Vince Bulik began his tenure as the third general manager in Wilmington Blue Rocks team history on January 4, 2020. Full biography coming soon!
Wilmington Blue Rocks Front Office
Judy Johnson Field at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium
801 Shipyard Drive | Wilmington, DE 19801 | Phone: 302.888.2015 | Fax: 302.888.2032
General Manager
Ballpark Operations
Steve Gold will enter his 25th season as director of field operations for the Blue Rocks in 2020. The Polk City, FL native worked at the Baseball City Sports Complex from 1991-94, where the Kansas City Royals formerly held spring training. The 43-year-old also worked for the Eugene Emeralds in the summer of 1993. Known around Frawley Stadium as "Goldie", Steve resides in Wilmington, DE.
Josh DiBiase will enter his eighth season as the Director of Clubhouse & Equipment Operations for the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2020. He previously worked in the Forida Auto Exchange Stadium clubhouse, the spring training facility for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012.
Originally from Portland, Maine, DiBiase graduated from Husson University in 2011 with a bachelors degree in sports management. Josh currently resides in Wilmington, Delaware.
Zachary Chatman will enter his second season with the Blue Rocks as Stadium Operations Manager in 2020 after serving the previous two seasons as a Community Affairs Assistant. The 25-year-old hails from Pennsburg, Pennsylvania and graduated from Widener University with a degree in Business Marketing and minor in Sport Management. Chatman played four years on the Widener University Pride football team where he was a part of two Middle Atlantic Conference championships.
Before joining the Blue Rocks, he worked for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies as a part of their game day staff. Away from work, Chatman enjoys attending sporting events with his friends and family for all Philadelphia sports teams. His favorite teams are the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies.
Marie Graney rejoined the Blue Rocks in 2018 as the Office Manager. She previously served as the team's Merchandise Assistant during the 2009 season. A Wilmington native, Graney is a proud graduate of Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD. In addition to her Blue Rocks duties, Graney also works for the 2017 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles as a member of their Game Day Event Staff. Prior to taking her current post with the Blue Rocks, she spent time working for the Philadelphia Phillies Phantasy Camp & spent the 2015-2016 school year living in Ventura, California as an Augustinian Volunteer working in the Campus Ministry office at Villanova Preparatory School. She is an avid Philadelphia sports fan and loves cheering the Phillies and Eagles on to victory. Away from sports, Graney enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.
Merchandise
Jim Beck will enter his 25th season with the Blue Rocks and his 18th as the director of merchandising in 2020. The 49-year-old previously served the Blue Rocks for four years as the Director of Publications and Promotions and three years as the Assistant Director of Marketing and Promotions. Jim also chaired the 2002 Carolina-California League All-Star Game Committee. The Ottawa Lake, MI native is a 1994 graduate of the University of Toledo with a bachelor's degree in communications. Jim and his wife, Jody, have two daughters, Reagan and Hannah.
Business Development
Robert Ford will begin his 17th season in MiLB and fourth as a member of the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2020. Bob came to Wilmington from Lancaster, PA where he served as the Director of Business Development for the Atlantic League's Lancaster Barnstormers for nine seasons. Prior to Lancaster, Ford served as Assistant General Manager for the Charlotte County Redfish and also worked two seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
A Brooklyn, NY native, Bob grew up near Allentown, PA and has lived up and down the east coast from Boston to Florida during his baseball tenure. Bob is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Denver Broncos, and Villanova Wildcats, Ford also spends his spare time attending concerts, spending time with family and friends and hanging out with his dog Stormer.
