Alma takes her shot

WORDS BY AMY MARIE OROZCO

In simple terms, Alma Angeles’ career is a small-town-girl-makes-good one. For one, the Carpinteria High School class of 2000 graduate has worked and lived in London, New York, and Los Angeles during her business travels to the four corners of the world. Another, Earvin “Magic” Johnson was her boss. Nowadays it’s Michael Jordan, NBA Charlotte Hornets owner.

Alma’s title is Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the North Carolina team. Meaning she is head of corporate revenue, oversees a team of 12, and is the highest-ranking Latina on the revenue side of the NBA business.

Born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to immigrant parents and raised in Carpinteria, Alma says sports were her extracurricular activity. “I can’t say I was a straight A student. I got the grades so I could play sports,” Alma explains. She played basketball at the Boys & Girls Club and as a freshman at Carpinteria High School, then switched to soccer and track and field, the 200- and 400-yard dashes, until she hurt her knee senior year.

She thought she’d be sidelined but her coach, Van Latham, thought not. “He said, ‘You’re not walking away. We’ll find a place for you. I really want you to be involved. Give it a try,’” the NBA executive recalls. “It” referring to shot put and discus. “He spoke to the heart of athletics.” That kind of nurturing — along with the Boys & Girls Club and other opportunities like Astro Camp — Alma credits to growing up in a small town.

After graduating from Cal State University, Northridge with a bachelor of science in exercise physiology, she interned at a sports marketing firm. Jobs with PRIMETIME Sports Agency, WNBA LA Sparks, Major League Soccer, and COPA90 global football media brand followed, and then a headhunter recruited her for the Hornets.

The work schedule in professional sports is 24/7 including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays, allowing for a visit home at least twice a year. Though not a fan of the long hours or being away from her close friends and family (whom she thanks for her strong work ethic), Alma enjoys living in Charlotte. “It has the vibe of Carp. Familiar faces and a hometown feeling. It’s a big town though.”

She remembers thinking of Carpinteria as small and limiting while growing up; today she counts her blessings and says, “That little town gave me backbone. That ‘Warrior spirit never dies’ is so instilled in me.”