TURN 2 FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Accounting
Abby Brantley enters her 14th season with the club, currently serving as Vice President, Accounting. In this role, Abby oversees the Accounting and Payroll functions of the organization. Prior to her promotion to this role in 2021, Abby held the position of Controller for the club since 2013, and Senior Accountant before that.
Prior to joining the Astros, Abby worked in public accounting for Deloitte and Pannell Kerr Forster, with a focus on corporate and partnership taxation.
Abby is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, as well as a Master in Professional Accounting. Abby earned her CPA license in 2006.
She resides in Pearland with her family.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Research, R & D
Job Titles:
- Hitting Coach / Hitting Coach
Alex Treviño returns for his 28th season as color analyst on the Astros Spanish radio network. He and partner Francisco Romero have been a team since 2008, making them one of the longest-tenured teams in baseball. The two have called 92 postseason games since 2017, which is the most in the Majors in that span. Alex joined the Astros broadcast booth in 1996 and has called more than 3,000 Astros games, 12 postseason appearances and four World Series (2005, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022). Alex's 27 seasons in the broadcast booth are the most in franchise history by a Spanish broadcaster, besting Orlando Sanchez Diago's record of 21 years. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Alex spent 13 seasons playing in the Majors, primarily as a catcher, including the 1988-90 seasons with the Astros. He also spent time with the Mets, Reds, Braves, Giants and Dodgers. While with the Mets in 1980, he threw out 44% (47 of 106) of attempted base stealers, which was tops in the NL. Later in his career, on June 13, 1986, while with the Dodgers vs. the Padres in San Diego, he was part of history when he and pitcher Fernando Valenzuela formed the first Mexican-born battery in Major League history. Alex hit a career-high .290 while serving as Houston's backup catcher in 1989 and hit .364 (32x88) in 25 starts. He played in 939 Major League games and had a .249 lifetime average. Alex' older brother, Bobby Treviño, played in the Major Leagues as an outfielder for the Angels. In September 2014, Alex was inducted into the Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor for his significant and lasting contributions to the landscape of Houston baseball through his work in broadcasting.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Social Media
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Technical Director
Job Titles:
- Account Manager, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Assistant General Manager
Andrew Ball is in his second season as Assistant General Manager for the Astros. In his role, he assists Dana Brown with all aspects of Baseball Operations, primarily focusing on Major League roster management, player evaluation and procurement, contract negotiations, and rules compliance. Ball also oversees departmental administration and works closely with all departments on long-term strategy, innovation, and facilitating learning and development.
Prior to joining the Astros, Ball spent five seasons (2017-2021) as the Director of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Angels and three seasons (2014-2016) with the Tampa Bay Rays in their Pro Scouting department. He began his career in professional baseball with the independent York Revolution, starting as an intern in 2011 before spending two seasons as Manager of Baseball Operations.
Ball graduated from Gwynedd-Mercy College, where he earned a business administration degree and pitched for the baseball team. He lives in Houston with his wife, Rachel.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Assistant
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Anita Sehgal is currently in her ninth year with the Houston Astros as Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications. In her role, Anita provides strategic leadership for the ballclub's retail, advertising, marketing, communications, broadcasting, and alumni relations, including support for a broad variety of sponsorship, ticket, special event, community, and the Astros Golf Foundation and Houston Open initiatives.
Prior to joining the Houston organization, Anita spent over 20 years in various strategic marketing functions with several organizations, including FGL Sports, Best Buy and most recently Academy Sports + Outdoors. Hailing from Canada's Regina, Saskatchewan, Anita, who earned her United States citizenship in September of 2019, received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with a focus in marketing and human resources, from the University of Regina. She plays an active role in several Houston-based organizations, including her position as an Executive Committee Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston and a board member of WISE Houston. She is also an active Brand 50 member of World 50. Anita serves as an Independent Board Director with Reitman's Canada, Ltee, Escalade Inc, and Holley Inc - where she recently took on the role as Chair for the Governance & Nominating Committee.
In 2016, Anita was honored as one of Houston's Top 15 Business Women by the National Diversity Council. In 2018, Anita was honored again by the National Diversity Council as the National Business Woman of the Year. She also received honors in 2018 as one of Texas Executive Women's Women on the Move. Most recently, Anita was recognized in 2021 by the National Diversity Council as a Power 50, for her contributions and commitment to both business and community. In November 2021, Anita was celebrated as the 2021 Woman of Inspiration by WISE Houston.
Job Titles:
- Pitching Coach / Pitching Coach
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
- Senior Advisor
- Major League Baseball 's Chief Financial Officer and Senior Advisor
Bob Starkey was appointed Major League Baseball's Chief Financial Officer and Senior Advisor by Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. on December 4, 2014. Starkey oversees financial operations for MLB and plays a key role on industry economics and analysis.
Starkey's association with Major League Baseball began in 1991, when he was engaged to analyze the industry's economics and financial condition. In the ensuing years, he worked closely with Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig and Manfred on a variety of industry economic and financial matters, including collective bargaining, the creation and administration of the revenue sharing system and debt-service rule, numerous new stadium projects and various club financial, valuation and transaction matters. Starkey has supported numerous MLB committees and special projects.
