A veteran of more than 33 years in hockey having been with the National Hockey League or one of its teams since 1979, Gerry Helper joined the Predators in October 1997, and has served in various communications roles, assuming his most recent position in August 2010. In addition to heading up the club’s public and media relations efforts, Helper assists in relations with the Sports Authority, Sports Council, Metro and State Governments. Helper works closely with upper management on external organizational and franchise communication issues. He has also served as president or on the board of the Predators Foundation since its inception; the Foundation has distributed more than $3 million to Nashville area charitable and community service organizations, including a single-season record of $350,000 in 2011-12.

Helper has also been active with USA Hockey, serving as a communications liaison for the United States’ silver medal-winning entry at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and on USA Hockey’s marketing council from 1994-99.

From 1998-2009, Helper oversaw the club’s media and public relations efforts, publications, the team’s web site, amateur hockey efforts and community relations initiatives. He was on the NHL’s Communications Advisory Board from 2004-09, and was the organization’s point person with the NHL for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville, which drew more than 13,000 people to the Bridgestone Arena.

In his first stint with an expansion franchise, Helper spent nearly seven years (1991-97) with the Tampa Bay Lightning as the team’s vice president of communications. He assisted with the development of Tampa Bay’s successful 1999 NHL All-Star Weekend bid. He also spent time as the NHL’s director of information (1987-89) and director of public relations (1989-91) after beginning his sports career with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres (1979-86). He also worked several Stanley Cup Finals and All-Star Games in his time with the League and the Sabres.

Helper is on the board of directors for the Middle Tennessee YMCA and the Nashville Sports Council. He is a 1979 graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a BA in mass communications and a 2000 graduate of leadership music.

Helper resides in Franklin, Tenn., with his wife, Kim, and daughters, Renee and Abigail.