ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
THE AVALANCHE prepares for the baseball season with new front-office personnel.
Two months before the opening of the Carolina League baseball season, the Salem Avalanche has announced several staff changes.
Ross Vecchio, who has spent 11 years in baseball front-office work, has joined the Avalanche as director of business operations. Vecchio comes to Salem from Port St.Lucie, Fla., where he spent six seasons as general manager of the New York Mets' Florida State League affiliate. He previously was an assistant GM with Clearwater in the Florida State League.
Colleen Brown, director of community relations for the club for two seasons, has left the Avalanche to accept a similar post with the Rochester (N.Y.) Rhinos of pro soccer's A-League.
Other new Avalanche staff members:
* Brian Bowles, son of club owner Kelvin Bowles, has been named director of office and computer operations. A 1984 Roanoke Catholic High School graduate, Bowles previously worked for the RGIS Co. in Durham, N.C.
* Tracy Beskid, a 1996 graduate of Cortland (N.Y.) State, has been named assistant marketing director. She is a Clifton Park, N.Y., native.
* Darin Strong, another '96 Cortland alumnus and former Red Dragons defensive back, has been named an operations assistant.
* Ethan Frank-Collins, a 1996 graduate of Cornell, has been named assistant director of group sales and ticket operations.
* Brian Fentress, a Martinsville native, is serving an internship with the Avalanche as operations assistant from Virginia Tech.
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