SURGE OWNER
The evolution of women’s sports. Being a pioneer of the St. Louis Surge Women’s Semi- Professional Basketball Team, Khalia Collier, Surge Owner and General Manager, has taken on the challenge of bringing the first Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team to St. Louis. Through this journey, she has maximized corporate and organizational relationships, developed supporter and donor programs, as well as positioned the organization for eminent growth.
A St. Louis native with a deep commitment to the city, Collier is an entrepreneur dedicated to her new franchise. She is a strong believer that St. Louis can support a women’s franchise, and is working hard to see her vision through. Delving into sports management, she has taken on the task of rebranding the face of women’s athletics through the St. Louis Surge. Collier has developed a strategic business model that focuses on marketing strategy, diversity awareness and inclusion, WNBA research and performance measures. Using this model, she has been able to work collaboratively with prominent executives, corporations and non-profits to build the Surge brand and develop new initiatives, while encompassing the community. Instilling the notion that all Surge players are leaders and mentors in the community, Collier has led the Surge organization in completing several hours of community service by giving back to youth, leading speaking arrangements and seminars and providing a platform for athletic and educational growth through skills clinics.
“My vision is to successfully transition into the WNBA.”
Collier values leadership, hard work, education, excellence and sportsmanship, all reasons she believes the Surge will succeed as both an organization and a professional team.
When asked why she took over ownership of the St. Louis Surge, Collier stated, “Now is the time for St. Louis to build the platform and lead the evolution of women’s sports through creative, innovative, and strategic processes.”
With a history in basketball, Collier began playing at the age of five and continued into her high school and collegiate career. Collier was a Division I recruit in high school and later attended Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri where she was a shooting guard for two years. She finished her basketball career at Missouri Baptist University where she played as a guard/forward. Collier obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications in 2010 from Missouri Baptist University and currently works for the St. Louis Surge full-time as St. Louis Surge Owner and General Manager.
Family is a high priority in Collier’s life and she has now made the Surge a permanent member.
“With the support of the community the Surge will become a permanent member of the St. Louis family. The Surge provides more than entertainment, we provide a social need of empowerment,” said Collier.
