John Montalbano -- Director of Business Operations

John is entering his third season with the Steel; second as Director of Business Operations. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa with Business Marketing and Communications degrees.

John is responsible for obtaining and renewing sponsorships and corporate partnerships, box office management, as well as marketing and promotional efforts, and public relations. John also assists in all ticket sales efforts and game day operations. Montalbano is also in charge of updating and maintaining the Steel website.

johnm@chicagosteelhockeyteam.com
Office Phone: (630) 594-1162







 

Katie Sack -- Assistant to the GM/Director of Gameday Operations

The longest-tenured member of the Steel staff, Katie Sack enters her fifth season with the team. For the first three, she served as a marketing intern. This season, she continues the overseeing of all the Steel's Gameday Operations, including -- but not limited to -- group ticketing, birthday party management, gameday staff coordination, and referee hospitality. Katie is a native of Plainfield and is studying marketing at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she was a captain of the school's cheer squad, leading them to a 4th Place finish at Nationals in 2006.

ksack@chicagosteelhockeyteam.com
Office: (630) 594-1159








 

Rob Newburg -- Director of Ticket and Corporate  Sales

The Chicago Steel are pleased to announce the hiring and addition of Rob Newburg as Director of Ticket and Corporate Sales.

Newburg brings with him an impressive sports background focused in hockey.  Rob has worked in the sports industry for the past six years working for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2002-2006 as the Youth Hockey Director and a ticket sales executive. After leaving the Wolves, Rob took the position of Director of Ticket Sales and Game Day Operations with the now defunct Chicago Hounds of the United Hockey League (UHL). Rob has also worked with many local travel hockey and house league hockey programs as well as the Chicago Shamrox, of the National Indoor Lacrosse League (NLL).

With the Steel, Newburg will be in charge of ticket sales: individual, group and season tickets, assisting the front office in all marketing and advertising efforts, and obtaining corporate sponsorships for the team. 

Rob@chicagosteelhockeyteam.com

Office Phone: (630) 594-1165

Mike Romano - B2/Radio Broadcaster

Mike Romano is beginning his eighth season as the Chicago Steel play-by-play announcer and has been calling the Steel games since their inaugural season.

Mike is not only a veteran USHL broadcaster but is a lifetime hockey player. At first a forward, he switched to playing goalie in high school. Among his accomplishments, Mike earned the starting goalie position at Bradley University in his sophomore year, and started all but three games over the next three seasons, until he graduated in 1973. Mike led the Bradley Braves to their first league title in the ’70-71 season and sported a 2.43 GAA and a 13-3-3 record, which is still the best single season winning percentage ever by a BU goalie.

The “behind the mic” Mike, did some baseball play-by-play at Bradley, but put his announcing career on hold to join his family’s fourth generation distribution business which he ran until he sold it in 2002.

Mike resumed the pursuit of is childhood dream of being a hockey broadcaster by auditioning for the vacant Steel job in 2001 and has been the “Voice of the Steel” ever since.

Mike will always be grateful to Steel principals, Bruce Liimatainen and Mike Greenberg for giving him the opportunity to fulfill his fondest wish of calling the action of the world’s greatest game.

Mike resides in the western suburbs of the Chicago area with his wife of 27 years and their four children.

You can contact mike here.


RJ Bosworth - Intern

R.J. is currently a senior at Columbia College Chicago majoring in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management with a concentration in Sports Management.  He joins the Chicago Steel staff as an intern for the 2007-2008 season, with the hope to gain knowledge and experience in the sports industry.  He currently resides in Justice, IL.

Vito Abbinante - Public Address Announcer

A true artist, Vito has been the real “Voice of the Steel” for the past 4+ years. In addition to announcing, Vito also runs the game day music, light show, occasionally performs the national anthem, is often spotted as the mascot for off ice appearances, and is a self proclaimed “Technological Genius”.  

Before working with the Steel, Vito had put together a long resume of underachieving and uselessness. He does, however, have a full 2 semesters under his belt at DeVry University, and is often referred to as “The Man” by friends and colleagues.  

Vito’s favorite show is “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”, and after a long day of being awesome, he likes to curl up with thought provoking books like “The Stinky Cheese Man”, and “Calvin & Hobbes”.

He currently resides in Itasca, IL. Feel free to stalk him via email here.