Ticket Sales
Joe McCarthy will begin his seventh season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2020 & his second season as Director of Ticket Sales. He originally joined the Blue Rocks in 2014 as a Group Sales Assistant before being promoted to a Group Sales Executive, and eventually, to Group Sales Manager. In June 2018, McCarthy was appointed to his current position. The 28-year-old is a 2010 graduate of The Haverford School and a 2015 graduate of Drexel University, where he majored in sports management. Prior to working with the Blue Rocks, McCarthy worked in the Boston College Athletic Department. He is a huge Philadelphia sports fan, especially the Philadelphia Eagles and 76ers and all things Will Ferrell related. Originally from Glen Mills, PA, McCarthy currently resides in the city of Wilmington.
Brett Leichtman will begin his first season with the Blue Rocks in 2020 as a Ticket Sales Executive. The 22-year-old Wilmington, Delaware native is back home after earning his degree in Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Carolina. While at South Carolina, Leichtman worked in game-day operations for the Gamecocks football team. He is a sports fanatic who cheers for LSU football, Villanova basketball, Manchester City FC, as well as all Philadelphia sports teams.
Mike Rice will enter his third year with the Blue Rocks in 2020 as a Group Sales Executive. The 25-year-old came to The Riverfront in February 2018 as a Group Sales Assistant by way of Heath, Ohio. Rice graduated from Ohio University in 2016 with a B.S in Sports Management and minor in Business. While at Ohio, he worked in game day operations with the Bobcats Hockey team. He loves cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ohio State Buckeyes and has aspirations of eventually working in the NBA.
Antoine Ray joined the Blue Rocks in February 2018 as a Box Office Assistant before being promoted to Group Sales Executive in September of that same year. Originally from Telford, PA, Ray attended East Stroudsburg University where he was a three-year member of the football teams and graduated with a degree in Sports Management and a minor in Business. During his time as an undergraduate, Ray interned with Temple University football program. After obtaining his bachelor's degree, he returned to East Stroudsburg University for a Masters Degree in Sports Management which he completed in the spring of 2018. Ray enjoys watching and playing all sports including baseball, football, basketball and soccer. Among his favorite sports teams are the University of Texas, Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Sixers.
Steph Garafolo will begin her first season with the Blue Rocks as a Group Sales Executive in 2020. The 24-year-old Havertown, PA native graduated from Penn State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing. During her time at Penn State, Garafolo was heavily involved in THON, the world's largest student-run philanthropy that raises funds and awareness for childhood cancer. Prior to working for the Blue Rocks, she worked as a Premium Sales Associate with the New York Jets and a Retail Sales Representative for The Hershey Company. In addition to her duties with the Blue Rocks, Garafolo serves as a PIAA basketball referee. She is a huge fan of Penn State Football, Duke Men's Basketball and all Philadelphia Sports teams.
Community Affairs
Kevin P. Linton will begin his 19th season with the Blue Rocks, and 10th as Director of Community Affairs in 2020. The 42-year-old served for three seasons as a sales and group sales executive and three seasons as Assistant Director of Media Relations. After four seasons as Director of Promotions, Linton assumed his current post in 2011. He was honored as the 2012 Matt Minker Award recipient, given annually to the top employee in the Kansas City Royals Farm System. Under his direction, the Blue Rocks' Community Affairs Department won four consecutive Matt Minker Community Service Awards (2015-18), presented yearly by the Carolina League to the club that best demonstrates an outstanding, on-going commitment to charitable service, support, and leadership within its community.
A 1999 graduate of the University of Delaware, Linton earned a bachelor's degree in recreation and parks administration. Known as the "Voice of the Bob Carpenter Center," the Lancaster, PA native recently completed his 20th season as men's and women's basketball public address announcer at the University of Delaware. Linton has also served 17 seasons as the "Voice of Delaware Stadium" for the Fightin' Blue Hens football team.
On June 16, 2005, the Wilmington Blue Rocks lost a dear member of their baseball family as the longtime legendary stadium voice for the Blue Rocks, John "Johnny Mac" McAdams, passed away. In a special in-stadium memorial service for McAdams on June 18, 2005, Linton was introduced by Philadelphia Phillies stadium announcer Dan Baker as just the second public address announcer in Frawley Stadium history. Linton will continue to serve as public address announcer for the 2020 baseball season. The 2019 season featured his milestone 1,000th game behind the mic at Frawley Stadium.
