Condorstown Ch-Changingggggggg (Holty’s Blog)

The “C” in Condorstown might as well just stand for change. Unlike last off-season where we changed coaches, this year it seems like the front office should be on “Extreme Makeover: Hockey Edition.” It happens frequently in the world of minor league sports, but for some reason this summer just feels like it has more change than usual. There are five new faces roaming the Condorstown halls.

Since part of my job is to keep the website updated (including the front office page/bios) and I can’t seem to get everyone straight, I figured I’d just clue you in on the new staff you’ll see around Condorstown this season and some you won’t.

I’ve broken it down by department and of course start with the communications department. Again, I’ll remind you, it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want.

COMMUNICATIONS
Departing from our communications office is our master of all things creative Ryan Hanson. After starting as an intern, Hanny now pretty much saves us when we need any sort of graphic or design material. He’ll be moving back to his home state of Washington with his wife, Jami and their two boys. Go Cougs!

In fact, his replacement literally arrived this morning. At 8:27 a.m. (early is on time! – Vince Lombardi) today, Ashleigh Cox made her first appearance in Condorstown. She’ll do well here. She went to San Diego State and has a great eye for design. The former Liberty High grad also worked for the popular design company, SkinIt. Check out some of her work here.

The other piece of the four-person department is Mikie Barrett who will direct our community relations. If that first name sounds familiar, it should. She used to go by Hayhurst and worked for us for one season a few years ago. If that last name sounds familiar, it should. She’s also married to our assistant coach, Kevin ‘The Bear’ Barrett. Head spinning yet? OK, on to the sales office.

SALES
Have you gotten a call from an unfamiliar voice or name lately? It’s possible. We’ve added a few new sales folk down the hall. Matt Friedman, Pete Van Dame (happy early day of birth Poppel!), Brad Urbani, Jose Rivera, and Greg Lowe are all still down there. Unfortunately, Izzy Corrales will be departing Condorstown next week to enter the teaching field. If you’re looking for a buddy to watch Batman with, he’s your man. Fortunately, we have two new account managers who have hit the ground running.

Wendy Carpio comes to us from that Inland Empire team who was on the wrong end of THIS. That will never get old. It’s OK. She went through a rigorous process of ridding any loyalties to them before stepping foot in Condorstown and now bleeds maroon, tan, black and sometimes cool grey, but no longer green and definitely not blue and orange.

Our other new account manager is a fellow by the name of Doug Bushnell. He’s an upstate New York guy (so Bartl loves him) and likes to be called “Dougie Fresh.” Nickname aside, he came to us from the Syracuse Crunch where he worked with former Condors broadcaster Jason Lockhart who is now in San Francisco with the Bulls. Your head has to be spinning now.

MERCHANDISE
Andrew Crutcher, who was once a stick boy and worked his way up to running the team store, decided he wanted to become a sheriff. He’s currently in deputy camp doing lots of physical labor and getting yelled at by drill sergeants. Sounds like fun. In all seriousness, Deputy Crutch will do well and we wish him the best.

Josh Huber, who will still help out on the corporate sales side of things, has transitioned to running our merchandise and new team store (details pending). He’s got some great ideas for some new items. After all, Condorstown fans are the freshest fans in the ECHL.

HOCKEY OPERATIONS
As we announced yesterday, our new equipment manager is Brian Schmidt. He’s a Michigan guy who last worked for the Chicago Express. (with friend of the blog Bob Mills!) Schmidayyyyyyy will start working here in Sept. and replaces John ‘Dools’ Doolan who is back home in Kansas City.

INTERN
Todd Blacklock, a Condorstown native and CSUB student, has come on board as an intern. He’ll help out in a bunch of different areas, enjoys NASCAR, and the Dodgers.

We’ll have pictures of these fine people in September with full bios and potentially some video as well. Heck, we may even add more people. I don’t know. I’m just a radio guy.

Until next Thursday #Condorstown.

Have an idea for #HoltysBlog? Tweet him @BroadcastHolt or e-mail rholt@bakersfieldcondors.com

Ryan Holt a.k.a. ‘Holty,’ is the younger half of the Condors broadcast duo, and recently completed his first season in #Condorstown. He enjoys eating breakfast for dinner. Follow him on Twitter @BroadcastHolt for random stuff confined to 140 characters.