Salem bolsters front office
The four new additions to the staff are Steven Lawhorn, Jeremy Long, Giles Cochran and Michael Bouscher. In addition, Assistant General Manager Allen Lawrence has been named Senior Assistant General Manager, while Director of Sales and Marketing, Josh Eagan, and Director of Group Sales, Jeremy Auker, have both been named Assistant General Managers.
Lawhorn, 27, joins the Avalanche as a Corporate Sales Representative. The Fayetteville, WV native and Concord (WV) University graduate joins the club from the Wilson Tobs of the Coastal Plains League where he served most recently as the team's General Manager. He also spent a season with the Rookie Level Princeton (WV) Devil Rays. Lawhorn and his wife, Sherry, have three children and reside in Roanoke.
Long, 24, joins the Avalanche as Assistant Director of Group Sales. The Memphis native previously spent three seasons with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds in various capacities. The University of Memphis grad and his new bride, Jennifer, live in Roanoke.
Cochran, 24, moved to Roanoke after graduating from high school and is a recent graduate of UVA-Wise. A native of Fries, VA, Cochran joins the Avalanche as an Account Executive, and will be involved in all facets of game operations this summer. Bouscher, 23, is also a University of Memphis Alum. A Waynesburg, OH native, he joins the Avalanche as an Account Executive as well, and will be actively involved with team operations this summer.
"All four of these gentlemen bring a wide variety of experience to the table," said John Katz, Avalanche VP / General Manager. "We're excited to have them on board as we inch closer and closer to Opening Day."
Lawrence, 28, is entering his sixth full-time season with the Avalanche. The new Senior Assistant GM also interned with the Avalanche while a student at Elon College, and was a game-day employee while a student at Roanoke's North Cross School. Lawrence will assist VP / GM John Katz with the daily business operations of the ballclub, and will continue to work closely with the City of Salem and the Houston Astros on facility operations and player relations respectively. Allen and his wife, Heather, reside in Roanoke.
Eagan, 29, is entering his second season with the team. He joined the Avalanche from the Midwest League's Swing of the Quad Cities (IA) franchise where he served as Assistant General Manager. Josh continues to develop the team's identity in the Roanoke and New River Valleys and serves as the team's Director of Sales and Marketing. Eagan, his wife, Andrea and their two daughters live in Roanoke.
Auker, 25, is also entering his second season with the Avalanche. He joined the ballclub in November of 2005 after serving as Assistant GM with the Rookie Level Burlington (NC) Indians. No stranger to the Astros farm system, Auker interned for two seasons with the Rookie Level Martinsville (VA) Astros. Jeremy continues his duties as Director of Group Sales; he and his new bride, Stephanie, reside in Rocky Mount.
"The Avalanche staff is one of the finest in all of Minor League Baseball," said Katz. "I am pleased to make these Front Office moves as we continue our proud tradition of grooming future General Managers throughout our great game."
The Avalanche are also expecting to announce the new hiring of a Radio Broadcaster in conjunction with finalizing their Radio Broadcast plans for 2007. The announcement is expected to be made prior to the start of Spring Training.