Longtime minor-league exec Marty Steele is the new director of corporate sales for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League).
The award-winning minor league executive has previously served as the general manager of the Greensboro Hornets, Hickory Crawdads (both Low Class A; Sally League) and Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League). He has also held roles with the Columbus Mudcats, Tennessee Smokies (both Class AA; Southern League), New Orleans Zephyrs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and Winston-Salem Warthogs (High Class A; Carolina League). While with the Crawdads, he was twice honored as the South Atlantic League’s Executive of the Year.
In addition to his baseball obligations, Steele also received his JD from the University of San Diego Law School and has practiced law in North Carolina and California.
“We’re thrilled to bring in someone with the wealth of experience and expertise that Marty possesses,” said Flying Squirrels’ Vice President & COO Todd “Parney” Parnell. “It is exciting add someone who has a fresh perspective and will work diligently to expand the Squirrels already outstanding network of corporate partners.”
Steele takes over for Ben Terry, who had been the Flying Squirrels’ Director of Corporate Sales since their inception in 2009. Terry will remain in Richmond and has accepted the role of Vice President of Corporate Partnerships with Arena Racing USA.
“We always say that the Squirrels are a family business, and we encourage our family members to grow in their lives, both personally and professionally,” added Parnell. “Ben Terry (BT) has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of this family and we are elated that his tremendous work here has led to another great opportunity in the community.”
Steele, a native of the Chicago suburbs and graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, has joined the Squirrels already, and will hit the ground running toward their fifth season in Richmond.
“I can’t think of a better organization or market to be returning to my passion, minor league baseball,” Steele said. “Chuck Domino, Parney, Bill Papierniak, and the rest of the staff are the best in the business. Even though I have only been in Richmond for a couple of weeks, it is obvious the community really embraces and supports the Flying Squirrels and that is something I am extremely eager to be a part of.”
Steele has two children. His son Tyler recently graduated from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and is working in Cultural Resource Management in Texas. His daughter Madison is a junior at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.
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