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CalL1 California League

2015 California League Front Office Awards Announced

September 16, 2015 - California League (CalL1) News Release


Oxnard, CA - The California League is proud to announce its Executive Awards for the 2015 season. Teams submitted nominations and winners were voted on by their peers.

Organization of the Year: The Rancho Cucamonga Quake had an exciting year, with the Quakes achieving increases in many key areas of business and continuing to be a role model in the community. Just a year after upgrading the Team Store and creating a brand new Fun Zone location, fans enjoyed three more stadium improvements, which included: The new Montejo Dugout Decks, Mark Christopher Strike Zone Tables, and The Swing Through Lounge. These additions have improved the overall experience for all fan goers from individuals to large groups, while allowing the team to accommodate the increasing groups demand, resulting in a 12% increase in group sales.

Also in 2015, the Quakes hosted the California vs. Carolina League All-Star Game for the 3rd time in team history. Their mission was to create a first-class event for executives, players, partners, and fans while showcasing the great City of Rancho Cucamonga and the California League. To help make this a one-of-a-kind and very memorable event, all teams and players received custom engraved bats, personalized jerseys, and fun filled SWAG bags that highlighted Southern California.

On June 23 the Quakes welcomed a sold out crowd to LoanMart Field. Those who attended enjoyed a fun filled day from the moment they arrived for the Fan Fest, "Pro's vs. Joe's" Home Run Derby, pre-game ceremonies including; George Brett, Ron Cey, Shawn Green and Adam Kennedy, historic planes flyover, All-Star Game, and post-game Fireworks spectacular.

Overall in 2015, the Quakes saw growth across the board with increases in Revenue and Profit.

The Quakes will be the Cal League nomination for the John H. Johnson President's Award given annually to the most complete franchise in Minor League Baseball.

The Lake Elsinore Storm won the Excellence in Marketing and Promotions Award.

In 2015, the Storm focused on Social Media. They found ways to activate and grow the loyalty of Storm faithful using consistent patterns based on activation studies through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Snapchat! The Storm saw great results in this marketing approach.

Promotionally, the Storm had several nights that got national attention on social media while also generating great attendance. Here are the highlights with asterisks on ones that garnered national attention:

- **Lucky Loser Night: celebrating loveable losers. Discount for losing lottery tickets, Cubs jerseys, etc.

- April Promotion of the Month--Day of Giving: raised over $35,000 for various groups and finished with 5,492 in attendance.

- **Geekend 2: Cos Play Night, Super Hero Night, Star Wars Night and

- Reneyesance Day. Food specials every night.

- Home Team Heroes: signed 5 kids with various ailments to a 1 day contract to "play for the Storm" and enjoyed a day of VIP treatment.

- Nothing Night: Nothing Night hit a high of 4,969 in attendance.

- **Ariana Grande Donut Licking Night: Garnered national attention on Bleacher Report, CNN, TMZ, BreitBart News on Sirius XM and Ben's Biz Blog. Had a crowd of nearly 3,000 on a slower Wednesday.

- Night of Fellowship: 11th annual Night of Fellowship with 74 churches and 6,096 in attendance.

- **Forget Your Ex Night: Discount for donating ex's stuff, free for divorce papers, food specials, singles mixer, in-game contests

- **Tribute to AHHH-NOLD night and Arnold Schwarzenegger Bobble- Biceps Giveaway: 1st of its kind bobble biceps giveaway, national attention, in-game AHHH-NOLD related contests and food specials.

- **Everything Night: Every promotion from the season all rolled into one, BAM!

The Storm are the Cal League's nomination for the Larry MacPhail award given to a Minor League team who demonstrates outstanding and creative marketing and promotional efforts within its community.

The Visalia Rawhide were named the winner of the Excellence in Community Service Award.

The Rawhide attribute much of their continued overall success to their ability in making community organizations to feel a part of the "Rawhide Family".

This is done by way of several programs in-place:

- Character Counts! Program: Partnership with the national "Character

Counts! program" implemented by the local School District; Rawhide players present to student athletes on being a person of character both on & off the field.

