Rom a College Intern in 2006 to Coordinator of Sales
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rom a college intern in F 2006 to Coordinator of Sales and Business Operations in 2007 to Manager of Sales and Marketing in 2010, Rachelle Madrigal progressed until her promotion two years ago to General Manager of the Bradenton Marauders, the minor league team of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Director, Sales and Marketing/Florida Operations. She is the only female general manager in the Florida State League and was named the League’s Female Executive of the Year in 2014. 18 WEST COAST WOMAN June 2018 eing the first or only woman team FSL and one of 160 affiliated minor in a field dominated by males leagues of a major league baseball team. is not for the unprepared or Not adopting the Pirates name, the unproven. With passion and team became the Bradenton Marauders knowledge, the woman will playing 70 home games at LECOM Park B climb the career ladder wear- (formerly McKechnie Field. The Pirates ing different hats. From a college intern are celebrating its 50th anniversary in in 2006 to Coordinator of Sales and Bradenton which is the third longest Business Operations in 2007 to Manager tenure of any spring training team in of Sales and Marketing in 2010, Rachelle Florida and the Marauders are celebrat- Madrigal progressed until her promo- ing its 10th anniversary. Rachelle says tion two years ago to General Manager that all those years were spent building a of the Bradenton Marauders, the minor great tradition of baseball in Bradenton league team of the Pittsburgh Pirates, for 365 days a year. The local economic and Director, Sales and Marketing/Flor- impact during spring training alone is ida Operations. She is the only female $30 million. In addition to LECOM Park, general manager in the Florida State Pirate City is a few miles away and hosts League and was named the League’s Fe- outside corporate groups, camps, sports male Executive of the Year in 2014. nutrition events, adult baseball groups “I do everything for the team that’s not and tournaments, and the Pirates spring related to baseball operations. I’m respon- training practice until the team moves sible for the business side of the team in- to LECOM Park for games. cluding ticket sales, stadium operations, The original stadium was built in marketing, communications, public 1923 and the Pirates have made sweep- relations, community relations, planning ing improvements over the years in re- promotions and theme nights, securing sponse to the growth and popularity of entertainment for games, and corporate spring training and minor league games sales. In high school I attended a presen- in Bradenton. In 2006 the park received tation about opportunities to work in the updated lights and a new visitor team business side of sports. Since I grew up clubhouse. Fan amenities in 2013 in- playing softball and cheering on the Bos- clude a 19,000 square foot boardwalk to ton Red Sox, the business side of sports the outfield, new concessions, a larger sparked my interest and I received my fan plaza, covered bleachers and new Bachelor’s degree in sports management seats bringing the seating total to 8,500. from UMass-Amherst,” she says. In 2015 the home clubhouse was reno- Rachelle—looking more like a grad stu- vated and two years later a video board dent than the general manager of a minor was installed in center field. league baseball team—exudes excitement Rachelle talks about Florida’s weath- about her career. “Baseball is my calling. er—a lot. One computer is constantly What could be better than coming to tuned to the weather. She says the chal- work every day at the ballpark? This is a lenge is controlling the uncontrollable 24/7 business, but a lot of fun in a high- weather and managing the timing. energy environment. I’m part of some- Perhaps the summer rain will come dur- thing very special bringing joy to people ing a promotion that has been planned on game day. It is amazing what we do. for months. Sometimes she can work The reward is the moments when you see around the rain and still pull off the the impact on someone’s life. Baseball is event, sometimes not. She said manag- the platform for giving people memories ing curve balls is part of the job. She for life. My baseball family is my second plans a full schedule of promotions such family. I’m very fortunate to have gotten as Pirates & Princesses Night, My Sun- in the door of the organization during coast Bark in the Park (Doggy Costume the early years. I witnessed tremendous Contest and Pups Run the Bases), shirt growth and investment in the local com- giveaways, post-game fireworks, Kids munity. The Pirates have a long tradition Backpack Giveaway, Disability Aware- of community involvement by support- ness Night, and Fan Appreciation Night. ing education in Manatee County, Adopt Rachelle describes her work ethic as a School, Marauders summer reading pro- leading by example and working side- gram, and youth sports leagues. We want by-side with staff. Her expectation for to get kids to games for family-friendly herself is to do everything at the highest entertainment. We partner with the City level. She may leave the park at 5:30 p.m. of Bradenton to grow the area where the during spring training when games begin stadium is located as a destination enter- at 1 p.m., but she may not leave until tainment district.” 10:30 p.m. or later during the Marauders Rachelle is all about excellent custom- season when games are in the evening. er service and fan amenities. “My major She admits to challenges with work/life focus is on customer service which balance and making time for both. the Pirates excel in at their home PNC While an intern Rachelle met her fu- Park in Pittsburgh. We offer employee ture husband Victor, head groundskeeper incentive-based programs because we at LECOM Park. They have 17-month expect every employee to go above and old identical twins Dominic and Quin- beyond to assure that our visitors have ton. Her favorite non-work activities are an experience they will remember. All spending time with her husband and chil- of our employees (including seasonal dren, listening to 90s music, visiting Dis- stadium employees) receive intensive ney World, and traveling—already they customer service training every year as have traveled to 37 states by car. They well as a daily briefing where they re- plan to take the boys to visit relatives in ceive the customer service tip of the day. the Dominican Republic (she is fluent in We tell them to have fun, but think of Spanish) when they are a little older. the fans first. We have over 200 seasonal Rachelle currently serves on the Mana- employees working spring training and tee County Substance Abuse Coalition 75 during the Marauders season.” Board of Trustees and the Manatee Memo- The Bradenton Marauders are the rial Foundation Women’s Action Com- Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Pitts- mittee and was formerly a member of the burgh Pirates. After the 2009 season the PACE Center for Girls Manatee Board of Pirates purchased the Cincinnati Reds’ Directors and the Gulf Coast Latin Cham- Florida State League affiliate and in Oc- ber of Commerce Board of Directors. tober 2009 the Bradenton Marauders STORY: Carol Darling became the newest member of the 12- IMAGES: Evelyn England June 2018 WEST COAST WOMAN 19 .