Mississippi Braves Front Office

Laven is in his fourth year as Vice President and General Manager for the M-Braves. During his first season in 2019, Laven guided the organization to an 8.25% growth in attendance from 2018. Despite the 2020 season cancellation, Laven kept the organization alive in the community, putting on socially distanced events for Movie Nights, Graduations, Independence Day and Target Golf. In 2021, Laven led the club through Mississippi's "Return to Baseball" in 2021, which resulted in the organization's first league championship in 13 years.

Laven joined the Braves after spending the 2018 baseball season as Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Chicago Dogs (American Association). Before 2018, Laven spent five years as President of Salvi Sports Enterprises, overseeing two Independent League franchises, the Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier League) and Gary SouthShore RailCats (American Association). Laven held the additional role of General Manager of the Boomers from 2015-17.

Laven spent 13 seasons with the Arkansas Travelers, Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Following the 2006 season, the Travelers' final season at Ray Winder Field, which also featured the Texas League All-Star Game, Laven was recognized as the 2006 Texas League Executive of the Year. In September 2006, he received the first-ever "Closer Award" as the top salesperson in Minor League Baseball. After three years as the club's Assistant General manager (2004-06), Laven was promoted to General Manager by the team's Executive Committee in 2007 and served as the Travs' GM for six seasons. Laven ascended through the organization, beginning as a Stadium Operations Intern in 1992 and returning as the Director of Stadium Operations in 1993.

Between two stints in Arkansas, Laven spent one season as Account Executive for the Kane County Cougars (1994), one season as Assistant General Manager for the Albany Polecats (1995), and four seasons as Director of Food and Beverage and Director of Sales with Piedmont (NC) Boll Weevils (1996-99). His second stint with the Travelers began in 2000, taking on responsibilities such as planning promotions, advertising, ticket sales, and public relations until being named Assistant General Manager in 2004._

A native of LaGrange, Illinois, Laven graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1991. He and his wife, Holly, have one daughter, Kellan.

Mueller is in his fourth year with the Mississippi Braves as Assistant General Manager and 28th year in Minor League Baseball. Before joining the Braves, Mueller served as the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates Single-A affiliate West Virginia Power and VP/GM of the Chicago White Sox Single-A affiliate Kannapolis Intimidators.

In Mueller's role as Assistant General Manager, he assists the GM and staff in all team and stadium operations, emphasizing creating strong partnerships in the community.

Mueller is a graduate of Methodist College, where he earned a BS degree in Physical Education and was a member of their NCAA III football team. Tim attended Ocala (FL) Vanguard High School, where he played football and baseball, was a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta and was an Anchor Sweetheart. Fun Fact - longtime NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper was a freshman and scout team quarterback during Tim's senior year at Vanguard.

Tim is a member of the Flowood Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow. In addition, Tim attends Word of Life Church and gets more involved with our local chambers of commerce and charities.

Shaw is in her 18th year with the Mississippi Braves and fifth as Director of Community Relations & Office Manager. The only front office staff member to have been with the organization since its inception, Shaw began as the receptionist for the M-Braves during their inaugural campaign before accepting a full-time position in late 2005 as Office Manager.

Her duties include preparing/processing multiple reports for the club, processing invoices, payments, and donation requests, awareness nights for non-profits, and hiring and managing her in-season staff.

Shaw was a 2018 recipient of the Atlanta Braves Diamond of Hope Award, which honors "community activists who have made exceptional contributions to the fight against breast cancer." Shaw, a breast cancer survivor, is actively involved in numerous charitable organizations dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

Originally from Lexington, MS, Shaw is a graduate of Central Holmes Academy, Holmes Community College, and Hinds Community College. While spending as much time as she can with her family and friends, she is also a fan of the Atlanta Braves, loves horses, enjoys watching college softball and football, hunting, fishing, and just enjoying life!

Kerr enters his third year as Director of Group Sales with the Mississippi Braves. He joined the M-Braves from the Gary SouthShore RailCats (IN), where he was Director of Marketing & Promotions from 2016-2019. He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as an Account Executive.

