Front Office

Bradenton Marauders Staff Directory

Pirate City
1701 27th Street East
Bradenton, FL 34208

LECOM Park
1611 9th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34205

Phone: 941-747-3031

Email: MaraudersInfo@Pirates.com

Bradenton Marauders Front Office

Jeff Podobnik - Vice President of FL & DR Operations

Jeff.Podobnik@Pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 538-5163

Jeff Podobnik has worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1988, joining the club immediately after his graduation from Slippery Rock University. He moved into his current position, his third stint leading the organization's Florida Operations, following the 2019 season. After serving as Director of Florida Operations throughout the 1990s, Jeff returned to Pittsburgh to help open and operate PNC Park as Director of Security & Contract Services. In addition to being a member of the Stadium Managers Association, Jeff has worked at the 1994, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2008 MLB All Star Game. His extensive community service record includes sitting on the board for the Boys & Girls Clubs, Manatee School Foundation, and the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Executive Board. Jeff resides in Parrish with his wife, Amy, and son Josh. His adult sons, Tyler and Cooper, were born in Manatee County during Jeff's first stint in Florida. Jeff and Amy welcomed their first grandchild, Sadie Ann, in 2018.

Favorite Food: Steak

Favorite Movie: Foot Loose / Road House

Favorite Singer/Band: AC/DC / Eagles

Favorite Book: American Sniper

Favorite Athlete: Jay Bell

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: 2013 Wild Card Game Pirates Vs. Reds

Craig Warzecha - General Manager | Director, Sales & Marketing

Craig.Warzecha@Pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 538-5174

Craig Warzecha joined the Pirates and Marauders in 2015. As General Manager, he oversees sales & marketing efforts for Pirates Spring Training and the Marauders while also playing an integral role in the daily operations of LECOM Park. A native of South Amboy, NJ, Warzecha moved to Florida to attend the University of Tampa. His career in baseball has included stints with the Lakewood Blue Claws, Minor League Baseball headquarters in St. Petersburg, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Clearwater Threshers. Craig graduated from Leadership Manatee in 2017 and is the past-chairman of the Manatee Young Professionals. Currently, Craig is on the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Downtown Redevelopment Committee. He also serves on the boards of Realize Bradenton, CareerSource Suncoast, and Bradenton Area EDC. Away from the ballpark, Craig enjoys reading, exercise, traveling, and taking advantage of the Florida sunshine at the nearest pool or beach. He resides in Bradenton.

Favorite Food: Chicken Parm

Favorite Movie: The Town

Favorite Singer/Band: Avicii

Favorite Book: Outliers

Favorite Athlete: Tino Martinez

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: MLB Futures Game in 2008

Karena Ballard - Coordinator, Fan & Community Engagement

Karena.Ballard@pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 269-4424

Karena joined the Pirates and Marauders in 2024 as the Coordinator for Fan and Community Engagement. Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, Karena moved around frequently due to her mother serving in the United States Army. She returned to Virginia to attend George Mason University and graduated with her degree in Communication in 2022. Her career in baseball started in 2023 as an Associate for the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. While she's not a work, Karena enjoys spending time outside and exploring new areas.

Favorite Food: Korean BBQ

Favorite Movie: Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Favorite Singer/Band: Seventeen

Favorite Book: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: Local soccer game in Virgina

Travis Persinger - Manager, Ticket Sales & Service

Travis.Persinger@pirates.com

Phone Ext: 941-538-5170

Travis joined the Pirates and Marauders in 2022. As Manager, Tickets Sales and Service, he oversees group sales, single game tickets, ticket packages, and the day to day box office operations. Travis is a West Virginia native who has been involved with professional, collegiate, or high school athletics for the past 15 years. Before joining the Marauders, he worked within the Data Operations Department of MLB. He graduated from Marshall University with both his bachelors and masters degree while also securing a second masters degree from the American College of Education. In his free time away from LECOM Park, Travis enjoys working out, time with family and friends, and catching as many “Cannonball coming!” calls from Greg Brown as he can on MLB.TV. Travis and his family currently reside in Parrish, Florida.

