Executive Profile: Andy D. Appleby

Chairman, General Sports and Entertainment LLC

Since leaving his cozy executive post at Palace Sports and Entertainment to start his own company, Andrew D. Appleby has seen two of his greatest - and highest-profile - business efforts crumble to the ground.

First, Appleby watched in disbelief as the City of Troy rejected his proposal to bring to town a minor-league baseball team. Then, last year, a deal fell through to purchase the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League.

"We thought both of those were done deals," Appleby said. "But we lived to tell about it. We're here to do big things, and sometimes you take it on the chin."

For now, General Sports and Entertainment LLC is focused on doing smaller things - at least compared to owning a big league sports franchise - like managing minor-league teams and building up its AstroTurf and naming-rights arms.

General Sports last year sold the Fort Wayne Wizards, the company's first big acquisition, and drew praise from the new ownership group about the condition of the franchise.

But General Sports doesn't exist simply to rebuild minor-league franchises or spread turf across high school fields, Appleby said. He started the company with his eyes set on a big-league team.

"When you leave a job like I did, you feel like you've got to be the next Nike," Appleby said. "I didn't leave the Palace to own minor-league baseball teams. I left to own my own major-league team. I still have to find the right opportunity. Hopefully, we'll see another one that will make sense."

That's not to dismiss minor-league baseball. Appleby said it's likely General Sports will purchase another minor-league team.

And while some might have sneered at Appleby's decision to leave the Palace, he's moving forward to realize his dream.

"Some might say that wasn't a good decision‘," Appleby said. "But I couldn't have worked any harder; I couldn't have done any more good things than I have in this period of time."

INSIGHTS
Guiding principle: Do 200 positive things a day 365 days a year. It's amazing how it all comes back to you when you least expect it.
Personal hero: My wife
How do you motivate people: By empowering them to come up with the next great idea. With all that we've accomplished at General Sports, I try to set an example of what is possible.
Three greatest passions: My family, building a great company, sports
Peanut butter - crunchy or smooth? Smooth

JUDGMENT CALLS
Best business decision: Buying and selling the Fort Wayne Wizards, and starting our synthetic turf company.
Worst business decision: We've made many less-than-great decisions, but we look at most of these as the tuition for the future. We learn a lot more from these failures than the successes we have.
What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago? Work hard every day. Do not get involved with universities on business transactions.
Word that best describes you: Innovative

CONFESSIONS
What keeps you up at night? Injustice
Pet peeve: Lack of positive can-do attitude among people
Guilty pleasure: APBA baseball
First choice for a new career: General Manager, Boston Red Sox
Favorite superhero: Captain America

TREASURES
Favorite Cause: The Suite Dreams Project and the Michigan Cancer Research Fund, which I chair.
Most influential book: "Good to Great," by Jim Collins
Where do you go to get away from it all? Family cottage in the Irish Hills
Favorite restaurant: The Capital Grille
Automobile: Cadillac STS

BACKGROUND
Education: Bachelor's of science in English and health fitness and a master's in sports management from Springfield College in Springfield, Mass.
Family: Married to Kristiana; one son, Brock, and three daughters, MacCall, Avery and Quinn
Residence: Bloomfield Hills