Former General Managers

GM 2022, 2023

Director of Community Relations: 2020

In 2022: 

- Managed 20 employees from the departments of faculties, player operations, and ticket sales.
- Created and directed sales training for both ticket sales directors and conducted 60+ group sales calls every week while coordinating the 40 sales calls required of both ticket sales directors.

In 2021:
- Maintained presence on social media including coverage of all community events put on during the summer in order to stay relevant in the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Increased average impressions on posts by 27% and increased engagements by over 60% during a summer in which we did not have a season.

 In my time as the General Manager, I generated revenue for a 21 home game season. In addition, I oversaw all activation initiatives for 20+ sponsors. This experience has provided me with an exceptional amount of autonomy!

In my time as the Director of Marketing, I developed a marketing plan for the 2018 season. In addition, I created different promotional campaigns to raise awareness about the Southern Ohio Copperheads! Lastly, I assisted in managing a group of 20 undergraduate students. This experience was truly remarkable!

Kaleb Sislowski served as the Southern Ohio Copperheads’ General Manager for the 2017 and 2018 season. He is a Columbus, Ohio native and became the Copperheads’ first ever undergraduate GM in the 2017 season. 

Sislowski completed his Masters of Sports Administration in May of 2019 as well as his undergraduate degree in Sports Management in April of 2017 from Ohio University. In 2015, he worked as a general staff member. In 2016, he rose to the role of Director of Ticket Sales. In 2017, he became the 19th General Manager of the Copperheads and continued to excel in the 2018 season.

Canning served as the General Manager of the Southern Ohio Copperheads during the 2016 season.  He received his Masters in Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2017. After his Copperheads career, Canning took a position with his hometown San Antonio Spurs as a sales representative. Since then, Canning has been promoted to the Premium Corporate Sales Team where he sells high-end products like suites and courtside seats.

Szabo served as the General Manager of the Southern Ohio Copperheads during the 2015 season. He received his Masters in Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2016. Following his time at Ohio University and with the Copperheads, he took a job in Chicago with PCGSportsDesk, a firm focusing on partnership sales, innovation, and digital strategy for prominent sports brands. Szabo has served as Corporate Partnership Executive at the firm since his arrival in April 2016. 

Miller served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2014 season. He received his Masters in Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2015. He was a Graduate Assistant in Athens for eight months during his time at Ohio University. After graduation, he moved to the Greater New York City Area in June 2015 to become an Account Manager at Genesco Sports Enterprise.

Saporito served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2013 season. He received his Masters in Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2014. He began his career as a Premium Seating Account Executive for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014. Within a year, Saporito was promoted to Corporate Development Account Executive, expanding his role with the Jackets’ marketing and sponsorship departments. He spent a year and a half in this role, and in October of 2016, the Houston Texans hired Saporito as Senior Corporate Development Account Executive, a job he has worked ever since.

Bollinger served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2012 season. He received his Masters in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2013. After graduation, Bollinger went to Kalamazoo, MI where he and Ohio MSA alum Brian Colopy (’09) started a new summer collegiate franchise in the Northwoods League. Bollinger served as the team’s Assistant General Manager and then team General Manager in 2016. He’s recently moved to Bismarck, North Dakota and filled the role of General Manager of the Bismarck Larks, another start-up Northwoods League team. Bollinger and Colopy now operate and oversee three Northwoods League franchises and counting.

Villafane served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2011 season. He received his Masters in Business Administration from Ohio University in 2011, and his Masters in Sports Administration in 2012. After graduation, a job as Business Development Manager at Richard Petty Motorsports took him to Concord, North Carolina. Villafane worked there from 2012 to 2014. Following work with the race team, he worked on the Distribution side of The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, a nationally known brewery in Charlotte, for over a year. In November 2016, Villafane opened The Hop Shop, a specialty craft beer and wine retailer, in Charlotte. 

Martin served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2010 season. She received her Masters of Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2011. She began her career as an Account Executive for Thundering Herd IMG Sports Property in Huntington, West Virginia. Martin was responsible for finding new clients and overseeing all aspects of partnerships. In 2012, she became Huddle Inc.’s Project Manager, developing and leading marketing projects. After a year with Huddle Inc. in Columbus, the company moved her to Atlanta where she was named Director of Affiliate Sales. This job required her to oversee a team and various marketing platforms. In March of 2016, Martin moved to Las Vegas to take a job as Head Scout for NSCA Athletic Recruiting. She worked there for four months before taking a job as the Director of Sports & Events, managing tournament and camp sales and operations for the new Rising Star Sports Ranch Resort.

Vitanye served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2009 season. He received his Masters of Business Administration from Ohio University in 2009, and his Masters of Sports Administration in 2010. He began his career in San Antonio as an Account Executive, developing corporate partnerships for all three Spurs Sports & Entertainment franchises. After two years in San Antonio, Vitanye returned to Ohio as a Corporate Development Account Executive for the Blue Jackets.  He joined Learfield in 2013 at their Xavier Sports Properties office as a Manager of Business Development.  While with Xavier Sports Properties, Vitanye was instrumental in leading the property to record revenue years, leading to his recent promotion to the Badgers Sports Properties office at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Colopy served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2008 season. He received his Masters of Business Administration from Ohio University in 2008, and his Masters in Sports Administration in 2009. He spent three months as an Account Representative for Ripken Baseball before moving up to Corporate Partnerships Manager. He fulfilled this role for 10 months. In April of 2010, he moved to Michigan and became the General Manager of the Battle Creek Bombers. During his tenure in Battle Creek, the Bombers’ attendance increased by 49%, and corporate partnerships increased by 102%. Under Colopy, the Bombers also own the largest win increase in Northwoods League history with 23. In 2013, he was also named Vice President of the Kalamazoo Growlers in addition to his work with the Bombers. He currently serves both roles.

