Kids CEO

Somerset Medical Center


Somerset Patriots Announce 2011 Kid CEO
 

The Somerset Patriots and On-Target Staffing LLC have announced that Logan Reilly of Belle Mead has been named the Somerset Patriots Kid CEO for the 2011 Season.
 
Reilly, a third grader, was selected during the Patriots game on Saturday, May 21st. Reilly and the other four finalists addressed the crowd before the game of why they should be the Kid CEO. Reilly went second and impressed the crowd and judges with his excitement for the team and the position.
 
The announcement of Reilly’s hiring for the position came in the middle of the fifth inning before the entire crowd.
 
“This is a dream come true.  I am so eager to learn about the business of baseball.  I’m excited to have the chance to represent this wonderful baseball team!  Go Patriots!,”Reilly said .
 
The young CEO enjoys playing baseball, golf, basketball, and playing the piano. His favorite Patriots player is third baseman Jeff Nettles.
 
He feels he will be a successful Kid CEO because it will be a valuable learning experience for a job he would like to have in the future.
 
As the Kid CEO, Reilly will follow front office staff members during the games to learn about ticketing, merchandising, promotions, media, marketing, and ballpark operations. He will sit in on Patriots staff meetings and write about the experiences he has in the position. Reilly will also receive a personalized Somerset Patriots jersey, tickets to five games, a ceremonial first pitch for a game, and a meet and greet with Sparky Lyle and the players.
 
 
Day 1: Ticket Office:
It was my first day as Kid CEO and I was so excited. I started out by meeting all the staff and it was really fun! I got to sit in an office and discuss some ideas. Then it was time to go to my staff meeting. It was my first time and I was already sitting at the head of the table. We talked about what would happen for that day. I found out that I would be working with Bryan in the Box Office. After the staff meeting I got to go home but then I came back to the ballpark to start working.
 
My first job was the Will Call Booth. I handed fans their tickets before the game and was shown how to work the computer. It was a little hard at first but then it got easier. I took a lot of ticket orders. Around 6:30 we had a long line so we used team work. At 7:30 it was time to get the ticket stubs. We had to scan every one separately. It was so hard but you have to do this to figure out game attendance. At 8:30 I got a dinner break then I came back and talked with the people in the ticket office. My next job was to hand out game schedules. After that, my day was done.
 
The highlight of the day I did not tell you about was when I got to get ticket orders from the Somerset Patriot Players. I went over and got to meet them. It was so exciting! I yelled “Somerset Patriots” in the locker room! I can’t believe this was my first day!

Day 2: Customer Service/ Operations
My second day as Kid CEO started with a staff meeting. The one different thing is I got to help bring in the snacks for the staff. I always love staff meetings because I get to know what we will be doing for that day. After the staff meeting I went home.
 
When I came back at 5:00 P.M., I got right to work. I went to the usher staff meeting with Ann. When the gates opened, I ripped tickets as people came in. It was very overwhelming because it was Fireworks Night and we had so many people come to the game.
 
When it settled down a bit, I worked at the customer service desk. I helped bring down contestants for the on-field promotions. Then I went and worked security with Ann. I walked around the ballpark and made sure people were having fun, but being safe at the same time.
 
Next I worked with Mike, one of the Group Sales interns. One of his jobs was to organize birthday parties for kids at the ballpark. We brought ice cream to the parties and took group pictures of the kids to deliver to the parents as a thank you.
 
When we were done, I got to eat my dinner in the press box. This was fun because you have a great view of the baseball field and you’re sitting with the executives.
 
After dinner, I worked at the customer service desk for the rest of the night.
 
After the fire works we had The Post Game Pitch Contest and I had to keep track of the winners. We even had a double winner that night. I handed out some of the prizes!

My day ended with the post-game staff meeting where we get to talk about what happened that night. I felt that we all did well. It was a great night for baseball!

Day 3: Merchandise
My day started with a staff meeting. I met with Rob Crossman, the Director of Merchandise, who I would be working with at the Team Store that night. During the staff meeting, Anthony Lugara, the Group Sales Manager, presented me with my own Patriots team uniform. On the back of the uniform it said “Kid CEO - Reilly”. I was so excited to receive it! I couldn’t wait to wear it to the game that night.
 
When I arrived back at the ballpark, I met John Modero, who led me to the team store. Rob showed me how to get the store ready before the fans came. John and I stacked foam fingers and hung up shirts. I was shown how to work the cash register. They said I learned very quickly and was ready to help make sales.
 
At game time, we had a lot of customers. I walked around the store to help people decide on purchases. I also got to ring up sales on the register. Team merchandise sales not only let fans show off their team spirit, but it also helps support The Patriots!
 
At 7:30, I got to give the signal to shut down the program and scorecard booths. John showed me a certain hand movement to tell the program sellers to stop selling.
 