A seasoned marketing and sales professional, Kerr worked previously with a Fortune 500 telecom company where he was a Sales Manager for retail locations in Southwest Arkansas. He also has experience as an Assistant Program Manager with Accent Marketing, direct sales, and service in a Fortune 500 telecommunications company. The 2022 season will be his 10th in professional baseball, with his previous affiliated experience being with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. Kerr’s contribution to the M-Braves is not just limited to sales, but in graphic design – creating the club’s printed materials and signage.

A native of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Kerr majored in Communication and Mass Media at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR, where he was a World Champion collegiate debater, and semi-professional table tennis player. David is an active member of the Pearl Kiwanis Club, an ambassador with the Pearl Chamber of Commerce, and a registered professional parliamentarian. David currently resides in Brandon with his wife, Holly.

Olson, a Mississippi native, and product of Southern Miss enters his eighth season with the Mississippi Braves and his fifth as Ticket Manager. Olson served the 2015-16 seasons as a Ticket/Sales Trainee to begin his professional career. After his second term as a trainee ended, he accepted the Sales Associate position in November of 2016. In November 2017, Olson was promoted to Ticket Manager, and today he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Trustmark Park Box Office.

Olson holds both a Masters and Bachelors of Science degrees in Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Additionally, Olson served as a student assistant for both USM Sports Marketing and USM Facility and Events Management during his Undergraduate and Graduate tenures.

Olson has been involved in sports most of his life. While playing sports during his youth (baseball and soccer), he did not develop a strong identity in sports until he attended the 1991 World Series. From that point on, he became a Braves fan for life. He is also a passionate fan of the Miami Dolphins (NFL) and the Miami Heat (NBA). Now a resident of Brandon, Olson likes to spend his spare time with his family and friends. While he enjoys watching movies and listening to music, he loves to follow and cheer on his favorite sports teams year-round, especially the Braves!

Butler enters his second year with the Mississippi Braves as a Sales Associate. Before joining the Braves, Butler worked with the Chicago Cubs Single-A affiliate Myrtle Beach Pelicans (S.C.) and interned with the East Tennessee State University Ticket Office. His duties for the M-Braves include selling ticket packages, group outings, and sponsorships. Butler also runs point on the Braves Bookworms Reading Program, an initiative by the club to incentivize students to reach their reading goals.

Originally from Amarillo, TX, before residing in Knoxville, TN, Butler is a 2017 graduate of Emory & Henry College with a B.S. in Sport Management and a minor in Business Management. While attending Emory & Henry, Butler was a 4-year letterman on the baseball team as a pitcher. He was named to the All-ODAC Academic Team selection and was the baseball representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on campus. During his academic career, Butler was also a part of FCA. In May of 2020, Butler graduated from East Tennessee State University with an M.S. in Sport Management.

Butler enjoys hiking, photography, visiting local breweries, and adventuring to new places in his free time. He is also a coffee enthusiast that can most likely be found in a local coffee shop when not at the ballpark. Butler also cheers for his Clemson Tigers, Texas Rangers, and Dallas Stars in his free time.

Evans enters his seventh season with the Mississippi Braves and fourth as Director of Stadium Operations. He previously served as Concessions and Stadium Operations Manager in 2018 and worked in a number of departments as a trainee in 2016 and 2017.

As Director of Stadium Operations, Evans manages all day-to-day operations at Trustmark Park and clubhouse operations, team procurement, and creates and manages new and existing sales accounts. In 2021, Evans was named an inaugural member of Rankin's Best of the Best Top 40 Under 40, recognizing 40 up-and-coming business leaders under the age of 40.

Evans is a graduate of Mississippi College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management and was a 3-year starter for the Choctaw baseball team. Zach attended Taylorsville High School, where he was actively involved in Baseball, Football, FCA, BETA Club, Drug-Free Teen Counsel, South Mississippi Red Cross, and HOBY.

