Alumnus of the Year Award

Gregory J. Heller, Law ’96
Roswell, Ga.

Greg Heller uses words such as “faith,” “hard work,” and “humility” to describe his personal formula for success. Given that he has spent more than 23 years as legal counsel to the Atlanta Braves, where he also now serves as executive vice president, his approach is clearly working.

“The Atlanta Braves are a treasured team,” he says. “My job is to protect this place and help get deals done. What an honor and privilege to do that every day.”

He credits fellow alumnus Paul Anderson, Law ’95, for alerting him to the job opening that launched his career with the Braves organization, and he calls Professor Martin Greenberg, who helped found the National Sports Law Institute at the Law School, “a huge help and influence.” An important Marquette memory is the first time Professor Carolyn Edwards called on him in Contracts class. “She taught me to always be prepared,” he says, “and how to think on my feet.”

Today, Greg serves on advisory boards for the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Indiana University, Kennesaw State University, the National Sports Law Institute, and Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia, the high school his children currently attend.

As a family man, Greg also feels the influence of his parents daily. Married for 52 years until his father’s death from cancer in 2017, his parents provided a powerful example of a life guided by faith. “My mom was a lifelong Catholic and my dad was a devout Protestant,” he said. “Despite some of their differences in beliefs, they modeled Christ’s love to the fullest and shaped who I am today.”

Fun fact: Greg’s nephew, Brady, followed him to Marquette and graduated in 2022 after running track for the Golden Eagles.

Fun fact: Greg recommends that young professionals in his field read The Art of Contract Negotiation by David Falk, Michael Jordan’s lawyer-agent.

Leave a congratulatory message for Greg!