
A graduate of DeSales University in Center Valley, PA where he was born and raised, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport Administration and was a member of the school’s only College World Series team. He earned his master’s degree from Long Beach State University.
A native of Pennsylvania, Brozino resides in Santa Clarita with his wife and two children.
Brian Brantley
Vice President for Advancement
Legacy Foundation
Brian Brantley, who has accumulated more than 14 years of experience in fundraising, sports marketing and sales comes to America’s Stadium from his most recent stop at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he has been the Director of Development and Individual Sport Philanthropy for the past two-plus years.
While at Cal Poly SLO, Brantley managed the annual fund and solicited major gifts for current facility campaigns including track, football and softball. During his with the Mustangs, Brantley secured the lead gift for the softball hitting facility, secured funding to send women’s basketball team on international trip to Australia, designed strategic plan and timeline for all development communications for handling both annual fund and major gifts, worked in securing scholarships for cross country and track teams.
Prior to his appointment with the Mustangs, Brantley was director of the Tiger Scholarship Fund at the University of Memphis, overseeing a $7 million annual fund and witnessing an increase in membership of over 200 people and $250,000 in funds raised.
Brantley was Assistant Director of Development for Athletics at American University in Washington, D.C., from 2011-12 and served as marketing director for the Harlem Globetrotters from 2008-09.
A graduate of Towson State (MD) with a bachelor of science degree in sports management, Brantley went on to earn his master’s degree in sports administration and facility management at Ohio University.
He served as a senior account executive for D.C. United of Major League Soccer from 2003-04 as well as for the Washington Nationals from 2004-07. Held various positions for the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.
Brian volunteers and supports the American Heart Association and the ALS Foundation. Brian is a NACDA Member and a two-time NAADD Diversity Stipend Award Winner. Bobby Purcell Athletic Development Mentoring Program Participant. Contributing author for the academic text, Event Management Blueprint: Creating and Managing Successful Sports Events.
Brian is originally from West Chester, PA.
Kelli Gill
Director of Advancement and Stewardship
Joining Legacy in Summer 2021, Gill has accumulated over two decades of experience in the sports industry guiding external personnel and departments in marketing, sales, and public-facing environments. She comes to America’s Stadium from her most recent stop at Long Beach State University where she oversaw the marketing department in conjunction with sales, community relations, social and video marketing, and overall external communications for the past seven-plus years.
“To be able to contribute my passion for people and relationships towards something as globally-iconic and important as the Rose Bowl Stadium is special,” said Gill. “This venue has created generational memories for fans from around the world, and it will be exciting to harness that energy in support of Legacy’s promise to America’s Stadium.”
Gill’s dynamic role with the Legacy Foundation as the venue’s centennial approaches will oversee items such as the continued growth of its brick program, the new Alumni Network, its donor stewardship and cultivation functions, management of the financial controls and 501c3 oversight, and special events.
Originally from Arvada, Colorado, Gill is a graduate of Regis University with a master’s degree in Sport Management from Long Beach State University.
Jens Weiden
Chief Executive Officer
Rose Bowl Operating Company
Jens Weiden currently serves at the Chief Executive Officer for the Rose Bowl Operating Company in Pasadena, California. He is responsible for managing all aspects of the Rose Bowl Stadium with prospective events, relationships with existing tenants, the financial, marketing, and operational needs of the venue and the long-term strategic planning with respect to capital improvement projects and more.
Previously, Mr. Weiden served at the Rose Bowl Operating Company’s Chief Revenue Officer from 2013-2022 until he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer / General Manager in July 2022. In that role, he was responsible for all revenue generation, including sponsorship sales, ticket sales, private event sales, golf course management, stadium tours and event booking and creation. Mr. Weiden was directly involved in facilitating multiple stadium concerts, international soccer matches, music festivals and the annual Rose Bowl Game and UCLA Football season.
Mr. Weiden came to Pasadena from the San Francisco Giants Enterprises. While with Giants Enterprises, Mr. Weiden was responsible for marketing public and private events at AT&T Park, public relations, and sponsorship sales for all non-baseball events. In his time with the Giants, he was instrumental in the development and creation of events such as AVP Beach Volleyball, America’s Cup spectator experiences, Cirque du Soleil, multiple concerts and the Giant Race.
