Shelly Cayette-Weston
President of Business Operations of Hornets Sports & Entertainment

Shelly Cayette-Weston is in her second season as the President of Business Operations for the NBA's Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE). In this role, she oversees the day-to-day business operations for all HSE properties, including the Charlotte Hornets, Greensboro Swarm, and the newly renovated Spectrum Center that hosts over 125 annual events. She brings nearly two decades of impactful, relationship-driven leadership in sports and entertainment, with a reputation for setting vision, building trust, and driving sustainable growth.

Prior to joining HSE, Cayette-Weston was Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where she made history as the first Black woman to hold the CCO title for an NBA franchise. During her 12 year tenure with the Cavaliers, she was responsible for global partnerships, ticketing, premium hospitality, client experience, and commercial innovation acrong the Cavaliers, Lake Erie Monsters (AHL), Cleveland Charge (NBA G League), and Cavs Legion GC (NBA 2K League).

Under her leadership, the Cavaliers became one of the NBA's top-performing revenue franchises over the past decade. She led transformative initiatives including the launch of a dedicated client engagement team, securing jersey patch partnerships, major arena renovations, development of a new practice facility, international business strategy, and the expansion of youth sports outreach-creating lasting impact for the organization, its partners. and the broader community. A committed civic leader, Cayette-Weston served on multiple boards, including Cuyahoga Community College, College Now, the Commission on Economic Inclusion, and the American Heart Association.

She began her NBA career with the New Orleans Hornets, working across marketing. community investment, and corporate partnerships, and started her professional career at Caesars Entertainment in database marketing and advertising.Cayette-Weston earned a Bachelor's degree from Tulane University, where she competed on the women's varsity basketball team. In 2024, she was inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame and received the Don and Lora Peters Career Achievement Award. She was also named Crain's Cleveland Business Forty Under 40(2019), Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40(2021), and Sports Business Journal Game Changer (2019).

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Shelly and her husband, Aron, are the proud parents of two daughters, Ivy Grace and Averie Marie.

Hornets Sports & Entertainment

Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) owns the Charlotte Hornets and the Greensboro Swarm (NBA G League), and operates Spectrum Center, the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas. Charlotte’s first professional sports team, the Hornets joined the NBA in 1988 and are a member of the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division. HSE is committed to positively impacting the Carolinas through community programming and the Charlotte Hornets Foundation.

Spectrum Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary and reopened following a two-phased renovation as a fully transformed world-class arena in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. Through the years, Spectrum Center has hosted nearly 2,500 events and has welcomed more than 24 million guests. Directly across from Spectrum Center, the state-of-the-art Novant Health Performance Center is being built to enhance player development and foster a culture of...

Shelly Cayette-Weston President of Business Operations of Hornets Sports &amp; Entertainment <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-cayette-7544946/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shelly Cayette-Weston</a> is in her second season as the President of Business Operations for the NBA's Hornets Sports &amp; Entertainment (HSE). In this role, she oversees the day-to-day business operations for all HSE properties, including the Charlotte Hornets, Greensboro Swarm, and the newly renovated Spectrum Center that hosts over 125 annual events. She brings nearly two decades of impactful, relationship-driven leadership in sports and entertainment, with a reputation for setting vision, building trust, and driving sustainable growth. Prior to joining HSE, Cayette-Weston was Executive Vice President &amp; Chief Commercial Officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where she made history as the first Black woman to hold the CCO title for an NBA franchise. During her 12 year tenure with the Cavaliers, she was responsible for global partnerships, ticketing, premium hospitality, client experience, and commercial innovation acrong the Cavaliers, Lake Erie Monsters (AHL), Cleveland Charge (NBA G League), and Cavs Legion GC (NBA 2K League). Under her leadership, the Cavaliers became one of the NBA's top-performing revenue franchises over the past decade. She led transformative initiatives including the launch of a dedicated client engagement team, securing jersey patch partnerships, major arena renovations, development of a new practice facility, international business strategy, and the expansion of youth sports outreach-creating lasting impact for the organization, its partners. and the broader community. A committed civic leader, Cayette-Weston served on multiple boards, including Cuyahoga Community College, College Now, the Commission on Economic Inclusion, and the American Heart Association. She began her NBA career with the New Orleans Hornets, working across marketing. community investment, and corporate partnerships, and started her professional career at Caesars Entertainment in database marketing and advertising.Cayette-Weston earned a Bachelor's degree from Tulane University, where she competed on the women's varsity basketball team. In 2024, she was inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame and received the Don and Lora Peters Career Achievement Award. She was also named Crain's Cleveland Business Forty Under 40(2019), Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40(2021), and Sports Business Journal Game Changer (2019). A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Shelly and her husband, Aron, are the proud parents of two daughters, Ivy Grace and Averie Marie. Hornets Sports &amp; Entertainment Hornets Sports &amp; Entertainment (HSE) owns the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/hornets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlotte Hornets</a> and the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/greensboro-swarm-nbadl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greensboro Swarm</a> (NBA G League), and operates Spectrum Center, the premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas. Charlotte’s first professional sports team, the Hornets joined the NBA in 1988 and are a member of the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division. HSE is committed to positively impacting the Carolinas through community programming and the Charlotte Hornets Foundation. Spectrum Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary and reopened following a two-phased renovation as a fully transformed world-class arena in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. Through the years, Spectrum Center has hosted nearly 2,500 events and has welcomed more than 24 million guests. Directly across from Spectrum Center, the state-of-the-art Novant Health Performance Center is being built to enhance player development and foster a culture of...

CEOs You Should Know, is a monthly podcast that spotlights CEOs from area businesses and introduces you to the person behind the success of these businesses in our communities.

CEOs You Should Know, is a monthly podcast that spotlights CEOs from area businesses and introduces you to the person behind the success of these businesses in our communities.

CEOs You Should Know - Charlotte

Shelly Cayette-Weston
President of Business Operations of Hornets Sports &amp; Entertainment

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-cayette-7544946/ is in her second season as the President of Business Operations for the NBA's Hornets Sports &amp;...

Shelly Cayette-Weston - President of Business Operations of Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/98a2599f-cd9b-4f2a-9be4-b22c00e585f2/clips/c4db043b-f254-4308-afe8-b460014cf6ed/transcript