Today’s personnel news: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) promote Andy Milovich as part of front-office changes, while the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low Class A; Midwest League) and the Hannibal Cavemen (summer collegiate; Prospect League) announce promotions.
In Myrtle Beach, Andy Milovich, previously the Vice President and General Manager, has been named President and General Manager. Ryan Moore, who worked previously with the Pelicans in 2008, returns to the organization as the new Vice President of Business Development. Zach Brockman has been promoted to Assistant General Manager of Sales, previously the Senior Director of Ticketing. The Pelicans have also promoted Media Relations Manager and Broadcaster Nathan Barnett to full-time status.
The 2015 season marks the third season for Milovich with the Pelicans and his 25th in Minor League Baseball. He was named Vice President and General Manager of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on December 22, 2012, following 18 years with Palisades Baseball.
“Andy [Milovich] has been exceptional in every way since coming to Myrtle Beach,” said Pelicans Chairman and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg. “His energy, passion and creativity have helped the Pelicans reach new heights for community impact, fan experience, and industry stature. He truly has become the face of the Pelicans organization throughout the Grand Strand, and this well deserved promotion reflects his performance and the bright future we all are looking forward to under his continued guidance and leadership.”
Under Milovich’s tenure, the Pelicans have grown in attendance in each of the last two seasons, including a record-breaking 2014 campaign when the club posted its best average attendance in team history (3,652). This season Milovich earned the Calvin Falwell Executive of the Year award, given out to the top executive in the Carolina League. The team earned a bevy of honors this season as well, including the Complete Franchise Award from the Carolina League, the Marketing and Promotional Award from the Carolina League, the Community Service Award from the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Promotion of the Year from Ballpark Digest, “Best Family Outing” from Grand Strand Happening, and high praise from Stadium Journey (#1 ballpark experience in the Carolina League, #4 in MiLB, and #32 in all of sports).
Milovich was the recipient of The Sporting News Minor League Executive of the Year following his third season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (short season A; New York-Penn League) and earned the New York-Penn League Executive of the Year Award following a record-setting 203,000 fans in 38 dates during the Scrappers 2000 campaign. During his run with Palisades Baseball, he enjoyed the opportunity to open three new stadiums.
Moore returns to the Pelicans after six seasons away from the club. As the Vice President of Business Development, he works with local and regional businesses to create mutually beneficial partnerships, helping business owners utilize the team and the stadium to positively impact their business. After a 2008 spent as a ticket sales representative for the Pelicans, Moore moved on to the Gwinnett Braves (Class AAA; International League). In Gwinnett, Moore oversaw the ticket sales efforts from 2010-2014 before taking a post as the General Manager of the Jupiter Hammerheads (High Class A; Florida State League) for the 2014 season. Originally a Connecticut native, Moore has spent the past 13 years living in the Southeast. Ryan graduated from Elon University in 2006 with a degree in Sports Management.
Brockman takes over as the Assistant General Manager of Sales after three seasons as the Senior Director of Ticketing. He joined the Pelicans in August 2011 after five years with the Modesto Nuts (High Class A; California League). Brockman oversees all ticket sales and operations for the Pelicans. Over the past three seasons, the Chicago native has lead the ticket staff to franchise records in Season Seat Membership sales, group sales, suite sales and online sales. Since 2011, the department has increased contracted ticket revenue by 40 percent. Brockman graduated from Robert Morris University (Chicago) in 2005 and attended Game Face Executive Academy in 2007.
Barnett enters his second season with the Pelicans and will continue to serve as the Pelicans Media Relations Manager and play-by-play broadcaster for all games on the radio and on MiLB.tv. Hired as a seasonal employee in February 2014, he has taken on ticket sales responsibilities in the offseason and is now a full-time employee. He continues to work on the team’s media efforts in the franchise’s inaugural year as a Cubs affiliate. A graduate of Pomona College in 2011, Barnett has worked in media relations, broadcasting, and sales roles for five different teams, most recently with now-Greenberg Sports Group franchise, the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League).
“Our fan experience continues to be one of the best in minor league baseball,” said Milovich. “That is a testament to our incredibly hard-working staff, the commitment and vision of our ownership led by Chuck Greenberg, and the foundation created by North Johnson and Scott Brown. We feel these moves continue to put us on the right path to growing this franchise in the best way possible for our fans.”
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With the departure of Ben Hemmen after being named GM of the High Desert Mavericks (High Class A; California League), the Hot Rods announced several promotions in the front office. Eric Leach has been elevated to Assistant General Manager, while Matt Ingram and Jeremy Mosby were promoted to Director of Sales and Operations respectively.
“I believe we have one of the best staffs in sports, and these three have busted their tail off to earn promotions,” said Hot Rods Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Adam Nuse. “We’re very excited and happy for Ben to be the head guy for the first time in his career. The three that we’ve promoted have made our fans their number one priority, and we look forward to their expanded roles within the organization to bring even more new and exciting things for our fans at the ballpark this season and beyond.”
Leach brings a tremendous amount of experience both in the baseball world, and in the nonprofit realm. He returned to baseball with the Hot Rods in 2013 after spending six years doing charity work in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and around the United States. His baseball experience reaches as high as the Triple-A level with the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). He’s no stranger to the Kentucky, having spent five seasons with the Lexington Legends (Low Class A; Sally League). Leach hails from Omaha, Neb., and lives in Bowling Green with his wife and two sons.
Ingram fills the Director of Sales role following Leach’s promotion. He spent the 2014 season as the Season Ticket & Box Office Manager. Ingram’s first season with the Hot Rods was as an intern during the 2012 campaign, and he was brought on full-time following the season. He’s a South-Central Kentucky native who graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2012 with a degree in sports management. Ingram, his wife Megan, and their two sons Jack and Theodore reside in Bowling Green.
Mosby, now Director of Operations, is another South-Central Kentucky native in the Hot Rods front office. Born in Glasgow, Mosby spent the 2014 season in the operations department that he now heads. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in computer information systems from Western Kentucky University. Mosby also obtained his Master’s from WKU, earning it in recreation and sports administration in 2014.
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Hannibal Cavemen General Manager and Field Manager Greg McVey announced the following front-office changes: Deron Johnson will remain with the organization as the Director of Marketing and Operations and Debbie Walden will serve as the Director of Community Outreach for the 2015 season. The changes in the front office staff come as John and Judy Civitate transition out of their roles as General Manager and the Director of Operations to pursue other business opportunities.
“John and Judy Civitate did a tremendous job getting the organization where it is today. However, it became apparent last December when I was hired as the General Manager and Field Manager that we needed to take a look at the way our front office staff was structured to better serve our fans, business partners and players,” McVey said.
Johnson was on staff last year as the Director of Marketing and Sales and will have a larger role with the club this year by becoming the Director of Marketing and Operations. Deron will continue to lead the organization’s marketing and sales efforts leading up to the playing season. As the season begins, his role will transition into an operational mode and he will be the lead administrator on game nights. He will oversee several aspects of game day operations including; ticket sales, security, game night promotions, special events, field preparation and staff supervision.
Walden will take over as the Director of Community Outreach after spending the past four years as the organization’s Host Family Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities will include; host family coordination, community outreach programming, concession volunteer program, concession logistics and ticket operations.