Linton has also served as public address announcer for the 2001 America East Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, 2007, 2008 & 2019 CAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament, the 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010 NCAA Division I FCS National Football Playoffs, the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament National Quarterfinals, the 2010 & 2013 ACHA Division I National Collegiate Hockey Championship Tournament, the 2014 Team USA Women's Basketball Trials and 2016 Olympic Women's Basketball Exhibition Games. Additionally, he served as the public address voice of the 2013 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball First and Seconds Rounds.
Marketing
Liz Welch will enter her first season as the Director of Marketing - and fourth season overall with the Wilmington Blue Rocks - in 2020. She spent the previous three seasons serving as the Blue Rocks' Client Services Manager and was responsible for overseeing the fullfilment of all contracts and managing client relations. No stranger to the world of sports marketing, Welch has been heavily involved in the planning of themes and promotions, executing on-field entertainment and overseeing the team's game day internship program since joining the Rocks before the 2017 season. Prior to coming to Wilmington, she spent 10 seasons with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League in similar capacities.
Welch grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and enjoys sports, cooking and getting outside in her time away from the ballpark. Despite growing up deep in Eagles and Steelers territory, she self-proclaims that has been an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers since she was a baby.
Ryan Griffith enters his first season as the Blue Rocks' Marketing Manager in 2020 after spending two seasons as the team's Web & Creative Services Assistant. With the Blue Rocks, he'll assist in the planning and execution of the team's marketing plan, oversee video efforts and produce content for the team's social media channels and web site. A native of West Chester, PA, he is a 2020 graduate of York College of Pennsylvania, with a degree in mass communications. In addition to his post with the Blue Rocks, Griffith serves as a part-time athletics photographer for the University of Delaware.
While a student at York, Griffith served as the athletic communications student photographer, where he was responsible for taking photos for use in the post-game articles on the York College Athletics website. He has also previously spent time working as a photographer, videographer and writer for PhillySoccerPage.com covering the Philadelphia Union and as an graphic design intern for the United States Naval Academy Football program. Away from work, Griffith enjoys both playing and watching basketball, lacrosse and soccer.
Web & Creative Services
Mike Diodati rejoined the Blue Rocks in 2012 for his second stint after serving as a game-day marketing intern during the 2010 season. As Director of Web & Creative Services, he sets the overall creative direction of the Blue Rocks. His responsibilities include overseeing the Blue Rocks' graphics, web design, and digital marketing strategy, managing in-game entertainment, and operating the Frawley Stadium video boards on game days. Additionally, he serves as the Blue Rocks liaison to the Delaware Stadium Corporation for non-Blue Rocks events. Diodati began the 2012 season as Game Entertainment Assistant before taking over as Interim Game Entertainment Manager in June 2012 and Game Entertainment Manager in October 2012. He was promoted to Director of Web & Creative Services in September 2016. With the help of his innovation, the Blue Rocks Marketing Department was honored with the Carolina League's Marketing & Promotions Award in 2016. The award is given annually to the club that demonstrates outstanding and creative marketing and promotional efforts within its community, its ballpark, in media and other promotional events.
A native of Jamison, PA, Diodati graduated in 2011 from the University of Delaware with a degree in Sport Management and a minor in leadership. He previously served as Marketing and Social Media Manager for the Bucks County Ice Sports Center in Warminster, PA, and also spent time working for the University of Delaware football program and the Philadelphia Wings. In addition to his duties with the Blue Rocks, Diodati serves as a Building Supervisor at the University of Delaware Ice Arenas, a post he has held since 2009. Away from Frawley Stadium, he can be found usually be found skiing or avidly supporting his beloved Tottenham Hotspur. Diodati and his wife, Allison, along with their dog, Sadie, live in North Wilmington, Delaware.
