We have personnel news to report from the Carolina Mudcats (High A; Carolina League) and the Victoria HarbourCats (summer collegiate; West Coast League).
In Carolina, the Mudcats have announced several additions to their front office staff, including David Lawrence (Assistant General Manager of Sales), Aaron Freeman (Group Sales Associate), Jack Noble (Group Sales Associate), Ryan Rainey (Box Office Manager), Aaron Bayles (Coordinator of Graphic Design, Social Media and Marketing) and Nick Farmer (Special Events Coordinator).
David Lawrence – Assistant General Manager of Sales
David Lawrence brings a substantial sales and sports background to the Mudcats. Most recently the General Sales Manager with Hudl, Lawrence has also served as the Regional Sales Manager for the David Glenn Show, NC Sports Network and NC News Network at Curtis Media Group. His extensive background also includes General Manager of Texas A&M Sports Properties and sponsorship sales positions with Tar Heel Sports Properties and Wolfpack Sports Marketing. He began his career in sports as a seasonal employee for the Kinston Indians in the Carolina League in 1988 while attending Appalachian State. Lawrence graduated from Appalachian State University with his B.S. in Communications and minor in Marketing in 1990. He then earned his M.S. in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University in Florida in 1992.
Aaron Freeman – Group Sales Associate
Aaron Freeman returns to the Mudcats’ front office after most recently working as an Account Executive for IMG Learfield Ticket Solutions and Duke University in 2016 and 2017. He previously worked for the Mudcats as a Ticket and Corporate Sales Executive between January 2014 and September 2015. He also interned with the Mudcats during the 2013 season. Freeman graduated from N.C. State with a B.S. in Sports Management in 2013.
Jack Noble – Group Sales Associate
Jack Noble is a Raleigh native who joins the Mudcats from the Frontier League’s Normal Cornbelters where he was an Account Executive between May 2017 and November 2017. Noble attended Falls of Neuse High School in Raleigh. He graduated from Toccoa Falls College with a degree in Sports Management in 2017.
Ryan Rainey – Box Office Manager
Ryan Rainey comes to the Mudcats after working for the Triple-A Durham Bulls as a Box Office Assistant in both 2016 and 2017. Prior to joining the Mudcats, Rainey has also worked as a Resource Acquisition, Premium Services and Hospitality Intern with Duke Athletics. Rainey recently graduated from UNC Greensboro with a B.S. in Business Administration.
Aaron Bayles – Coordinator of Graphic Design, Social Media and Marketing
Aaron Bayles originally worked for the Mudcats from 2006 though 2015 before joining the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Bayles returns to the Mudcats as the club’s new Coordinator of Graphic Design, Social Media and Marketing.
Nick Farmer – Special Events Coordinator
Nick Farmer enters his first season with the Mudcats as the club’s new Special Events Coordinator. Farmer is a recent graduate from the University of Florida where he worked extensively with the mascot program and in both group and season ticket sales.
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In Victoria, the HarbourCats have announced several changes to their front office staff.
Named to the position of Assistant General Manager, Ticketing and Media, is Christian J. Stewart, who is very well known for his many roles in the local sports community – as a photographer and writer working with ISN and chronicling local baseball and other sports. Christian has worked as an actor (including the well-known Gracepoint series), was part of various baseball association boards, was a successful minor baseball coach, and has an impressive list of accomplishments over his 30-plus-years working both in the business world and with a camera in his hand.
Christian was an original part of the HarbourCats organization prior to the team’s first pitch, so this is a return to a rightful role with Vancouver Island’s premier baseball organization. He takes over many of the roles previously held by Brittany Wilson (nee French), who recently married former HarbourCats coach Andrew Wilson. Christian will continue to provide the team with the fantastic game-action and team photography that our fans have come to know and love.
“We look for talent on the field – but we also have talent in our key people in the front office, with Christian and GM Brad Norris-Jones, and the others we are announcing today, Katrinka, Anna and Lyandra,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats.
“It’s fantastic to have Christian return with the franchise at this stage of operation, it’s a perfect fit for what we need to be better at as we move forward. Christian’s main focus will be engaging with the community and enabling people through ticketing, with group and corporate options, and making sure the media have everything they need to continue their tremendous coverage for 2018. He has touched the operation in such a positive manner in just about every way without being part of staff – he and his wife Carolyn hosted players last year, so he is able to help in that area with a full understanding of what it means to be a host family.”
Also joining the HarbourCats is Katrinka Green, whose family has looked after 11 players over the past three seasons. Green, a native Nova Scotian well-known from her time working with Royal Roads University, is the Host Family Coordinator, and will work side-by-side with Stewart, Norris-Jones and the coaching staff to ensure our players are well-cared for while members of the HarbourCats. Green, a Victoria resident for 20 years, now works for Adamek Financial.
“Katrinka’s energy and understanding of the host family needs make her a perfect choice for this key role in our organization, moving forward for 2018,” said Norris-Jones. “The Greens are all-involved, their son Ryder has been a bat boy, Katrinka’s husband Tyler helps out with field duties, and they’ve been a great home-away-from-home for players such as Hunter Vansau, Harrison Bragg, Josh Mitchell, and others.”
Named to the role of Gameday Operations Coordinator, working closely with Norris-Jones, is Anna James, an Aussie who formerly worked for the Australian Baseball League when it was operated by Major League Baseball. James is in Victoria to attend UVic and complete a journalism degree, and has written for Fox Sports, Huffington Post and many other notable outlets. She looked after gameday operations for the Brisbane Bandits baseball club, and further, fits quite well in Canada – James once worked for the Australian Ice Hockey League.
“Anna is a great new addition who will work closely with Brad to deliver excellence in the area of fan experience at Royal Athletic Park, looking after the details that make all the difference,” said Swanson. “Anna is such a fun person to be around. Anna loves baseball, and really understands the important roles that make fans feel welcome.”
The last staffing addition for the summer is the exciting announcement that Lyandra (Andy) White will be assuming the gameday role of Box Office Manager. Formerly the team’s Ticketing Manager, White will work with Stewart to ensure a smooth entry for all fans on game days at RAP.
“Andy’s experience and understanding of our systems will be invaluable, she knows our people and our fans, and has been part of the HarbourCats from the beginning,” said Norris-Jones. “The work Andy does will allow Christian and Anna to focus on other important parts of the HarbourCats game experience.”
The HarbourCats are also adding Camosun students Hamilton Mack and Giuliana Crozier to the mix, two local products who will be assisting Brad, Anna, Breyn Banks, and our media production crew of Jason King, Dan Salmon and Dave Marshall with all things gameday.