Ron Terwilliger
Encyclopedia
J. Ronald Terwilliger (born September 1941) is the Chief Executive Officer of Trammell Crow Residential. He is primarily known for being the principal owner of the Atlanta Dream
, a franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA).
in 1963 with honors. After serving five years in the United States Navy, he attended Harvard University
where he received his MBA with High Distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Business, and was elected a Baker Scholar. Terwilliger has two children, both girls. He has two granddaughters and two grandsons, his first grandchild being born in 1998.
Terwilliger serves as a Director of the Naval Academy Foundation, Subcommittee Chairman of the Naval Academy Athletic Committee and served as Chairman of the National Association of Homebuilders Multifamily Leadership Board.
. In 1998, he also was elected as the Head of the Urban Land Institute
, a nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members, where he held his position as Chair until 2001.
Terwilliger's largest philanthropic efforts have gone towards helping Habitat for Humanity International
. He has served on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity since October of 2000, and appointed chair of the board in 2007, holding the highest-ranking volunteer position within the organization worldwide, and also the largest individual donor of all past and current board members, having cumulatively donated $3 million up to that point. In 2009, Terwilliger donated again to Habitat for Humanity, in the sum of $100 million, making it the largest donation from an individual in Habitat for Humanity's history. His donation went towards helping an estimated 60,000 low-income families around the world to improve their housing, and also towards establishing the J. Ronald Terwilliger Leveraged Impact Fund, which makes annual distributions to help support affordable-housing efforts.
As part of his charitable contribution towards the organization, he has travelled extensively with them to Asian Tsunami-affected areas in Thailand
and Indonesia
, and also to help with the hurricane damage in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
, bailing out after losses exceeded $1 million. Terwilliger also led an investment group that made a bid for ownership of the Atlanta Braves
in 2006.
Terwilliger is primarily known for being the principal owner of the Atlanta Dream, a franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).In 2007, Terwilliger was approached by a committee wanting to bring a WNBA franchise to Atlanta. Terwillinger began exploring the idea and in October 2007 in a press conference in Atlanta, WNBA President Donna Orender
named Terwillinger the owner of the franchise that was to become the Atlanta Dream.
Terwilliger paid $1 million upfront for the Dream. He will pay another $1 million between 2009 and 2012 and pay $8 million in annual installments beginning in 2012.
Since his investment in the WNBA, the city of Atlanta has had the highest TV ratings for WNBA games over the last few seasons, according to its president, Donna Orender.
Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2008 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Dream Too LLC, which is composed of two Atlanta...
, a franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA).
Background
Terwilliger graduated from the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1963 with honors. After serving five years in the United States Navy, he attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he received his MBA with High Distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Business, and was elected a Baker Scholar. Terwilliger has two children, both girls. He has two granddaughters and two grandsons, his first grandchild being born in 1998.
Career
Since 1986, he has been the head of Trammell Crow Residential, the largest developer of multi-family housing in the United States. His tenure as Chief Executeive officer at the company lasted from 1986 until 2008. At Crow Residential, Terwilliger is responsible for all residential development and operations conducted there, in 23 offices throughout the United States.Chairs/Boards
Ronald Terwilliger was elected as Chairman of the board at Enterprise Community Partners, Inc on June 23, 2010, succeeding Norman Rice. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Enterprise Community Partners since 2007, and as of 2010 serves as co-chair of the Enterprise Real Estate Leadership Council. Terwilliger is also the chairman emeritus of Trammell Crow Residential. He has also served as Chairman Emeritus for the Wharton Real Estate Center. Additionally, he also served as Chairman of Urban Land Institute where he currently serves on the Governance Committee, and as Chairman of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership. He has served as Vice Chairman on the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity.Terwilliger serves as a Director of the Naval Academy Foundation, Subcommittee Chairman of the Naval Academy Athletic Committee and served as Chairman of the National Association of Homebuilders Multifamily Leadership Board.
Awards
Terwilliger received the Hearthstone Builder Humanity Award in 2006 for his commitment to housing related charities. In 2008, he was elected into the National Association of Homebuilder's Hall of Fame in recognition of his efforts to advance housing opportunities for all Americans. He also has received the ULI Atlanta Community Achievement Award and the ORT Award.Philanthropy
One of Terwilliger's philanthropic contributions includes his charitable efforts in the city of Atlanta together with Mayor Shirley FranklinShirley Franklin
Shirley Clarke Franklin is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and served as mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from 2002 to 2010...
. In 1998, he also was elected as the Head of the Urban Land Institute
Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute, or ULI, is a non-profit research and education organization with offices in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and London...
, a nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members, where he held his position as Chair until 2001.
Terwilliger's largest philanthropic efforts have gone towards helping Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat For Humanity International , generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat, is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing, a self-described "Christian housing ministry." The international...
. He has served on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity since October of 2000, and appointed chair of the board in 2007, holding the highest-ranking volunteer position within the organization worldwide, and also the largest individual donor of all past and current board members, having cumulatively donated $3 million up to that point. In 2009, Terwilliger donated again to Habitat for Humanity, in the sum of $100 million, making it the largest donation from an individual in Habitat for Humanity's history. His donation went towards helping an estimated 60,000 low-income families around the world to improve their housing, and also towards establishing the J. Ronald Terwilliger Leveraged Impact Fund, which makes annual distributions to help support affordable-housing efforts.
As part of his charitable contribution towards the organization, he has travelled extensively with them to Asian Tsunami-affected areas in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and also to help with the hurricane damage in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Sports
Terwilliger describes himself as a "sports nut". He played baseball and basketball at the Naval Academy, and he currently serves a subcommittee chair of the Naval Academy's Athletic Committee. He has also owned the Atlanta Attack, a franchise of the Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
, bailing out after losses exceeded $1 million. Terwilliger also led an investment group that made a bid for ownership of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 2006.
Terwilliger is primarily known for being the principal owner of the Atlanta Dream, a franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).In 2007, Terwilliger was approached by a committee wanting to bring a WNBA franchise to Atlanta. Terwillinger began exploring the idea and in October 2007 in a press conference in Atlanta, WNBA President Donna Orender
Donna Orender
Donna Orender is a sports executive and a former collegiate and professional basketball player. She was recently president of the WNBA. She grew up on Long Island, New York and was a five-sport athlete in high school, lettering in basketball, field hockey, volleyball, softball, and tennis. She is...
named Terwillinger the owner of the franchise that was to become the Atlanta Dream.
Terwilliger paid $1 million upfront for the Dream. He will pay another $1 million between 2009 and 2012 and pay $8 million in annual installments beginning in 2012.
Since his investment in the WNBA, the city of Atlanta has had the highest TV ratings for WNBA games over the last few seasons, according to its president, Donna Orender.