Jim Abel is a life-long resident of Lincoln, and the Chairman and CEO of NEBCO Inc., a Lincoln-based company with interests in the manufacture of concrete building materials, road construction, insurance, mining, real estate development and recreation. Jim’s interest in baseball dates back to enjoying the Lincoln Chiefs and working concessions during the Chicago Cubs spring training games while attending Arizona State. In 1973, after earning a degree in Business Administration, Jim returned to Lincoln beginning his career on the company’s highway asphalt and concrete paving crews. In 1985, Jim succeeded his father, George P. Abel Jr., as President of NEBCO, Inc. In addition, Jim serves as President of the Abel Foundation, which continues the family tradition of returning a measure of the company’s success to the community.

Shane is entering his 3rd season as the General Manager of the Lincoln Saltdogs and 23rd season in professional baseball. Shane began his professional baseball career as an intern with the Sioux City Explorers in 1999, before joining the Kansas City Royals AAA affiliate in Omaha, NE for the 2000 season. Shane returned to the Sioux City Explorers for the 2001 and 2002 seasons, before spending the next three seasons in South Texas as the General Manager with the Coastal Bend Aviators of the Central Baseball League. In 2006, Tritz would return to the Sioux City Explorers to serve as team’s Vice President/General Manager, a position he would hold for 13 seasons (2018). In 2013, Shane was honored as the league’s (American Association) Executive of the Year. The Saltdogs new General Manager is originally from Sioux City, IA and attended the University of Iowa where he earned his degree in Sports Management in 1999. Shane and his wife, Holly, have two daughters, Morgan and Peyton.

After spending 13 seasons as an umpire in the Minor Leagues, Dave joined the Saltdogs organization in October of 2007. He spent 2008 as a ticket account executive, and was named as the director of stadium operations in September. On the field, he served as a Triple-A umpire for eight years, and also worked games in the Dominican Republic Winter League. Between 2002 and 2005, Dave was a fill-in umpire in the Major Leagues, and then worked in the American Association 2006-07. He still umpires some college games in his spare time. Dave and his wife, Peg, have two sons, Jack and Sam, and a daughter, Kathleen.

As a Lincoln area native, Kanai is entering her 2nd season as the Director of Sales and Retention for the Lincoln Saltdogs and 10th year working in baseball. Kanai began her athletics career as an undergrad at Wayne State College in 2012 working for the Sports Information Department. Kuhnel moved to Texas in 2016 and stayed for almost six years before moving back to Lincoln in the fall of 2021. She worked for multiple areas at the UT Arlington including Athletic Development, Athletic Communications, and the College of Engineering. Kanai graduated with her Bachelor’s in Sport Management from WSC in 2016 and completed her first Master’s in Communication from the UT Arlington in 2018. Kanai currently resides in Lincoln with her long-term boyfriend, Dustin, and their twin girls, Makiah and Kallyn.

This is Steve’s 6th year as the Director of Operations for Concessions at Haymarket Park. He is an alumni of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been with Valentino’s/Premier Concessions for over 30 years! Steve has a wife and two daughters, and when not at the park, he enjoys serving in several ministries at his church.

Kyle is in his 4th year as Director of grounds and playing surfaces at Haymarket Park after spending an additional four years on the turf crew staff. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Kyle was born and raised in Lincoln and attended Lincoln Southeast high school. He lives in Lincoln with his wife, Alyssa, son, Lucas and their dog, Sammie . Kyle’s degree from UNL was turf grass management.

Avery is in her first year as an Assistant Director of Grounds at Haymarket Park. Born and raised in rural Kansas, Avery graduated with a degree in Horticulture from Kansas State University after having interned with the Milwaukee Brewers Grounds Crew. When not at the ballpark, Avery enjoys exploring thrift stores and traveling to see friends and family.

A lifelong Nebraskan, Heath has been involved in baseball as a player, coach, umpire and announcer. He serves with the MyBridge Radio team as an on-air host and producer. Heath has been married to Ann for nearly 30 years and they have two sons. They are anticipating the birth of their third grandchild this summer. Heath is on a quest to visit every Major League baseball stadium. He has 12 to go.

Jeff is an award-winning broadcaster who got his start as a public address announcer in his home town of San Diego, Calif. After high school, he spent nearly 10 years in the Navy, working for Armed Forces Radio and TV. Jeff won the 1987 Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Award for Broadcasting Excellence, for his work as a sports reporter and anchor. Briden joined KLMS in 2003 as a weekend host and sports producer, and serves as a studio host for high school sports broadcasts in addition to his excellent work with the Saltdogs. Jeff also has two daughters, Vanessa and Lauren and granddaughter Abigail.