RiverDogs Promote Four; Add Abzug & Cain to Front Office
CHARLESTON, SC - Charleston RiverDogs Executive VP/General Manager Dave Echols has announced the promotion of four employees and the hiring of two more.
Andy Lange, who has been with the club for 13 years, has been elevated to Vice President/Corporate Sales, while native Charlestonian Melissa McCants Azevedo, who has been with the RiverDogs since 1988, is now Vice President/Special Events. Longtime staffer Jake Terrell, who has been with the team for 10 years, is the new Director of Ticket Sales, and Noel Blaha, currently in his 8th year with Charleston, has been promoted to Director of Marketing & New Media.
"I am proud to announce well-deserved promotions for four talented individuals who continue to make positive and significant impact with our front office," Echols said. "Andy, Melissa, Jake and Noel have excelled in their respective areas and have worked hard to help us achieve our mission and goals. I am very much looking forward to their continued hard work and growth as leaders on the RiverDogs staff as we continue to develop, grow and achieve successes."
In addition, Ben Abzug has been hired as the new Assistant General Manager and Joey Cain is taking over as the new Director of Promotions, replacing Blaha.
Abzug, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, joins the RiverDogs after spending the past four seasons with the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League. With Burlington, he was named the 2012 Appalachian League Executive of the Year and helped increase the Royals' sponsorship sales by 80 percent in two years. Attendance also rose 23 percent in Burlington under Abzug's leadership. A graduate of Purdue University, Abzug previously spent two years as an intern with the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League.
"We are excited to add someone with Ben's mixture of youth and expertise to our staff," said Echols. "He has a unique perspective from his time with Burlington and Cedar Rapids that will help us improve as an organization."
Cain is a West Nyack, NY native and has spent the past two seasons with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League. The Renegades and RiverDogs are both owned by The Goldklang Group. A graduate of Hofstra University, Cain has previously spent time as an intern with Army Athletics in West Point, as well as with 1050 ESPN Radio in Penn, NY, among others.
"Joey is someone who has a tremendous amount of creativity and energy about him," said Echols. "He has fresh ideas and plans that he will bring with him to Charleston, and I think our fans will enjoy it."
--RIVERDOGS--
TRANSACTIONS:
SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE:
CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS: Promoted Andy Lange to Vice President/Corporate Sales; promoted Melissa McCants Azevedo to Vice President/Special Events; promoted Jake Terrell to Director of Ticket Sales; promoted Noel Blaha to Director of Marketing & New Media; hired Ben Abzug as Assistant General Manager; and hired Joey Cain as Director of Promotions