Favorite Food: Blackened Grouper

Favorite Movie: We Are Marshall

Favorite Singer/Band: Mac Miller

Favorite Book: Moneyball by Michael Lewis

Favorite Athlete: Dan Marino

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: The day/night "Rob Mackowiak Double Header" against the Cubbies. Energy was insane that night!

Kyle Hogan - Coordinator, Ticket Operations

Kyle.Hogan@pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 269-4854

Kyle joined the Pirates and the Marauders in 2023. Originally from Wayne, New Jersey, he attended and graduated from the University of Tampa in 2020, where he studied Sports Management. Kyle worked with the Atlanta Braves during the 2023 Spring Training season as a ticketing intern. As the Coordinator, Ticket Operations he oversees box office operations, ticket technology, serves as the primary contact for season ticket holders and assists with various other ticket sales & service initiatives and projects. In his free time away from LECOM Park, Kyle enjoys spending time with his family and friends, working out, watching sports, and playing golf.

Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers

Favorite Movie: Goodfellas

Favorite Singer: Sam Hunt

Favorite Book: Shoe Dog

Favorite Athlete: John Daly

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: 2011 Wild Card Playoffs, Giants vs. Falcons

Brian Spradlin - Manager, Game Presentation & Marketing

Brian Spradlin

Phone Ext: (941) 269-4424

Brian joined the Pirates and Marauders in 2025, for the second time. Originally from Fort Meade, Florida, he attended and graduated from Warner University in 2022, where he studied Sports Communication. Brian worked with the Pirates and Marauders during the 2024 Spring Training and MiLB season as a Game Presentation and Marketing Assistant. After completing the 2024 season he took the Digital Marketing Coordinator position with the Atlanta Braves Spring Training site. Once 2025 rolled around he was given the opportunity to return to the Pirates and Marauders as the Game Presentation and Marketing Manager, where he oversees marketing efforts, the LECOM Park video board, and in-game entertainment for Florida Operations. Brian enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and being outdoors.

Favorite Food: Tacos

Favorite Movie: Grown Ups

Favorite Singer: Koe Wetzel

Favorite Book: The Energy Bus

Favorite Athlete: Tim Tebow

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: 2019 MLB AL Wildcard Game, Rays vs Astros

Max Tanzer - Play-by-Play Broadcaster

max.tanzer@pirates.com

Max Tanzer begins his first season as play-by-play broadcaster for the Marauders and second season in the Florida State League in 2025. Originally from Seattle, WA, Max comes to Bradenton having finished a winter season as the broadcaster for the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League.

Before 2025, he also served as a Broadcast Intern for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024 and Broadcast and Media Relations Assistant with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (MIN, Low-A) in 2023.

A 2023 graduate of Ithaca College, Max earned a degree in Sport Media with minors in Journalism and Sport Studies. He also spent summers broadcasting with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League and Souris Valley Sabre Dogs of the Expedition League. Away from the ballpark, he enjoys running, traveling, and watching movies.

Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo

Favorite Movie: Moneyball

Favorite Singer: Elton John

Favorite Book: The MVP Machine

Favorite Athlete: Felix Hernandez

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: 2022 MLB AL Wildcard Game, Game 2 Mariners vs Blue Jays

Daniel Sharf - Account Manager

Daniel.Sharf@Pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 269-4788

Daniel became a part of the Pirates and Marauders team in late 2023, moving back to Florida after spending the previous 6 months in Chicago working in the Chicago White Sox sales department. Daniel is taking on the role of Account Manager, where he will oversee the creation and organization group events and fundraisers at LECOM Park. He is originally from Clearwater, Florida and graduated from Florida State University in the Spring of 2023 with a B.S. in Sports Management. Daniel currently resides in Palm Harbor, Florida. He enjoys spending his free time by going out with friends and trying new things, spending time with his dog Nala, and playing some video games.

