We have personnel news to report from the Reading Fightin Phils (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Hub City Hotshots (summer collegiate; Expedition League).
In Reading, the Fightin Phils have named Heath Skimski their new Stadium Operations Manager.
Skimski is an Oley, PA native, having graduated from Oley Valley High School in 2014 and East Stroudsburg University in 2018. He began his Fightins tenure as an intern in May of 2018, where he assisted the R-Phils staff in merchandise, sales, and food and beverage operations.
Upon completing his internship after the 2018 season, Skimski began to take on more responsibilities in stadium operations. This included ensuring the stadium was clean and field set up for a series of football games held at FirstEnergy Stadium in the offseason, featuring Reading High School, Muhlenberg High School, Berks Catholic and others.
Skimski also assisted the sales department, and prepared the stadium to endure winter’s below-freezing temperatures.
As the R-Phils Stadium Operations Manager, Skimski and his team of valuable employees will work to ensure that America’s Classic Ballpark, FirstEnergy Stadium, is perfectly clean and all systems are functioning well for all 70 home games and all extra events.
“This is a dream job, pretty much right out my backdoor in the area I grew up in,” Skimski said. “I came here and watched plenty of games when I was younger, so it feels really good to be here and work in a place I had so much fun as a kid.”
“Heath did a tremendous job last season, and this offseason, with every responsibility that he was asked to perform,” said Reading Fightin Phils General Manager Scott Hunsicker. “It really was a no-brainer to add Heath to our fulltime staff. I’m certain he will do a great job taking the Operations Department at the R-Phils to the next level. We are excited to have him as a part of our Reading Fightin Phils front office family.”
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The Hotshots, based in Aberdeen, SD, have announced the resignation of General Manager Tyson Paulson, who is moving to a position outside of sports.
Paulson served as the team’s General Manager from February 2018 through March 31 of this year, overseeing all operations of the Hotshots through their inaugural 2018 season. He was hired by team owners Mayra and Chuck Heeman in January 2018 as Assistant General Manager and promoted the next month.
“Tyson got us through our first year in great shape and his time with us is very much appreciated,” Hotshots owner Chuck Heeman said. “He was given a lot of responsibility from day one and handled it with a calm and steady hand, establishing his leadership during a season, and off-season, in which circumstances kept Mayra and I away from Aberdeen to help as much as we wanted to. He’s left us in good shape as we move toward the 2019 season opener in May. Knowing Tyson was overseeing the Hotshots was a great relief to us both and his presence will be missed.”
The team will announce a replacement in the coming days. Assistant General Manager Jordan Bolinger, along with the Heemans, will oversee all functions of the team during the transition.
The team also announced the moving of the Hotshots’ offices to 13 2nd Avenue, Suite 4, in Aberdeen. The team will be housed in the Lincoln Square Building.