OWNERSHIP
JOHN BOLLINGER
FOUNDER, MAJORITY OWNER
john@larksbaseball.com
John Bollinger is the Founder, Majority Owner and CEO of the Bismarck Larks, Funatix Events and the Northwoods League’s newest expansion franchise in Minot, ND. John’s driving passion is using FUN to make a difference in the lives of fans, businesses, players, employees and communities he serves.
GLENN BOSCH
OWNER
Glenn Bosch, one of the Larks owners, is a lifetime Bismarck resident and a graduate of Century High School and Bismarck State College. Glenn and his wife, Julie, have three children and seven grandchildren.
Glenn was also named 2023 Bismarck State College Alumnus of the Year.
TERRY DAFFINRRUD
OWNER
Terry Daffinrrud is part of the Larks ownership group and graduated from Saint Mary’s High School, Bismarck State College, and the University of Mary. Terry is married to Janice and together they have four children and 12 grandchildren.
TICKETS & EXPERIENCE
ROB WILLIAMSON
CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER
rob@larksbaseball.com
Rob Williamson is the Chief Experience Officer of the Bismarck Larks. Rob started the team with John, Nate and Aaron in the fall of 2016 and stayed through Winter of 2021. He moved with his wife and daughter to Kansas City, MO before returning to the Larks in October 2023. Rob oversees the experience for all fans, employees, partners and more.
AARON GUERRERO
VP, TICKET SALES & EXPERIENCE
aaron@larksbaseball.com
Aaron Guerrero is in his eighth season with the Bismarck Larks in 2024 and serves as the Vice President of Ticket Sales and Experience. Guerrero is in his eleventh season in the Northwoods League. Guerrero’s role oversees all ticket sales, ticketing system software and servicing. He is a native of Reese, MI.
KYRA SULLIVAN
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES MANAGER
kyra@larksbaeball.com
Kyra Sullivan is in her second season with the Bismarck Larks as a full-time employee in 2024 and serves as the Membership Services Manager. Kyra worked for the Larks during the 2020 season as a Promotions intern. Sullivan is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota. She graduated from Minnesota State University of Moorhead in 2020.
CHRIS LAUDICINA
FAMILY FLOCK MEMBERSHIPS MANAGER
christopher@larksbaseball.com
Chris Laudicina is from The Woodlands, Texas is in his first year with the Larks in 2024. He graduated in May 2023, with a BBA in Sport Entertainment Management from the University of North Texas. Chris was a Tickets & Experience Intern with the Bismarck Larks in 2023 before being hired full-time as the Family Flocks Memberships Manager.
OPERATIONS
NATE MADDOX
VP, OPERATIONS
nate@larksbaseball.com
Nate Maddox is in his eighth season with the Bismarck Larks in 2024 and serves as the Vice President of Operations. Nate oversees all ballpark experience tasks and works behind the scenes with expenses, hiring and more. Maddox is originally from Battle Creek, MI.
PETER OAKLAND
BALLPARK EXPERIENCE MANAGER
peter@larksbaseball.com
Peter Oakland is in his fifth season with the Bismarck Larks in 2024 and serves as the Ballpark Experience Manager. Oakland worked for the Larks in 2020 and 2021 on the ballpark operations team as an intern and joined the team full time in 2021. Oakland graduated from South Dakota State University and is originally from Otsego, MN.
LORNE PERKINS
BALLPARK OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
lorne@larksbaseball.com
Lorne is in his first season with the Bismarck Larks in 2024 as the Ballpark Operations Coordinator. He is a native of San Diego, California. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Grand Canyon University in the Spring of 2023. He previously served as an intern for the Badlands Big Sticks in Dickinson, North Dakota.
SARAH SPILMAN
ACCOUNTANT CONTROLLER
sarah@larksbaeball.com
Sarah Spilman is in her second season with the Bismarck Larks in 2024 and serves as the Accountant Controller. Sarah joined the Larks in the fall of 2022 because of the fun environment and office culture. She is born and raised in Bismarck, ND – the only Larks front office member who can claim that.
PARTNERSHIPS
RYAN RENEKER
PARTNERSHIP EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR
ryan@larksbaseball.com
Ryan Reneker is in his third season with the Bismarck Larks in 2024 and his second year serving as the Partnership Experience Coordinator. Ryan worked for the Larks during the 2022 season as the Game Presentation intern in the press box. Ryan is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
BRAND & MARKETING
KAYLA RIMER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER
kayla@larksbaseball.com
Kayla Rimer is in her fifth year with the Larks in 2024 and serves as the Creative Director/Lead Graphic Designer. Kayla graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Graphic Design. Rimer also previously served as one of the Larks on-field hosts. Rimer is originally from Woodville, WI.
ISAAC BUGARIN
MARKETING DIRECTOR
isaac@larksbaseball.com
Isaac Bugarin is in his fifth year with the Larks organization in 2024 and serves as the Marketing Director. In 2020 and 2021, Bugarin worked as a content creator intern for the Larks. After spending time leading marketing efforts for Funatix Events, Isaac now leads all marketing for the Larks. Bugarin is originally from Brighton, CO.
JACOB VANHARMELEN
VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER
jacob@larksbaseball.com
Jacob VanHarmelen is in his second season with the Bismarck Larks in 2024 and serves as the Video Production Manager. Jacob previously served as a Production Intern for the Great Lakes Loons. He is a graduate of Ferris State University and formerly resided in Wyoming, Michigan.
