Billy McGehee
Biography
Billy McGehee is the Founder of BME Global Network, a division of Billy McGehee Enterprises, LLC, which specializes in networking People and Business globally.
Prior to starting BME Global Network in 2010, Billy McGehee spent over twenty-
Mr. McGehee served as President/CEO and Governor of the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) and the Ice Palace (now Amalie Arena) for two years, 1998-
He is one of the founding members of the group that established the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators in 1991. Billy McGehee later served as General Manager for both the New Orleans and Nashville Arena Football League Franchises, as well as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Operations for the five time World Champion Tampa Bay Storm Arena Franchise. In 1998, Billy McGehee was awarded the Arena Football League’s Founders Award, which is given annually to the individual and or company who have contributed most to the growth and image of the Arena Football League. Additionally, from 2000 until 2006, Mr. McGehee assisted Ownership groups in Atlanta, Raleigh, Miami and Charlotte with their respective sports franchises.
A former world ranked professional tennis player, Billy McGehee opened WM Sports Enterprises, LLC in 1983, which specialized in the acquisition, promotion and management of international sporting events. From 1983 – 1991 WM Sports Enterprises owned, operated and managed over fifty (50) major sporting events including: Bjorn Borg’s and Chris Evert’s Retirement Nights, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander exhibition matches, the Women’s WTA World Doubles Championships, The Grand Champions Senior Tennis Tour events, an NBA All-
In 2007, Mr. McGehee partnered with one of Tampa Bay’s leading private equity funds and in 2009 took over the marketing and branding of a deregulated energy supply company purchased by the fund which was based in Danbury, Connecticut. Today, Crius Energy is one of the largest deregulated energy supply companies providing deregulated energy to hundreds of thousands of residential and small business customers throughout the United States.
In 2001, just weeks after the September 11 attacks, Billy McGehee started a charitable organization with the vision of utilizing the strength of our Athletes and the power of our sports system to help all Americans to become better educated, trained and prepared for all types of emergencies, whether natural or manmade. Today, ATHLETES FOR AMERICA.org, a 501(c) (3) charity, travels across the United States training high school, collegiate, amateur and professional Athletes in the lifesaving skills of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Billy McGehee was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1954. He attended Louisiana State University on a four year athletic scholarship and was a playing member of the 1976 SEC Championship tennis team. He resides in Fort Myers, Florida with his wife Pamela.