The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) and the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) announced a raftload of personnel additions for the 2013 season.
Preparing for a move to a new Uptown ballpark in 2014, the Knights have bolstered its front office staff with the addition of Sean Owens, Director of Ticket Sales and Hospitality, Margie Burleson, Special Events/Sales Executive, Mark Krizanik, Account Executive, and Audrey Stanek, Manager, Sponsorship Services.
“We are excited to add these four talented people to our already dedicated front office staff,” said Knights General Manager of Baseball Operations Scott Brown. “Sean’s experience in both sports and entertainment will be invaluable to the Knights success in 2013 and beyond. Margie, Mark, and Audrey all spent 2012 with the Knights, and it’s great to have them on board in a full-time capacity.”
Originally from Sparta, NJ, Owens moved to Charlotte after graduating from Elon University in 1999. Over the course of his career, Owens has worked in both the sports and entertainment field. During his time in baseball, he worked for three minor league baseball teams from 1994-2005, including previously working for the Charlotte Knights for six seasons.
In his new role with the Knights, Owens will be focused on overall ticket sales and facility rentals/special events.
“I’m very excited to return to baseball and the Charlotte Knights,” said Owens. “This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of the final season at Knights Stadium and inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark, is a dream come true.”
Burleson and Krizanik spent the 2012 season with the Knights in the club’s Inside Sales department – a newly formed department last season.
Burleson, a 2009 graduate of Johnson and Wales University, originally joined the Knights in January, 2012 after a two year stint with ESPN as an Account Executive.
Krizanik, a Pittsburgh, PA native, is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Sports Management major. During his time there, Krizanik was an assistant coach for the school’s baseball team.
Stanek spent the 2012 season as a full-time intern for the Knights and will enter her fourth season in baseball in 2013, following internships with the Quad City River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) and Kansas City T-Bones (independent; American Association. She is a graduate of St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
With the addition of five new staffers, the Mallards now have 16 full-time staff members.
“We are excited to add to our full-time staff,” said Mallards General Manager Conor Caloia. “I am confident that we have assembled the best staff we have ever had and they are ready to serve our great corporate partners and fans in 2013.”
Jon Fein will start his first season as the Director of Marketing. Previously, he was a Mallards Marketing intern in 2006, a National Team Intern for USA Wrestling in 2008, and a Ticketing Intern for Georgetown University Athletics in 2009-2010. He most recently worked as an Events Associate for Team Epic from 2010-2012. Fein graduated with a History degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008 and then earned his Master’s degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown in 2010. He hails from New Canaan, Connecticut.
Nick Suydam begins his first season with the Mallards as a Ticket Operations Manager. Previously, he was a Stadium Operations Intern for the Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) in 2009, a Group Sales Account Manager for the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) in 2010, a Ticket Sales and Operations Manager for the Bullfrogs in 2011 and a Ticket Services Representative for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012. Suydam graduated from UW-Parkside in 2009 after earning a bachelors degree in Sports Management. He is originally from Wisconsin Rapids, WI.
Paige Schneider will enter her third straight season with the Mallards after recently being hired as a Corporate Account Manager. She completed a Hospitality and Ticketing Internship with the Mallards in 2011 and spent the summer of 2012 in a seasonal position as the Hospitality Coordinator. She graduated in December of 2012 from the University of Minnesota, where she earned a degree in Sport Management. She is originally from Random Lake, WI.
Kyle Van Camp will return for his first season as an Operations Manager and third overall. He completed an Operations Internship and managed the main concession stand in 2011 and was an Inside Sales Representative in 2012. an Camp graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and a minor in Business Administration. He is originally from Freedom, WI.
Nick Heyerdahl will enter his first season as a Marketing Manager and second overall. He completed an Operations Internship with the Mallards in 2012. His previous experience includes working as a Facilities Manager at UW-Whitewater from 2010-2012. Heyerdahl graduated from UW-Whitewater in December of 2012 with a bachelors degree in Communication with an emphasis on Organizational Communication. He is originally from Janesville, WI.
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