Brian is entering his fourth season as majority owner of the Battle Creek Battle Jacks. Brian began as an intern with the Battle Creek Bombers more than a decade ago, and is now the owner of multiple Northwoods League franchises. He is known for his viral ideas like Coach Drake: The 6 year Old First Base Coach, the Twinkie Dog, Salute to Selfie Night, and more.
Before pursuing professional baseball with the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League, Brian played college ball at Ohio University. Brian led the charge in the rebrand of the Battle Creek Bombers to the Battle Creek Battle Jacks. As General Manager of the Kalamazoo Growlers, he was awarded with Northwoods League Executive of the Year in 2020 and 2022, and the Growlers were named Organization of the Year in 2016, 2020 and 2022.
Brian resides in Galesburg, MI with his wife, Liz, and their two daughters Adalyn and Mackenzie.
Hometown: Columbus, OH
College: Ohio University
Contact: (269) 492-7385 | brian@growlersbaseball.com
Denny began serving as the General Manager for the Battle Jacks in the fall 2022. He has been tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the baseball team while also being in charge of all corporate sponsorship sales. After guiding the Battle Jacks to two years of rapid growth across the board, Denny is now leading the helm as the Vice President of Business Operations.
Denny started his career as the Fan Experience Director for the Kalamazoo Growlers in 2021 after spending time as an intern during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Prior to joining the Growlers, Denny also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys as an intern for their ticket sales and service team.
In May 2021, he graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Sport Management and a Minor in Marketing. Denny is a lifelong Chicago sports fan and enjoys watching his favorite teams, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. In his free time, Denny enjoys golfing, trying new craft beers, and going to country music concerts.
Hometown: Huntley, IL
College: Ohio University
Contact: Office: (269) 224-7336 | Cell: (847) 532-4712 | denny@battlejacksbaseball.com
Brody joined the Battle Jacks after the 2023 season in preparation for the 2024 season as the Director of Business Relations, where he was responsible for cultivating relationships with the business community and planning employee/client appreciation events. Brody now leads the day-to-day operations of the Battle Jacks as the General Manager.
Prior to joining the team, Brody has worked/interned with many different sport organizations throughout the state including the Kalamazoo Growlers, West Michigan Whitecaps, and Grand Rapids Griffins. Brody graduated in the Spring of 2023 from Grand Valley State University double majoring in Sport Management and Communications. Using the experience gained at GVSU and other sport franchises, Brody strives to continue growing the Battle Jacks brand while bringing family fun baseball to the whole Battle Creek community.
When not at work, Brody enjoys playing Playstation, golfing, and watching all of sports.
Fun Fact: Was the groundskeeper for the Kalamazoo Growlers in the 2022 season!
Hometown: Grand Ledge, MI
College: Grand Valley State University
Contact: (269) 224-1373 | Cell: (517) 719-3351 | brody@battlejacksbaseball.com
Josh is embarking on his second season with the Battle Jacks as the Fan Experience Director, where he spearheads initiatives to connect the team with its fanbase. In this role, Josh orchestrates various fan-centric activities, community events, and outreach programs to enhance the overall fan experience.
Prior to joining the Battle Jacks, Josh gained valuable experience working as a student manager for the Central Michigan Men’s Basketball team, where he learned the ins and outs of team dynamics and the importance of fan engagement. He further honed his skills in event management and fan interaction while working with Detroit City FC in game day operations. Josh holds a degree from Central Michigan University with a focus in Sport Management and Marketing, which provides him with a solid foundation for understanding the intersection of sports and audience engagement.
His diverse interests encompass sports, cars, music, and adventures, and he is always on the lookout for innovative ways to captivate audiences and foster meaningful connections between fans and the team.
Fun Fact: Slept in a tent in the Serengeti next to hyenas and zebras!
Hometown: Plymouth, MI
College: Central Michigan University
Contact: (269) 224-1247 | josh@battlejacksbaseball.com
Jack is beginning his first season with the Battle Jacks as the Director of Fan Experience. He has been tasked with cultivating relationships with the business community and planning employee/client appreciation events. Jackson kick-started his career in 2023 as a Stadium Operations intern with the Battle Jacks. In May of 2024, Jackson graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Post graduation, Jackson returned to the Battle Jacks to complete his second summer with the team as the Assistant Director of Operations.
Outside of work, Jackson enjoys golfing, cooking, spending time with loved ones, and NFL Sundays.
Fun Fact: Manages a backyard 3v3 basketball league with over 500,000 followers on TikTok!
Hometown: Hartland, MI
College: Western Michigan University
Contact: (269) 224-1215 | jackson@battlejacksbaseball.com
Evan joined Battle Creek Battle Jacks in the fall of 2022, after spending his first season in the Northwoods League with the Kalamazoo Growlers in 2022 serving as Content Producer.
As the Director of Media, he manages our website, designs and creates ballpark signage, marketing material, and other various forms of printed deliverables. During the baseball season, Evan serves as the Video Production Supervisor for the Battle Jacks live broadcast, managing a team of broadcast and content interns to deliver a clean production for each and every home game. He also oversees and delivers all branded content for the Battle Jacks, managing graphic design and video/photo content displayed across our social media channels. In May of 2021, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Compass College of Film and Media with a concentration in post-production and cinematography.
Evan is a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan, and has family ties with the maize and blue. In his free time, you can find him golfing, bowling, skateboarding, snowboarding, taking his dog, Tesla, for walks, and taking photos on his film cameras.
Fun Fact: He adopted his dog, Tesla, from a “Bark in the Park” Night at a Kalamazoo Growlers game in the summer of 2022.
Hometown: Portage, MI
College: Compass College of Film and Media
Contact: (269) 365-6736 | evan@growlersbaseball.com
Aaron began serving as the Head Athletic Trainer of the Battle Creek Battle Jacks in the spring of 2024. Aaron attended Grand Valley State University, where he received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Athletic Training. After graduating from Grand Valley, he attended American Public University, where he received his Master’s of Science degree in Sports Management.
Aaron is tasked with working the game days at the Battle Jacks, taking care of our players and treating their injuries.
A former college player and coach, Sam now represents professional baseball players from all over the nation. He also provides pre-draft advising to student-athletes who are pursuing professional baseball careers. He is a licensed attorney in Michigan and Indiana.
Sam earned his Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law. While at Regent, he was mentored by a veteran MLB agent who has advised and represented a Cy Young Award recipient and several players in the All-star Game and the World Series. Sam is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association and lives in Portage with his wife, Anna, and their son.
