We have personnel news to report from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League) and the Gary SouthShore RailCats (independent; American Association).
The RailRiders have announced eight personnel additions to their front office. With the first pitch of the 2019 season less than 100 days away, the RailRiders are set to celebrate 30 years of baseball in Northeast Pennsylvania.
“Each new season presents new opportunities,” stated Katie Beekman, the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the RailRiders. “We have a strong core staff and are still pleased to add so many talented individuals in key areas of our operation. We look forward to this year and the seasons to come with the strength of the front office we now have leading the way.”
Heather Holston has joined the RailRiders staff as the Box Office Manager. She is originally from Hampton Roads, Virginia, and graduated from James Madison University in 2013 with a B.S in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Management and Business. Holston spent the last three years as the ticket sales coordinator for the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena.
Amanda Hutchison has been added to the sales staff as an Account Executive- Premium Sales. She was born and raised in Dingmans Ferry. Hutchison is a graduate of Delaware Valley High School and West Virginia University, where she received a B.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2016. She spent the last two years working in Philadelphia for Professional Sports Publications.
Jamie Monahan has been hired as a Corporate Sales Executive. He is a native of Dunmore and a graduate of Dunmore High School. Monahan has worked in corporate sales for the past 12 years, having spent the previous seven years as a national account executive for a leading software company as a service provider. He is also an Assistant Coach for the Scranton Shamrocks, a semi-pro team in the American Basketball Association.
Jordan Perrine has moved into a full-time Corporate Sales Executive role with the RailRiders after spending 2018 in a sales training role. Perrine is from Hackettstown, New Jersey, and is a 2015 graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Economics and minor in entrepreneurship. He played club baseball at UNC for three seasons as well as overseas for Paris Université Club National 1.
Alec Gignac, Jacob Mossman, Rob Rehberg and Brad Schneider are the RailRiders new Inside Sales Representative training staff.
In addition to the new hires, several staff members have taken on new roles and titles within the organization. Kelly Cusick has been promoted to the Director of Season Ticket Sales and Service. Joe Yudichak is now an Account Executive focused on client retention. Nick Bolka, Tim Duggan, Ricky Goykin and Joe Tucciarone are now in Account Executive- Premium Sales roles, responsible for business-to-business ticket package sales. Robby Judge is now the Director of Youth Baseball and Sports Sales. Adam Marco is the new Director of Marketing & Media in addition to serving as the team’s lead broadcaster. Amy Miller is now the RailRiders Business Operations/ SWB Pinstripes Foundation Manager. Melissa Pitz is the RailRiders receptionist and administrative assistant, having joined the team during the 2018 season.
“The new roles for our existing staff members are signs of recognition for their experience and dedication,” Beekman said. “As this front office staff develops, the leadership and abilities our staff showcases allow for opportunities to better utilize skills and traits. After consideration by ownership and the executive staff, we feel these roles will best suit our staff and the individual and will only make for a better year ahead.”
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The RailCats have announced several staff additions and promotions for the 2019 season.
Dan Faulkner joins the RailCats as Director of Sales. Faulkner, a Northwest Indiana native, will oversee the RailCats’ sales team and sponsorship efforts after spending the past 3 years as the Sales Manager for Rhinegeist Brewing in Cincinnati, OH. Faulkner also has experience serving in multiple capacities for Caesars Entertainment, including Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Customer Service. Faulkner was a 2006 Times Baseball Player of the Year for Hammond’s Bishop Noll Institute, where he was an All-State selection and state champion. Faulkner was a 2006 draft selection of the Philadelphia Phillies.
“We are beyond excited about the new faces we’ve brought on board this season, along with some well deserved promotions,” said RailCats General Manager Brian Flenner. “Northwest Indiana should expect the best in family fun and our staff is poised to excel in bringing that vision to the region. Fans can expect a new level of creativity and customer service when we open our gates in May!”
New Box Office Manager/Account Executive Hisham Abad joins the RailCats after spending the past two seasons with the Lake County Captains (Low A; Midwest League) as Ticket Sales Account Executive & Catering Coordinator. Abad also has experience with Bowling Green State University as the Graduate Assistant for the BGSU Athletic Ticket Office.
Two familiar faces have been promoted into full time roles this season. Ashley Nylen returns to the RailCats as Community and Promotions Coordinator/Account Executive after having served the 2017 season as the Marketing/Promotions Intern and the 2018 season as the Marketing/Promotions Assistant. Nylen, a Schererville native, graduated from Lake Central High School and Ball State University.
Highland native Derek Carr joins the RailCats as Sales Associate after spending the past two seasons on the RailCats Grounds Crew as Grounds/Operations Assistant in 2018 and Grounds/Operations Intern in 2017.
Long time Head Groundskeeper Noah Simmons has been promoted to Senior Director of Operations/Head Groundskeeper, overseeing all aspects of stadium operations, including maintaining the Steel Yard playing surface year round. Simmons, a Portage High School graduate, has been part of the RailCats grounds crew for 8 seasons.