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 4th 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.

Ty is entering his 5th season with the Saltdogs, he received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December 2022. Originally from Clay Center, NE, Ty has lived in Lincoln for the last five years. Before coming to the Saltdogs, Ty was a student intern at HuskerVision for four years. In his free time, he enjoys cheering on his Green Bay Packers with his cat Hex and playing board games.

As a Lincoln area native, Kanai is entering her 3rd season as the Director of Sales and Retention for the Lincoln Saltdogs. Kanai began her athletics career as an undergrad at Wayne State College in 2012. 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 holds a Bachelor’s in Sport Management from WSC (2016), Masters in Communication from the UT Arlington (2018) and a Masters in Organizational Management from WSC (2024). Kanai currently resides in Lincoln with her long-term boyfriend, Dustin, and their twin girls. Outside of work, she loves to read a good book and spend time with her family and friends.

Rich Ray is in his first year as Broadcasting & Communications Director for the Saltdogs. Prior to his time with Lincoln, Ray spent time in college, summer-league baseball as Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations with the Fremont Moo from 2022-2024, in the Independence League Baseball Association, in Fremont, Nebraska. Prior to his time with the Moo, Ray worked in commercial radio for 25 years, with positions at KHUB in Fremont, Nebraska, KJAM in Madison, South Dakota, and KTTT in Columbus, Nebraska. Ray is an award winning sports broadcaster, receiving numerous recognition from state and regional broadcast associations. He was named the Nebraska Sports Broadcaster of the Year in 2009 by the Nebraska Coaches Association. Ray was inducted into the Midland University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022, for his career-long broadcasting contributions. Ray has extensive media relations experience as well, as he served as Sports Information Director at Midland University, in Fremont, from 2006-2011. A native of Blair, Nebraska, Ray received his Bachelor’s Degree from Midland Lutheran College in 2010, with a major in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Sports Coaching.

This is Steve’s 7th 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 5th 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 2nd 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.

Elijah has been a studio host for the Lincoln Saltdogs since the 2018 season. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Elijah is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2021. In addition to his work with the Saltdogs, Elijah can also be heard applying his passion for sports as a host of both The Average Joe Sports Show and The Morning Hookup on KFOR. When he’s not on the radio, he can be found umpiring high school baseball games across Southeast Nebraska.