Eau Claire, Wis. – Each season the Eau Claire Express roster looks significantly different than the season before. This offseason includes similar changes with the front office roster, as the team announced three staff departures and one promotion today. Leaving the organization are Spencer Larson (General Manager), Scott Montesano (Director of Partnerships & Promotions) and Collin Yeager (Director of Marketing & Corporate Service). Larson and Yeager are both relocating out of the Chippewa Valley to take positions advancing them in the sports industry. Replacing Larson as General Manager is Jacob Servais, who is the current Director of Food & Beverage. Servais will assume his new position on September 21.
Larson had been with the Express for four seasons, with three of those being as General Manager. He recently accepted a position with the Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy Center as a Manager of Guest Experience. This position will include oversight of part-time staff members and event-day operations at all events at Xcel Energy Center, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, RiverCentre.
Montesano is leaving the organization to focus on various broadcasting responsibilities in the Chippewa Valley while also pursuing opportunities outside the sports industry. The Utica, N.Y. native finishes his second stint with the Express, which lasted three seasons, after previously spending five seasons as the team’s radio broadcaster.
Yeager returns to the college ranks as the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing & Communications at Indiana University Kokomo. Prior to his two-season stint with the Express he spent time at Rollins College and University of Central Florida. In Kokomo, Yeager will manage website content and design, marketing materials, and public communication documents among other things for IU Kokomo Athletics.
“We’re very thankful to Spencer, Scott and Collin for their contributions to the Express in recent seasons,” stated CFO/Co-Owner Andy Neborak. “The Northwoods League is a developmental league in all aspects and we are very excited for our employees when they receive opportunities to advance themselves, whether that be here in Eau Claire or elsewhere in the sports industry. We wish them all the best.”
Servais recently completed his first season as a member of the Express full-time staff as Director of Food & Beverage. Jacob has previous experience in the Northwoods League with the La Crosse Loggers, Lakeshore Chinooks, and Green Bay Bullfrogs prior to arriving in Eau Claire. Servais becomes the sixth GM in the 15-year history of the Express.
“We look forward to this next chapter in Express baseball with Jacob leading our full-time staff,” Neborak said. “He has certainly earned this opportunity and we look forward to how he will build on the work of past staff members to continue to improve the fan experience at Express games. We look forward to building a great staff for 2019 and beyond.”
The hiring process is underway to replace the remaining vacancies on the Express staff. The hiring of a Director of Food & Beverage, Director of Marketing & Corporate Service and Director of Ticket Sales will be announced as those positions are filled later in the fall.
The Express recently completed its 14th season of play in the Northwoods League. Season tickets for the 2019 season are on sale now. The popular 5-Game Pack, including unlimited food and beverage along with free gifts, is also on sale now by calling the Express office at 715-839-7788 or by clicking here.
The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIL). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Express as your favorite team.
