We have personnel news today from the Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Mobile BayBears (Class AA; Southern League).
In Omaha, several promotions have been announced in the Sales Department. Sean Olson has been promoted to the position of Director of Sales with the departure of Danny Dunbar. In addition, Ryan Worthen is now the club’s Senior Group Sales Executive after previously holding the title of Group Sales Executive.
The Marketing Department also features several changes, including the promotion of Rob Sternberg to Director of Marketing and Communications. Sternberg had previously served with the Storm Chasers as Marketing and Promotions Manager. The club has also added Andrew Green as Media Relations and Website Manager. Green joins Omaha after spending the prior two campaigns with the Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League).
The Storm Chasers have made two more additions to bolster the team’s front office. Michelle Badley has also joined the Storm Chasers as Ticket Operations Assistant, while Keri Feyerherm is the new Office Manager. Badley joins the Storm Chasers from Bank of the West, while Feyerherm comes to Omaha after working as Coordinator of Accreditation and Recognition Services at the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education in Chicago.
In Mobile, Jackson Hamilton and Mike Murtha come to the BayBears after spending a season with the Daytona Tortugas (High A; Florida State League). Hamilton, a native of South Bend, Indiana and graduate of Ball State University, and Murtha, a native of Des Moines, Iowa and graduate of Wichita State University, will both serve as Account Executives with the BayBears and will be primarily responsible for selling ticket and group packages.
“We are very pleased to be adding Jackson and Mike to our team in 2016,” said Chris Morgan, General Manager of the BayBears, who is returning to the BayBears for his second season. “The level of enthusiasm that they bring to our organization is exactly what we need as the staff continues to prepare for our 20th season in Mobile. I am confident that they will work hard to get more fans to the Hank in 2016.”
In addition to the new hires, the BayBears also announced that Director of Concessions, Justin Gunsaulus, who joined the BayBears for the 2015 season, has been promoted to the position of Assistant General Manager – Food and Beverage. Gunsaulus worked this past season to dramatically improve the overall food and beverage operation at Hank Aaron Stadium and as a result of his efforts, earned the promotion despite being on the job for less than a year.
Along with Gunsaulus, Matt Baranofsky, who also joined the BayBears for the 2015 season, has been promoted to the position of Director of Ticket Operations. As an account executive with the BayBears during the 2015 season, Baranofsky jumped into the role of managing the box office mid-season and will oversee ticket and box office operations in 2016.
“The promotions of Justin and Matt are well-earned as both worked tirelessly this past season to enhance their areas of responsibility.” Morgan said. “Going into this past season, improvement in our food and beverage operation was a huge point of emphasis and Justin wasted no time in making positive changes that were noticed by our fans. Matt was asked to oversee our box office operation during the middle of the season and worked to make improvements that we will carry into 2016.”