I left the store and met with one of the hawkers Brian, who taught me how to sell merchandise in the stands to fans. We had a bag with mini bats, foam fingers, glow sticks, and mascot dolls. It was a lot of walking, but I loved talking to the fans. We sold so many foam fingers and glow sticks because it was Fireworks Night!
 
By the end of the night I had worked the team store, sold merchandise in the stands, and even worked at a little store by the concession stands. There was a last minute rush of fans buying in the team store after the game. When everyone left, I went to the post game meeting. I enjoyed the day and was proud to wear my new team jersey!

Day 4: Promotions
My day started with our usual staff meeting. I would be doing on field promotions! I knew this was going to be a fun night! Who doesn’t love watching or participating in all the fun games or contests at the ballpark? I couldn’t wait to for the game to start!
 
When I came back to the ballpark, I saw the Batmobile, The Back to the Future Car and The Scooby Doo Mystery Machine. It was part of Hollywood Night at the ballpark. I checked out the cars and then went to the Press Box to get to work.
 
I meet with Sam and Kim who are the interns that would be teaching me how to help with the on field promotions. I helped to set up the Speed Pitch and then we went onto the field. When I was on the field, I got to meet Sparky Lyle, the Manager of The Patriots and some of the players. This was so exciting because one day I want to be a baseball player just like they are. All of the players were so nice!
 
I handed out baseballs for the on field catch and for the ceremonial first pitches. Then I got to announce the first promo of the night, which was The Sparkee Dash. I got to call out the action as the mascots and contestants raced around the bases. This was so cool!
 
I helped with a lot of on field promotions such as the Dizzy Bat Race, the Sack Race and The Tee Shirt Toss, where I got to use a big slingshot to shoot tee shirts into the crowd. My favorite promotion was called “What’s in the Box?” The contestant has to choose a box in hopes of winning a good prize. There is also a box that has a funny prize in it. I put a Whoopee Cushion in one of the boxes.
 
This was the toughest night for me because there are a lot of responsibilities and things that need to be set up quickly to do all of the on field promotions. After the game, I had to help pick up the all the rubber balls that are thrown for the Post Game Pitch. There seemed like there were hundreds! Boy did I work up a sweat! Watching the fireworks from the field made it all better. Nothing beats Fireworks Night at the ballpark!

Day 5: Public Relations:
It was my last staff meeting of the season. I felt excited to work at another great game even though it would be my last as Kid CEO. I would be working and learning about what goes on in the Press Box. I was excited to get started that night! As an added surprise, after the staff meeting, I got to be interviewed by Bert Baron from WCTC 1450AM radio. They are the radio station that broadcasts the Somerset Patriot games. They were broadcasting live from the ballpark that afternoon. I was asked about my position as Kid CEO. This was my first radio interview!
 
When I came back to the ballpark, I went to the press box to get it ready for the game. Before the game started I went to help out on the field. I worked with all the groups and opened the gate to the field. I got to throw out a first pitch. I threw out a great first pitch right over the plate. Then I went over to the dugout and Sparky Lyle signed my ball and took a picture with me. It was so cool!!!            
 
Then I worked with Kim the photographer to take pictures in the first inning. She showed me how to take great photos. We took live action shots of the players. One of the guest sponsors of the night was Sports Clips Hair Cuts. I took pictures of the Sports Clips Mascot. Some of the pictures we took were used on the Patriots’ web site and Facebook page. Taking photos was a lot of fun and a good way to share what happens at a game with the fans.
 
Next I worked with John Nolan who is the official game scorekeeper and I got to score what happened in the game. Then I worked with Lou Nordone who showed me how to work the scoreboard. This is a hard job because you need to pay close attention to the game.
 
I also was asked to do a radio interview with Adam Amin for WCTC. He spoke to me at the top of the fifth inning and wanted to know what it was like to be the Kid CEO of the Somerset Patriots. I told him how I had been coming to see the Patriots my whole life and that I was having a great time representing them.
 
For the rest of the night I helped around the press box. I made sure the staff was taken care of. I got to watch some of the game and watched how walkie-talkies were used to communicate with all the staff in the ballpark.
 
Then it was time to go on the field for Fire Works Night! I love watching the fire works over the ballpark and the fans love it too! It’s always a great way to end the night!
 
At the end of the night, I helped with the Napa Post Game Pitch. The fans threw hundreds of rubber balls on the field trying to win $500. I had to help pick up all of balls but I got to announce the winning numbers.
 
When the ballpark cleared out we had the post game staff meeting. I shook everyone’s hand that I had worked with and thanked them for teaching me the business of baseball. I was so happy to have this opportunity to work with this amazing franchise. It will be something I will never forget!
 
 
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