Title: General Manager of Omaha Royals
Hometown: Ruston.
Now resides in: Omaha, Neb.
Degree: Bachelor Marketing, '98
How I got to Tech: Living in Ruston I choose to attend Tech to earn an education degree to go on to a career in coaching baseball.
When I knew I'd go into athletic management: Sometime in 1997-98 while working for then Louisiana Tech University Head Baseball Coach Randy Davis.
Explain the job of a general manager of a baseball team: In Minor League Baseball the job of General Manager is different from Major League Baseball where they handle all player personnel decisions. In the minors, GMs handle all business operations including: Sales, Marketing, Community and Public Relations, Media Relations, Finance, Stadium Operations, Merchandise, Major League-affiliate Relations. We are a Sales and Community Relations-based business.
My first ‘break' into the ‘big leagues': When I secured my first Minor League Baseball job in 1999 with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Class AA Chicago Cubs).
What's something about pro ball at the AAA level that would be surprising to the general public and fans: While our level of Baseball is just a phone-call from the Major Leagues, we are still grassroots in terms of our Sales and Community Relations endeavors.
Where do I see myself in five years? Working in Minor League Baseball and being in ownership in some capacity.
Memories of Tech: Many good memories...from many professors and friends to my early days working in baseball. Also, serving as a ballboy during the Andy Russo/Karl Malone Dunkin' Dawg era to watching Gravy's baseball teams win league championships and play in NCAA tournaments are top-of-mind.
Most important thing I learned at Tech: Take advantage of opportunities when they are presented to you and persevere through all hardships as they too shall pass.
About my family: Wife Sara is from Nashville, and we have three boys - Gavin (13), Collin (5) and Cass (6 months).
Some of my favorite promotions at the ballpark? Community partnership nights, charity nights, Kids Run the Bases.
About the band I was in at Tech: Stonybridge. It was all original rock 'n' roll. At the time, it was what's now college alternative rock. We played an 11-state area; all the guys in the band went to Tech. I played drums.
How being in a band helped me in my career: YES. It gave me real-world experience in media relations, marketing, public relations, public speaking, and ‘collection.' It was most definitely a great education in experience - not just textbook experience. At the time did I know it would help me? Yes, but I couldn't pinpoint anything at the time. I was originally in education to be a baseball coach and ended up getting into marketing. That's when everything from playing music and running a business/band, all those experiences made sense.
