THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM
- BEHIND THE SCENES
JOLIET SLAMMERS STAFF
Night Train Veeck
OWNER | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING
About Night Train Veeck:
Night Train Veeck is the fourth generation of Veecks to work in baseball. He is a seasoned sports marketing executive with a diverse domestic and international background. With 15 seasons between Independent and Minor League Baseball, followed by seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox, he has hands-on experience successfully implementing numerous fan-centric marketing, sales, and partnership campaigns. Most recently, he has returned to the U.S. after almost two years leading fan engagement for Cricket Australia’s Big Bash League in Melbourne, Australia and shortly thereafter co-founding a Division III pro soccer team in Chicago. Additionally, he serves as an active owner and board member for Larne FC, a Northern Irish first division Soccer Club.
When not living in a stadium, he resides in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood with his partner Loz, and dog Wicket, where he is mastering the art of bread and pizza baking while patiently awaiting the reunification of OutKast. Night Train will be in leadership with the day to day operations of the Slammers.
Tori Zalewski
MANAGER OF EVENTS & MARKETING
Tori is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s in Athletic Training and a Master’s in Sports Administration. This will be her fourth season with the Slammers, she started off as a Stadium Operations Intern and Special Events Staff in 2021. During the off season Tori works part time for the Chicago Blackhawks on the Fan Events & Experience Team. Off the field, Tori enjoys reading, walking her dog Dallas, and a good reality TV show.
Joel Sigel
DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE
This is Joel’s second season with the Slammers. Joel is a 2007 graduate of Le Cordon Bleu. He did his internship with Disney World and then worked for a 5 star steak house in Snowmass Village Co. As a Chef he has cooked for many celebrities like Joe Walsh, Gabriel Iglesias and many more. He was a Chef of a country club, casino, and the Peoria Civic Center. He then ran a pizza chain as the Director of Operations. Joel believes strongly in supporting the local community and only using the best and freshest ingredients. He is married with 4 kids and volunteers around the community and at his local church in Joliet.
Bryce Maddox
MANAGER OF TICKET OPERATIONS
The 2025 Slammers season will be Bryce’s first season as the Manager of Ticket Operations, after he came in at the end of last season as a Box Office Supervisor. Bryce is a graduate of Kirkwood Community College with an associate degree in Paralegal Studies, and the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management and a concentration in Business Studies. He was employed as a paralegal for two years at Weppler Law Group in Libertyville while completing his bachelor’s degree. Bryce also has experience working with several sports organizations including NASCAR: the Chicago Street Race, the Chicago Steel Hockey Team, and during the offseason, Bryce works with the Chicago Blackhawks. He has been in the customer service industry since childhood and also has experience in the legal, culinary, and hospitality industries. In his free time, Bryce enjoys watching Chicago and Hawkeye athletics, furthering his culinary knowledge, traveling, and relaxing with his friends and family.
Sean McGrath
DIRECTOR OF TICKET SALES
This is Sean’s first season as the Director of Ticket Sales with the Slammers. Sean grew up in Manhattan about 15 minutes away from the Joliet community and graduated from Providence Catholic High School. After graduating from Providence he attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a degree in Sports Management. He has held several positions including the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Chicago Fire and the Joliet Slammers. Most recently, he comes to the Slammers from 5 years as an Account Executive with the Saint Louis Blues Hockey Team. When he’s not at the ballpark, Sean enjoys traveling, can play the piano, and loves to golf.
Gina Mendez
MANAGER OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
This is Gina’s second season in Group Sales with the Slammers. Gina is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management with a focus in marketing. She began her career as an Assistant Recreation Manager with the Kanakee Valey Park District before joining the Slammers team. Outside of the office, she volunteers within her community for local music and sporting events. She enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and being home with her two fur babies.
Tommy Gaffney
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, TICKET SALES
This is Tommy’s first season as a Ticket Sales Account Executive with the Slammers. From New Lenox, IL, Tommy graduated from Western Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree and is looking forward to bringing fans out to the ballpark in Joliet! In his free time, he enjoys working out at the gym, cooking barbecue on his Pit Boss smoker, and hanging out with his friends. I grew up watching the Slammers play and it is an honor to be able to work for this great organization. This is my first time working in sports and I couldn’t be happier! I am looking forward to meeting everyone soon.
Sierra Rodgers
MANAGER OF PROMOTIONS
This is Sierra’s first year as Promotions Manager with the Slammers. Sierra was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana and moved to St. Louis, Missouri to go on to graduate from Maryville University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Business Management. Off the field, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and volunteering for organizations in the community. She is also a big Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals fan, and her favorite TV show is Gilmore Girls.
Joey Koss
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
This is Joey’s first season as an Account Executive with the Slammers. Joey graduated from Aquinas College up in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he played volleyball all four years and graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Sports Management. While at his time up in Grand Rapids he began his sports career with some different sports sales internships with teams like the Battle Creek Battle Jacks Baseball team, Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team and the Grand Rapids Rise Volleyball team. In his spare time he enjoys hanging out with friends and family and watching football and hockey.
JOLIET SLAMMERS OWNERS
Mike Veeck
OWNER
Mike Veeck is a nationally renowned speaker, entrepreneur, college professor, philanthropist, marketing, promotions and customer care expert.
The Veeck family started in baseball nearly a century ago when Veeck’s grandfather was president of the Chicago Cubs. Veeck’s father, Bill, is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in recognition of his time as the owner of the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and the then-minor league Milwaukee Brewers. Famous for so many occurrences at the ballpark, Bill Veeck will always be remembered for signing Larry Doby, the first black man to play in the American League and for sending 3 foot, 6 inch Eddie Gaedel to the plate for the Browns in a 1951 game against Detroit.
Bill Murray
OWNER | DIRECTOR OF FUN
About Bill Murray:
Bill Murray has earned numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and two Independent Spirit Awards, as well as a nomination for an Academy Award. In 2016, Murray was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Murray rose to fame on The National Lampoon Radio Hour (1973–1974) before becoming a national presence on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1980, where he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. He then established his stardom acting in a string of successful comedy films such as Meatballs (1979), Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), What About Bob? (1991), and Groundhog Day (1993). He also took on supporting roles in Tootsie (1982), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Ed Wood (1994), Kingpin (1996), and Osmosis Jones (2001).
Murray has been involved in minority ownership of the Minor League Baseball Charleston RiverDogs and St. Paul Saints alongside Mike Veeck. Prior to being invited to join the affiliated ranks for the 2021 season, the Saints were considered the premier independent baseball team in the country.
Night Train Veeck
OWNER | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING
About Night Train Veeck:
Night Train Veeck is the fourth generation of Veecks to work in baseball. He is a seasoned sports marketing executive with a diverse domestic and international background. With 15 seasons between Independent and Minor League Baseball, followed by seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox, he has hands-on experience successfully implementing numerous fan-centric marketing, sales, and partnership campaigns. Most recently, he has returned to the U.S. after almost two years leading fan engagement for Cricket Australia’s Big Bash League in Melbourne, Australia and shortly thereafter co-founding a Division III pro soccer team in Chicago. Additionally, he serves as an active owner and board member for Larne FC, a Northern Irish first division Soccer Club.
When not living in a stadium, he resides in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood with his partner Loz, and dog Wicket, where he is mastering the art of bread and pizza baking while patiently awaiting the reunification of OutKast. Night Train will be in leadership with the day to day operations of the Slammers.