Bamford served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2007 season. He received his Masters in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2008. After his time at OU, he then went on to work at the Portland Trail Blazers as Inside Sales Representative. After two years at the Trailblazers, Bamford moved to Nike, where he currently works. At Nike, Bamford has held several positions specializing in Business Analytics and Strategic Planning and is now a Director and Digital Business Lead for Global Categories.

Martin served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2006 season. He received his Masters in Business Administration from Ohio University in 2006, and his Masters in Sports Administration in 2007. He became a Senior Account Executive for IMG College in 2006, and worked there until 2008. After his work at IMG, he took a job as the Cincinnati Bengals’ Assistant Director of Corporate Sales, Marketing, and Broadcasting. Martin moved again in 2013, this time to Detroit, to take on the role of Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Lions. He worked there for nearly three years. In 2015, he became the Vice President of Partnerships for Property Consulting Group in Chicago, and in 2016 he was named the Vice President for Naming Rights and Global Partnerships for WME/IMG.

Poole served as the General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2005 season. He received Masters in Business and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2006. After graduation, he worked as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Corporate Sales Account Executive for over three years. In 2009, he worked as a Manager of Corporate Sales for the Philadelphia Eagles. He filled this position until 2011. Poole stayed in the Philly for almost another year, working as the Vice President of Business Development for Alliance Marketing Partners. His sponsorship role took him back to Columbus in 2012, when he took another job, Vice President of Corporate Development, for the Blue Jackets. In April of 2016, Poole became the Director of Partnership Sales and Activation for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Received Masters in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2005. After graduation, he served as Director of Baseball and Stadium Operations for the Memphis Redbirds. After nine months with the Redbirds, Kilgour returned to Ohio University, and has worked in Athens ever since. He became the Director of Golf and Tennis in 2005, and served the role until 2012. He spent 11 months as Associate Director of Baker University Center and Event Services, and has since served as Executive Director of Baker University Center and Event Services.

Hafling served as the Co-General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2003 season. He received Masters in Business Administration from Ohio University in 2004. He has worked a variety of roles for different colleges, including University of New Mexico, Eastern Kentucky University, and Northern Kentucky University. In New Mexico, he was a Marketing Assistant, selling group tickets and assisting in event management. At Eastern Kentucky, he became the Director of Athletic Marketing, overseeing event management and all marketing aspects of the athletic department. He has served as the Associate Athletic Director at Northern Kentucky since 2008, directing event management and operations of all home athletic events and overseeing maintenance, planning, construction, etc. of all athletic facilities on campus.

White served as Co-General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2003 season. He received his Masters in Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2004. He was a Graduate Assistant in Athens before he graduated, working with Health Education and Wellness. White also served as a Graduate Assistant at Northern Colorado University in Greeley, Colorado until 2006. This time, he worked in the Athletic Department with academic support for student athletes. In 2007, White began instructing a Commercial Recreation and Tourism as well as a Sports Marketing course at Northern Colorado. He moved schools again in 2008, then becoming an Assistant Professor in Sports Management at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. After nearly seven years as an assistant Professor, he became an Associate Professor, a role he still serves today. 

Boggs served as Co-General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2002 season. He received Masters in Sports Administration and Facility Management from Ohio University in 2003. After school, he spent a year with Cleveland State University as an Account Executive for Season Tickets and Group Sales. From 2005-2014, he worked for GMR Marketing. Boggs spent time with Lowe’s, focusing on NASCAR’s “Racing Fan Experience;” Nestle Drumstick, pitching the “Official Ice Cream Cone” of Minor League Baseball; and Comcast, developing brand awareness strategies and growing sponsorship and marketing efforts. Since 2015, he’s served as the Marketing Manager at Cardinal Health in the Columbus area.

Frohwerk served as Co-General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2002 season. He received Masters of Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2003. He worked for the Cleveland Indians from 2003-2012, serving as a Scout, Assistant to Player Development, and Director of Community Outreach. In 2014, he began work at Cleveland Sight Center. Frohwerk’s worked as a Manager for Agency Communications and Events and is currently the agency's Director of Marketing, Communications, and Special Events.

Kievman served as Co-General Manager of the Copperheads during the 2002 season. He received Masters of Business and Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2002. He began work as a digital marketing strategist out of college. Kievman currently works as Digital Strategist and became an expert on LinkedIn. He serves roles of LinkedIn Consultant and Direct Social Response Strategist for a number of companies, most notably Linked Strategies, a company he founded in 2008, and Microsoft starting in 2016. He also founded Team Inspire 4Life, an organization designed to feed hungry kids worldwide, and has worked with it since 2008.