Customers, business partners, employees and members of Houston’s professional sports community gathered at B&B Butchers on Wednesday, September 16, for an evening of conversation and connection.

Approximately 140 guests attended the cocktail reception, including customers and staff along with Houston Dash players, coaches, team personnel and executives. Eddie Barajas welcomed the group, followed by remarks from Jessica O’Neill, President of Business Operations for the Houston Dynamo Football Club, and Angela Hucles Mangano, President of Women’s Soccer for the Houston Dash.

Jessica oversees business operations for the Dynamo and Dash, as well as Shell Energy Stadium and Houston Sports Park. Angela brings the perspective of both an athlete and an executive. A two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. Women’s National Team, she later served as General Manager of Angel City FC before joining the Dash.

The evening’s featured speaker was former WNBA head coach and general manager Pokey Chatman, whose career has spanned college, professional and international basketball. A standout player at LSU before moving into coaching, Pokey led LSU to three consecutive Final Four appearances and later coached professionally in the WNBA and Europe. As head coach and general manager of the Chicago Sky, she led the franchise to its first WNBA Finals appearance in 2014.

Drawing on that experience, Pokey spoke about a principle that translates easily from sports to business: “Clarity Is a Competitive Advantage.” She explored how leaders and high performers create clarity under pressure, and how that clarity can sharpen decision-making, strengthen alignment and drive consistent execution. She brought those ideas together through a framework she calls “The Starting Five.”

Also joining the evening was Kealia Ohai-Watt, who holds a special place in Dash history. The University of North Carolina standout was selected second overall in the 2014 NWSL College Draft, becoming the first collegiate player selected in the new franchise’s history. Kealia went on to captain the team and earned NWSL Best XI honors in 2016.

The evening offered a chance for customers, colleagues, athletes and sports leaders to spend time together away from the office and the field—and Pokey’s message gave the group something useful to take with them: under pressure, clarity about what matters and what comes next can be an advantage anywhere.

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Magellan welcomed former Major League Baseball All-Star Curtis Granderson to our Chicago headquarters on Thursday, September 3, for a Lunch & Learn conversation that covered baseball, leadership, community service and some memorable moments from a remarkable career.

Leading the conversation was Magellan friend Chuck Swirsky, the longtime radio play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bulls. An award-winning broadcaster whose Chicago sports career stretches back more than four decades, Chuck proved to be an ideal interviewer, drawing out stories from both Granderson’s years in baseball and the work that has occupied much of his time away from the field.

Granderson, a Chicago-area native and graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2002 and went on to a 16-year Major League career that included three All-Star selections and stops with the Tigers, Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Brewers and Marlins. He is also one of only four players in MLB history to record at least 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season.

But much of the conversation focused on things that don’t appear in a box score.

Asked about leadership and what makes a great manager, Granderson emphasized the importance of up-front communication—even when that communication involves delivering a message someone may not want to hear. Players, like employees anywhere, benefit from knowing where they stand and what is expected of them.

Chuck also asked Granderson about his “it moment”—the point when making it to the Major Leagues truly felt real. Granderson’s answer brought him back home.

Both of his parents were educators in the Chicago Public Schools system and couldn't simply leave their classrooms when their son was first called up by Detroit. Instead, they waited until the Tigers came to Chicago. There, at U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox, with his parents and a large contingent of family and friends watching, Granderson recorded his first Major League hit. The White Sox even marked the occasion on the scoreboard for the visiting rookie.

Granderson also spoke about an honor that remains especially meaningful to him: receiving Major League Baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award in 2016. The award recognizes the player who best represents baseball through character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field. Reflecting on the example set by his parents and the lessons he absorbed from them growing up, Granderson talked about learning “why giving back matters.” Of the Clemente Award, he told the group simply, it “means everything to me.”

That commitment has become a major part of Granderson’s life. He established what was originally known as the Grand Kids Foundation in 2007, supporting educational, athletic, health and wellness opportunities for young people. He also personally donated $5 million toward the baseball complex at UIC that bears his name. Today, the Chicago Baseball & Educational Academy at UIC provides free baseball and softball instruction, educational programming and mentorship opportunities and has served more than 25,000 Chicago youth since 2016.

For a room full of Magellan employees, Granderson’s stories offered plenty to think about—whether the subject was baseball, managing people, handling difficult conversations or figuring out how to use the opportunities you’ve been given to help someone else.

Our thanks to Curtis Granderson for spending the afternoon with us, and to Chuck Swirsky for guiding a terrific conversation.

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With Chicago serving as host city for the 2026 WNBA All-Star festivities, Magellan Corporation welcomed customers, business partners, community leaders, and friends to an evening that blended great conversation, great company, and a celebration of women's basketball.

Held at The Clayton in Chicago during All-Star Week, Smoke in the Sky brought together nearly 100 guests, including Chicago Sky ownership and leadership, former athletes, and civic and business leaders from across the city. As a major sponsor of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Host Committee, Magellan was proud to help welcome one of the biggest weekends in women's sports back to Chicago, where the league's 30th season has turned the city into the center of the basketball world.

