Staff
• Dan Foster — Chief Executive Officer
• Geoff C. Hixson — Chief Operating Officer
• Christopher D. Torgusen — Vice President, Legends Entertainment Group
• Lance M. James — Vice President of Development
• Mike Groll — Director of Special Events
• Matthew K. Hazzard — Director of Memorabilia, Legends Memorabilia Collection
• Stacey Hellman — Director of Membership
• Mary Russell Baucom — Administrative Assistant
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MLBPAA, MLAM, MLAS
719-477-1870 ext. 14
dan@mlbpaa.com
Foster, senior executive, is now entering his 24th year. He has been a part of the of the leadership team from the incipient stages. Foster has witnessed the incredible growth from every aspect of the organization and is extremely proud of the team that has been assembled underneath him.
Foster is a graduate of Ohio Northern University. He currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, Margaret, and their son, Austin.
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MLBPAA
719-477-1870 ext. 15
geoff@mlbpaa.com
Hixson has been with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association since 1997. His duties include coordination of the MLBPAA staff, overseeing and execution of more than 40 celebrity fundraising events and more than 30 free youth clinics for kids nationwide. In addition, he is responsible for the expansion and continued growth of the organization by helping to diversify existing programs and the creation of new programs to involve the former and current Major League player in the charity-based mission of the MLBPAA.
Hixson has more than 15 years of sport and special-event background. He spent three years in Minor League Baseball with the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers (now Redhawks) and two years at Oklahoma Events, a marketing and special events company, where he assisted in the coordination of many events, including the Vince Gill Celebrity Golf Classic.
Born and raised in Central Illinois, Hixson received a bachelor's in Communications from Southern Illinois University in 1993 and a master's in Sport Management from The University of Oklahoma in 1996.
He resides in Colorado Springs with his wife, Nancy, and two daughters, Avery and Bryce.
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Major League Alumni Marketing
727-898-8900
Chris@mlbpaa.com
Chris Torgusen has worked for the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association for the last 17 years. He currently serves as Vice President of Legends Entertainment Group for Major League Alumni Marketing, Inc. (MLAM), at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. His responsibilities include directing appearances and licensing programs for members of the Alumni Association. He began his career with the MLBPAA, managing events for the "Swing With the Legends" Charity Golf Series, "Legends for Youth" Clinic Series, and Baseball for Kids Weekend. Torgusen graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's in Business Administration.
Torgusen currently resides in Tampa, Fla., with wife Christine and two sons, Tighe and Colin.
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Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
719-477-1870 ext. 12
lmj@mlbpaa.com
Now in his fourth year as Vice President of Development, James is responsible for overseeing the Alumni Association's Annual Giving Fund as well as all the philanthropic and fundraising efforts of the MLBPAA. Prior to launching the non-profit internal fundraising programs, he began his Alumni tenure as Youth Baseball Director, serving in that capacity for seven years and building the Legends for Youth program from its beginnings. James spent a year coaching college baseball at Montreat College (N.C.) and earned a master's from Eastern Kentucky University and bachelor's from Kentucky Wesleyan College.
James currently resides in Colorado Springs with his wife Jessica.
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Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
719-477-1870 ext. 10
mikeg@mlbpaa.com
Groll has been with the MLBPAA since 2004. His responsibilities include the coordination and execution of more than 40 celebrity fundraising events for various charities nationwide. In addition, he works with the entire MLBPAA staff to assist the overall growth and expansion of the association.
Groll has more than seven years of sports background, including two years at the United States Air Force Academy Athletic Department in the Marketing and Development Office. Born and raised in Defiance, Ohio, Groll received a bachelor's in Sports and Business Management from Defiance College. While at Defiance, Groll was a four-letter winner and was third-team All-American in football. After graduation, Groll went on to serve as a Graduate Assistant Football Coach at Defiance for three years, receiving his master's in Education.
Groll currently resides in Colorado Springs.
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Major League Alumni Marketing
719-475-1847
matt@mlbpaa.com
Hazzard has been working for Major League Alumni Marketing (MLAM) since 2005 and became full-time staff in June 2007. He currently serves as Director of Memorabilia for MLAM's memorabilia division, Legends Memorabilia Collection, where he oversees all logistics, coordination, and business operations.
Originally from Cooperstown, N.Y., Hazzard graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Cortland with degrees in Sport Management and Business Economics while obtaining a minor in Computer Applications. Prior to his work with MLAM, Hazzard interned at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the United States Golf Association (USGA). Following his internship, Hazzard was hired to be a Fellow in the Great Plains Region as part of the USGA's Grants and Fellowship office where he reviewed grant applications, consulted and presented approximately $1 million in grants for youth and individuals with disabilities. Through the USGA Fellowship, Hazzard took many professional development courses such as non-profit management, finance, public speaking, negotiations and personal leadership styles.
Hazzard currently resides in Colorado Springs.
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MLBPAA
719-477-1870 ext. 30
stacey@mlbpaa.com
Stacey Hellman, originally from Denver, graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's in Education with a concentration in Health, Sport, and Exercise Science; she also received a minor in Business. She began working with the MLBPAA as an intern in 2006 and was provided the opportunity to stay on board as the Membership Coordinator. After one year on the job Hellman was given the title of Director of Membership. In her two years in the Membership Department, she has witnessed the membership grow from 5,100 members to over 6,500 members. For more information on the MLBPAA membership or how to join, please contact her directly.
Hellman currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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MLBPAA, MLAM, MLAS
719-477-1870, ext. 31
maryrussell@mlbpaa.com
Mary Russell Baucom joined the staff in 2008. Originally from Mobile, Ala., Baucom graduated from Spring Hill College (Ala.) in 1991. Prior to her work at the MLBPAA, she worked for the Board of Trustees of the Corcoran Museum of Art in Washington, D.C., as well as the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in Falls Church, Va. She came to work for the MLBPAA after six years of staying home and raising her two boys.
Baucom currently resides in Colorado Springs with her husband, Rick, and two sons, Jacob and Jamie.