Curtis Danburg, 02/09/2026

This week, our chapter was visited by baseball fanatic and Cleveland area native, Curtis Danburg. Curtis is the vice president of communications and community impact for the Cleveland Guardians and has played a major part in the development of the team’s communication department. 

Curtis began his journey with the Guardians 30 years ago as an intern after realizing his true passion for working in sports in college. Curtis said that his roles with the Guardians were once more on the sports side of things, especially when he accepted his first full-time role with the organization as a baseball information specialist in the late ‘90s. Later, Curtis decided to switch to the business side of the organization to prioritize his family and work-life balance, which he emphasized for us to consider when we enter the workforce. 

So, as Curtis entered the business side of the Guardians organization, working in website management, the need for a communications department became very clear. Curtis was chosen to lead its creation. Curtis said he took an “umbrella approach” when creating the communications department for the Guardians and tried his best to combine digital, PR and crisis communication teams.

Since becoming a leader of the communications team, Curtis revealed his two major accomplishments: hosting the 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland and getting through the infamous (or famous, depending on who you ask) Indians to Guardians name change. 

Curtis said that the name change wasn’t a short-term or hasty decision, but rather a multi-month plan that included surveying, creating new memories and being considerate of fans’ sentiments. Curtis said the name change process, wholesomely enough, also included bringing hot chocolate to picketers outside the stadium when the name change was in public discussion. While Curtis admitted that getting through the name change was a difficult transition, it was worthwhile.