Starkey began his professional career as a CPA in the Minneapolis office of Arthur Andersen. After being admitted to the partnership in 1987, he soon became the partner-in-charge of the Andersen professional sports industry group. After resigning from Andersen in 1999, he formed his own sports consulting firm, Starkey Sports Consulting, LLC, through which he has advised MLB and several professional sports franchises on a variety of financial matters. In his hometown of Minneapolis, Starkey was involved in all aspects of the legislation, negotiation, development and financing of Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.
Starkey is a graduate of Drake University. The Chicago native has resided in the Twin Cities for nearly 40 years.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Stadium Operations
Bobby Forrest has served as the club's Vice President of Stadium Operations since January of 2007. He originally joined the Astros franchise on Jan. 2, 1995, as a member of the engineering department. Bobby was subsequently promoted to Engineering Supervisor in 1997, Engineering Manager in 1999, and Senior Director of Engineering and Maintenance in 2003. He is responsible for all building operations, which includes the Engineering, Groundskeeping, Guest Services and Security and Parking departments. Bobby also played a key role in the club's move from the Astrodome to its current home, Minute Maid Park, prior to the 2000 season.
Bobby is a member of the International Association of Assembly Managers, and the Stadium Managers Association.
He and his wife, Tiffani, reside in Magnolia, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Retail Operations
Job Titles:
- Director, International Scouting
Brian Rodgers enters his sixth season with the Astros organization. In his role as International Scouting Director, Rodgers oversees the club's International Amateur Scouting operation, while also providing support in International Pro Scouting and International Player Development.
Rodgers joined the organization in 2017 in the role of Player Acquisition Assistant (2017-2019), where he was instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the club's Amateur and International Scouting efforts. He later served
Job Titles:
- Account Manager, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Account Manager, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Director, Latin American Operations
Caridad Cabrera joined the Astros in January 2010 as the DR Academy administrator. She is now in her 14th season with the organization and fourth as Director, Latin American Operations. Caridad oversees all aspects of the Astros Latin American development and operations in addition to overseeing the administrative aspects of the Astros Academy in the DR. In addition to administrator, Caridad also served in the positions of Supervisor, Latin American Operations and Manager, Latin American Operations.
Prior to joining the Astros, Caridad served as Analyst in the pledge's unit of the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture. Before that, she served as administrative assistant in EMC Abogados, handling all aspects related to human resources and payroll.
Caridad graduated, cum laude, from O&M with an engineering degree in computer systems and holds a master's degree in business administration (senior management) from INTEC.
Carl Schneider, who has been with the Astros organization since 1989, became the Astros clubhouse manager in 2011. While with the Astros, Schneider has worked 16 Astros playoff runs, four All-Star Games (1998, 2003-04, 2018) and six World Series (2005, 2017, 2019, 2021-22).
In 2020, Schneider was named the winner of the Fred Hartman Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball Award, named by the Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Additionally, in 2017, Schneider was named the winner the Pete Sheehy Clubhouse Award (Clubhouse Manager of the Year), which is given out annually to a home and visiting clubhouse manager, and voted on by the MLB Clubhouse Manager's Association.
Schneider, who is one of the longest-tenured employees in the organization, originally joined the Astros in 1989 as a bat boy and also handled clubhouse duties during the baseball season. He joined the home clubhouse staff full time in 1995 and would work in that role until assuming the clubhouse manager duties in 2011.
A Texas native, Schneider currently resides in Houston where he has enjoyed raising his sons Zachry and Max and daughters Amie and Madyson. Schneider's oldest son, Zach, is currently a left-handed pitcher at Truman State University in Missouri.
Job Titles:
- Senior Coordinator, Promotions & Events
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Entertainment
Job Titles:
- Assistant General Manager
Charles Cook enters his eighth year with the Astros, seventh in a full-time capacity and first as Assistant General Manager.
Charles previously held the roles of Senior Director of Player Evaluation, Baseball Operations Coordinator, Manager of Amateur Scouting Analysis and Director of Player Evaluation for the Astros.
Charles is a 2015 graduate of Yale University, where he was a member of the baseball and football teams. As a student, he held a summer internship with the Astros business strategy & analytics department.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Information Technology
Chris Hanz joined the Astros in March 2016 and enters his eighth season as Vice President, Information Technology. Chris came to the Astros with over 25 years of information technology leadership experience across a variety of industries, including consulting, energy trading, oil and gas, chemicals, and logistics and transportation. Chris provides strategic leadership for the club's information technology investments and oversees the day-to-day operation of technology for the Astros and Minute Maid Park, plus the club's minor league affiliates and other operating locations.
Prior to joining the Astros, Chris worked in a variety of information technology leadership roles with several companies, including Accenture, Duke Energy, CEVA Logistics and, most recently, Halliburton. Chris joined Halliburton in 2014 and served as Senior Manager of IT Mergers and Acquisitions where he was instrumental in executing two major divestitures from the company's business portfolio. Prior to holding that post, Chris was a partner in the CIO Advisory practice for Tatum, LLC and led a number of business process improvement, technology strategy and M&A projects.
