Press Release Email I received today...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2007
Contact: Anthony Oppermann
(703) 590-2311 x 221
Potomac Nationals Revamp Front Office
Busy offseason culminates in seven new hires
Woodbridge, VA? The Potomac Nationals have announced the hiring of seven new members to the front office staff. In addition, there will also be some familiar faces in new places for the upcoming 2007 season at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium.
Jonathan Griffith joins the Potomac Nationals as the Assistant General Manager of Corporate Sales. Griffith spent the 2006 season with the Kinston Indians of the Carolina League, and has previously worked for the Richmond Braves, International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. He received his undergraduate degree at High Point University and a Masters at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Doug McConnell comes on-board with the Potomac Nationals as the Box Office Manager. A native of Malvern, Pa., McConnell comes to the P-Nats from the Delmarva Shorebirds of the South Atlantic League where he served as the Box Office intern for the 2006 season. Doug also spent the 2005 season with the Philadelphia Phillies. A 2006 graduate of Guilford College (NC) with a degree in Sport Management, Doug was a four-year letter winner for the men?s lacrosse team.
David Maier comes to the Potomac Nationals as an Outside Sales Executive from the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays, where he served as a Marketing Intern for the 2006 season. Prior to working with the Devil Rays, David worked as a Corporate Sales Executive for Cingular Wireless. The Williamston, Mich., native is a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in Liberal Arts and Science.
Jennifer Roccanti comes to the Potomac Nationals as Director of Community Relations from the New Haven County Cutters, an independent minor league baseball team in Connecticut, where she served as Community Relations Manager. Jennifer started her career in baseball as an intern with the Cutters in 2005 and will be celebrating her third season in baseball in 2007. She graduated magna cum laude from Suffolk University in Boston with a degree in Print Journalism in May of 2005.
Anthony Oppermann joins the Potomac Nationals as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations. Oppermann, a native of La Grange, Texas, spent the 2006 season with the Daytona Cubs, class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, where he served as the team?s Assistant Director of Broadcasting. Prior to his time in Daytona, Oppermann spent time with the Round Rock Express, class AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros, as an In-Booth Producer, and was play-by-play announcer for the Coppell Copperheads and Weatherford Wranglers of the Texas Collegiate League.
Jim Johnson begins his first season with the Potomac Nationals as Director of Food Service after spending nearly 15 years with Ogden Entertainment. While with Odgen, Jim was involved in new business development in the eastern United States and operations in the Mid-Atlantic area. Area venues included the US Air Arena, Verizon Center, Baltimore Arena, Wolf Trap, Nissan Pavilion, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Norfolk Scope, and the Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
Carter Buschman, returns to the Potomac Nationals for his second season as the Director of Stadium Operations. He spent the 2006 season with the P-Nats as an Operations Intern and Director of Food Service. Carter is a graduate of the University of Florida who has previously worked for the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League as a member of the grounds crew and game-day operations staff.
Ryan Johnston will serve as the Potomac Nationals Assistant Director of Stadium Operations after interning with the team as the Stadium Operations Manager in 2006. A Los Angeles, Calif., native and current resident of Herndon, Va., Ryan graduated from of Shepherd University (WV) with a degree in Sports Event Management.
Also returning for the 2007 season is Vice President and General Manager Bobby Holland, Assistant General Manager of Baseball Operations Jason Choi, and Group Sales Account Executives Andrew Bashuk and John LeGacy.
The 2007 season will mark Holland?s third year with the Prince William/Potomac franchise and second as the team?s General Manager. Choi returns for his third year with the team and will handle the club?s finances as well as all of the baseball operations. Bashuk and LeGacy will both celebrate their second seasons with the Potomac Nationals as the two worked in similar capacities with team in 2006. In addition to their time with the P-Nats, the two both have previous baseball experience. Bashuk spent time with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League and LeGacy had stints with the Arkansas Travelers of the Texas League and the Carolina League?s Salem Avalanche.
The Potomac Nationals open their season on the road on April 5th against the Lynchburg Hillcats and celebrate Opening Day at Pfitzner Stadium on April 9th against the Salem Avalanche. Season tickets for the 2007 season are on sale now. For more information, call the P-Nats ticket office at (703) 590-2311 x 215.