- Front Office Community Service: Every member of the front office staff is actively involved in at least one service group - a total of 24 groups

(11 FO Staff). Hosted a Kiwanis, Lions, & Rotary Night during 2015 - all

with themed jerseys & special pre-game activity to fit each club interests.

- Host Families: 100% of players & coaches live with local families.

- In-Game Partnerships: Hosted large fundraisers with themed jerseys for Fallen Firefighters Foundation & Relay for Life. Each "Make a Difference Monday" game featured a different charity, among countless other in-ballpark fundraisers & community activities.

- Visalia Professional Baseball Hall of Fame: Created by the ballclub in

2009, 6 more impactful persons were honored this winter.

- Neighborhood "Sports District" Concept: Currently working on a neighborhood clean-up project in partnership with the City of Visalia, Downtown Association, & School District to acquire eye sore properties in the ballpark neighborhood and tear them down for additional parking that can be used & marketed as part of a regional "Downtown Sports District". This area brings together 12 existing sporting facilities within a 4-block area, and encourages collaboration.

The Rawhide will also represent the League as the nomination for the national John Henry Moss Community

Service Award which is Minor League Baseball's top service award in the industry.

The 2015 Executive of the Year is Grant Riddle, General Manager of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Grant led the Quakes to a very successful 2015 season. During the off-season, Grant oversaw a number of stadium renovation projects that included the additions of three new areas to LoanMart Field; Montejo Dugout Decks, The Swing Through Lounge, and Mark Christopher Strike Zone Tables.

This season in Rancho was primarily focused around the 2015 California vs. Carolina League All-Star Game hosted in Rancho Cucamonga. This sold out event was a huge success as a marquee event in the City and California League. Grant served as the Quakes leader for the All-Star Game, managing an executive committee and staff that put on a first-class event for team executives, players, partners, and fans.

In 2015 under Grant's leadership the Quakes continued to increase revenues and probability. Grant has done a tremendous job of increasing overall revenues, creating a great atmosphere and making the Quakes a positive part of the Rancho Cucamonga community.

2015 California League Woman of Excellence Award winner Juliana Paoli began the season by bringing Giants fans and Dodger Stadium attack victim Bryan Stow to Municipal Stadium.

The Cal League Woman of Excellence is San Jose Giants Chief Marketing Officer Juliana Paoli.

This is the second time that she has earned this honor, having also received the award as the inaugural winner in 2010. After being nominated by the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes front office, Paoli received the honor after a vote by her California League peers. As the California League Woman of Excellence, she will be a nominee for Minor League Baseball's Rawlings Woman of the Year Award that will be presented at the Winter Meetings in December in Nashville, Tennessee.

As Chief Marketing Officer of the San Jose Giants, Juliana has spent the last ten seasons developing and implementing an integrated marketing campaign that resulted in revenue breaking records in every budget category. She serves as the leader of several departments including: Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, Retail, Community Affairs and Promotions. This season she also stepped in to oversee the Food and Beverage operation.

Since joining the San Jose Giants in 2006, Juliana has worked with hundreds of organizations and non-profits to raise millions of dollars annually, while also establishing and growing the team's brand as a pillar in the community. She has watched with tremendous pride as 79 former players have taken what they've learned on and off the field in San Jose and applied it to successful Major League careers. 63 of those debuted with the San Francisco Giants, including 16 Homegrown Champions on the 2014 World Series team and 10 in both 2012 and 2010.

Juliana has also given back to Minor League Baseball, volunteering her time as a member of the PBEO Steering Committee, several times serving as a featured speaker at the Business of Baseball Workshop at the Baseball Winter Meetings and at the annual Promotional Seminar. Paoli has been part of the 2009 John H. Johnson President's Trophy and Baseball America's Bob Freitas award winning staff. She is also especially proud to have led the team to it's first-ever Larry MacPhail Award in 2014, given annually to the organization with the top marketing and promotions effort.

Cal League President, Charlie Blaney, stated: "The winners of these prestigious League Awards were voted by their peers in the league, and they have been submitted as the Cal League's Nominees for National Honors to be awarded at Baseball's Winter Meetings in December. The Cal League is very proud of our winners."



California League Stories from September 16, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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