Portland Trail Blazers President Larry Miller has been named the country’s Most Playful CEO in a nationwide search for inventive leaders who incorporate play and innovation into the work environment to encourage collaboration and teamwork. Miller joined the Trail Blazers in 2007, moving to the organization after 10 years at Nike, where he was responsible for the company’s global basketball business. According to the nomination, since becoming president of the Portland Trail Blazers, he has started new traditions for the company to help bring levity to the workplace with an emphasis on balancing work and life.
“We had an amazing and playful group of nominees and finalists,” said Playworks’ Board Chair Randy Drake, Senior Vice President of Fitness for 24 Hour Fitness and head of the selection committee. “However, Larry stood out in his success at changing the culture in the workplace to recognize that his business can be about both sport and play. He has refocused the Trail Blazer’s culture to recognize hard work, while still extraordinarily committed to building a more playful and active environment. I truly believe the example he sets has enabled people to maintain a better life balance while still performing at their peak.”