Pelicans name Johnson GM
Johnson, who has served as the General Manager of the Class A Advanced California League's Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A/Los Angeles Angels) for the past three seasons, brings a wealth of knowledge and 28 years of experience, including the last 20 as a GM in Minor League Baseball to the Grand Strand.
Johnson will carry out his duties as General Manager of the Quakes in Southern California until the end of the 2006 baseball season before taking over the duties as GM of the Pelicans in September.
"Without question, North Johnson is one of the most well-respected and experienced General Managers in all of Minor League Baseball and we are thrilled to have him lead the Pelicans and become a part of the Myrtle Beach community," said Greenberg. "His personality and leadership skills are a perfect fit in our organization and he shares our common goal of growing the Pelicans within the year-round community while also making our games one of the premier destinations for tourists visiting our beautiful beaches."
Johnson returns to the Carolina League, where he was the General Manager of the Kinston Indians for 17 seasons from 1987 until 2003 and was tabbed as the "Executive of the Year" three different times during his tenure in Kinston (1988, 1994 and 2000). Under Johnson's watchful eye the Indians received the Bob Freitas Award in 1994, which recognizes the Minor League franchise with the most innovative, crowd pleasing promotions in the country. In 2003, as a show of appreciation for his service, the city of Kinston handed Johnson the "Keys to the City." Johnson was the first individual to ever receive the "Keys to the City" in Kinston. In 2004, he became the 6th inductee into the Kinston Indians/Grainger Stadium Wall of Fame in recognition of his success with the franchise.
Johnson's return to the Carolina League is welcomed with open arms from John Hopkins, the President of the historic league.
"I was at a press conference earlier this year when Chuck Greenberg promised to obtain a first-rate GM, and he has certainly delivered," said Hopkins. "North is a proven executive, in fact a three-time Carolina League Executive of the Year. It's hard to imagine a better person for the job."
In Johnson's three seasons with Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California, he was particularly proud of the improvements he helped bring to the Epicenter, the home of the Quakes. Johnson oversaw the addition of a state-of-the-art video board and sound system, improved and renovated the luxury suites, expanded the picnic area, and upgraded food services at the ballpark. For his outstanding work leading Rancho Cucamonga, North was selected as the California League's "Executive of the Year" in 2005.
"Our immediate goal is for the Pelicans' franchise to become far more deeply involved in the community than ever before," said Johnson. "We will redefine the experience of being at a Pelicans' game and grow and develop a staff that will reflect the values and goals that have been developed by Chuck Greenberg, Todd Parnell and myself."
In addition to working in North Carolina for a majority of his professional career, he attended Elon College and is looking forward to returning to the East Coast.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to move to Myrtle Beach with my family and having the chance to work with Chuck, Parney and the entire Pelicans staff," Johnson added. "It's a change that my family and I are truly looking forward to."
On top of his responsibilities as a General Manager, Johnson serves as one of six members on the Minor League Baseball Licensing Committee, which handles merchandising and apparel throughout the industry.
Johnson recently celebrated his 24th wedding anniversary with his wife Anita while visiting Myrtle Beach. The couple will move to the Grand Strand along with their son Stephen (17), who will be a junior at Socastee High School, and daughter Taylor (14) who is prepared to enter the eighth grade at Forestbrook Middle School.
Johnson has made and continues to put a focus on the community and charitable organizations and remains actively involved with the Boys and Girls Club, Safehouse, Boy & Girl Scouts of America, Red Cross, American Heart Association, ALS Foundation, Chamber of Commerce and more.
The Pelicans are in their first season under the new ownership group led by Greenberg. In addition to serving as the President & Managing Partner of Myrtle Beach Pelicans LP, Greenberg holds the same title for the successful Altoona Curve (AA/Pittsburgh Pirates) and State College Spikes (A/St. Louis Cardinals) franchises in Central Pennsylvania.
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REMINDER! You are invited to join in on a teleconference with new General Manager North Johnson, Pelicans' President & Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg and other members of the Pelicans executive staff MONDAY at 2 p.m. Please call the number given below and enter the pass code to join the conference call.
Call-In Number: 877.492.4019
Pass Code: 412.454.5026
If you have any questions please feel free to call Ryan Ibbotson at 843-267-1251 or e-mail [email protected]