Craig Toycen – Owner
craig@eauclaireexpress.com
Craig Toycen and The Toycen Baseball Club purchased the Eau Claire Express in February of 2022. Craig was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, Wis. He’s a graduate of Saint John’s University (MN). He and his brother, Mike, are the 3rd generation to run the Toycen Dealerships, which have been a staple in the Chippewa Valley automotive scene since 1952. Craig and his wife, Holly, live in Chippewa Falls. They have two sons, Isaiah and Adrian.
Dale Varsho – Director of Operations / Field Manager
dvarsho@eauclaireexpress.com
Dale has been the Express’s field manager since the inaugural 2005 season. The 2010 Northwoods League Manager of the Year has led the Express to the playoffs four times, winning Eau Claire’s first NWL Championship in 2010. The Express also reached the Championship Series in 2007 and 2016 and the Divisional Series in 2009. The 2025 season was his 20th as the team’s Director of Operations and Field Manager for the Express.
Jake Horan — General Manager
jake@eauclaireexpress.co
Avery Bartholomew — Assistant General Manager
avery@eauclaireexpress.com
Ashley Carothers — Sales Executive
ashley@eauclaireexpress.com
Ashley Carothers is a Sales Executive with the Eau Claire Express, specializing in partnerships, sponsorships, and group outings. Ashley works closely with local businesses and organizations to create meaningful partnerships while helping groups create memorable experiences at Carson Park.
A passionate community advocate, Ashley is actively involved in emergency medical services and serves in leadership roles with several local and statewide organizations. Ashley enjoys building relationships, supporting local businesses, and connecting people with the excitement of Express baseball.
Ashley lives in the Chippewa Valley with her husband and two children. When not at the ballpark, she can often be found coaching archery, volunteering in the community, or spending time with family.
Brenna Bruchert — Community Engagement Coordinator
expressmarketingintern@gmail.com
Brenna is an Eau Claire native who returned to the Express after enjoying her time as a Marketing & Promotions Intern during the 2025 season. She graduated from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2026 with a degree in Public Relations & Digital Media.
Brenna loves creating fun and meaningful experiences for fans, building connections in the community, and using digital content and storytelling to bring people together through sports. She’s excited to be back with the Express and continue giving back to the community that helped shape her.
Mikenna Vlcek — Graphic Designer
Mikenna has loved the Eau Claire Express since she was a little girl. In fact, Mikenna is proud to say she was a host sister for 12 years to many Eau Claire Express players.
Mikenna and her family eat, sleep and breathe baseball! She worked part-time for a few summers with Eau Claire Express as a bartender and server – her favorite spot was her summer in the beer garden! Then, Mikenna went on to become a off season marketing intern for the Express during her last year of college. Mikenna graduated in 2018 with a degree in marketing, then married her high school sweetheart. Mikenna and her husband live in Lake Hallie with their two children: Vienna and Granger.
Claire Collins — Social Media Manager
Pete Knutson — Broadcaster
knutsopm@uuwec.edu