Broadcasting & Media Relations
Cory Nidoh will enter his fourth season with the Blue Rocks in 2020 and second season as Director of Broadcasting & Video. After serving the 2017 & 2018 seasons as Assistant Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations, he was named the new radio voice of the Blue Rocks on September 20, 2018. On September 14, 2019, Nidoh was on the call as the Blue Rocks defeated the Fayetteville Woodpeckers to claim their fifth Mills Cup Championship overall and first title in 20 seasons.
During his broadcasting seven-season Minor League Baseball career thus far, the 27-year-old has traveled the length of the East Coast making pit stops in Sanford, Maine, and Daytona Beach, FL. Before joining the Blue Rocks, he was the Assistant Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations with the Daytona Tortugas (Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) in the Florida State League during the 2016 season. There, he provided play-by-play and color commentary for all 70 home games and hosted the pre-game and post-game shows all season long.
In addition to his Blue Rocks duties, Nidoh works for 94.7 FM WDSD and FOX Sports 1290 AM serving as the radio sideline reporter & color commentator for the University of Delaware Football program and providing play-by-play for select University of Delaware Men's and Women's Basketball games. He also is on the broadcast for the Patriot League Swimming & Diving Championships aired on the Patriot League Network.
Nidoh is a proud graduate of East Stroudsburg University (PA) and earned a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. In his spare time, Nidoh enjoys playing the drums, watching the New York Yankees and Tennessee Titans during their respective seasons and going to the beach. Born in Clifton, NJ and raised in Scranton, PA, Nidoh & his fiancé Lauren now make their home in Ridley Park, PA.
Matt Janus will enter his second year as the Blue Rocks' Director of Media Relations in 2020, but he has been a staple of the organization for well over a decade.
Janus began working for the Blue Rocks as a 15-year-old sophomore in high school when he sold yearbooks and scorecards. He moved to the marketing department during college, and then joined the media relations staff as the team's Assistant Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations in 2009. After three years as the organization's No. 2 broadcaster, Janus was promoted to New Media Manager prior to the 2012 season, at which time he served as emcee of the team's in-game promotions, as well as designed and implemented the franchise's social media strategy. Prior to the 2013 season, he was promoted to Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations and served as "The Voice of the Blue Rocks" for six seasons before becoming the Director of Media Relations following the 2018 season.
The 35-year-old Middletown, DE native is a familiar voice in the First State. On top of his 2013-2018 stint as the radio voice of the Blue Rocks, Janus also broadcasts games for his alma mater, the University of Delaware. He currently does play-by-play for the Delaware women's basketball team, and provides color commentary for select men's basketball games. Janus served as the color commentator on Blue Hen football radio broadcasts from 2013 to 2017. He was named the 2014 and 2017 Delaware Sportscaster of the Year by the NSSA and has been a finalist for the award on six other occasions. Janus has also provided play-by-play during television broadcasts of college football and basketball for FOX Sports, the Big East Digital Network, CAA.TV and the American Sports Network. He currently resides in Ridley Park, PA with his wife Kaili, daughter Juliana & cat Chloe.
Centerplate at Frawley Stadium
Sharon Murphy will enter her 20th season overall with the Blue Rocks in 2020. She served with the team from its inception in 1993 until 2007 and - after pursuing other opportunities - Murphy returned to the staff in 2015. She grew up close to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia where her father worked for NASA. Cooking is her passion. She has worked at some of the biggest sporting events in the country including Super Bowl, SEMA Auto Show, World Series has been the guest chef at Yankee Stadium on several occasions along with being involved in other exciting sporting events. Murphy earned a degree in food service management and culinary arts from Delaware Technical & Community College. Murphy and her husband Bob reside in New Castle, DE and in her off time she enjoys spending time with her three children and three grandchildren, riding motorcycles, gardening and cooking.