In his time away from the office, Mr. Weiden currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the First Tee of Greater Pasadena and the Saint Mary’s College of California Rugby Alumni Association.
He graduated from Saint Mary's College of California with a degree in Communications and a minor in English in 2003. He lives in Glendale with his wife Raelene, son Parker and daughter Quincy.
Meredith Thomas
Senior Director of Communications
Rose Bowl Stadium & Legacy Foundation
Meredith Thomas currently serves as the Senior Director of Communications, Rose Bowl Stadium & Legacy Foundation. In this role, she manages all media relations, communications, community relations initiatives including website management and external and internal relations activities for America’s Stadium. Since January 2019, Thomas now serves as an extension of the Legacy Foundation team helping to better tell their story.
In her time prior to working at America’s Stadium, Thomas spent three years with Motorola Solutions where she served as the public relations lead for the North America region in the Professional Commercial Radio, Fire, Emergency Services, PremierOne and Next-Generation 911, WAVE and Utility Businesses, while providing support to the Government Segment. As a Pasadena native, Thomas also worked for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® and served as their Public Relations and Parade Media Coordinator helping to bring America’s New Year Celebration to the world on New Year’s Day.
In her time away from the office, Meredith is very involved with the work of The Salvation Army. She is active in her local church, The Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle where she participates in musical ministry opportunities through the church’s choir and brass band.
Meredith is a graduate of Trinity International University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications. She lives in Pasadena with her husband and three-year-old daughter.
James Washington
President
The Rose Bowl Institute
James Washington, an accomplished athlete and former player of the Dallas Cowboys, proudly holds the distinction of being a twotime Super Bowl Champion. In addition to his successful football career, James currently serves as the esteemed President of the NFL Alumni Southern California Chapter, overseeing its operations and contributing to its ongoing success. Furthermore, he has displayed his commitment to the betterment of society by founding Shelter37, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting and empowering at-risk youth in the Southern California region. Beyond his sporting achievements and philanthropic endeavors, James has cultivated a deep appreciation for the art of winemaking. Through extensive visits to wineries and immersive experiences in wine tasting, he developed a profound passion for the nuances and delights offered by exceptional bottles of wine. Fortuitously, James crossed paths with a Super Bowl-winning team that presented him with a remarkable opportunity to enter the wine industry, setting him on a path toward continued success and achievement.
Lauren Hall
Program Director
The Rose Bowl Institute
Lauren Hall currently serves as the Program Director for the Rose Bowl Institute, which promotes sportsmanship values to make better citizens. The institute champions the power of sports to unite people everywhere.
Hall led various aspects of the Legacy Foundation from 2015 -2019 as the Stewardship and Development lead for the Stadium’s non-profit organization in charge of preserving, protecting and enhancing the future of the Rose Bowl Stadium as a National Historic Landmark. She has had 15 years of experience in marketing, fundraising and public relations with sports entertainment organizations and top tier companies.
Before joining the Foundation, Hall was a consultant for Marketing and Public Relations for the Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC) in 2011. As the chief of staff and executive assistant to the CEO and General Manager of the Rose Bowl, Hall played a central role in the conceptualization, planning and implementation of the largest renovation project in the venue's history. In this role, Hall was also responsible for leading the communications and marketing strategies for the Rose Bowl Stadium.
Her responsibilities included ensuring brand integrity, advertising, sponsorship development and relationships, website creative and the solicitation of special events.
Prior to her start at America's Stadium, Hall worked for AEG as a project manager for the in-house creative department, managing both traditional and new media projects, clients and vendors. During her time at AEG and even after, Hall also worked as a production manager on the Amgen Tour of California for four years and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado. As a production manager she oversaw the day-to-day operations, scheduling of interviews, all facets of media from pre-production to final delivery including live web feed of the race, and budgeting.
Hall began her career in New York City with Winston West, Ltd. where she worked as an associate in-house producer for a photography agency that represented 14 photographers bi-coastally.
Hall graduated from Syracuse University and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and photography. A native of Massachusetts, Hall resides in Yorba Linda with her husband and two sons.