A lifelong Texan, Chris was raised in New Braunfels and went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance and honors business. Chris and his wife, Gayle live in Kingwood, Texas, and have two daughters, Hannah and Sarabeth.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Applications and Data
Job Titles:
- Senior Account Manager, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
- Chief Operations and Strategy Officer
Chris Marinak manages Major League Baseball's operations and strategy functions, including MLB's fan-facing digital technology across MLB.com, the MLB and Ballpark Apps, MLB.TV, and Statcast. Marinak, who joined MLB in 2008, reports directly to Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. His team includes the marketing and editorial departments responsible for telling the story of baseball and bringing the game to the next generation of fans. He also leads MLB's strategy function responsible for growing the reach of the game, working with the game's Competition Committee on strategic baseball initiatives, and creating the Major League playing schedule. A former member of MLB's Labor Relations Department, Marinak was a key part of the league's bargaining team for two consecutive collective labor agreements. The alumnus of the University of Virginia, where he pitched for the Cavaliers baseball team, attended Harvard Business School. Marinak is a member of the Sports Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Assistant
Job Titles:
- Special Advisor, Baseball Operations & Community Outreach Executive
Hall of Famer and longtime Astros icon Craig Biggio is in his 16th season as an important part of the Astros front office. In his role, Craig works in several areas, including with the baseball operations staff in its Major and minor league player development programs, scouting, and talent evaluation. Additionally, Craig participates in the club's community development programs and the Astros partnership initiatives.
On Jan. 6, 2015, Craig Biggio became the first player in Astros history to be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after receiving 82.7 percent of the total votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He was officially inducted into the HOF during the annual ceremony in Cooperstown on July 26, 2015. Craig was also inducted to the Astros Hall of Fame on August 3, 2019, as a part of the inaugural class.
The franchise career leader in hits, games played, runs scored, and at-bats, Craig retired at the end of the 2007 season following a stellar, 20-year career, all with the Astros. His No. 7 was retired by the ballclub on Aug. 17, 2008.
He finished his career with 3,060 hits, 668 doubles, 291 homers, 1,175 RBI, and a .281 career average in 2,850 games. He remains the franchise leader in several categories, including hits, doubles, games played and runs (1844).
A first-round selection by Houston in the June 1987 draft, Craig became the first Astro to reach the 3,000-hit plateau with a seventh-inning single against Colorado's Aaron Cook on June 28, 2007 at Minute Maid Park. His 3,060 hits rank 25th all-time, and his 668 career doubles are the 2nd-most of any right-handed hitter in Major League history (sixth all-time overall).
Craig's 20 seasons with Houston are a franchise record, and he also made a club-best 19 consecutive Opening Day starts. He is also the only player in Major League history to reach all of the following milestones: 600 doubles (668), 250 home runs (291), 2,700 hits (3,060), and 400 stolen bases (414). Craig and Cal Ripken Jr. are the only middle infielders (only 13 players all-time) to collect 3,000 hits and 1,000 extra-base hits.
Craig was named to a franchise-record seven National League All-Star teams, received five Silver Slugger Awards, four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and was a member of six Astros playoff teams. Craig holds National League records for leadoff home runs with 53 (ranks second all-time) and for hits in interleague play with 201. He also led all players during the 2005 postseason with 18 hits.
Additionally, Craig was the 2007 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, a prestigious honor bestowed upon one Major League player each season by Major League Baseball and the Clemente family recognizing community service. Craig has been actively involved with the Sunshine Kids throughout his career, a support organization for children with cancer and their families.
Craig and wife Patty reside in Houston and have two sons, Conor and Cavan, and one daughter, Quinn. In 2010, Craig coached his sons' St. Thomas High School baseball team to the Texas Class 5A state championship. Both Conor (graduate '15) and Cavan (drafted ‘16) played baseball for the University of Notre Dame. Cavan was drafted by the Blue Jays and made his Major League debut for Toronto in 2019. On Sept. 17, 2019 in Baltimore, Cavan hit for the cycle, making he and his father just the second father-son duo to each hit for the cycle in an MLB game; Quinn is a member of the Notre Dame softball team.
Job Titles:
- Senior Strategic Account Manager, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Affiliate Business Operations
Creighton Kahoalii joined the Astros in July 2012 and has served in a number of leadership roles in key revenue generating business units including Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service. In his current role, Creighton leads the business operations for all Astros operated affiliate properties including The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Triple-A affiliate), Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A affiliate), Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Low-A affiliate), and the Astros interest in the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Spring Training complex. Prior to joining the Astros, Creighton spent the first seven seasons of his career with The Sacramento River Cats and New Orleans Hornets in various Ticket Sales & Service leadership positions.
Baseball has always been a part of Creighton's life. He played collegiate baseball at The University of Hawaii and The University of California-Berkeley and was a late draft pick for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2000 Amateur Draft. A native of Fremont, CA, Creighton, his wife, Shasta, and two children currently reside in Cypress, TX.
Job Titles:
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
- Deputy Commissioner, Baseball Administration and Chief Legal Officer
Dana Brown was named the 14th General Manager in Astros franchise history on Jan. 25, 2023. He becomes the second African-American general manager in Astros history, joining Bob Watson (1994-95).
Brown joins the Astros after spending the last four seasons (2019-22) with the Atlanta Braves organization as their Vice President, Scouting. In that role, he oversaw several successful drafts in which the Braves selected impact players such as outfielder Michael Harris, right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider and infielder Vaughn Grissom. In 2022, Harris earned National League Rookie of the Year honors while Strider finished second.