SUPPORTING STAFF
BRIAN COLOPY
STRATEGIC CONSULTANT
Brian Colopy serves as a Strategic Consultant for the Bismarck Larks. Brian is in his 7th season as the team owner for the Kalamazoo Growlers and in his first season as the team owner for the Battle Creek Battle Jacks. Brian has been a huge part of the Northwoods League growth and success. In 2020, Brian was selected as the NWL Executive of the Year and the Growlers were named the NWL Organization of the Yea in 2016 and 2017 under his leadership.
LYLE RIPPLINGER
TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER
Lyle Ripplinger is the Larks Team Photographer, one of the leading forces in documenting Larks games. From the players to the fans, Lyle helps capture the amazing memories and moments at the ballpark. Lyle is a native North Dakota resident from Balta, ND. Lyle attended the University of Mary, as well as the NDSCS.
Visit his website here.
Visit his Facebook here.
Visit his Instagram here.
ANTHONY SPOONER
PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER
Anthony Spooner is the Larks Public Address Announcer for the 2022 season. Better known around the ballpark as “Spooner,” Anothony graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck and is from Casselton, ND. Spooner is the podcast host for the Randomville, ND podcast and a hockey goalie in his free time. Anthony’s wide sport appreciation background includes NASCAR, dirt racing, Formula 1 racing and curling.
SAM GILBERTSON, J.D.
TEAM ADVISOR
Sam Gilbertson is a sports agent registered with Major League Baseball and assists the Larks by advising its players who are eligible for the MLB Amateur Player Draft. Sam is a licensed attorney in Michigan and Indiana and a member of the Sports Lawyers Association. Sam also represents coaches and serves at the team advisor for the Kalamazoo Growlers and Battle Creek Battle Jacks (NWL, Great Lakes).
HEALTH STAFF
DR. STEVE CHUPPE
TEAM CHIROPRACTOR
Chuppe Health
Dr. Steve was born and raised in western North Dakota, graduating with honors from Scranton High School in 1979. After completing his undergraduate coursework at Bismarck State College and the University of Minnesota, he received his doctorate degree from Northwestern College of Chiropractic in Bloomington MN.
Dr. Steve moved back home to North Dakota in 1988 and enjoys providing safe, effective chiropractic care for patients of all ages, from infancy to elderly. An athlete in high school and in college, Dr. Steve is passionate about working with athletes. He strives to treat sports injuries, maintain peak athletic performance, and works to prevent future injuries.
DR. BRIAN GALE
TEAM FOOT DOCTOR
Dakota Foot and Ankle
Dr. Brian Gale is the Larks official team foot doctor and founded Dakota Foot and Ankle in 1993. He received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine in 1985 from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, in Philadelphia. In 1989 he completed a four-year foot and ankle surgical residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital, also in Philadelphia.
DR. JON KOLBERG
TEAM PHYSICIAN
Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck
Dr. Jon Kolberg is the Larks team physician and is employed with Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck. Jon finished his undergraduate degree at the University of North Dakota and completed his medical degree at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Services in Grand Forks. He completed his fellowship in sports medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR.
ALYSSA EHRLICH
TEAM ATHLETIC TRAINER
Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck
Alyssa is employed with Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck. She will serve as one of the Co-Head Athletic Trainers for the 2023 Bismarck Larks. During the school year, Alyssa is the Head Athletic Trainer for Shiloh Christian School and Bismarck Public Schools hockey. Alyssa graduated from the University of Mary in 2017 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training with minors in coaching and wellness. She continued her education and received her Master of Science in Kinesiology in 2019. In the summer, Alyssa also assists at Sanford Sports with Return to Performance training. Alyssa’s hobbies include spending time with her husband and son, traveling, and being outdoors.
WILL LITTLEFIELD
TEAM ATHLETIC TRAINER
Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck
Will is employed with Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck. During the school year, he is the Assistant Athletic Trainer for Mandan High School and a professor at the University of Mary. Will also assists with various other sports medicine coverage needs in the Bismarck/Mandan area. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from the University of Mary in 2015, his Master’s in Kinesiology in 2017, and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Management in 2020. Williams’s hobbies include running, biking, hiking, traveling, cooking, and hanging out with friends and family. Will lives in Mandan with his wife, Catherine, and their daughter Rosie.
KRISTINA NELSON
TEAM ATHLETIC TRAINER
Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck
Kristina is employed with Sanford Orthopedic and Sports Medicine of Bismarck. During the school year, she is the Assistant Athletic Trainer for Legacy High School and Simle Middle School. Kristina graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Athletic Training from University of Mary in 2016. She earned her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Science from Lasell University in 2020. Her hobbies include spending time with friends and family, participating in and instructing American Taekwondo (1st degree black belt), and spending time on the lake.
ALICIA WELLS
TEAM ATHLETIC TRAINER
Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck
Alicia is employed with Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck. She will serve as one of the Co-Head Athletic Trainers for the 2023
Bismarck Larks. During the school year, Alicia is the Athletic Trainer for Bismarck High School and is a professor at the University of Mary. Alicia graduated from the University of Mary in 2013 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training with a minor in wellness. She continued her education and received her Masters of Science in Kinesiology in 2015. In the summer, Alicia also assists at Sanford POWER as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and helping out on the farm and ranch. Alicia lives in Flasher with her husband Kyle and their son, Jace, and daughter Rylee.
SHAINA WEIGEL
TEAM ATHLETIC TRAINER
Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of Bismarck
Shaina is employed with Sanford Orthopedics & Sports Medicine of Bismarck. During the school year, she is the Head Athletic Trainer for Bismarck State College. Shaina graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Mary in 2019. She also earned her Master’s degree in Sport Psychology when she graduated from California Southern University in 2021. Shaina is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and an EMT. Her hobbies include spending time with her friends, playing recreational sports, traveling, spending time outdoors, and watching her favorite sports teams.
