Pelicans announce front office changes

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (FEBRUARY 4, 2015) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, are pleased to announce the following changes within the front office, effective immediately. Andy Milovich, previously the Vice President and General Manager, has been named President and General Manager. Ryan Moore, who worked previously with the Pelicans in 2008, returns to the organization as the new Vice President of Business Development. Zach Brockman has been promoted to Assistant General Manager of Sales, previously the Senior Director of Ticketing. The Pelicans have also promoted Media Relations Manager and Broadcaster Nathan Barnett to full-time status.

The 2015 season marks the third season for Milovich with the Pelicans and his 25th in Minor League Baseball. He was named Vice President and General Manager of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on December 22, 2012, following 18 years with Palisades Baseball.  

"Andy [Milovich] has been exceptional in every way since coming to Myrtle Beach," said Pelicans Chairman and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg. "His energy, passion and creativity have helped the Pelicans reach new heights for community impact, fan experience, and industry stature. He truly has become the face of the Pelicans organization throughout the Grand Strand, and this well deserved promotion reflects his performance and the bright future we all are looking forward to under his continued guidance and leadership."

Under Milovich's tenure, the Pelicans have grown in attendance in each of the last two seasons, including a record-breaking 2014 campaign when the club posted its best average attendance in team history (3,652). This season Milovich earned the Calvin Falwell Executive of the Year award, given out to the top executive in the Carolina League. The team earned a bevy of honors this season as well, including the Complete Franchise Award from the Carolina League, the Marketing and Promotional Award from the Carolina League, the Community Service Award from the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Promotion of the Year from Ballpark Digest, "Best Family Outing" from Grand Strand Happening, and high praise from Stadium Journey (#1 ballpark experience in the Carolina League, #4 in MiLB, and #32 in all of sports).

Milovich was the recipient of The Sporting News Minor League Executive of the Year following his third season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Penn League and earned the New York-Penn League Executive of the Year Award following a New York-Penn League record setting 203,000 fans in 38 dates during the Scrappers 2000 campaign. During his run with Palisades Baseball, he enjoyed the opportunity to open three new stadiums.

Moore returns to the Pelicans after six seasons away from the club. As the Vice President of Business Development, he works with local and regional businesses to create mutually beneficial partnerships, helping business owners utilize the team and the stadium to positively impact their business. After a 2008 spent as a ticket sales representative for the Pelicans, Moore moved on to the Gwinnett Braves, Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate. In Gwinnett, Moore oversaw the ticket sales efforts from 2010-2014 before taking a post as the General Manager of the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Miami Marlins Class A-Advanced affiliate for the 2014 season. Originally a Connecticut native, Moore has spent the past 13 years living in the Southeast. Ryan graduated from Elon University in 2006 with a degree in Sports Management.

Brockman takes over as the Assistant General Manager of Sales after three seasons as the Senior Director of Ticketing. He joined the Pelicans in August 2011 after five years with the Modesto Nuts Baseball Club, the Advanced-A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Brockman oversees all ticket sales and operations for the Pelicans. Over the past three seasons, the Chicago native has lead the ticket staff to franchise records in Season Seat Membership sales, group sales, suite sales and online sales. Since 2011, the department has increased contracted ticket revenue by 40%. Brockman graduated from Robert Morris University (Chicago) in 2005 and attended Game Face Executive Academy in 2007.

Barnett enters his second season with the Pelicans and will continue to serve as the Pelicans Media Relations Manager and play-by-play broadcaster for all games on the radio and on MiLB.tv. Hired as a seasonal employee in February 2014, he has taken on ticket sales responsibilities in the offseason and is now a full-time employee. He continues to work on the team's media efforts in the franchise's inaugural year as a Cubs affiliate. A graduate of Pomona College in 2011, Barnett has worked in media relations, broadcasting, and sales roles for five different teams, most recently with now-Greenberg Sports Group franchise, the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

"Our fan experience continues to be one of the best in minor league baseball," said Milovich. "That is a testament to our incredibly hard-working staff, the commitment and vision of our ownership led by Chuck Greenberg, and the foundation created by North Johnson and Scott Brown. We feel these moves continue to put us on the right path to growing this franchise in the best way possible for our fans."

The Pelicans return to TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in 2015, as they look to defend their Southern Division Championship Title. The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.