Top Menu

Personnel news in Pensacola, Joliet

Pensacola Blue WahoosWe have personnel news today from the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) and the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League).

New to the Blue Wahoos front office is Vice President of Sales Scott Henrichsen and Sales Executive Jamie Briggs. Sales Executive Tanner Tucker and Creative Services Assistant Derek Diamond have been promoted after previously serving as trainees.

“We are very excited about the additions to our staff,” said Bruce Baldwin, CEO of the Blue Wahoos. “As we enter our fifth season, it was important to us to not only hire extremely talented locals, but to find a group with a diverse background in sports. As our team continues to flourish in the community, it was important to fill these positions with talented individuals.”

Scott Henrichsen joined the Blue Wahoos as the Vice President of Sales after spending eight seasons with the Atlanta Falcons serving as the Manager of Premium Seat Sales. Prior to that, he served a season with the Asheville Altitude, Minnesota Wild, Idaho Steelheads, Idaho Sneakers and Idaho Stallions.

A San Jose, Calif., native, Henrichsen graduated from BYU with a Bachelor in Science in Commercial Physical Education.

Jamie Briggs joins the Blue Wahoos after working in Birmingham in the financial services industry and will serve as a Sales Executive in the Group Sales Department.

A native of Pensacola, Fla., Briggs graduated Washington High School and earned a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.

Tanner Tucker served as a Group Sales trainee during the 2015 season and will remain in the sale department as a Sales Executive. Tucker served as a videographer for the University of Alabama baseball team.

A native of Thomasville, Ala., Tucker played baseball at Alabama Southern Community College before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a Master’s degree in Sports Management at the University of Alabama.

Derek Diamond joined the Blue Wahoos staff in 2013 as a camera operator and served as a Creative Services Trainee the past two season. After graduation, he founded Untitled Film Projects, a freelance video production company and hosts a local podcast, The Derek Diamond Experience.

A Jay, Fla., native, he is a graduate of Pensacola State College where he earned his degree in Digital/Video Broadcasting.

—–

In Joliet, Assistant General Manager Heather Mills is the team’s new General Manager.

Mills is entering her fourth season with the team, having joined the club in 2013 as Box Office Manager. Mills oversaw all ticket operations over the 2013 and 2014 seasons and was quickly promoted in 2015 to Assistant General Manager. Her contributions to the club helped the Slammers to a successful 2015 season, earning the Frontier League Commissioner’s Award of Excellence in acknowledgement of an increase in attendance and business development.

“Heather has been a vital member of our team since we acquired the franchise and promoting her to General Manager in the end was an easy choice,” said Majority Owner Nick Semaca.  “She is energetic, smart, and a strong leader who will help us continue to grow and deliver an even greater experience to our fans in Joliet and the greater Will County area.”

Mills came to the Slammers after having spent two full seasons in 2010 and 2011 as Ticket Operations/Promotions Coordinator with the Kane County Cougars (Low A; Midwest League). In 2011, along with a co-worker, she created the Veeck Family Night of 100 promotions. It would be named one of the top five theme nights in MiLB for that season.

Standing alongside some of the most notable Chicagoland baseball greats like Chicago resident and New York Mets’ outfielder Curtis Granderson and Chicago Cub Radio Announcer Pat Hughes, Mills was also recently awarded the Mary Frances Veeck Woman of the Year at the 70th Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago banquet on January 31.

The Mary Frances Veeck award recognizes women who have worked in baseball and have made tremendous contributions to the game. Mills joins past award winners like Dutchie Caray, third and last wife to Harry Caray, and Kim DeJesus, recognized for founding the David DeJesus Family Foundation committed to helping families in crisis in Chicago.

Mills began her lifelong dream of working in baseball when she interned for the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League).

“I’m thankful of the Slammers organization for providing me this opportunity to continue to grow in the sports industry,” Mills said. “I’m excited to head into another Slammers season at Silver Cross Field and provide our fans the same experiences at a ballgame that I enjoyed as a kid.”

Mills grew up in St. Elmo, Illinois. She attended St. Elmo High School and Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Sport Management and a Business Administration minor.

Mills currently sits on the SEMO Sport Management Advisory Board. In her spare time, she enjoys curling up with a good book, baking, visiting museums, photography, and above all, watching baseball games.

, , , , , , ,