Job Titles:
- Director, Advertising and Digital Marketing
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Founder
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Director of Minor League Operations
Derrick Fong joined the Astros in 2019 as the Director of Minor League Operations. Prior to joining the Astros in 2019, Derrick interned for the Minnesota Twins in 2005 and 2006, and then spent more than 10 years with the Chicago Cubs, starting as a Community Affairs intern in 2008. From 2009 - 2013, he served as the Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable Administrative Assistant for the Cubs before transitioning to baseball operations as Minor League Administration Coordinator and Manager. In that role, he oversaw all transactions, budgeting, and daily administrative operations.
Derrick, a native of Wilmette, Illinois, is a 2007 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business, Marketing Education and Communications Studies.
Job Titles:
- Foundation Program Consultant
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
The 2023 season will be Douglas Seckel's 12th with the Astros as the Vice President of Finance. Doug's responsibilities include treasury and debt management, investments, and general accounting for both the Houston Astros and the Astros Foundation.
Before coming on board with the Astros, Doug was treasurer for the Crane Capital Group assisting with financial management for the various Crane companies. Prior to joining the Crane Capital Group in 2010, Doug was Deputy Director of Finance for the City of Houston, Texas responsible for accounting, auditing, cost analysis and federal grants. From 1989 to 2007, Doug was controller, treasurer and CFO of Eagle Global Logistics as company revenues grew from $9 million to $3.2 billion and had an instrumental role in taking the company public in 1995. Prior to 1989, Seckel held various accounting and auditing positions for several state and local governments.
Seckel is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a major in accounting.
Job Titles:
- Kalamazoo Jeter 's Leaders Program Director
Harold Swift joined the Turn 2 Foundation in May 2018 as Kalamazoo Jeter's Leaders program director. Harold plays a key role in developing the program and promoting the core values of the Turn 2 Foundation, while creating new partnerships and strengthening relationships with previous program partners. As program director, Harold works to motivate the young people in the Jeter's Leaders program to excel in school, lead healthy lifestyles and serve as leaders in their communities.
Prior to Turn 2, Harold served as a priority school and community specialist at Woodward Elementary School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his time there, Harold connected families with social service programs and mental health services.
Harold grew up in Kalamazoo, where he currently resides with his wife, Kari, and two sons, Delvin and Wilson. He received his bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in psychology and criminal justice. Harold earned his master's degree in sports administration, as well as his Ph.D. in educational leadership at Western Michigan University. In his spare time, Harold enjoys being with his family, weight training, coaching basketball, writing and reading self-development books.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chairman of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Promotions & Events
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Latin American Operations
Job Titles:
- Special Advisor, Baseball Operations & Community Outreach Executive
Enos Cabell is in his 19th season as a special assistant to the General Manager after being named to the post on Nov. 17, 2004. He had been serving as a consultant since joining the Astros front office on July 29, 2004. Enos assists the Astros Baseball Operations staff and the Astros scouting department in evaluating the Astros Major and minor league players, along with other projects and assignments within the Astros community programs. Enos also plays a key role in the Astros Foundation's relationship with Texas Southern University.
During his 15-year Major League playing career, Enos played for the Astros from 1975-80 and 1984-85 and is in the top 10 in franchise history in several categories. In 1978, he was named the team's MVP after setting club records in at-bats (660) and games (162) and tallying a then-record 195 hits, which ranked third in the National League. He currently ranks tied for eighth on the club's all-time list in stolen bases (191) and tied for sixth in career batting average (.281).
Enos stole more than 30 bases for four straight seasons (1976-1979) while with Houston. In 1,688 career big league games from 1972-86, he hit .277 (1647x5952) with 60 home runs and 596 RBI. He started 149 games at third base for the 1980 National League West Champion Astros and played on two other division-winning clubs, the 1974 Baltimore Orioles and the 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers.
From 1991-94, Enos was an analyst on Home Sports Entertainment telecasts of Astros home games and from 1991-96, he hosted the weekly call-in show, Astros Report, on KCOH Radio. He was a member of the Texas Southern University's Board of Regents from 1995-2001 and served as interim athletic director for the school in 2000.
Enos is a graduate of L.A. Harbor Junior College in San Pedro, Calif., where he was an all-conference selection in baseball. He is a cousin of former Major Leaguers Dick Davis and Ken Landreaux. He and his wife, Ruby, make their home in Missouri City, Texas. Enos has three sons, Marcus, Stephen and Cordell.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Trainer
Eric Velazquez joined the Astros organization in 2022 as Major League assistant athletic trainer.
Velazquez previously served as the athletic training coordinator for the Boston Red Sox from 2019-2021. Prior to that, he worked in the Boston system as an affiliate athletic trainer for the Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox for two seasons (2017-18) and for Double A Portland for one season (2016).
Velazquez began his career in baseball in 2010 with the New York Mets organization, working at their Dominican Republic Academy. He then was named as their Latin America coordinator in 2011. Over the next few seasons, he served as athletic trainer for Short-A Brooklyn (2012-2013) and Single-A Savannah (2014-2015).
Additionally, Velazquez has worked as an athletic trainer for the Dominican Winter League (2011), Arizona Fall League (2012), Venezuelan Winter League (2014-15) and the World Baseball Classic (2017).