Favorite Food: Mom's Baked Ziti

Favorite Movie: Step Brothers

Favorite Singer/Band: Queen

Favorite Book: The Hobbit

Favorite Athlete: Lionel Messi

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: FSU vs UF in 2022 in Tallahassee where we stormed the field after an epic win

Ray Morris - Director, Florida Operations

Ray Morris Manager, Florida Operations Ray.Morris@Pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 538-5167

Ray Morris joined the Pirates and Marauders following the 2012 season. He oversees the operations of Pirate City, one of the busiest facilities in professional baseball. His responsibilities include managing transportation needs for players and executives to and from the facility and coordinating use of the facility by several internal and external groups. Ray is a lifelong resident of Bradenton and a graduate of Manatee High School, where he starred for the Hurricanes football team. Ray graduated from the University of South Florida. He resides in Bradenton.

Favorite Food: Baked Ziti

Favorite Movie: Top Gun

Favorite Singer/Band: Luke Bryan

Favorite Book: Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy

Favorite Athlete: Peyton Manning

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: College Football

Dawson Bublitz - Coordinator, LECOM Park Operations

Dawson.Bublitz@pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 269-8309

Dawson joined the Pirates and Marauders in 2024. Originally from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, he attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse where he played Club Baseball and worked with the athletic department in event operations. Dawson worked with the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2023 MLB season as an event services intern, and worked with the Milwaukee Bucks as a Group Event Facilitator. As the Coordinator of LECOM Park Operations, he oversees all the set up and tear down of Marauders games and events as well as handling all day-to-day operations at the ballpark. In his free time, Dawson enjoys hanging out with friends, playing golf, and watching other sports.

Favorite Food: Tacos

Favorite Singer: Morgan Wallen

Favorite Sporting Event Attended: 2011 NLDS Game 5

Favorite Athlete: Jameson Williams

Favorite Movie: Major League

Favorite Book: American Sniper

Dan Carroll - Coordinator, Florida Operations

Dan.Carroll@pirates.com

Phone Ext: (941) 269-4776

Dan joined the Pirates in 2024 as an operations assistant and became the Coordinator of Florida Operations after Spring Training, where he helps oversee Pirate City Operations, primarily player and staff transport and managing rooming at the complex. He graduated in 2024 from Syracuse University with a degree in Sport Management. His previous experience is working with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Allentown, PA in 2021, as well as serving as Game Day Operations Manager for local college hockey teams when he was in high school. In his free time, he plays golf, watches hockey and baseball, and catches the Marauders on the road.

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Band: Rush

Favorite Sporting Event Attended: Game 5 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals Canadiens @ Flyers

Favorite Athlete: Chris Pronger

Favorite Movie: The Walk

Favorite Book: The Book Thief

Louis Duran - General Manager, Concessions

louis.duran@sodexo.com

Phone Ext: (727) 260-3540

Louis joined our team in April of 2024. He is a seasoned executive with expertise in multi-site management, marketing strategy, and team building. As Multi Unit General Manager, he oversees LECOM Park concessions, clubhouse, catering, and dining services at Pirate City. Louis has a proven track record at institutions like USFSP, where he managed a $3 million budget and fostered a vibrant campus culture. He also played key roles in dining and facilities services during the Atlanta Braves' World Series championship, the Mississippi Braves' Double-A South Championship, and the FCL Championship in 2023 in North Port, FL. Born in Hackensack, NJ, Louis has been married to Aura Duran for 23 years and has an 18-year-old son, Miguel, who is starting college at USF. Louis enjoys fishing, gardening, and cooking.

Favorite Food: All Latin food

Favorite Singer/Band: Billy Joel / Freddie Mercury Queen

Favorite Sporting Event Attended in Person: St. Petersburg Grand Prix (Indy)

Favorite Athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Favorite Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez