Bernadette graduated from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Sport Administration in 2015. After spending two summers as an intern for the Reading Fightin Phils she joined the Thunder as a Ticket Assistant before the 2016 season. As an avid Yankee fan, she was happy to witness Derek Jeter's 3000th hit at Yankee Stadium. Baseball is her favorite sport and she enjoys the atmosphere of working in the family friendly environment of Minor League Baseball. In her free time she likes hanging out with family and friends, working out, dancing, and attending sporting events.
Ownership - 𝐺𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙
Joseph J. Plumeri II
Managing Partner
Joseph J. Finley
Managing Partner
Joseph Caruso
Managing PartnerExecutive Staff
Jeff Hurley
PresidentJeff will be entering his 19th season with the Trenton Thunder and seventh as President/General Manager. A native of Hamilton, NJ, Hurley played baseball at nearby Steinert High School and was a pitcher at DeSales University in Allentown, PA graduating with a degree in Accounting before joining the Thunder front office as an intern in 2004.
He was hired as a Group Sales Representative following the 2004 season and has held the titles of Media Relations Assistant, Community Relations and Baseball Operations Manager, Baseball Operations and Accounting Manager, Director of Finance and Baseball Operations and Chief Financial Officer over his years with the Thunder. In September 2015, Jeff was named General Manager/Chief Operating Office becoming the 5th in team history. Following the 2018 season Jeff was voted on by the Eastern League as Executive of the Year.
In addition to his role with the Thunder, Hurley has served as a member of the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Young Professionals organization since 2013. In 2017 Hurley was recognized as the Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton Young Professional of the Year voted on by his peers. Hurley also sits on the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Area YMCA, Miracle League of Mercer County, Princeton Mercer Chamber of Commerce, Central Jersey Rebels Baseball Organization, Mercer County Military Action Council and the Hamilton YMCA Advisory Council. Jeff is currently the Chair of the Princeton Mercer Convention and Visitors Bureau and is a member of the Robbinsville-Hamilton Rotary Club.
Jeff is a resident of Hamilton, NJ where he lives with his wife Kacie, his sons Carson and Cameron, and their dog Maddux - who was adopted through the NorthStar Vets Dog of the Day program.
Jon Bodnar
General ManagerJon joined the Trenton Thunder Front Office Staff in September of 2014 and currently serves as the General Manager. Born and raised in South Jersey, he graduated from James Madison University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 2013 with a degree in Marketing. When not at the ballpark, Jon enjoys spending time at the beach down in Cape May, NJ and rooting on the Philadelphia sports teams! “go birds”
Eric Lipsman
Sr. Vice President of Corporate Sales & SponsorshipsEric is the last remaining member of the original Thunder Front Office. He joined the Thunder organization in December of 1993 as the team's Director of Marketing & Merchandising. In 2001, Eric became the Executive Director of Marketing for both the Thunder and their sister team the Lakewood (now Jersey Shore) BlueClaws (Affiliate of The Philadelphia Phillies). In September of 2005, Eric was promoted to the Vice President of Marketing for both clubs and in November of 2009, he was named Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales and Sponsorships for the Thunder. He ended his affiliation with the BlueClaws after the 2017 season.
Eric oversees all aspects of marketing for the Thunder including national, regional and local sponsorships, promotional night giveaways, and in-game promotions. He is also the editor of the Thunder Road Game Program. Eric also is the caretaker and he shares his office with Thunder Batdogs Rookie & Dash. He previously had the same duties with Chase & Derby. Rookie and Eric have traveled to Yankee Stadium, along with having Rookie retrieving bats in other parks, like Sahlen Field in Buffalo, PNC Field in Scranton, along with Bowie, MD and Staten Island, NY. Eric is a member of the Saint Joseph's University Sports Marketing Advisory Board, which instituted a Sports Marketing Major at the school in the fall of 2011. He also lectures on Sports Marketing and the Business of Baseball at Saint Joseph's University. Eric has worked closely with all the Thunder MLB affiliates the Tigers, Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays, along with Thunder alumni in the Majors on Rehabs and player promotional items like bobbleheads and personal appearances at Thunder games.
