Blazers COO Mensah Named One Of 50 Most Influential Portlanders

Portland Monthly Magazine named Portland Trail Blazers COO Sarah Mensah one of the 50 Most Influential Portlanders in its January issue, on newsstands now.
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Signature move: This 47-year-old Portland native runs the Trail Blazers’ day-to-day operations. Since 2007, Mensah helped sell out every Rose Garden game; sponsorship revenue has doubled during her tenure. She also played a key role in expunging the "Jail Blazers" era in favor of the community-focused "Rise With Us" brand revival. "Harry Glickman [the franchise founder] told me that the Blazers need to equal community involvement," she says. Mensah sits on boards for the NW Autism Foundation and All Hands Raised.

What’s next: While Blazers president Larry Miller seems like he’ll be around awhile—he appears to get along with mercurial owner Paul Allen—industry insiders predict that Mensah, the league’s highest-ranking female staffer, will become president of some NBA team in the next 10 to 15 years.
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Mike Golub, a former Blazers executive now with the Portland Timbers, was also named to the list.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

4 months ago Ben Golliver 13 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

we did you guys! we did it!

by permaswoon on Jan 21, 2012 10:05 AM PST reply actions

well that’s not what i meant to say. either way. M-V-P! M-V-P!

by permaswoon on Jan 21, 2012 10:06 AM PST up reply actions

Fire Larry, promote Sarah.

"We gotta get this $#!^ together guys!" - Phil

by 420Phenom on Jan 21, 2012 10:26 AM PST reply actions

I knew her when she was a wee lass

Her older brother and sister used to babysit me, for real.

by superfly05 on Jan 21, 2012 11:50 AM PST reply actions

she lived across the street from my parents for years. Portland sure is a small place isn’t it?

by Section323 on Jan 21, 2012 11:52 AM PST up reply actions

I really like the fact she's on the board of the NW Autism Foundation

I have noticed that the NBA in general is starting to promote autism awareness and that’s a great great thing. Most people don’t know that Oregon has the highest rate of autism in the US and my family and I appreciate Sarah for what she does for the autism community!

Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.
-- Scottie Pippen

by BlazerRoddy on Jan 21, 2012 12:24 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

My family and I appreciate it as well.

by Devyn on Jan 21, 2012 3:23 PM PST up reply actions

You'd better be smart

if your last name is MENSAH.

Come on, let's all hug it out.

by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 21, 2012 12:36 PM PST reply actions

The 'h' is the only quagmire. It doesn't seem to get in her way, however. She's been terrific for the team.

by nepo on Jan 21, 2012 1:07 PM PST up reply actions

I don't know...

…anything about Sarah Mensah other then what I have been told and what I have read. However? I give her some credit points for being quick to publically distance herself from the Portland GM search fiasco when a certain local media type tried to attach her the entire mess.

She at least knows what NOT to be involved in.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Jan 21, 2012 2:11 PM PST reply actions

And funny, that local media type was not listed in the top 50… hmmm…

by The Cactus Leaguer on Jan 21, 2012 4:11 PM PST up reply actions

what the heck does "influential" mean?

Maybe if Mensah were in favor of world peace we’d get it because she is “influential.” Or maybe she is going to finally convince everyone who still doesn’t get it that gay people have a right to marry. Or maybe she will influence our federal government to spearhead a climate protection treaty to stop global warming. That would be some serious influencing!

I guess maybe she just isn’t that influential. After all this is just the top fifty and maybe she’s number 49.

Ok I changed my signature. Do you like it better now?

by scaredcow on Jan 21, 2012 5:52 PM PST reply actions

I'm a Sarah fan.

It’s been my experience she attends events, and listens to fans. She’s successful because she pays attention to the what goes on around her, in the world, not just the NW. I give her props for having patience with the men who dont exactly make her job easy with the same plan year after year x 4.

Sarah you go girl !

just win baby !

by FrenchieFan on Jan 22, 2012 9:32 AM PST reply actions