PRESS RELEASE – After another record-setting season in 2013, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox are excited to announce three promotions within the team’s front office staff. Those staff promotions are: Chris Phillips has been promoted to Assistant General Manager and Director of Corporate Sales, Whitney Shellem moves up to Senior Director of Ticketing and Keith Hodges has been promoted to Senior Director of Group Sales.
Chris Phillips just completed his second season with the Sky Sox, and his 11th year in minor league baseball. In 2003, Chris started his baseball career as a Ticket Account Executive with the Altoona Curve, and quickly moved up the ranks to Assistant Director of Ticket Sales. In 2005, Chris took on the role of Director of Ticket Sales for Greenberg Sports Group, overseeing the ticket sales departments for both the Altoona Curve and the State College Spikes. Chris was then promoted to the Assistant General Manager of the State College Spikes, overseeing all ticket sales, sponsorship sales, and business development for the team before joining the Sky Sox as Director of Corporate Sales in 2011.
“Chris took over as part of a restructuring of the Corporate Sales Department in 2011,” said Sky Sox President & GM Tony Ensor. “And through his leadership has been that igniting force that has taken our Corporate Sales team to the next level in both sales and client satisfaction. While the success of our Corporate Sales team has been noted, it is also the experience and intangibles that he brings to the organization everyday that make him an invaluable member of our management team.”
Whitney Shellem has been overseeing ticket operations for the Sky Sox for the last 10 seasons and under his watch the Sky Sox attendance has grown year after year. Whitney’s interest in Minor League Baseball stems from growing up around the Wilmington Blue Rocks and later the Salem Avalanche. After a summer volunteering with the Blue Rocks during his senior year, Whitney joined the Sky Sox as an intern in 2004 and was later promoted to Box Office manager. Since then Whitney has moved up the ranks and has made Colorado Springs his permanent residence.
“While ticketing is in his title, that is only part of the story,” said Ensor. “Whitney also handles our New Media Marketing program as well as running our ticketing department. Whitney is seen as the ultimate utility player because he has done so many things to get Sky Sox Baseball where it is today. His leadership in these areas is a major reason for the tremendous growth in our attendance and brand over the past several years.”
Keith Hodges has been handling corporate hospitality events and sponsorships at Security Service Field for the past eight years. This past season marked Keith’s eighth season with the Sky Sox & fourth season as Director of Group Sales. He is from San Antonio, TX and has been around the game of baseball his entire life. He also played Division I baseball at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX and began coaching after graduating college in 2004. After a seasonal internship with the Round Rock Express Baseball Club, Keith moved up to Colorado Springs in 2005 and has been here ever since.
“Keith came to us eight years ago and I am especially proud of the growth he has displayed each and every year,” Ensor explained. “His dedication to his clients, his co-workers and this organization truly make him a very special leader in this community. His commitment to excellence for himself and his department has also made him one of the most respected leaders in his field in all of Minor League Baseball”
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