Lydia Rios
Vice President, SponsorshipLydia brings 28 years of sales experience in the Central Jersey marketplace to the Thunder Corporate Sales Department. As VP of Sponsorships, she oversees corporate partnerships, services local accounts, and provides leadership in the team's sales department. Lydia resides in Hamilton with her three sons, Tyler, Gehrig, and Aaron.
Tickets & Group Sales
Joe joined the Trenton Thunder in 2022 as the Box Office Manager. A lifelong sports fan, he is extremely grateful to have turned his passion into a career. Joe was born in Miami, FL and graduated from Florida International University. He moved to the Mercer County area in 2019 after a two year stopover in Philadelphia. When he is not working, watching, or participating in athletics, Joe enjoys taking road trips with his wife and dogs.
Evan joined the Thunder team in 2020 as a Ticket Operations Assistant, and (after a Pandemic-induced hiatus) returned as a Merchandising Assistant before moving into his current role with the team. A Doylestown, PA resident, he graduated from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management with a Concentration in Marketing. When not around baseball, Evan participates in community theater troupes as an actor, and enjoys keeping his vocal chords fresh between musical theater and his other music ventures.
Kevin graduated from Rowan University in 2021 with a Bachelor Science Degree in Business Management. This past summer, Kevin was a Ticket Sales Intern with the Hudson Valley Renegades. When Kevin isn't working, he enjoys spending time with family, going to country concerts and watching or attending sports events.
Community Relations - 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑙𝑎𝑚 𝑊𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Casey is the Director of Group Sales and Community Relations for the Thunder. She graduated from Holy Family University in 2015 with a degree in Sports Marketing-Management. She once chauffeured Tim Tebow from Trenton to Princeton. When she's not doing that, she enjoys reading and jigsaw puzzles.
Merchandise
Finance
Baseball & Stadium Operations
Marketing & Fan Entertainment
Marisa- commonly known as the pro hair whipper during the Thunder's Air Guitar Cam- joined the Trenton Thunder for her first season in 2017 as a Gameday Photographer, and has since made her way up to the creative team's second in command as the Production Assistant. Graduating from Northern Burlington High School in 2013, Marisa studied Photography and Digital Imaging at Mercer County Community College, where she finished her Associates degree in early 2019. In that time, Marisa rediscovered her love of baseball and was eager to entertain fans at the Thunder. When she's not giving Rookie and Dash belly rubs and playing fetch in the office, Marisa will spend her leisure time making art and covering stories for her local news- or taking a long nap.
Broadcasting & Media Relations
Food & Beverage - 𝐹𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎
Corey was hired into the food service and catering department for the Thunder prior to the 2007 season. He was named Executive Chef for the team in 2015 and is responsible for catering the Capital City Club & Conference Center, the Luxury Suites, and Picnic areas at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. Corey currently resides in Trenton, N.J.
Batdogs
The legacy that Chase began in 2002 continued to a third-generation when Derby's son, Rookie, was born on December 15, 2013. Rookie made his debut at ARM & HAMMER Park on Opening Day 2014 when then Thunder Manager Tony Franklin brought him out to home plate before the game for the lineup exchange. Since then, Rookie has assumed bat dog duties and can be seen fetching Thunder bats in the first inning of most Thunder home games.
Rookie is presented by Arm & Hammer Pet Products. His health & wellness is taken care of by the great staff at Newtown Veterinary Hospital. Rookie's training is provided by Shelly's School for Dogs at the Green Leaf Pet Resort and Hotel, and his official dog food is NutriSource!
Dash is the latest in the long line of the Thunder Bat Dog Tradition! Dash is currently training at Shelly's School for Dogs at the Green Leaf Pet Resort and Hotel and can't wait to make his debut at the ballpark soon!
Trenton Thunder Ballpark
1 Thunder Road, Trenton NJ 08611