Jonathan Mariner is a private investor, entrepreneur, and independent board member with more than two decades of experience working in major league sports. He’s currently the Founder and President of TaxDay, LLC, a private software firm that helps users track their multi-state travel for tax purposes.
Mr. Mariner recently completed an appointment by The Walt Disney Company to the role of Interim Head of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs). As part of the DOJ’s consent decree to operate the 22 RSNs acquired from 21st Century-FOX separate from Disney-owned ESPN, he was responsible for overseeing the independent operation of the RSNs, including all programming, distribution, sales and operational functions until Disney successfully sold them in August 2019.
Mr. Mariner spent over 14 years with Major League Baseball, Office of the Commissioner, having previously served as Executive VP and CFO from March 2002 to December 2014; and, as Chief Investment Officer, from January 2015 until May 2016. His career in professional sports started in 1992, with a nine-year stint as Executive Vice President and CFO of the Florida Marlins Baseball Club. He also concurrently served as Vice President and CFO of the Florida Panthers Hockey Club for the team’s initial startup and inaugural seasons in 1993 and 1994, and as Vice President and CFO for Pro Player Stadium, the multi-use sports complex that was home to both the Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins at the time.
Mr. Mariner currently serves on the Board of Directors of Tyson Foods, Inc (NYSE: TSN); McGraw Hill Education; and Investors Exchange (IEX, the new public stock exchange featured in Michael Lewis’ book, “Flash Boys.”) He also serves on the board of Little League Baseball International; and the Board of Trustees of the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and the McIntire School of Commerce; and the advisory boards of Florida Atlantic University’s Tech Runway, SparkLabs Foundry and Olympusat Telecom. He is also a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Sports.
Mr. Mariner graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, received his MBA from Harvard Business School and is a former Certified Public Accountant. He has been featured on the cover of CFO Magazine and was included among the Top 10 in Sports Illustrated’s annual listing of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports.” Mr. Mariner has been a frequent public speaker on the topic of the business of professional sports, including participating in symposiums at Harvard Business School, the Yale School of Management, Wharton, Princeton, MIT’s Sloan School, NYU’s Stern School, Columbia, the Booth School at the University of Chicago, the Darden School at the University of Virginia, the CFO Forum and the GSV Pioneer Summit in Silicon Valley.
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Cal LaRoche, a brilliant and dedicated advisor and champion of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, who left us on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.
Born in New York in January 1946, Cal graduated from Central State University in Ohio, where he joined the Eta Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. His career spanned decades of leadership and innovation, beginning at the National Security Agency and continuing through key roles at IBM, SkyTel Communications, and The Orkand Corporation.
A visionary entrepreneur, Cal later co-founded DC Ventures and Associates.
His commitment to service was unwavering. Cal chaired the Boards of Trustees at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and Norwood School and served with distinction for 15 years on the Advisory Board of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. His leadership extended to the Beta Mu, Boulé Foundation Board, where he served as Chair, and to Patients For Affordable Drugs, where he was a founding board member and Treasurer.
An avid golfer and advocate for equity in the sport, Cal co-founded the Pro-Duffer/Carter Foundation Scholarship to promote diversity in golf. A long-time member of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, he was as passionate about creating opportunity as he was about the game itself.
Cal’s legacy is carried on by his beloved family: his mother, Lucille “Gloria” David; his wife, Esperanza, and their sons, CJ and Ethan; his former wife, Cheryl LaRoche; their daughters, Gina LaRoche, Renee LaRoche-Morris, and Danielle LaRoche; six grandchildren; and his siblings. His wisdom, warmth, and unwavering belief in the potential of young people will remain an enduring part of the Ron Brown Scholar community.
We are forever grateful for Cal’s enduring support, leadership, and love. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence, generosity, and deep humanity. He will be deeply missed.
