PRESS RELEASE – While baseball took its winter hibernation following a Midwest League championship season at Modern Woodmen Park, the River Bandits front office has been full of activity, with the hiring and promotions of several staff members, including the hiring of a new assistant general manager, Andrew Chesser, who brings eight years of experience in minor league baseball.
“We are thrilled to add talented and passionate new members who are obsessed with providing outstanding customer service to our front office team,” said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. “The dedication and commitment shared by our staff has helped make Modern Woodmen Park the friendliest ballpark in all of baseball, and we are preparing for another great season by bringing in and promoting some extraordinary people.”
Since assistant general manager Stefanie Brown moved up to become the team’s general manager last fall, the team hired Chesser to fill her post as assistant general manager. Chesser joins the River Bandits as assistant general manager after eight seasons with the Lynchburg Hillcats, the advanced Class-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves in the Carolina League. A native of New Milford, Conn., and graduate of Lynchburg College, Chesser began as a stadium operations intern with the Hillcats in 2004. He was hired full-time as director of creative services, and since 2006, also served as director of group sales.
In addition to Chesser, three other new full-time employees have joined the front office, and the River Bandits also promoted five others within the organization.
“It is always nice to promote from within, and I am delighted that we were able to promote so many people who worked diligently for us last season,” said General Manager Stefanie Brown. “I am also excited that we will begin to benefit from the creative ideas and energy that our new staff members will bring.”
New to the River Bandits are Community Relations and Merchandise Manager Brittany Carter, Media Relations Manager Marco LaNave, and Account Executive Liz Shirley.
Carter, a Quad Cities native and graduate of Iowa State University, worked as a street team intern with the River Bandits last season. She was an account executive with the Quad City Mallards before joining the River Bandits as community relations and merchandise manager.
LaNave, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., joined the River Bandits as a media relations intern in January and was promoted to media relations manager. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he broadcasted baseball for parts of three summers in St. Cloud and was a radio broadcast intern with the Minnesota Twins last season.
Shirley, a graduate of Brown University, started her career in sales in her native Sarasota, Fla. She worked with the Baltimore Orioles organization in their spring training operation as a fan service representative.
After last season, the River Bandits promoted Shane Huff, Ciara Breese, JD Davis, Kayla Steffensmeier and Elliott Sweitzer – all from within the organization. Huff, who has been with the River Bandits since 2008 and served as on-field host for home games in 2011, was promoted to director of marketing and promotions. Breese was promoted to box office manager after serving as a box office intern last season. Davis was a video production intern in 2011 and was promoted to production manager. Steffensmeier is the special events manager after completing a special events internship last year. Sweitzer joined the River Bandits as a stadium operations intern for the 2011 season before being promoted to stadium operations manager.
UP NEXT: Opening Day is April 5 at Modern Woodmen Park. Get your tickets now to watch the River Bandits defend their Midwest League Championship. Single-game tickets are now on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at (563) 3-BANDIT and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS:After four years of ballpark improvements, the River Bandits and the City of Davenport last summer unveiled some of the most impressive enhancements to Modern Woodmen Park yet. A brand new, state of the art, high definition 20′ x 35′ video board went live on June 7, and the newly enclosed glass Sky Deck on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park was completed last August. Those improvements, in addition to new flood protection, a new front plaza, and a new parking lot directly across the street from the ballpark, are quickly making Modern Woodmen Park one of the premier facilities in all of Minor League Baseball. More improvements are scheduled for this coming season!
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