Loons Announce Several Additions to Staff

MIDLAND, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons are pleased to announce the hiring of several new employees to their front office staff.

Tim Jacques is the Loons new Business Development Manager. In this role, Jacques is responsible for sales and management of tickets, events and group outings with Loons business clients, as well as building and maintaining relationships in the business community within all of the Great Lakes Bay Region Chambers of Commerce.

A Saginaw native, Jacques is a graduate of Central Michigan University and the Pat Ryan School of Automotive Finance in Chicago. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Saginaw Township Soccer Association as the Director of Sales and Marketing.

Amber Ferris has been hired as Promotions Manager after having served last season as an intern on the promotions staff. Ferris will oversee on-field promotions, work closely with the team's summer internship program, while also collaborating on community-driven events and other creative efforts put on by the team. A Saginaw native, Amber is a graduate of Central Michigan University.

The Loons have promoted Nicholas Knieling and James Cahilellis into the role of Group Sales Coordinator. Knieling and Cahilellis will be responsible for booking group outings with schools, churches and other youth or community organizations.

Knieling has previously served in a variety of roles with the team, starting out as an intern with ESPN 100.9-FM and then as a producer for the station's CrunchTime program. Cahilellis also worked as an intern with ESPN 100.9-FM and served two seasons as the Loons' official scorer.

Bruce Gunther is the Loons new Director of Communications. Gunther will help manage the Loons' internal and external communications, including overseeing all aspects of media communications. A Central Michigan University graduate, Gunther is the former sports editor of The Bay City Times and the Flint Journal.

Andrew Booms has been hired as Concessions Manager and will oversee all aspects of concessions operations at Dow Diamond. The Freeland native previously served as an assistant on the Concessions staff and also worked as a warehouse supervisor.

Melissa Kehoe is the team's new Administrative Support Assistant. Kehoe will be involved in day-to-day operations by assisting the Loons staff with their administrative needs, while also serving guests and clients at Dow Diamond.

The Great Lakes Loons are an eighth-year Single- A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Opening Day and season ticket packages are now available for the 2014 season. To order tickets, or for more information, call 989-837-BALL or visit www.loons.com.