Vice President of Community Relations and BroadcastingE-mail: bkaser@griffinshockey.com
Phone: (616) 774-4585 ext. 3027
Biography:
Named the Griffins’ vice president of community relations and broadcasting in March 2007, Bob Kaser is in his 13th season as the team’s play-by-play voice and his sixth assisting with the oversight of the Griffins’ business operations. While calling every Griffins game on the team’s flagship station, Newsradio WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM, he also supervises the team’s extensive community relations efforts and directs all major fundraising events for the Griffins Youth Foundation, of which he was named president in June 2006.
Kaser received the AHL’s 2009-10 Ellery Award for excellence in radio broadcasting, one of a string of honors he’s earned behind the Griffins’ microphone. His play-by-play has garnered six Broadcast Excellence Awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (2001-04, 2006 and 2012), and he and color commentator Larry Figurski are also three-time winners (2002, 2005 and 2006) of Michigan AP’s award for Best Live Sports/Class II Radio.
Kaser serves as director for both the Griffins Youth Foundation Golf Classic and the Griffins Youth Hockey Camp, as well as co-chair for the Great Skate Winterfest, which he founded in 2002. He has also developed several of the team’s innovative community programs, including Growing with the Griffins and Charitable Goals. Under his leadership, the Griffins have raised more than $3.1 million for local charities over the last 10 seasons, and the franchise won the AHL’s 2008-09 Western Conference award for community service.
In his free time, Kaser assists with several other worthy causes in West Michigan, serving as a board member for Cornerstone University's Champions of Character program, as well as a member of the Advancing Excellence committee for East Grand Rapids Schools and the food procurement committee for Kid’s Food Basket. An avid baseball fan and former amateur player, he has coached Diamonds travel baseball teams for the last four years and is set to coach next season's 15U team.
A Kalamazoo native who grew up in Flint, Kaser has been involved in hockey since 1979, most notably spending 10 seasons (1990-2000) as director of communications and broadcasting for the IHL’s Kansas City Blades. He was twice awarded the Bob Chase Award as IHL Broadcaster of the Year (1993-94 and 1997-98), and his public relations staff earned recognition as the best in the Western Conference on four occasions (1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98 and 1999-00).
Kaser lives in East Grand Rapids with his wife, Rosalie, and their two sons, Charlie and Sam.
Number of seasons with the Griffins (through 2011-12): 12
What you love most about working for the Griffins: Hat trick of things: great sport, great city, great organization.
Favorite Griffins memory: Double overtime playoff win at Houston in 2003.
Favorite all-time Griffins players: Wade Brookbank, Matt Ellis, Jonathan Ericsson, Jimmy Howard, Joey MacDonald.
Best thing about your job: Being in broadcasting and charity work.
Hometown: Flint, Michigan.
States you’ve lived in: Pennsylvania, Washington, Missouri, Michigan.
As a child you dreamed of becoming: An NHL goalie or MLB pitcher/shortstop.
First job: I worked at the Flint Elks Golf Club when I was 17.
Other sports teams you’ve worked for: Kansas City Blades, Seattle Thunderbirds, Flint Generals, Erie Blades.
If you could trade places for a day with another person, who would it be?: Doctor
Proudest professional accomplishment: Winning both the IHL PR and broadcasting awards in the same season, 1997-98.
Professional membership/ civic leadership positions: President of the Griffins Youth Foundation, Kentwood Hockey Association Board, Committee for Advancing Academic Excellence in East Grand Rapids Schools.
Favorite charities or causes: DeVos Children’s Hospital, Griffins Youth Foundation, St. John’s Home, Gilda’s Club.
Most exciting/unique thing that you’ve done or place you’ve visited: Hong Kong, China
Sports played growing up: Hockey, Baseball, Golf.
An interesting fact about you: Only 175 pound human with three chins.
Favorite foods: Pizza, Thai.
Favorite music artists: Rush, Yes, Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin
Favorite sports movie: A League of Their Own
Favorite website: mgoblue.com
Favorite book or author: River of Doubt
Favorite subject in elementary school: Math
Favorite spectator sports: Hockey, baseball, college football, golf.
Favorite pro/ college sports teams (excluding the Griffins): Detroit Tigers, Michigan Wolverines.
Favorite recreational activities/ hobbies: Coaching baseball, playing golf.