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Personnel News: Biloxi, Legends

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We have personnel news to report from the Biloxi Shuckers (Class AA; Southern League) as well as the firm Legends

In Biloxi, the Shuckers have announced several additions to their front office. Additionally, some members of the front office staff received new titles and roles within the office for 2018.

Trevor Matifes assumes the role of Assistant General Manager, stepping into the spot vacated when Hunter Reed became the General Manager of the Shuckers in January. Matifes enters his fourth season with the Shuckers and sixth in professional baseball. During the previous three seasons, Matifes worked as the Director of Stadium Operations for the Shuckers and was a key part of the opening of MGM Park in 2015. He has also worked with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos as a Stadium Operations Assistant and spent a season in Kansas City working for the T-Bones in the American Association.

Garrett Greene joins the Shuckers as the new Media Relations Manager and Broadcaster, taking over for Chris Harris. This will be Greene’s third season in professional baseball after serving as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League in 2017 and working with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association in 2016.

Also starting her first season with the Shuckers is Stephanie Chapman, who joins the front office as a Ticket Sales Executive. Stephanie brings previous experience in the Southern League after working as an Account Executive for the Mobile BayBears during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Chapman graduated from the University of Saint Mary with a degree in sport management.

 A familiar face with a new position, Layton Markwood moves into a role as a Ticket Sales Executive for the 2018 season. Layton spent 2017 with the Shuckers working as a Box Office and Sales Trainee. Prior to the Shuckers, Layton worked as an Event Logistics Intern at Charlotte Motor Speedway after graduating from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Sports and Entertainment Management.

In administration, Lisa Turner now serves as the Accounting and Human Resources Manager for the Shuckers. This will be her fourth season with the team after working as the Office Manager in her first three seasons at MGM Park. Before joining the front office, Lisa worked in HealthCare Administration for 19 years.

Jenifer Truong begins her fourth season with the Shuckers, now working as the Community Relations and Promotions Manager. Jenifer worked in Community Relations and Promotions last season and was a Sales and Marketing Coordinator in her first two years with the Shuckers. She is also a board member for Main Street Biloxi and has experience in college athletics, working with the men’s basketball team at Southern Miss for three years.

Rejoining the team after a brief hiatus is Dani Polen, who will function as an Administrative and Marketing Assistant. Dani worked for the Shuckers during the 2017 season as the teams Sales and Marketing Coordinator.

Legends has announced the appointments of Paula Portz as Chief Operating Officer of Legends Project Development and Martin Jennings as Senior Vice President of European Development for Legends International.

Paula Portz comes to Legends from Project Control, where she spent the last 24 years, most recently as President of the PC Sports division, working on professional sports facilities such as FedEx Forum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies, Sprint Center in Kansas City, KFC Yum Center and Mosaic Stadium in Canada. In her role at Legends, Portz will be focused on the Project Development business, including current projects for the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District, DC United, Los Angeles Football Club and the Philips Arena Renovations, among others. Legends Project Development provides full owners’ representative, program and project management services.

“Bringing Paula aboard as an asset to our robust Global Planning team was a huge win for Legends,” said Bill Rhoda, President of Legends Global Planning. “Her expertise and extensive experience in the project development field, bolsters our best-in-class scope of services, allowing our team to grow and expand the capabilities we offer.”

Portz is certified by the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional, and also as a LEED Accredited Professional by the Green Building Certification Institute. She’s an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers and Stadium Managers Association, in addition to speaking at various industry trade organizations and community groups.

Based in EuropeMartin Jennings has worked in the construction and development field for over 25 years, most recently with Liverpool Football Club in England. There, Jennings managed and executed the most recent expansion of Anfield’s Main Stand, which upped the venue’s capacity to 54,000. In addition to Liverpool, Jennings has worked with several prominent Barclays Premier League Clubs on expansion and re-development efforts, while also performing project management services at venues throughout the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. Legends will continue to provide various services for Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Manchester City FC and Fulham FC.

“Martin is a dynamic leader in the project management field. His expertise and relationships will bolster our project development and planning services in the European markets,” said Andrew Hampel, President of Legends International.

Jennings is a Certified Value Analyst by the Institute of Value Management, a member of the Association for Project Management and a Professional Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

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