He received his bachelor's degree in exercise biology from the University of California, Davis, and his master's in athletic training from Stephen F. Austin University.
Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Velazquez now resides in Pflugerville, TX, with his wife and two daughters.
Francisco Romero enters his 16th season of play-by-play on the Astros Spanish radio network and has called over 2,000 games in his career, including six no-hitters and a perfect game. Francisco and partner Alex Treviño are one of the longest-tenured broadcast duos in the Majors. The two have been a team since 2008, and have called 92 postseason games since 2017, which is the most in baseball in that span.
Prior to coming to Houston, he spent five seasons broadcasting Milwaukee Brewers games in Spanish on Telemundo Wisconsin. His MLB broadcasting experience also includes select Minnesota Twins games over five seasons (2003-08).His Major League broadcast debut was for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Telemundo Arizona in 1999, and he spent two years on Diamondbacks broadcasts from 1999-2000.
Other Major League broadcasting experience includes select games on Spanish Radio with the Cincinnati Reds in 2005. Francisco also spent four seasons as the play-by-play broadcaster and pre- and postgame show producer on Spanish radio broadcasts for the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League.
The Turn 2 Foundation promoted Franli Guzman to vice president in May 2016. In his new role, Franli works closely with Sharlee to lead the foundation, while overseeing all programming efforts.
Franli joined the Turn 2 Foundation in July 2011 as program coordinator, and in 2015 was promoted to program director. Since joining Turn 2, Franli has played a key role in overseeing and evaluating all program operations, while also serving as a liaison between Turn 2 and its partners and sponsors. Franli also is integral to the planning and implementation of the annual Turn 2 Holiday Express and the bi-annual Jeter's Leaders Social Change Projects and Leadership Conferences.
Franli began his involvement with Turn 2 as a baseball coach at Camp Sussex in 2005 and continued to serve as a coach at the New York City Baseball Clinics from 2006 through 2010, before joining the Foundation staff the following year. Prior to Turn 2, he was a project coordinator in information technology services, where he managed the full recruitment cycle of information technology professionals and field resources on numerous large-scale projects nationwide.
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Franli currently resides in New York City and holds a degree in sociology from Stony Brook University. During his free time, Franli enjoys reading, watching sports and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Production Producer
Job Titles:
- Third Base Coach / Third Base Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- General Manager
- Special Assistant to the General Manager
Gavin Dickey was promoted to special assistant to the general manager in March of 2023.
He has been with the Astros organization since 2011, which is when he was hired as an area scout. As part of his current duties, Dickey will be involved in this year's amateur draft as well as all aspects of player acquisition and evaluation.
After a six-year minor league playing career as an outfielder, Dickey was hired by the Astros as an area scout in September of 2011, covering South Texas. From 2013-15, his territory to cover was moved to Georgia and North Florida. In 2016, he was promoted to regional cross checker, covering the Southeast region of the country, before being named national crosschecker in 2018. In 2021, he was named as a special assignment scout, handling those duties until this year when he was promoted to special assistant to the general manager.
Dickey was originally drafted out of the University of Florida by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 2006 June Draft. He ended up playing six seasons of minor league baseball (2006-11) advancing as high as Double-A.
Prior to his college career, Dickey was a highly recruited quarterback and center fielder at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, FL. As a quarterback (4.4 time in the 40-yard dash), Dickey received several scholarship offers before deciding to attend the University of Florida, where he would play football and baseball. On the gridiron, he served as a backup for both Rex Grossman and Chris Leak. During his junior year on the baseball diamond, he would hit .304 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in just 50 games prior to being drafted by Seattle.
Dickey and his wife, Rachel, have two children, son Tristan (5) and daughter Alessa (3).
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Communications
Gene Dias joined the Astros in February of 2009 and now enters his 15th season with the ballclub. Prior to joining the Houston organization, he spent close to 20 years with the Philadelphia Phillies in both Media and Community Relations.
Following the 2017 season, Gene was named the recipient of the 2017 Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence. The Fishel Award goes to the "active, non-uniformed representative of Major League Baseball whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent the standards propounded by Robert O. Fishel."
Gene plays a major role in baseball and business communications for the Astros and supports initiatives throughout the organization. He has guided his staff through seven of the last eight postseasons, including Houston's first World Series Championship in franchise history in 2017 and it's second World Series title in 2022, along with its AL Pennant-winning runs in 2019 and 2021. Since 2017, the Astros have played more postseason games (86) and have the most postseason wins (53) of any club in baseball, having advanced to the ALCS in each of the past six seasons and the World Series in four of the last six seasons.
In 2017, the Astros received the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence in recognition of the Houston Astros Community Leaders program. Additionally, Gene and his staff oversaw the Hall of Fame inductions of Craig Biggio (2015) and Jeff Bagwell (2017), who were the first two Astros ever to reach Cooperstown. The Astros' Communications team assembled far-reaching media campaigns for each player.
From 1989 to 2008, Gene worked for the Phillies, first as an intern in the ticket sales office before joining the Media Relations staff full-time. After serving as Media Relations Manager, he was promoted to Director of Community Relations in 2000, where he was instrumental in creating a number of community-based programs and events, many of which are still in place today. Gene also helped to grow the club's footprint in the community through increased media coverage and by increasing the dollars raised for the club's charity. He was successful in increasing the player's community involvement and was a member of the Phillies Charities, Inc. Board of Directors. In 2003, the Phillies received the prestigious Philadelphia Sports Congress Community Service Award for the first time. Prior to joining the Phillies, Gene worked as a sports editor for Associated Newspapers in Stoughton, MA.
