Interview with Chris Cameron, Assistant GM of the Sea Dogs

Recently Beyond Fenway was lucky enough to get in touch with Portland Sea Dogs’ Assistant General Manager and Director of Media Relations Chris Cameron. He was gracious enough to take some time out of his busy schedule, planning for the upcoming season, to answer a few questions for us.

Beyond Fenway: What is the role of a minor league Assistant General Manager/Director of Media Relations?

Chris Cameron: Unlike a Major League General Manager or Assistant General Manager, at the Minor League level we do not get involved with any player movement. All of the baseball operations are handled by our Major League affiliate. We concentrate on running the business operations of the team; selling tickets, advertising, setting promotions, and we are responsible for the overall fan experience. With the Media Relations aspect, I am responsible for coordinating all player interviews with the media, stats, player appearances, press releases, website, community relations, and much more.

BF: What other roles have you held within the organization?

CC: I spent several years as the team’s Director of Ticketing.

BF: How do you manage to juggle all of the day-to-day tasks?

CC: We have a very small staff of 10 full-time employees. We all wear many hats and are forced to lend a hand in various departments to get everything done. We also hire ten interns each year to assist.

BF: You have been with the Sea Dogs for 11 seasons and have received numerous awards for your efforts, including being named the 2005 Public Relations Director of the Year for all Minor League Sports by MinorLeagueNews.com. What do you credit your success to and how do you continue to get better at what you do?

CC: I contribute much of my success to my educational background [Chris graduated from Southern New Hampshire University] and the high caliber staff in which I work with on a daily basis. I always try to continue building relationships and to not be complacent with our success. I attend several meetings each year to learn what other teams are doing to continue improving the organization.

BF: With regards to the game itself, there seems to be a growing trend in Minor League Baseball. The AAA affiliate used to be the last stop for a player before the majors. Now it seems that more and more teams are bringing up their best prospects from AA. Is this an organizational trend or is this more the norm nowadays and how do you adjust for such measures being the AA team for the Boston Red Sox?

CC: This is pretty much the norm around the baseball industry now. It is great for the Sea Dogs, as we can market these guys as being just a phone call away from the Red Sox.

BF: How do you deal with the high turnover rate within minor league ball?

CC: Minor League Baseball isn’t about winning. It is about developing players for the Major Leagues. Winning is a bonus. So a high turnover rate is often good, it means you are developing players and moving them up on the ladder. As a result of the high turnover rate, and the fact that the baseball operations are beyond our control, we try to market the fan experience rather than the current players. We also market off of all the former players who have come through Portland who are now having big league success.

BF: How soon into Spring Training does a minor league team begin to shape its roster?

CC: We have a pretty good feel going into Spring Training what our roster will look like. However, there are so many variables, such as injuries, performance, trades, etc., that happen during spring training that the roster is constantly changing. We will not know for sure what our roster is until the guys actually board the plane and head to Portland. Even then it could change!

BF: Give us some good reasons to check out the Portland Sea Dogs in 2010?

CC: You are seeing the future stars of the Boston Red Sox! You don’t even have to like baseball to have a good time. It is fun, family oriented, inexpensive entertainment and prices range between $4 and $9. You won’t find a better deal! [We couldn’t agree more…these are the perfect reasons to catch some Minor League action of ANY kind.]

Cameron lives his job, putting in 100 hour weeks without hesitation. He credits it to treating the industry as a lifestyle, one that he is overly passionate about. Despite the long hours he does find time to enjoy some snowshoeing, kayaking, bowling and NASCAR. [It’s time to put the snowshoes away and get the kayak ready!]

Cameron is also involved with STRIVE, an organization dedicated “to addressing the many issues faced by young adults (ages 15-24) with disabilities”. He volunteers his time as part of the STRIVE Steering Committee, explaining how “it is very rewarding to give back to the community.” You can learn more about STRIVE and the great things they do by clicking HERE.

The Sea Dogs will be stacked with some amazing talent this season, so be sure to get out and support the organization. It’s a great time for the whole family which won’t break the bank.