One of the evening's highlights was a candid conversation featuring Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes and two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne, moderated by former WNBA coach Awvee Storey. The discussion reflected on the growth of the women's game and the responsibility today's stars feel to open doors for the next generation. Delle Donne shared the story of buying Swoopes' signature shoes as a young player and imagining herself following in her footsteps—a reminder of how one generation inspires the next. The panel also included plenty of laughter, including Storey recalling the demanding coaching that helped elevate Delle Donne's game, and Delle Donne joking that she eventually got her revenge by defeating his Connecticut Sun coaching staff in the 2019 WNBA Finals.

The conversation continued long after the panel ended -- the cocktails were cold and free-flowing, the stogies were premium, the food tasty, and guests in a festive spirit. Live music helped complete the vibe as all enjoyed connecting in one of Chicago's most distinctive venues. Magellan is proud to sponsor an event that celebrates the finest in women's basketball, and is always game to gather with friends to toast excellence in women's athletics.

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On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Magellan's Chicago headquarters looked a little different.

Instead of meetings and presentations, the Boardroom was transformed into a hands-on training space as every Chicago-based employee participated in CPR and First Aid certification led by Chicago CPR Academy.

The day was anything but a lecture. Employees paired off to practice chest compressions, learned how to respond to a variety of emergency situations, and worked through realistic scenarios using CPR dummies and AED trainers. With the Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" helping keep time, there were plenty of laughs along the way, but there was also a shared appreciation for just how much there is to know—and how important it is to be ready if someone nearby ever needs help.

While everyone hopes they'll never have to put these skills into practice, the training reinforced a simple truth: in a medical emergency, an informed bystander can make all the difference. Knowing how to respond in those critical first moments can help save a life before professional responders arrive.

At Magellan, we're committed to investing in our people—not only as professionals, but as neighbors, friends and family members. Yesterday's training was a reminder that some of the most valuable lessons learned at work extend well beyond the workplace, equipping us to help others when it matters most.

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More than 400 supporters gathered at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel on June 25 for the 28th Annual Gilda's Club Chicago Awards Dinner, raising $600,000+ to support free programs for individuals and families impacted by cancer. Magellan Corporation was proud to be among the evening's sponsors and to join the celebration of an organization that has become an invaluable resource throughout the Chicago community.

The evening featured NBC 5 Chicago news anchor Allison Rosati as emcee and actress, writer and Chicago native Bonnie Hunt as keynote speaker. Hunt shared a heartfelt and personal story about a loved one's experience with cancer, reminding those in attendance of the profound impact that compassion, connection and support can have during life's most difficult moments.

This year's event also marked the final Awards Dinner for LauraJane Hyde, who is retiring after more than 25 years as Executive Director and CEO of Gilda's Club Chicago. Her vision and leadership helped expand the organization's reach and strengthen its mission of ensuring that no one faces cancer alone. Her contributions have touched countless individuals and families throughout the Chicago area.

Magellan was honored to have a table of employees attend the evening in support of Gilda's Club Chicago and the organization's important work. The company's connection to the mission is strengthened by Lisa Wortman, Magellan's Director of Stainless Steel Sales, who serves on the Gilda's Club Chicago Board of Directors.

Congratulations to Gilda's Club Chicago on another successful Awards Dinner, and thank you to everyone whose generosity helps provide hope, encouragement and a welcoming community for those navigating cancer.

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For more than a decade, Magellan Corporation has proudly partnered with the Chicago Sky, supporting one of the WNBA's original franchises while celebrating the continued growth of women's professional sports.

That longstanding partnership was on full display on Thursday, June 18, when nearly 80 Magellan clients, business partners, employees and friends gathered for an exclusive private dinner with the Chicago Sky.

The evening offered guests rare access to the people behind one of Chicago's premier professional sports organizations. Chicago Sky Principal Owner Michael Alter welcomed attendees and spoke about the organization's vision for the future, while members of the front office, Head Coach Tyler Marsh, General Manager Jeff Pagliocca and players from the 2026 roster spent the evening meeting with guests and sharing insights into the team and the league. Among the players in attendance was 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso, whose championship pedigree at the University of South Carolina has made her one of the WNBA's rising stars.

Rather than a traditional networking event, the dinner reflected what has made Magellan's relationship with the Sky so meaningful over the past decade: bringing people together. Guests enjoyed candid conversations with players, coaches and executives while strengthening relationships with fellow customers, colleagues and friends in an intimate setting.

Since entering the WNBA in 2006, the Chicago Sky have grown into one of the league's flagship franchises, capturing the 2021 WNBA Championship and continuing to build on that success under Alter's leadership.

As with all of Magellan's community partnerships, the evening was about more than basketball. It was an opportunity to celebrate excellence, build lasting relationships and thank the customers, partners and friends whose support continues to strengthen the Magellan community.

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