Throughout his career in baseball, Gene has worked with Major League Baseball, assisting with the media relations duties at several World Series, League Championship Series and All-Star Games. Gene is also currently a board member of the Houston Chapter of the NAACP and volunteers his time to assist with the charitable efforts of the Astros Foundation.
Gene received his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Massachusetts where he was a member of the varsity baseball team. He and his wife Kandee live in Kingwood, Texas and have two children, son Maxwell and daughter Sydney. Maxwell is a current member of the University of New Orleans baseball team.
Geoff Blum returns for his 11th season with the Astros TV broadcast team in 2023, which will be his eighth as the everyday color analyst for Astros telecasts. Geoff, who retired after 14 Major League seasons as an infielder (1999-2012), made the transition from the playing field to the broadcast booth in 2013. Geoff has won two Lone Star Emmys for his work on Astros broadcasts.
During his playing career, Geoff had two stints with the Astros, totaling five seasons in Houston (2002-03, 2008-10). Over the course of his tenure with the Astros, Geoff hit .259 with 228 RBI, 46 homers, 77 doubles and a .711 OPS.
A switch-hitter, Geoff was known as one of the top pinch-hitters and utility players in baseball, appearing at all four infield positions in nine straight years (2000-08). He appeared in the postseason three times in his career (2005-06, 2011).
Geoff was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 1994 June Draft. Prior to his professional career, Geoff was a standout at the University of California, Berkeley. He also played a season in the Cape Cod League.
Geoff and his wife, Kory, have four daughters: Mia Lea and triplets Ava, Audrey, and Kayla.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Houston Astros
- SVP, General Counsel & President, Astros Golf Foundation
Giles Kibbe serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Houston Astros, LLC. Giles has been General Counsel for all of Jim Crane's companies since February of 2010. His responsibilities for the Crane companies range from mergers and acquisitions, litigation, employment matters, contracts, real estate acquisitions, real estate developments, and human resources.
In 2018, after Jim Crane took over control of the Houston Open, Giles was named President of the newly-formed Astros Golf Foundation and oversees all operations for the Houston Open. In 2019, AGF undertook a $34 million dollar renovation of Memorial Park Golf Course to bring the PGA Tour event back to the City's iconic park. In November of 2020, the Houston Open made a triumphant return to Memorial Park to positive reviews.
Giles is a graduate of Louisiana State University Law School (1993) and Lamar University (1990).
Job Titles:
- Business Development Assistant
Job Titles:
- Manager, Promotions & Events
Hannah Perez joined the Turn 2 Foundation in Nov. 2018 as office manager. In this role, she manages the New York office, builds and maintains office-vendor relationships, serves as a liaison for accounting, provides support with Kalamazoo office needs and oversees our college interns.
Prior to Turn 2, Hannah worked at healthcare start-up Zocdoc, where she managed construction and renovation projects, planned events with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, managed operational vendor accounts and helped oversee the facility, catering and operations teams.
Hannah grew up in Colorado and currently resides in New York City. She earned her bachelor's degree in international trade and marketing with a minor in economics from the Fashion Institute of Technology-SUNY. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys rafting, hot yoga, skiing and exploring different cultures through food and travel. She also values spending time with her family and their four dogs in Colorado.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Social Media
Job Titles:
- Administrator, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Director, Field Operations
Job Titles:
- Director, Performance Science
Job Titles:
- Analyst, Business Strategy and Analytics
Job Titles:
- Account Manager, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Special Projects
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Executive Operations
Job Titles:
- Major League Coach / Major League Coach
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Marketing
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Business Strategy and Analytics
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Bench Coach / Bench Coach
Jonelle Masciotti joined the Turn 2 Foundation in Sept. 2016 as development coordinator and was promoted to director of development in Sept. 2018. In this role, she serves as the primary contact in managing key relationships with consultants, sponsors, vendors and partners.
Prior to Turn 2, Jonelle worked at the United States Tennis Association for seven years. She began as an entertainment assistant, where she played a key role in managing annual events, celebrity appearances and administrative functions. During her time at the organization, Jonelle also served as a business operations assistant, responsible for graphic allocation, commercial trafficking and production summaries in the broadcast department.
Born and raised in Midland, Michigan, Jonelle currently resides in Ossining, New York, and earned her bachelor's degree in entertainment sports promotion management and business management from Northwood University. She enjoys cooking, hiking and other outdoor activities, and she particularly loves the fall and winter seasons. Jonelle values family and takes pride in coming from a big family of five siblings and seven nieces and nephews.
Job Titles:
- Pitching Coach / Pitching Coach
Job Titles:
- Television Sideline Reporter
Julia Morales returns for her 11th season as the Astros TV sideline reporter. As a reporter and anchor for Space City Home Network, Julia serves as the primary in-game reporter on Houston Astros telecasts. She has three Lone Star Emmys for her work covering the Astros.
Before moving to Houston, Julia worked as a sports reporter for Time Warner Cable News, formerly YNN in Austin, covering a wide range of events, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, and the College Baseball WS.
