Sports Management Networking Event
in partnership with TCNJ School of BusinessMonday, July 21 On Monday, July 21, high school students, college students, and recent graduates are invited to go behind the scenes in the Sports Management Industry with leaders from the Thunder Organization at this exclusive Sports Management Network Event, presented by the TCNJ School of Business.
Event Details
Learn from Thunder executives during a moderated Q&A Panel session in the Primepoint Club on the Luxury Suite Level of Trenton Thunder Ballpark. Panelists will offer excellent insight into their area of business, as well as share career experience and advice. Speakers (subject to change) include:
- Jeff Hurley - President
- Jon Bodnar - General Manager
- Eric Lipsman - Senior VP of Corporate Sales & Sponsorships
- Lydia Rios - VP of Sponsorship
- Casey Borish - VP of Ticket Sales
- Ben Wolverton - Marketing Director
Stick around for the game! Your Networking Event ticket comes with a game ticket in the Primepoint Club for the 7pm game vs the Williamsport Crosscutters.
Practice networking with Thunder executives and other special guests during the game. Meet informally with front office personnel from various departments throughout the game as they come up to the Primepoint Club (official schedule TBA).
Additional Details
- Check-in begins at 3pm in the Primepoint Club on the Luxury Suite Level.
- The panel portion of the program runs from 3:45pm to 4:45pm.
- The event is limited to 84 participants.
- Dress is casual to business casual.
- Participants are urged to ask questions throughout the program.
- The informal networking portion runs the length of the game starting at 7pm
Program cost: $30. In addition to the panel event and informal networking, the program includes a game ticket for the 7pm game vs Williamsport Crosscutters in the Primepoint Club.
Speaker Bios
Jeff Hurley, President
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.
Jon Bodnar, General Manager
Born and raised in South Jersey, Jon joined the Trenton Thunder Front Office Staff in September of 2014 and was named the 6th General Manager in the franchise's history in March of 2023. Jon's career in sports began in 2012 when he spent two seasons with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, AAA Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Over the course of his time with the Trenton Thunder, Jon has held a number of roles in the organization including Group Sales Account Representative and Manager, Director/Senior Director of Group sales and Ticket Sales, Vice President of Ticket Sales, Chief Revenue Officer and now General Manager.
Jon plays an active role in the community and is a member of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lower Buck Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Foundation Academy Charter School located in Trenton, NJ. Jon is a proud alumni of both Washington Township High School, Sewell, NJ, Class of 2009 and James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, Class of 2013.
Eric Lipsman, Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales & Sponsorships
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 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.
Lydia Rios, Vice President of Sponsorship
Lydia is a veteran salesperson having worked in the advertising industry for almost 30 years. Her career in both the newspaper and then radio industries helped her fine tune her marketing skills. Joining the Trenton Thunder 10 years ago brought learning the inner workings of the baseball world while understanding the importance of sponsorship sales to the business side of the sports industry.
As VP of Sponsorship, she provides leadership over the team's sales department while overseeing daily operations of the Game Day Staff during the season. She can always be found utilizing her customer service talent with fans and co-workers. Lydia lives in Hamilton, NJ with her 2 sons Gehrig and Aaron.
Casey Borish, Vice President of Ticket Sales
Casey Borish is in her ninth season with the Trenton Thunder and her second as the Vice President of Ticket Sales. She previously held roles in the Community Relations, Inside Sales, Special Events, Group Sales and Promotions Departments with the Thunder. She proudly served as the Coordinator for the 2018 All Star Game that was held in Trenton.
In her current role, Casey oversees the day-to-day operations of all aspects of the Trenton Thunder Ticket Department. She is actively involved in ticket and sponsorship sales.
She attended Holy Family University, where she was a student athlete on the Women’s Tennis Team, studying Sports Management Marketing. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Casey currently resides in Langhorne, PA.
Ben Wolverton, Marketing Director
Ben oversees the organic marketing efforts for the Trenton Thunder with social media, website, community appearances while developing strategy for paid advertising. During the season, he manages the Promotions & Mascot Departments which execute all of the between-inning games for fans to participate in.