Steve Belkin
Steve Belkin is an American businessman who is the founder of Trans National Group, travel and other services, especially to affinity groups. And a former owner of Atlanta Thrashers and Atlanta Hawks. Biography. Belkin was born in East Grand Rapids, Michigan where he attended East Grand Rapids High School. He is of Jewish descent. Later he graduated from Cornell University in 1969 with a BS degree in industrial engineering, and later served on the Board of Trustees and was named Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004. He also finished Harvard Business School and earned an MBA in  1971. In 1973 launched his first business, marketing discount vacation packages to members of the American Nurses Association and essentially inventing what is now called affinity travel and affinity credit cards. Since then, he has founded 29 other companies, including Trans National Group in 1974. The companies currently affiliated with Trans National Group include Trans National Communications, TNT Vacations, TN Real Estate, TN Marketing, Charlesgate West Management and Belkin Family Lookout Farm in Natick, Massachusetts. In 2004, he became the largest individual shareholder and principal owner of Atlanta Spirit, LLC; the group that owned the Atlanta Thrashers and Atlanta Hawks . Belkin currently serves as a National Commissioner and Honorary Life Member of the ADL, on the Board of Overseers of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and a Trustee of the Sports Museum of New England. He lives with his wife Joan and two children in Weston, an affluent Boston suburb. Recognition. Throughout his career, Belkin has received several awards and recognition for his philanthropic endeavors.