Prior to joining the Time Warner Cable sports crew, Julia was the weekend sports anchor/reporter for KYTX-TV in Tyler, TX. Julia began her television career at KTEN-TV in Denison, Texas.
A native of Crandall, TX, Julia spent two years as a "World Famous Kilgore College Rangerette" before graduating from UT Austin, where she was a member of Texas Pom for the Longhorns' 2005 National Championship season.
Julia and husband Matt had their first baby in 2020 with the birth of daughter Valerie Rose.
Julia is extremely passionate about animals and serves on the Board of Directors for Houston Pets Alive!, a no-kill animal rescue. She and Matt foster rescue dogs in the offseason.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor, Latin American Development
Job Titles:
- Analyst, Business Strategy and Analytics
Job Titles:
- Representative, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Director, Project Management
Job Titles:
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the President
Katie Renn joined the Turn 2 Foundation in May 2020 as executive assistant to the president. In this capacity, Katie works closely with Sharlee Jeter to manage Turn 2's day-to-day operations and special events. Her role also includes research and liaising with staff on a wide range of projects to ensure that the president is supported in the most comprehensive way. Prior to Turn 2, Katie served as assistant and project manager to a well-known documentarian, where she aided with production and distribution, and helped to facilitate film festival tours.
Katie was born and raised in New Jersey, and currently resides in New York City. She earned her Master's degree in fine arts from Rutgers University and her bachelor's degree in theatre from Montclair State University. In her spare time, Katie enjoys cooking, party-planning, reading, letter writing and spending time with her two nieces.
"Turn 2's mission of investing in young people and helping them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives is incredibly noble and I'm so proud to be a part of it."
Job Titles:
- Manager, Software Development, R & D
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Entertainment Marketing
Job Titles:
- Director, Business Development
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- General Counsel
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
Job Titles:
- Senior Account Manager, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partner
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Business Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant Manager, Retail Store
Matt Boltz enters his ninth season with the Houston Astros and his 23rd overall in Major League Baseball. Matt is the Radio Broadcast Engineer & Producer for the Astros Radio Network. He generates, maintains, and produces all live audio for the entire Spring Training, regular season & postseason schedule. Since 2015, Matt and the Astros broadcast team have produced more postseason games (92) than any other team in baseball.
In 2020, while MLB was on hold due to the pandemic, Matt started an entertaining Astros podcast, that featured current and former players as guests, with Astros broadcasters serving as hosts. Matt also orchestrates all broadcast material, live commercial inventory, promotions and live interviews with the broadcasters, the front office, the radio flagship and the entire radio network.
His offseason duties include editing and archiving all recorded sound, managing and servicing technical elements and assisting with network affiliate relations. Matt also engineers and produces Astroline, the Astros weekly offseason hot stove radio show which has been on the air since 1988.
Prior to joining the Astros, Matt served as the Radio Producer Engineer for the Chicago Cubs Radio Network from 2001-2014. During that time, he also engineered game broadcasts for WGN Chicago and Northwestern Wildcats basketball and football programs.
Matt resides in Pearland, Texas, with his wife, Melissa, and their two children: Emma Lucille and Theodore Matthew.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Corporate Partnership Sales
Job Titles:
- Director, Corporate Partnership
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Senior Vice President
Michael Slaughter joined the Astros in October 2015 and enters his eighth season with the ballclub as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mike comes to the Astros with extensive executive experience in finance, accounting and mergers and acquisitions involving both public and private companies.
Most recently, Mike served as the Chief Financial Officer of Crane Capital Group. In that position, he assisted Jim Crane in the successful acquisition, operation, and disposition of businesses in a wide range of industries, including Crane Worldwide Logistics, Crane Freight Services, and the Houston Astros. In particular, Mike played an integral role in the purchase of the Houston Astros and subsequently the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys (then Skeeters). From June 2008 to September 2015, Mike also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Champion Energy Marketing LLC, a leading retail electricity provider.
Prior to 2008, Michael was the Principal Financial Officer at EGL, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed global transportation and logistics company. Previously, Michael had also been EGL's Chief Accounting Officer and VP Finance and Investor Relations.
Michael began his career at Price Waterhouse, where he rose to the position of senior auditor while serving public and private clients across a broad spectrum of businesses. Michael earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in accounting from the University of Texas-Austin in 1988. He and his wife Susan reside in Houston, TX, and have a son, Nick and daughter, Emma.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Risk Management
Job Titles:
- Business Development Assistant
Job Titles:
- First Base Coach / First Base Coach
Job Titles:
- Chief Communications Officer
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
Job Titles:
- Manager, Business Communications
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Entertainment Marketing
Job Titles:
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
- Commissioner of Baseball
Robert Ford was named to the Astros radio broadcast team to work alongside Steve Sparks as the play-by-play commentator on Feb. 13, 2013. He enters his 11th season as the radio voice of the Astros. In their 10 seasons, the duo of Robert and Steve have called seven postseasons, including six ALCS and four World Series. The 92 postseason games that they have called in that span are the most in the Majors. This past offseason, Robert was named the 2022 Texas Sportscaster of the Year.
Prior to joining the Astros, Robert had served as the radio pre- and postgame host for Kansas City Royals games on 610 AM KCSP, the Royals flagship station, since 2009.