Zach is a member of the Pearl Kiwanis Club, an organization dedicated to serving children in local communities and around the globe, and The American Red Cross.

In Zach's spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Shannon and his son Tucker (2) while also deer & duck hunting, watching baseball, playing softball, and cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels. Zach and Shannon are expecting their second son, Hank, in May. However, the most important thing to Zach is his faith in God, his family, and his friends. Zach currently resides in Brandon, MS.

Harris is in his fifth year with the Mississippi Braves as Director of Communications and "Voice of the M-Braves." and 14th overall in Minor League Baseball

The two-time Southern League Broadcaster of the Year (2013 and 2017) served as Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting for the Southern League's Biloxi Shuckers during the organization's first three seasons. Before moving to Biloxi in 2015, Harris served as Manager of Media Relations and Broadcasting and eventually Vice President of Communications for the Jackson (TN) Generals from 2009-2014.

Harris led the public relations efforts for Biloxi's move into MGM Park after a 54-game road trip in 2015 and oversaw the national coverage of the beginning of the franchise. In 2021, after calling the Mississippi Braves first championship in 13 years, Harris was called up to Atlanta to join the Braves PR staff for the postseason, which ended with the Braves’ first World Series title in 26 years.

His career as a play-by-play broadcaster has led him to appearances on Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers broadcasts, the 2011 Southern League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, and 2015 exhibition game between the Biloxi Shuckers and Milwaukee Brewers. He surpassed the 1,500 professional baseball games broadcasted plateau during the 2019 season. During the baseball offseason, Harris is a play-by-play broadcaster for Sun Belt Conference basketball games on the ESPN family of networks.

Harris graduated from Bethel University (TN), where he also played baseball, with a business management degree in 2007. Along the road to a diploma, he made stops at Motlow State CC and Memphis. Harris also still ranks third in Tennessee state history in high school home runs (48) and RBI's (208) during his time at Jackson (TN) Christian School.

Harris is a native of Lexington, TN, and currently resides in Flowood, MS.

Jack enters his first season working with the Mississippi Braves and in minor league baseball. Jack graduated from the University of Georgia in December, and he recently served as a play-by-play broadcaster for Georgia softball on the SEC Network. Jack made stops in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Wareham Gatemen in 2021 and California Collegiate League with the San Luis Obispo Blues in 2019. In Wareham, Jack appeared on NESN as a play-by-play broadcaster for the network's coverage of the league. Jack also broadcasted for Georgia Gwinnett College while at Georgia.

Born in Chicago and raised in metro Atlanta, Jack grew up a massive Atlanta Braves fan. He was at Truist Park when the Atlanta Braves clinched the NL East in 2021, just outside the stadium for Game 5 of the 2021 World Series, and attended the championship parade in Atlanta.

Our beloved mascot Trusty, grew up loving the game of baseball. Born along the Mississippi River Valley and the Atchafalaya River Basin in northeast Louisiana, Trusty knew he was special. While his siblings were all Black Bears, Trusty was red and gold. This never tailored his enthusiasm for fun and baseball. He was always the best player on the team but found a love of entertaining between inning and taking pictures with fans. Trusty was especially beloved with the cubs. When Trusty heard that a baseball team was coming to Pearl, Mississippi, he knew he had a great opportunity in what was considered swampland.

Trusty wowed the Braves with his constant enthusiasm and contagious personality. Immediately he was hired as the Mississippi Braves Director of Fun. He then assembled a team of various backgrounds that shared his enthusiasm for baseball and fun. (Tommy Hawk, Pearl, Jackson, Uncle Froogle)

Q & A with Trusty:
Favorite Braves Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. because he likes the ñ.
Favorite Food: Catfish from our Mississippi Fixins' Concession Stand
Favorite Baseball Movie: Bad News Bears
Favorite TV Show: Man vs. Wild
Favorite Book: Bernstein Bears
Favorite Song: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear by ZZ Top