Ramshaw to Lead Fisher Cats into 2017
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Fisher Cats owner Art Solomon announced today the new leadership team of New Hampshire's Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Guiding the staff of nearly 20 full-time employees will be a talented and experienced group, including newly appointed President, Mike Ramshaw. Jim Flavin has been named the team's General Manager. Jenna Raizes will assume the role of Deputy General Manager.
This is the first time in the team's history that all members of the leadership team have roots in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
"I am pleased to have watched Mike, Jim and Jenna grow as individuals and leaders. They're a strong team and have assembled a staff of creative, energetic professionals poised to bring the best possible Fisher Cats entertainment experience to fans in the upcoming season," said Solomon. "We are counting down the days until the gates reopen for our 14th season in Manchester."
"I'm grateful to Art and his family for the opportunities provided to me throughout my career that have allowed me to assume this leadership position with the team," said Ramshaw. "I'm thrilled to be surrounded with a strong support staff and community partners who are dedicated to building lifetime memories for fans in the communities we serve."
Ramshaw joined the Fisher Cats in the fall of 2006. He spent his first season as the Fisher Cats' Director of Ticket Sales, progressing to his current position as the team's President.
Ramshaw is an active member of the community and serves on the Board of Directors for Partnership for a Drug Free New Hampshire. In the past, he has served as a committee chairman for Cub Scout Pack 901 and as the Family "Friends of Scouting" Chair for the Boy Scouts of America, Daniel Webster Council.
His combination of business success and personal involvement in the community earned Ramshaw recognition as a 2013 '40 Under Forty' by the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The new president is a native of southern N.H. who graduated from Pinkerton Academy and attended Hesser College. He currently resides in Londonderry with his wife, Tracey, their sons Gabriel and Colby, and daughters Abigail and Sophia.
Flavin recently returned to New England to head the Fisher Cats' ticketing and operations efforts from the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Born and raised in the Boston suburb of Milton, Mass., he began his career in baseball with the independent Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am League while studying at the College of the Holy Cross.
After graduating in May of 2008 with a B.A. in Economics, Flavin spent one more season with the Tornadoes before making the leap across the country to become the Stadium Operations Manager for the Visalia Rawhide, the High-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After one season in California, Jim headed north to join the Tacoma Rainiers as a member of the Premium Ticket Sales Staff. He served one season as the Director of Corporate Partnerships before spending four seasons as the team's Vice President of Business Development.
Raizes enters her sixth season with the Fisher Cats, having previously served as the team's Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager. As Deputy General Manager, she'll continue to grow the franchise's involvement in and support of New Hampshire's chambers of commerce, community events, schools and charities. Her role will encompass the marketing efforts of the Fisher Cats to reach its primary fan base in the state and northern Massachusetts as the games continue to provide affordable, family entertainment all spring and summer long.
Additionally, Raizes will continue to serve as President of the Fisher Cats Foundation, which along with the Fisher Cats, has helped to provide more than $4 million in monetary and in-kind donations since 2006.
Raizes and her husband, Charley, and son Ryder -- who was born on Opening Day of the 2014 season -- reside in Epping, N.H.
The Fisher Cats open the 2017 season on Thursday, April 6, versus the recently renamed Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA-New York Mets). On July 12, the team will host the 2017 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Classic at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium featuring the top prospects from each of the league's 12 teams.
Fisher Cats full and half-season tickets are available now and feature a wide variety of benefits, including reserved seating for the 2017 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Classic, up to $100 in Fisher Cash, access to exclusive events like on-field batting practice, team autograph signings and more. Visit nhfishercats.com for more information.