Robert has seven years of experience broadcasting minor league baseball, having called more than 800 games during stints with the Binghamton Mets, Kalamazoo Kings and Yakima Bears. In that span, Robert was twice named Frontier League Broadcaster of the Year (2003 and 2004). He also has extensive play-by-play experience in college basketball, including calling games for ESPN in recent years.
Robert is a 2001 graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Robert has twice been a finalist for the Esurance MLB Award for "Best Call, TV/Radio," including in 2017 for his call of Alex Bregman's walk-off RBI single in Game 5 of the World Series.
Robert lives in Houston and has a daughter, Elena.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Communications
Job Titles:
- Senior Coordinator, Communications
Job Titles:
- President
- Secretary of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- President of the Turn
- Vice President of Strategy and Development for Jeter Ventures
Sharlee Jeter is president of the Turn 2 Foundation, a non-profit established by Derek Jeter in 1996 to help young people reach their full potential by fostering leadership development, academic achievement, healthy lifestyles and social change.
Since she assumed leadership of Turn 2 in 2010, Sharlee has taken the Foundation to new heights, elevating its profile across the country while successfully channeling its fundraising power to achieve staggering results, as demonstrated by its signature Jeter's Leaders initiative. For 14 consecutive years, 100 percent of high school students have graduated from the Jeter's Leaders program and attended college. In the last seven years, the program placed students in 179 paid internships through an initiative Sharlee created. In 2017, Turn 2 permanently endowed its fourth college scholarship, the UNCF/Sharlee Jeter Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a Jeter's Leaders graduate to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). In 2019, Turn 2 donated $100,000 to UNCF to help fund scholarships for eligible high school graduates attending HBCUs, and Sharlee was honored by the organization with the Keeper of the Flame award.
In addition to her role at Turn 2, Sharlee is vice president of strategy and development for Jeter Ventures, which encompasses Derek's full portfolio of business operations. She also oversees the children and adult divisions of Jeter Publishing, an imprint of Simon & Schuster launched in 2014 that has released New York Times Bestseller The Contract, its follow-up, Hit & Miss, and most recently, Change Up. Additionally, Sharlee serves on the Women's National Basketball Players Association's board of advocates.
Sharlee is co-author of a powerful book with Dr. Sampson Davis titled, The STUFF: Unlock Your Power to Overcome Challenges, Soar and Succeed. The STUFF was inspired by the authors' own personal challenges and is intended to empower readers to recognize their own strength and potential to succeed.
Sharlee began her involvement with the Turn 2 Foundation in 1996 as a high school volunteer. At the age of 18, she was named to the board of directors. In 2002, she joined the Foundation full-time as program director, developing a number of successful initiatives, including a partnership with The St. Joseph's School for the Deaf in the Bronx that led to the integration of the deaf into many Turn 2 programs and events in New York and Michigan. Sharlee was promoted to director of development in 2004, and in 2007, she was named vice president.
Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Sharlee graduated in 1997 from Kalamazoo Central High School and received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics in 2001 from Spelman College in Atlanta. Sharlee currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her son, Jalen.
A New York Jeter's Leaders alumna, Simona Betton returned to the Turn 2 Foundation after college to serve as an intern in June 2012 and began as a full-time employee later that year. Throughout her seven-year career at the Foundation, Simona has held various roles and currently serves as director of programs.
In her position, Simona oversees the New York and Kalamazoo Jeter's Leaders programs, and plays a lead role in planning, organizing and executing key events, including college tours, community service projects and the Jeter's Leaders Leadership Conference. She also works collaboratively with partners and directors to maximize the efficiency of program operations.
Simona graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and a minor in sociology. She resides in the Bronx, and her hobbies include playing basketball, spending time with friends and family and participating in outdoor activities. Simona is grateful for her experiences as a Jeter's Leader and is passionate about helping future Leaders achieve their full potential.
"Coming back to work at the Turn 2 Foundation as an employee was my way of giving back for everything the Jeter's Leaders program had done for me," she said.
Steve Sparks was named to the Astros radio broadcast team to work alongside Robert Ford as the color commentator on Feb. 13, 2013. He enters his 11th season on the Astros radio broadcast. Since 2015, Steve and partner Robert have called six ALCS' and four World Series. The 92 postseason games that they have called in that span are the most in the Majors.
A knuckleballer in his playing days, Steve pitched in the Major Leagues in parts of nine seasons (1995-2004) for the Brewers, Angels, Tigers, A's and Diamondbacks. His best season was in 2001 while with Detroit when he went 14-9 in 35 appearances (33 starts) with a 3.65 ERA while leading the Majors in complete games with eight. He also tallied a career high in innings pitched (232.0) that season.
Steve attended Sam Houston State University, where he helped lead the Bearkats to back-to-back Gulf Star Conference baseball titles and an NCAA Division II Regional playoff appearance in 1986 and again in the school's first year at the Division I level in 1987. On Nov. 3, 2017, Steve was inducted into the Sam Houston Letterman's Association Hall of Honor.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Merchandising & Retail Operations
Job Titles:
- Major League Game Planning Coach / Major League Game Planning Coach
Job Titles:
- Member of the MLB Executives Team
- Chief Baseball Development Officer
Job Titles:
- Hitting Coach / Hitting Coach