Some new and promoted faces for Minor League Baseball teams today, as the Charleston RiverDogs (Class A; Sally League) and the Tri-City ValleyCats (short season A; NY-Penn League) announce personnel changes.
Noel Blaha, a former Charleston RiverDogs intern who has served as the club’s box office manager the past four years, has been promoted to Director of Promotions, as announced by General Manager Dave Echols.
Blaha came to the RiverDogs as the media-relations intern in February 2006 and was promoted to box office manager and webmaster for the Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees following the season.
In his new role, Blaha will coordinate all of the RiverDogs’ zany promotions that include theme nights, between-inning promotions, giveaways and gametime fun.
“Noel is one of the most talented and versatile individuals I’ve ever worked with, and I’m certain that he’ll do a great job,” said Echols. “He has been involved in many aspects of our ‘Be Your Own Fan’ initiative and an active participant in our promotional planning during his time here, and he’ll blend that knowledge with his creativity to put his stamp on the gameday experience.”
Blaha replaces Jim Pfander, who held the position for six years. Pfander recently resigned his position to become the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League).
In Troy, the Tri-City ValleyCats announced three personnel moves. First, Joel Pagliaro is the team’s new Business Development Manager, filling the vacancy left by Matt Callahan, who was promoted to Assistant General Manager. Pagliaro joins the ValleyCats front office after spending the past six seasons with the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A: Sally League). Pagliaro was born and raised in Beacon, N.Y. and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Communications from SUNY Brockport in 2004.
The ValleyCats have also promoted Michelle Skinner to serve the role of Fan Development Manager. Skinner spent the 2010 season as the ‘Cats Administrative Assistant after spending the past two years as the Operations Assistant for the Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, Tenn. Skinner is a 2007 graduate of Ball State University, where she received her Bachelors Degree in Sports Administration.
Filling the Administrative Assistant vacancy is Casey Lennon of Pittsfield, Mass. Lennon graduated from Framingham State College in 2009 with a degree in Mathematics and spent the 2010 season as a Marketing Intern with the ValleyCats.
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