Staff Highlight: Christina Toler, Director of Corporate Sales

One of the more enjoyable aspects of attending a baseball game includes the casual conversations held with your friends, family, and fans around you as you take in the elements. For Christina Toler, a ballgame conversation with her husband, Sean, meant everything.

Working in the corporate sales world after college with Clear Channel Outdoor, Christina Toler attended a game in 2010 and noticed something was missing at Victory Field – there were sponsors and partner signage, certainly, but there were many avenues not yet discovered for the organization in corporate sales. The in-game conversation with Sean eventually led her to the Indians website, where she found a job posting for a corporate sales executive position. She jumped at the opportunity. That November, she was hired and has since driven the corporate sales department to new heights while gaining more responsibility along the way. She was promoted to a senior corporate sales executive role in Dec. 2016 and quickly earned her current title of director of corporate sales in Jan. 2017.

Toler is originally from nearby Franklin, Ind., and her roots kept her there; she graduated from Franklin College in May 2006 with her bachelor’s degree in journalism. While her journalism major didn’t entirely lead her into corporate sales, it did lead her to a sports department internship with WTHR in 2006. While fulfilling everyday internship duties, she did have two very memorable interviews – one with Kobe Bryant when the Lakers were in town to play the Pacers and another while camping out outside of a small Bloomington, Ind. airport trying to get a soundbite from Kelvin Sampson before he was announced as the Indiana University basketball coach.

Toler’s excellence in and out of the workplace is well-known. Last March, she was recognized as the winner among 10 finalists in the Media, Sports & Entertainment category for the 2020 Indy’s Best & Brightest Awards. As Victory Field celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, Toler and her team are working overtime to ensure every corporate partner is satisfied.

What took you away from journalism and into corporate sales?

The time I graduated was at the on-start of the recession that lasted four or five years. For people who graduated from college at that time, it was difficult to find new opportunities. There were some small, rural opportunities available but part of me didn’t want to leave the Midwest yet, I was pretty anchored here. The job I received right out of college with Clear Channel Outdoor was a position specifically designed for a recent college graduate in a mentor/mentee sales role. I felt fortunate to have a job at graduation during the recession and figured I’d see what path it would take me down.

Favorite part of working for the Indians?

Our entire staff works hard all year to prepare for the season. I love seeing the results of our hard work via fans making memories at the ballpark, community impact and goals met by our partners.

What is a goal you hope to attain within your department?

We want to continue to expand upon the foundation we have built with corporate partners while maintaining the focus of providing a memorable experience for fans and families at Victory Field.

What are you most proud of in your time with the Indians?

On the sales side, naming rights for the Elements Financial Club is a true testament to the relationship business and the way we operate. We have such loyal partners and fans that allow us the chance to sell opportunities like that to a local business. On the broad spectrum of being here 10 years, it’s all the growth that I’ve seen this organization go through – we had a small staff and there were very few women working here when I started, and we’ve got over a dozen women on staff now. We have been able to expand our offices and add numerous positions to give us the ability to impact our fans and the Indianapolis community.

You and your family visit Disney World often. Which amusement park and rides are your personal favorites?

My favorite park is Hollywood Studios, where you walk through Toy Story Land and Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. I have two favorite rides, one is there – the immersive Rise of the Resistance experience, it’s so cool being captured by the First Order. At Epcot, Soarin’ Around the World is one of our family favorites.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Before I had kids, I was a spin junkie and very much into fitness and athletics. My husband and I met at the gym. About two years ago, I bought a Peloton and that’s where you can usually catch me in my free time for about 60-90 minutes each day. It’s been such a blessing to have my Peloton bike the last two years, especially over the past year. The Peloton community is so positive; the instructors are positive and so real. You have your local community and then a massive community following that has probably quadrupled over the last year.