A sad goodbye to one of our favorite people in baseball: Executive Director of Modern Woodmen Park Stefanie Brown is leaving the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League).
Following her 10th season in Minor League Baseball — including each of the first six years of the new River Bandits under the ownership of Main Street Baseball — Brown will conclude her work in the team’s front office at the end of October.
“After six seasons with the River Bandits, I know it is time to start the next chaper in my professional career,” Brown said. “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be with this wonderful organization, which has a great community that supports it. Throughout the years here, I have met a number of great people whom I will miss seeing at the ballpark. But I know I am ready to see the next challenge in store for me.”
Brown has been an integral part of the River Bandits’ day-to-day operation since joining the organization in December 2007 as director of community and client relations. She was promoted to assistant general manager after one season. In that role, she oversaw Modern Woodmen Park’s suite level, special events, promotions, merchandise and the team’s hosting of the 2011 Midwest League All-Star Game. She has three times been honored as the Midwest League’s Female Executive of the Year.
Following the 2011 season, Brown became the Midwest League’s youngest general manager and only female general manager. In her first year as general manager, the Quad Cities club welcomed 240,008 fans in attendance — its highest total since 1995. The total attendance of more than 1.3 million the last six seasons is the best such stretch in Quad Cities franchise history. In Brown’s season as Executive Director of Modern Woodmen Park, the River Bandits’ home was voted the “Best Minor League Ballpark” in a nation-wide vote this summer by fans and readers of 10Best.com and USA TODAY.
“Stefanie Brown is one of my most favorite people, and she has been an incredibly valuable part of the River Bandits and the Quad Cities community since Main Street Baseball bought the team six years ago,” said team co-owner Dave Heller. “She is the single best hire I have ever made. Her tremendous positive impact on this organization will become an enduring legacy, and we know her immense talent and remarkable character will carry her to great success in whatever she chooses to do. She will be greatly missed.”
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