
JIM ABEL
Chairman
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. Jim has also served on many civic and professional boards including the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, United Way, University of Nebraska Foundation, Nebraska Game & Parks Foundation, Ameritas, Nelnet, Nebraska Wesleyan, US Bank and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

CHARLIE MEYER
President / General Manager
A native of Arlington, Nebraska, Charlie serves as Treasurer of NEBCO, Inc. and President/General Manager of the Lincoln Saltdogs. Meyer is a graduate of Doane College, Nebraska College of Business and Colorado School of Banking. He is involved in a number of charitable and community organizations in the Lincoln area, including the following boards: Community Health Charities of Nebraska, United Way 2018 Campaign Cabinet, Child Advocacy Board, Nebraska High School Hall of Fame, Founding Board Member of 100’s of Lincoln Men Who Care and Chair of the Expansion Committee of the American Association. He and his wife Val, have three children and four grandchildren: Jamie & Ryan Von Sossan, and sons Cole & Lou of Sacramento, CA; Amber & Pete Fencl and daughter Izzy and son Brody of David City, NE; and Brian of Lincoln, NE.

BRET BEER
Director of Marketing
Bret played college baseball at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa; where he earned a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Bret also serves on the Board of Directors for the Junior Saltdogs League, a league that provides youth baseball programs in Lincoln for kids 5-16 years of age. His wife Nancy is an 8th grade teacher at Lux Middle School, and their two sons: Bryce is in his first year at SCC and Drew, attends Pius X.

STEVE ZOUCHA
Director of Sales
Joining the Saltdogs in 2014, Steve brings 18 years of sports marketing experience to the organization. He began his career by helping launch the Lincoln Stars USHL franchise as the team’s inaugural ticket manager. Zoucha’s responsibilities with the Stars grew, and he most recently served the franchise as vice president / director of operations and group sales. A native of the Capital City, Zoucha lives in Lincoln.

DAVE ASCHWEGE
Director of Stadium Operations
Dave joined the Saltdogs organization in October of 2007. He spent the 2008 season as a ticket account executive, and was named as the director of stadium operations in September of that year. On the field, he served as a Triple-A umpire for eight years, and between 2002 and 2005, Dave was a fill-in umpire in the Major Leagues. He still umpires some college games in his spare time. Dave and his wife, Peg, have two boys, Jack and Sam, and a daughter, Kathleen.

DAN BUSCH
Assistant Director of Stadium Operations
Hailing from the small town of Napoleon, Ohio, Dan graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Sports Management. Dan also spent some time at Ohio University where, as a freshman, he walked on to the football team under former Nebraska Head Coach Frank Solich. In his free time, Dan enjoys watching Cleveland Browns football and Detroit Tigers baseball. Dan lives in Lincoln with his wife Heather and his dog Chase.

COLTER CLARKE
Ticket Sales Manager
Colter is a 2010 Wayne State College graduate. He interned with the Saltdogs in 2010 and was brought on full time during the 2011 season. After being with Lincoln Stars Hockey for just over four seasons, Colter rejoined the Saltdogs in Nov. 2014.

DANIEL THOMAS
Group Sales Executive
Daniel is entering his third season with the Saltdogs, first as Group Sales Executive. He previously was the Clubhouse Manager during the 2018 season, and an intern during the 2017 season. Originally from Omaha, he graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December 2018 with a degree in Advertising/ Public Relations, and History. During his time there he was a part of the Acacia Fraternity. Daniel has also worked with the Lincoln Stars Hockey Team, and the Doane University Athletic Department.

MICHAEL SHIVELY
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
In the offseason, Michael is a news/sports reporter for News Channel Nebraska TV based in Norfolk. He was the Broadcast / Media Relations Assistant with the Gary Southshore Railcats, also of the American Association’s Central Division, for the 2016 season. Michael is a native of Lincoln and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Broadcasting and Advertising/Public Relations degree in May 2016.

CADE MCFADDEN
Video Production Manager
Cade is entering his third season as Video Production Manager for the Saltdogs. He worked for HuskerVision and the Saltdogs video production crew before joining the team, and has done work for NET Sports and The Big Ten Network. He is originally from Western Nebraska and moved to Lincoln, where he graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2015 with a Bachelor’s of Journalism in Broadcast Production and a Business Minor.

ALEX HANUS
Director of Promotions
This is Alex’s second year with the Saltdogs as Director of Promotions. She grew up in Omaha Nebraska. Her first two years of college she went to New Mexico Military Institute and played volleyball where she then transferred to University of Nebraska at Omaha and graduated in May of 2017. She worked at UNO as a marketing and promotions intern for 2 years with their hockey, basketball and volleyball teams.

KAYDRA BRODINE
Office Manager
Kaydra is in her second year as the Office Manager for the Lincoln Saltdogs after working as an intern with the team in 2016. She is from Elm Creek, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in the summer of 2016 with a degree in Sports Management and a minor in Marketing/Management. Kaydra has been playing and watching sports for her entire life and knew she wanted to make it part of her career after watching her older brother play football in college and the NFL.

JEREMY JOHNSON
Athletic Turf Manager
Jeremy was raised in Lincoln, and graduated from Lincoln Southeast high school. He served in the Army on active duty for 8 years, before obtaining a Bachelors of Science in Turfgrass Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jeremy has been happily married to his wife Lauren for six years now. His previous athletic turf management experience includes an internship at Haymarket Park in 2011, and with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012.

JEN ROEBER
Assistant Athletic Turf Manager
Jen is in her 16th year on the grounds crew at Haymarket Park. In addition to her duties with the Saltdogs, Jen is also the head turf manager for the UNL Softball Complex. The Wakefield, Neb. native earned a degree in Horticulture from Northeast Community College. In her spare time she enjoys camping, fishing and hanging out with her boxer, Ace.

JOEY COLSON
Broadcast Team: P. A. Announcer
Joey is a native Nebraskan and local pastor, currently serving at CrossBridge Christian Church. His pride and joy is his lovely wife, Danielle, and his son, Wrigley. He also loves baseball and music. If he could have any superpower it would be that he could move things with his mind. Watch out!

JEFF BRIDEN
Broadcast Team: Studio Host
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.

RYAN SWANIGAN
Broadcast Team: Studio Host
Ryan joins the Saltdogs as a studio host for the 2018 season. He is currently the voice of Lincoln’s Superior HyVee, and is also a camera operator for the Omaha Storm Chasers. In his free time, Ryan works hard in supporting Lincoln Fire & Rescue when it comes to the department’s needs. Born and raised in Papillion, Nebraska, Ryan is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism in May of 2015.

DANNY BURKE
Broadcast Team: Studio Host
Danny is currently the producer for Hail Varsity Radio Show on KLMS. Born and raised in Chicago, Danny came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2014 and graduated in May 2018 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

JAKE BOCKOVEN
Broadcast Team: Studio Host
Jake previously worked as a sports radio personality in Lincoln from 2013-2018. Jake is a proud Lincoln native and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Broadcast Journalism degree in 2013.