Fast Track 50 keynote speaker selected

Lake County Captains General Manager Neil Stein to address topic of ‘Leading in a Changing Environment’

The annual Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50 event has featured keynote speakers ranging from a builder to a sales trainer to a husband and wife who own beauty salons and cosmetology schools.

This year, Lake County Captains General Manager Neil Stein will take a swing at addressing the audience that attends the Fast Track 50 dinner and business-awards program on Nov. 7.

Stein will speak about “Leading in a Changing Environment” during the 2019 Fast Track 50 gala, which is being held at LaMalfa, 5783 Heisley Road in Mentor. Networking begins at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner and awards program to follow at 7.

In his 4 ½ years as Lake County Captains general manager, Stein has planned and carried out some significant changes involving the minor-league baseball team, which is a Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.

For example, Stein worked with the city of Eastlake on several ballpark improvement projects, including the new high-definition video board — the largest capital investment that the Captains’ ownership group has made at Classic Park — plus necessary improvements to field drainage and stadium lights.

Stein also brought key changes to the makeup of the Captains’ front office staff. To put a bigger focus on fan experience, he brought in another fulltime employee to help with social media, marketing and graphic design.

In addition, he hired a full-time assistant in catering and concession to focus on the Captains’ staffing, quality of service and coordination with its group sales team.

Along with putting a winning team on the field, the Captains face challenges in building and retaining a workforce of employees for all other aspects of business and stadium operations.

“Turnover in almost every industry is happening quicker, so we need to ensure that there’s a transition plan and/or someone on staff who can fill in if there’s a gap in employment,” Stein said.

Like all other business, the Lake County Captains also must pay attention to the wants and needs of customers, and make adjustments to stay profitable.

“Our industry is changing, with fewer die-hard baseball fans, which might be an opportunity for Minor League teams, as our focus is less on baseball and more on fun, entertainment and value,” he said.

Prior to being appointed as Lake County Captains general manager in 2016, Stein served as the team’s assistant general manager for eight years.

Before joining the Captains, he spent eight years working in the front office of the Toledo Mud Hens, a Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

Stein’s speech will be just one of the highlights at the 27th annual Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50 dinner and awards program.

The yearly event honors the 50 fastest growing companies in the two-county area based on a weighted average of sales and employment growth over a five-year period. Three other honors presented at the program are the Game Changer, Nonprofit and Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Fast Track 50 co-sponsors are the Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. office in Mentor; ErieBank; Gino’s Awards; Lakeland Community College; Skoda Minotti CPAs, Business and Financial Advisors; and The News-Herald.