Ted Leonsis, vice chairman of AOL LLC, gave the first Whiting-Turner lecture of the spring semester. Photo by Al Santos.

Abstract
Shift happens. That's the theme of Internet pioneer and AOL Vice Chairman Ted Leonsis's talk. Consumers’ needs are shifting—they want more control over their lives, their content, their expressions; how they consume is shifting; where they live and what they do online is shifting. The Internet isn't a new media anymore. It is the media. Leonsis will talk about the new rules of the road going forward: the shift in power to the consumer, and how Internet companies and their technology programs can succeed.

Biography
Ted Leonsis, vice chairman of AOL LLC, serves as a strategist and visionary for AOL, focusing on the transformation of AOL into a company that is driving some of the most exciting Web 2.0 technologies. He also oversees a unit focused on how AOL interacts with consumers and protects their privacy.

Leonsis is a pioneer of the Internet and new media, a sports team owner, and an innovator in the world of philanthropy.

He has been with AOL for 13 years and is credited with positioning AOL as a major media company and inventing the successful channel programming model.

As head of AOL's core service, Leonsis became known as AOL's "champion of the member," delivering a world-class experience for AOL's members. He led efforts to develop cutting-edge products and programming across the company's dial-up, broadband, wireless, and voice services.

Prior to joining AOL, Leonsis founded and was CEO of Redgate Communications Corp., considered the first new-media marketing company, participated in launches of the Apple Macintosh, the IBM PC and Wang office automation, and founded four computing magazines.

As majority owner of National Hockey League's Washington Capitals, Leonsis has employed state-of-the-art consumer and interactive initiatives to dramatically boost the Capitals' attendance and revenue. He is a minority shareholder in the National Basketball Association's Washington Wizards with future purchase rights to the team and to Verizon Center in Washington. In addition, Leonsis' investor group owns and operates the Washington Mystics, a franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association.

Leonsis is a former mayor of Orchid, Florida, and sits on the boards of Georgetown University and several charities, where he has used the interactive medium to encourage greater volunteerism and involvement. Recently, he received an Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award from Time Warner, AOL's parent company. Leonsis was named one of the 25 most powerful people in sports by Sporting News and businessman of the year by Washington Business Journal.