Front Office and Ballpark Staff

John E. Wuerfel

John Wuerfel is the head of both the Traverse City Beach Bums, LLC and Wuerfel Sports Development; family owned and operated businesses. He has 28 years of experience in the hospitality & service industry. With a career that spanned from 1970 through 1998, Wuerfel succeeded in the past with Wuerfel Resorts, building and developing two of the finest hotels in the Traverse City area; The Grand Beach Resort Hotel and the Sugar Beach Resort Hotel. He serves as the Managing Member and Chief Executive Officer of both companies. He thoroughly enjoys mingling with Beach Bums fans on game days.

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Leslye A. Wuerfel

Leslye Wuerfel is the number two person for the Traverse City Beach Bums (professional baseball club) and sister company Wuerfel Sports Development (real estate management company), both family owned and operated LLCs. Along with her husband John and son Jason, they have gladly taken on the task of turning the dream of a professional baseball team in Traverse City into reality. She serves the both companies as General Manager and CFO.

When not working at the ballpark, Leslye enjoys spending time with her family (three grown sons and four granchildren), reading, traveling and being with her animals. Courville Imaging photo

Jason Wuerfel

Wuerfel enters his third season as the Vice President of the Beach Bums and his second as the Director of Baseball Operations. Wuerfel is graduate of the Unversity of Michigan where he earned four varsity letters in baseball and won the 2003 Wolverine Award for Spirit and Leadership. After college, Wuerfel's professional career included stints with the Elmira Pioneers, Mid-Missouri Mavericks, and the Ohio Valley Redcoats. Wuerfel also owns and operates the Beach Bums Baseball Academy, which offers a variety a ways to help area youth learn the game of baseball, and is the Founder of Five Tool Prospects, an online baseball community that helps promote the athletic careers of high school and college baseball players. Jason lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the off-season. Jason's wife, Sarah, graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in May, 2007, and now is a clerk for Judge Sarah Evans Barker.

Jeremy Crum

Jeremy Crum joined the Traverse City Beach Bums front office staff in May of 2006 as an intern and quickly proved his worth, taking over the full time position of Director of Ticketing in late 2006, and then being promoted to the Director of Sales & Marketing in November, 2007. His hard work and dedication earned him a promotion to Assistant General Manager March, 2008. Jeremy is a private instructor for the Beach Bums Baseball Academy.

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Michele LeMieux

Michele joined the Beach Bums staff in the winter of 2006, bringing her natural enthusiasm and exuberance to the Beach Bums staff. She is in charge of a wide range of promotions, ranging from Suntan's Dreaming of Spring Reading Club to game day on-field promotions. She is also in charge of managing the Beach Bums donation fund, working closely with the Wuerfels to make sure all donation dollars, tickets and mascot appearances are appropriate.

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Erik Fleet

Erik joined the Beach Bums staff in October 2007, just in time for installation of the new sports turf and has quickly become a valuable member of the Beach Bums management team. Along with the new look, the already high standards and recent ‘2008 Ball Park of the Year” Award, maintaining this level at Wuerfel Park will prove to be a fun challenge for Erik. He will use his solid background in building, production and manufacturing to oversee the Beach Bums games as well as other events at Wuerfel Park.

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Scott McDowell

Scott McDowell joined the Traverse City Beach Bums front office staff in May of 2007 as an intern and after proving himself a such, was promoted to the position of Director of Merchandise. He is responsible for the Beach Bums Gift Shops both online and at Wuerfel Park, as well as responsible for tweeking fan interest by constantly changing the product line while maintaining fan favorites.

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Nick Jacqmain

Nick joined the Beach Bums staff as an intern in May 2007, and spent the summer learning the ins and outs of the ticket office. At the season end he joined the front office staff as a Sales Associate. In November, 2007 he was promoted to Director of Ticketing. The host family program and the new KIDS CLUB are also under Nick's supervision.

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Andrew Benningfield

Andrew Benningfield enters his first year as Director of Concessions for the Beach Bums. 'Andy' has spent the past three summers working in minor league baseball with the Toledo Mud Hens, Mahoning Valley Scrappers and South Bend Silver Hawks.

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Timothy G. Calderwood

Tim Calderwood will return to Traverse City in April, 2008, to begin his second year as the Director of Media & Broadcasting for the Traverse City Beach Bums.

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Denny Dame

Denny Dame enters his third year as the clubhouse manager of the Traverse City Beach Bums. He is an avid golfer, who joined the Beach Bums' staff because his first love is baseball. The clubhouse manager position is perfect for him because he has always enjoyed doing laundry and keeping his house clean. Denny's passion for baseball and enthusiasm for life make him an excellent representative for the Beach Bums.

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Kimberly S. Crawford

Kimberly Crawford, nee Socha, a Traverse City native, started working for the Wuerfels in high school, staying with them on and off through their business ventures. A graduate of Traverse City Central, she graduated from Central Michigan University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Kim serves as Leslye’s Administrative Assistant with an emphasis on accounting. Her effervescent personality picks the Beach Bums staff up and helps spark the laughter and smiles found throughout the offices.

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Jonathan Cahill

Jon Cahill took over the field manager's job in 2007 after the Jeff Isom vacated it to take a job managing the Helena Brewers in the Milwaukee Brewers’ farm system. He enters his second year as the manger in 2008. Jon joined the sales staff during the 2007-2008 off-season, making Traverse City his year around home.

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Tony Burch

Tony enters his third year with the Beach Bums. His jovial personality and attention to customer service has made him a favorite with fans and staff alike. Tony roams concessions on game days and helps provide the glue behind the scenes that keeps everything running smoothly.

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