We have personnel news to report from the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Stockton Ports (High A; California League).
In Memphis, the Redbirds have announced a pair of personnel decisions for the upcoming season.
Mike Voutsinas, a 16-year veteran of professional baseball and the New York-Penn League Executive of the Year in 2016, has joined the Redbirds as senior director, corporate sales and marketing. Voutsinas spent the past three seasons as the general manager for the Single-A Auburn Doubledays, where he helped the Doubledays receive the Community and Baseball Service Award.
Through his leadership, the Doubledays increased attendance by 23 percent and tripled advertising revenue.
“I was fortunate enough to witness first-hand Mike’s work ethic and the admiration of his peers in the NY-Penn League, and I am thrilled to welcome him to the Redbirds family,” Redbirds Principal owner Peter Freund said.
“I am very excited to join the Memphis Redbirds, an organization with a rich history, outstanding ownership, and a bright future,” Voutsinas said. “I cannot wait to start working with the staff as we prepare for Opening Day and the 2017 season.”
In his role with the Redbirds, Voutsinas will oversee Promotions, Marketing, Corporate Sales, Premium Sales, and Season Membership Sales. He will work closely with Redbirds president and general manager Craig Unger and will play a key role in the development and execution of the sales and marketing vision of the Redbirds.
“I am thrilled to have Mike join our team,” Unger said. “The leadership and experience Mike brings to the Redbirds instantly makes us a better organization.”
Prior to Auburn, Voutsinas spent nearly 13 years with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, serving in roles as Director of Ticket Sales, Director of Marketing and Promotions, and Assistant General Manager.
Voutsinas and his wife, Kimberly, have two young children and are looking forward to moving to Memphis and becoming active in the community.
In addition, Mark Anderson, who has been a member of the Redbirds Front Office since 2006, has been promoted to senior director, stadium and baseball operations. Anderson has played a key role in improving the operation of AutoZone Park, one of the most challenging ballparks in Minor League Baseball to manage on a daily basis, and has streamlined much of the gameday workflow around the stadium.
“Mark and his team have done an amazing job of keeping AutoZone Park one of the premier stadiums in the country,” Unger said. “He has led us through several construction projects and continues to make AutoZone Park a much more efficient facility.”
Anderson joined the Redbirds as a box office intern in 2006 and was promoted full-time to Group Sales Coordinator the following season. He then shifted to box office manager in 2008 and moved into stadium operations in 2009.
Anderson and his wife, Jennifer, are proud parents of a newborn son, Owen.
—
In Stockton, the Ports have added several new front office members, and have announced promotions for Luke Johnson and Justice Hoyt.
“The Ports are excited to welcome these new staff members as we feel each of them will bring an extensive amount of knowledge from their previous stops with other teams and be a positive impact not only at Banner Island Ballpark, but in Stockton as well,” said general manager Bryan Meadows. “In addition to the new staff, I am excited by the continued growth of both Luke [Johnson] and Justice [Hoyt] with the Ports.”
New hires:
-Graphic/Web Design Manager: Hannah Baber is a Colusa, Calif. native and graduate of the University of the Pacific where she earned a degree in Sport Management. Hannah comes to the Ports from the University of the Pacific Athletics Department where she spent four years working in Marketing and Promotions.
-Community Relations Manager: Allie Bakalar is a Livermore, Calif. native and graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she earned a degree in Public Relations. Before joining the Ports, she worked part-time for the San Francisco Giants’ Digital Media Department and the Oakland Raiders’ Community Relations Department.
-Box Office Manager: Markus Hagglund is a Clinton, Iowa native and graduate of the University of Iowa. Previously, he spent time with the Hickory Crawdads, Portland Sea Dogs, and Quad Cities River Bandits.
-Stadium Operations/Account Executive: Owen Wilson is a Toledo, Ohio native and attended Loyola University Chicago where he double-majored in Sport Management and Marketing. Prior to joining the Ports, he interned with the Toledo Mud Hens and the Toledo Walleye for two seasons in their ticket department.
Promotions:
-Director of Group Sales and Promotions: Luke Johnson, born in Minneapolis, Minn. and raised in Trabuco Canyon, Calif., will be entering his third season with the Ports. Johnson was previously the Ports’ Groups Sales Manager and is a graduate of Regis University with a degree in Communication. He spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Altoona Curve and the 2012 season with the Modesto Nuts.
-Group Sales Manager: Justice Hoyt, native of Wolcott, N.Y., will be entering his third season with the Ports. Hoyt was formerly the Ports’ Group Sales Account Executive and received a Sport Management degree from Saint John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y. Prior to the Ports, he spent time with the Rochester Redwings as a Group Sales and Game Day Production Intern, in addition to acting as Catering Manager for the hospitality venues.