A Coastal Plain League team in Macon is owned and operated by two guys who have had 50 years of experience running major and minor league teams. Meet Steve DeLay and Jon Spoelstra, two guys that like to have fun at the old ballpark.
Previously, they managed a slew of minor league teams as well as teams in the NBA and the NHL. In each case they created attendance records. For instance, the Dayton Dragons, Single-A baseball, have sold every ticket to every game for 16 years! The Frisco RoughRiders have lead the Texas League in attendance every year since they joined the league.
The reason for these attendance records is because it’s fun to go to their games. Simple as that.
Jon and Steve have been very picky on who they have hired for the Macon Bacon. They have hired people that love to work hard, love the fun of going to baseball games, and love creating the fun of baseball games. Here they are:
BRANDON RAPHAEL - TEAM PRESIDENT
Brandon Raphael was named President of the Bacon on August 15, 2018.
Brandon has more than 18 years of experience in various roles in sports including most recently the Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development and Ticket Sales at the University of Texas – San Antonio for six years. Brandon previously worked with DeLay and Spoelstra with the Frisco RoughRiders and the Las Vegas 51s.
He is from St. Louis and attended Maryville University where he also played baseball. Rumor has it, he will take a few at-bats next season.
Brandon’s favorite teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues. His all-time favorite baseball player is Ozzie Smith.
JASON WRIGHT - DIRECTOR OF TICKETS
Jason Wright was hired as the Fan Development Manager for the Macon Bacon on August 1, 2017.
Jason is a graduate of Northern Illinois in 2012 majoring in Management. He spent a year as an intern in Kane County in 2012. During the 2013-14 season, he was the Director of Ticket Operations for the Clinton Lumber Kings, a Single A affiliate for the Mariners. He then found his way to Gwinnett Braves, a Triple A affiliate as an Account Executive in Group Sales from 2014 to 2017.
Jason is from Morrison, Illinois and is a big fan of the Cubs and the Blackhawks. And yes, he is still talking about the Cubs winning it all.
His all-time favorite player in baseball is Ernie Banks.
TYLER VERTIN - DIRECTOR OF MARKETING/ENTERTAINMENT
Tyler Vertin was hired as the Director of Marketing for the Macon Bacon on August 7, 2017.
Tyler is a graduate of Northwood University majoring in Sports Management. He spent the 2016 season as an Marketing Intern in the Coastal Plain League Office.
Tyler is from Calumet, Michigan and is a fan of the Tigers and the Redwings. Yes, he is from the Midwest. So, he sounds a little funny.
He once had 14 stitches in his right ear due to a hockey puck to the head.
BRITTANY MIDDLETON - DIRECTOR OF GROUP SALES
Brittany Middleton joined the Bacon on September 5th, 2017.
Brittany is a graduate of Newberry College majoring in Sports Management. She also has an associate’s degree from East Georgia State. While at school she pitched for her schools softball team.
Brittany is from Lizella, Georgia and is a big fan of the Atlanta Braves and Falcons. Nothing like having a hometown girl on the team!
She also batted 1.000 in college… with one at bat, but she earned an RBI so we’ll count it.
Her all-time favorite baseball player is Hank Aaron.
JUSTIN SKINNER - GROUP SALES COORDINATOR
Justin joined the Bacon on February 1st, 2019.
Justin is a graduate of Toccoa Falls College majoring in Sports Management. While at school, he pitched for the baseball team.
Justin is from Knoxville, Georgia and is a big fan of the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Tech Athletics. Sorry UGA fans.
He also batted 1.000 in college… with one at bat and was named an all-region pitcher twice, so we will let that fly.
His all-time favorite baseball player is Justin Verlander.
NICK GREEN - DIRECTOR OF FOOD/BEVERAGE
Nicholas Green was hired as the Director of Food and Beverage for the Macon Bacon on March 4, 2019.
Nicholas is a graduate of Central Michigan University majoring in Sports Management. He spent the 2017 and 2018 summers with the Kalamazoo Growlers in the Northwoods League as a Ballpark Operations Intern.
Nicholas is from Howell, Michigan and is a fan of the Tigers and the Redwings. He showed up on his first day wearing shorts saying, “50 degrees is shorts weather.”
He is known to have one of the nicest collections of Hawaiian shirts around. Cowabunga dude.
SARAH LEO - DIRECTOR OF PARTNER ACTIVATION
Sarah joined the Bacon on January 5th, 2018.
Sarah is a graduate of Full Sail University, earning her bachelors in Sports Media and Marketing. She also received her masters in Public Relations.
Sarah is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is a big fan of the Red Sox and New England Patriots. Don’t get her started on 28-3 and what is or isn’t a catch in football.
Her all-time favorite baseball player is David Ortiz.
KARA ROSE - CORPORATE MARKETING MANAGER
Kara joined the Bacon on October 16th, 2018.
Kara is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, earning her bachelors in Marketing.
Before joining the Bacon, Kara was a Game Day Operations intern for the Chatham Anglers (Cape Cod League).
Kara is from Oxford, Mississippi and is a big fan of the Red Sox and Braves.
She once zip-lined through the rain forest in Costa Rica.
Her all-time favorite baseball player is Pete Rose. Long lost cousins maybe?
CATHERINE TAYLOR - CORPORATE MARKETING MANAGER
Catherine was hired as a Corporate Marketing Manager for the Bacon on January 2, 2019.
Catherine is a graduate of the University of South Carolina in 2018 majoring in Marketing.
Before joining the Bacon, she was a lifeguard. So, if there is a rain delay, she will keep us all safe.
Catherine is from Columbia, South Carolina and she is a fan of the New York Mets and the Carolina Panthers.
Her cousin is former MLB player Mike Baxter, an outfield for the Mets.
SNOOP - DIRECTOR OF WOOFS
Snoop was hired as Director of Woofs the Bacon this past fall.
Snoop is a graduate of BU (Bark University) where he majored in Good Boys and minored in Tail Wags.
Snoops favorite things to do is chew on his bone in the office
His all-time favorite baseball player is Air Bud
