RiverDogs Announce Change at the Top

Charleston River Dogs Press Release

(Charleston, SC) - The Charleston RiverDogs announced
Wednesday that General Manager Derek Sharrer will be
leaving the club to take over as General Manager of
the St. Paul Saints in the independent Northern
League. Dave Echols, the current G.M. of the Brockton
Rox in the independent Northeast League, will take
over as RiverDogs General Manager, effective April 1.

The RiverDogs and St. Paul Saints are owned and
operated by the Goldklang Group, a firm based in New
Jersey. The Brockton Rox have a management consulting
agreement with the Group.

On Tuesday, the St. Paul Saints announced that
Executive Vice President and General Manager Bill
Fanning is leaving the organization to pursue other
opportunities.

“Rarely can you make a move where everyone benefits
from it,” RiverDogs President Mike Veeck said. “I
consider it a huge personal favor that Derek would
consider a move at the last minute like this.”

Sharrer has served as RiverDogs General Manager since
2001. Under his guidance, the team has set club
attendance records in each of the past two seasons and
has earned national recognition and media attention
for its customer service initiatives and outlandish
promotions.

“The last three years have been wonderful for me
personally and professionally,” Sharrer said. “My
family and I were welcomed into the community the day
we arrived. Kandice and I started our family here. It
is very difficult to leave the many friends we’ve made
and the talented staff I’ve been privileged to work
and grow with over that time.”

Dave Echols, 34, returns to Charleston where he served
as RiverDogs Assistant General Manager from 1999-2001.
As General Manager of the Brockton Rox over the past
two seasons, Echols guided the organization from the
start-up process in less than four months in 2002
through an attendance crown and league championship
last season. For his efforts, Echols was honored as
2003 Northeast League Executive of the Year.

“The RiverDogs are getting a proven leader who built a
franchise from the ground up in a community that
hasn’t had baseball for many years,” Veeck said. “He
returns to Charleston, a place where he has already
built many lasting relationships.”

The 2004 campaign begins with the “Coastal Clash”
Exhibition Game vs. Myrtle Beach, April 6 at Joseph P.
Riley, Jr. Park. The RiverDogs open the South Atlantic
League regular season April 8 as they host the
Greensboro Bats.

Season tickets, mini-plans and individual game tickets
are available in person at the RiverDogs Box Office,
by phone at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) and online at
etix.com.

March 17, 2004

Also...

From the Charleston Post & Courier:

Derek Sharrer, who presided over new record attendance
averages in each of his three seasons as Charleston
RiverDogs general manager, will leave the club on
April 1 to become general manager of the independent
league St. Paul Saints.

David Echols will move from his job as GM of the
independent league Brockton (Mass.) Rox to take over
for Sharrer in Charleston. Echols, 33, was the
RiverDogs' assistant general manager from 1999-2001.

The Charleston, St. Paul and Brockton franchises are
among six minor league baseball teams run by the
Charleston-based Goldklang group and primary owners
Marvin Goldklang, Mike Veeck and actor Bill Murray.
The St. Paul job opened with the departure of Bill
Fanning.

The move to Minnesota will put Sharrer, a Whiteland,
Ind., native and Indiana University graduate, closer
to his Midwest roots. Sharrer, 33, came to the
RiverDogs from the Florida State League's Fort Myers
Miracle, another Goldklang Group team.

Sharrer out in RiverDogs GM shuffle
http://www.charleston.net/stories/031704/spo_17rivdogs.shtml

Meanwhile, Dave Burke, the former Miracle GM will be
in Fort Myers and hanging out at Hammond this weeknd
from Thursday through Sunday. Just in case you were
missing him. No, I don't know if he's bringing the
dog.



=====
D.

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