Quad Cities River Bandits (Low A; Midwest League) General Manager Andrew Chesser will step down in November, with current Assistant General Manager Jacqueline Holm being promoted to GM. Chesser intends to pursue opportunities in southern California, outside baseball, while Holm will be promoted to General Manager and take over management of the team’s front office.
Chesser spent seven seasons with the River Bandits after joining the club in 2012. He initially served as Assistant General Manager before being promoted to General Manager following the 2013 season. Chesser played a large role in completing a series of improvements to Modern Woodmen Park and helped increase charitable contributions to the community. During his tenure, the River Bandits won a number of local and national awards including Best Minor League Ballpark in America (USA Today), Minor League Baseball’s Golden Bobblehead Award, No. 1 Minor League Sports Market by Sports Business Journal, and the Organization of the Year Award from Ballpark Digest.
Although he began his career in baseball with the Lynchburg Hillcats (High A; Carolina League), Chesser quickly felt at home in the Quad Cities. “My seven seasons with the River Bandits have been some of the most fulfilling of my life. This community embraced me and the team in ways I never thought possible. There are hundreds of people, partners and organizations that have become like family to me over the years, and I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved and the awards we have earned,” Chesser explained. “The incredible success of this organization has been due to the tremendous ownership group in place as well as the front office staff – both of which have resulted in friendships that will last a lifetime.”
“It is a bittersweet day for the River Bandits and everyone who has enjoyed baseball at Modern Woodmen Park,” said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. “Bitter because our great general manager Andrew Chesser, who has played an enormous role in our growth and success over the past seven years, has decided to move on to new challenges in a different field in a different part of the country. But sweet because I am very proud to announce that our incredibly talented assistant general manager, Jacqueline Holm, has been promoted to general manager and will take Andrew’s place. Jacqueline knows this community well, having worked here for the past three years, and, between the Bandits and the Quad City Storm, it’s exciting to see the Quad Cities leading the way in having smart, talented women rise up to take leadership positions with their respective teams. I hope everyone will welcome Jacqueline into her new position.”
Holm steps into the role of General Manager after three seasons as Assistant General Manager with the Bandits. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue the legacy of this organization and the work of Andrew and our ownership,” said Holm. “I am grateful to the community for their support of the River Bandits and our mission to bring quality, family friendly entertainment to the Quad Cities. The 2019 season is going to be an exciting one and I can’t wait to share it with everyone in the Quad Cities.”
Holm has accumulated seven years of experience in professional baseball. Originally from Sugar Land, Texas, Holm started with the Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) in 2012. During her four seasons with the Skeeters, she rose to become the team’s Director of Corporate Partnerships while also serving as the on-field host.
Holm joined the River Bandits in January, 2016, and was soon promoted to Assistant General Manager. Under her leadership, the River Bandits added to their sales staff and saw a large jump in group sales. She has also directed the overhaul of the team’s daily and season-long promotions, including a well-received list of giveaway items. The Bandits social media pages have also shown impressive growth since Holm joined the organization. The team’s Twitter page has gained 5,000 followers and the Instagram page has gained nearly 4,000 followers.
Chesser believes Holm is the perfect fit for the General Manager position. “I have had the privilege of working with Jacqueline for three seasons and I know she will be able not just to continue the work this team has done for the community, but to elevate the River Bandits to even greater heights. She is a natural leader and a passionate advocate for the Quad Cities.”