We have personnel news today from the Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) and the Lexington County Blowfish (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League).
Jeremy Boler has been promoted to Assistant General Manager of the Smokies. The promotion is effective immediately, with Boler’s previous role with the Smokies being Director of Corporate Sales.
Currently in his second year with the club, Boler has helped the team set top corporate sales marks over each of his prior two seasons, and will continue to lead the club’s corporate sales efforts, in addition to numerous other duties with the franchise.
“We’re extremely pleased to announce Jeremy’s promotion,” stated Smokies Vice President and COO Chris Allen. “He’s been a great asset since joining us, and we’re very excited for him, as well as for the direction he will help us take as an organization.”
“I’m very delighted to accept this promotion,” Boler added. “It is a tremendous honor and I cannot thank the organization enough for having the confidence in me to serve as their Assistant General Manager.”
Prior to joining the Smokies in October 2013, Boler served as General Manager of the Coastal Plain League’s Forest City Owls for three years between 2011-13, overseeing all aspects of the organization. During his time with the Owls, the franchise ranked in the top 11 in the nation in overall attendance in each of the three years he served as General Manager.
Before his tenure with the Owls, the North Carolina native began his career in Minor League Baseball with the Winston-Salem Dash (High Class A; Carolina League) as Corporate Marketing Manager, helping build corporate ticket packages for businesses. During his time with the Dash in 2010, Boler led a ticketing campaign that increased the team’s average attendance by more than 3,000 fans.
In Lexington County, Josh Howe is the new Director of Business Development, while Jordan Kuhns is the new Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the team.
Howe, a graduate of Tennessee Tech University, joins the Blowfish after serving in the Marine Corps for seven years. He served tours of duty in Afghanistan and Africa. Howe is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration through Liberty University’s Distance Education Program.
“I look forward to settling in to Lexington County,” Howe said. “Baseball has such deep roots here, and it’s a great opportunity to develop relationships with the devoted fans in this area.”
Howe and his wife, Martha, enjoy spending time with their two dogs Hurlee, a chocolate lab, and Gunny, a German shorthaired pointer.
Kuhns joins the team after spending the 2014-15 season at ESPN Williamsport as the voice of Misericordia University’s football and basketball teams.
“It is so exciting to be a part of a new beginning in Blowfish baseball history,” Kuhns said. “I look forward to seeing and hearing the passion of the Blowfish faithful in the team’s brand new home.”
Kuhns started his broadcasting career at his alma mater, Millersville University, where he graduated with a degree in Speech Communication in 2012. Kuhns served as a broadcaster for the Marauder Sports Broadcasting Network for four seasons.
“We are excited to have Josh and Jordan join the Blowfish team,” Blowfish owner Bill Shanahan said. “Both have unique talents that will strengthen our organization.”