Pete Laven will begin his first season as Vice President and General Manager for the M-Braves in 2019. He joins the Braves after spending the 2018 baseball season as Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Chicago Dogs (American Association). Prior to this past season, he spent five years as President of Salvi Sports Enterprises, overseeing Pat and Lindy Salvi owned franchises made up of the Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier League), Gary SouthShore RailCats (American Association), North Shore Navigators (Futures Collegiate Baseball League) and the Martha's Vineyard Sharks (FCBL). Laven was charged with handling the day-to-day operations of the Boomers since February 2015. Laven was also charged with managing the day-to-day operations of the Boomers as General Manager 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 returned 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 the 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.

Christy Shaw enters her 13th year with the Mississippi Braves and first as Director of Community Relations & Office Manager. She served as receptionist for the M-Braves during their inaugural campaign before accepting a full-time position in late 2005 as Office Manager.

As Office Manager, some of her duties include preparing/processing various reports for the club, processing paperwork for seasonal employees, maintaining the payroll clock system, and hiring and managing the in-season game money audit staff.

Originally from Lexington, MS, Shaw is a graduate of Central Holmes Academy, Holmes Community College and also attended Hinds Community College. She is a fan of the Atlanta Braves, loves horses, enjoys softball, football, fishing and spending time with her family and friends.

Jeff Olson, a Mississippi native, and product of the University of Southern Mississippi enters his fifth season with the Mississippi Braves and his second as the 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 position of Sales Associate 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 M-Braves Box Office

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

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 to 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 both the Miami Dolphins (NFL) and the Miami Heat (NBA). Olson, now a resident of Brandon, likes to spend his spare time with his family and friends. While he enjoys watching movies and listening to music, he especially loves to follow and cheer on his favorite sports teams year-round; especially the Braves!

Darius Green will enter his third season with the M-Braves and second as a member of the full-time staff. He served as a sales trainee for a season then a Food & Beverage Intern until being hired full time in May 2018.

Darius is a former Student-Athlete at Mississippi College (Track & Field. Before he graduated from MC, he was an integral part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee which helped raised over $19,000 in fundraising efforts toward the Make A Wish Foundation.

After growing up in Laurel, MD, he later moved to Bossier City, LA and then went on to attend Mississippi College in Clinton, MS.

One of the premier groundskeepers in all of professional baseball, Matt Taylor will enter his 29th season grooming the playing surface for the Braves' Double-A affiliate in 2019. Taylor has been named the Southern League's Groundskeeper of the Year five times, last winning the prestigious honor in 2008.

Originally from Auburndale, FL, Taylor began his career in the Kansas City Royals organization, working his way up to supervisor for the entire complex at Baseball City, FL. He joined the Greenville Braves in 1991 and made the move from Greenville to Pearl in 2005.

Taylor oversaw the building of Trustmark Park from start to finish and was promoted to Field and Facility Operations Manager in February 2005.

Taylor, 49, his wife Teresa, and their son, Zachary, reside in Brandon. In his spare time, he enjoys cheering on the Florida Gators.

Zach Evans, a Taylorsville native, and Mississippi College graduate will enter his fifth season with the M-Braves in 2019. Evans began the 2015 season as the Stadium Operations Intern. After a season of doing only stadium operations, he returned for the 2016 season working in tickets, stadium operations, and sales. Evans accepted the position of Stadium Operations Manager in April of 2016 and added the Concessions portion of his title in January of 2018.

Evans has been involved in sports his entire life. From playing high school football to golf, baseball has out-weighed them all. Baseball has been a part of Zach's life since he was four years old. He played through his younger days, high school and played four years of college ball at Southern Miss, Lambuth University and finished his career at Mississippi College. Evans thoroughly believes that sports have molded him into the person he is today.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Shannon, watching baseball, playing softball and cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels. However, the most important thing to Zach is his faith in God, his family, and his friends.

Tony Duong enters his fourth season with the M-Braves in 2019 and second as Assistant Stadium Operations Manager. Tony started the 2016 season as a Sales Trainee but assisted with stadium ops and ticket operations. During the offseason, he helped with stadium operations and the food and beverage department around Trustmark Park. Tony accepted the position of Sales Associate in July of 2017 and was promoted to Assistant Stadium Operations Manager in January of 2018.

Tony graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Economics. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and cheering on the Atlanta Braves, Southern Miss Golden Eagles and Ole Miss Rebels.

Chris Harris enters his 10th season in minor league baseball and first with the Mississippi Braves as Director of Communications, Media & Broadcasting.

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

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 historical beginning of the franchise. Harris was once again recognized by the league in 2017, being awarded the Southern League Broadcaster of the Year award for the second time.

His career as a play-by-play broadcaster has led him to appearances on Seattle Mariners spring training and regular season broadcasts, the 2011 Southern League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, 2015 exhibition game between the Biloxi Shuckers and Milwaukee Brewers and over 1,250 minor league games.

Harris graduated from Bethel University (TN), where he also played baseball, with a business management degree in 2007. Harris also still ranks second in Tennessee state history in high school home runs (48) and RBI's (208). Harris now resides in Flowood. When not broadcasting sports, he enjoys rooting for the University of Memphis Tigers and Memphis Grizzlies.

Dan Oleskowcz (OH-less-KO-witz), a Chicago native, will enter his fourth season as the Promotions and Entertainment Manager for the Mississippi Braves in 2019. Before joining the M-Braves full time in 2016, he worked within the Southern League with the Tennessee Smokies, and at the conclusion of the regular season, he worked for the Australian Baseball League's Melbourne Aces.

Dan graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Audiovisual Arts and Business. In his time away from the ballpark, Dan enjoys running, biking, and cheering on his alma mater, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Sarah Banta enters her 15th season as the Merchandise Manager of the Extra Innings Team Store at Trustmark Park. She was hired in November 2004 as a Sales Associate at the Northpark Mall kiosk before being promoted to her current position.

Raised in Memphis, TN, Banta graduated from Lyon College in Batesville, AR, in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She served as an Assistant Merchandiser for JC Penney from 1984 until 1989 and worked in El Chico restaurants from 1987-1998. Banta started as a hostess and progressed to a manager position.

Banta's duties with the El Chico chain took her to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In 1999, Banta moved to College Station, TX, as a General Manager for Schlotzsky's Deli. They relocated her to Pearl, MS, in 2001, so she could be closer to home.

Banta lives in Richland with her son Luke.