ValleyCats’ Skinner named Joann Weber Female Executive of the year
The New York-Penn League has named ValleyCats Assistant General Manager Michelle Skinner the recipient of the 2018 Joann Weber Female Executive/Staff Member of the Year Award, a prestigious honor bestowed upon a female executive or staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to her club, the New YorkPenn League, or Minor League Baseball during the past year.
“In an office and league with so many deserving female executives, I am honored to have been selected to receive the Joann Weber Female Executive of the Year award,” said Skinner. “I’m grateful to work in an industry that I truly love and with a front office staff that is dedicated and passionate about what we do. We wouldn’t be successful without the incredible support of our fans and community partners.”
Skinner is now a two-time winner of the award, having also received the honor in 2014.
Among her many responsibilities, Skinner oversees the ValleyCats community relations’ efforts, is responsible for coordinating the team’s travel, and serves as the liaison with the Houston Astros on many levels, including community outreach
involving alumni of the TriCity ValleyCats.
“First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate Michelle on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement!” said ValleyCats General Manager Matt Callahan. “Michelle is a vital part of the ValleyCats organization, and does a phenomenal job developing and maintaining our strong relationships with the fans, community, and our partners. Her efforts have made the ValleyCats a leader within the baseball industry and Capital Region community.”
Under Skinner’s leadership, the ValleyCats dedicate thousands of hours to community outreach and charitable initiatives. Each season, the front office and players make over 160 community appearances, and the organization makes over 400 donations to a wide variety of causes and organizations throughout the Capital Region.
With the league award comes Skinner’s nomination for Minor League Baseball’s Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year.
The ValleyCats have also received the New YorkPenn League nomination for the National Association of Professional Baseball League’s John Henry Moss Community Service Award, awarded to a club that demonstrates an outstanding, ongoing commitment to charitable service, support and leadership within their community and the baseball industry.
In 2018, the Tri-City ValleyCats drew 140,036 fans to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, an average attendance of 4,119 fans per game, good for second best out of the 14 teams in the New York-Penn League. On the field, the ValleyCats captured their eighth Stedler Division title and third New York-Penn League Championship.