We have some personnel news today from the Reading Fightin Phils (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League).
The Fightin Phils have added former interns Jon Nally, Zach Haas and Travis Hart to the team’s full-time staff.
“We’re thrilled to add Jon, Zach, and Travis to our full-time staff this season,” said Fightin Phils General Manager Scott Hunsicker. “It really speaks to the success of our internship program that we were able to find three outstanding individuals that share the culture and work ethic we expect out of our front office. Zack and Travis both bring a tremendous energy to our newly-formed season ticket concierge team while Jon has proven to be outstanding when working with group leaders to ensure their group has a tremendous night at the ballpark that is easy for them to implement.”
Nally comes to the Fightin Phils front office as Group Sales Manager after two seasons with the club as an intern. He will work in company with Director of Group Sales Jon Muldowney to sell and service groups in the three picnic areas and reserved seating.
A 2009 graduate of Wilson High School, Nally earned a B.S. in Sports Administration from Lock Haven University in 2013 where he also received experience in event management with the school’s athletic department. He also formerly held the title of Chairman of the Board of Auditors in Spring Township. Nally currently resides in Shillington.
Haas will assume the role of Merchandising Manager following a stint with IMG and the Penn State Athletic Ticket Office. The 36-year old started with the Fightins as a group sales intern in 2013 where he also specialized in graphic arts. He will now manage the Mitchell & Ness Fightins Team Store in addition to serving on the club’s season ticket concierge team.
Originally a science teacher in the Wilson School District from 2002 to 2012, Haas graduated from Arcadia University in 2000 with a B.S. in Behavioral Science and received his teaching certificate in 2002 from Alvernia. He received his Master’s degree in Sports Management from California University of Pennsylvania in 2011. A native of Pine Grove, Haas currently resides in West Lawn with his wife Meghan and three children Jackson, Mia, and Emerson.
A concessions operations intern last season, Hart will assist in the day-to-day operations of the food and beverage department as Concessions Manager while working as part of the season ticket concierge team. Hart began working with the franchise in 2005 as a game staff employee in concessions where he handled a variety of roles including the stocking and supervising of different stands.
The Exeter graduate attended West Chester University and graduated in 2011 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He currently resides in Exeter.
With their hires, 15 of the 21 front office members were Fightin Phils interns before becoming full-time employees.
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The Potomac Nationals made a pair of internal promotions from within their executive front office, and the club has hired a director of ticket operations from outside of the organization.
P-Nats Vice President/General Manager Josh Olerud made the announcement.
Aaron Johnson, who served the team as Director of Stadium Operations during the 2013 season, has been promoted to Director of Food and Beverage, and will oversee all concessions operations at Pfitzner Stadium. Johnson, 28, began his tenure with the P-Nats in 2012 as Stadium Operations Manager and was promoted to his former post in preparation for the 2013 campaign.
A product of Herndon, VA, Johnson graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in sports marketing after working inside of the GMU Athletics Department assisting in communications and media.
“Aaron has done an exceptional job in multiple roles with us since joining our staff two seasons ago. He’s a great leader and works exceptionally well with others. Aaron has a bright future and we are confident he will excel in his new role,” said Olerud.
Arthur Bouvier, IV has been elevated to Director of Stadium Operations after being brought into the P-Nats’ fold for the 2013 season through a milestone hiring program specifically engineered to guide United States military members into the landscape of professional baseball.
The “Hire-A-Vet” program was in fact initiated with the hiring of Bouvier, IV, a United States Army veteran, as Stadium Operations Assistant.
In 2013, Bouvier, IV aided the Potomac Nationals as an all-utility manager troubleshooting in many aspects of stadium operation including ballpark maintenance, grounds crew, parking, press box, and security.
Bouvier, IV, 25, a native of Cade Cod, MA, served our country as an Army Sergeant, and also worked as a contractor in Afghanistan within the intelligence community.
“Arthur was a great addition to our team last season through our Hire-A-Vet program. In fact, he did such an outstanding job that we spent the second half of the 2013 season grooming him to be our next Stadium Operations Director. We are proud to have Arthur join our Potomac Nationals family, and he will have a very important role moving forward with regards to some of the additions to Pfitzner Stadium for 2014, and of course, assisting with our move into the new facility,” said Olerud.
Brett Adams has been named Director of Ticket Operations for the Nationals after serving as an Account Executive with the Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) in 2013. Adams, 28, graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management.
The newest member of the P-Nats’ front office started his professional baseball career in 2011 as a Merchandise and Operations intern with the Lancaster JetHawks (High Class A; California League) where he assisted in running the official team store, ballpark operations, and general sales. Adams then took a Box Office internship with the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) where he spent the 2012 season selling a variety of ticket packages before his endeavor with Peoria.
“Brett’s passion for the game and maximizing fan enjoyment is a huge addition to our ticketing department. He prides himself on customer service, and I look forward to our fan base getting a chance to meet and interact with him,” said Olerud.
Potomac Nationals Assistant General Manager, Zach Prehn, who directed ticket operations during the 2013 season, will now focus primarily on executing corporate partnerships and team branding, while overseeing the entire game presentation.
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