AUBURN - Now at general manager for the Auburn Doubledays, Carl Gutelius.
New Auburn Doubledays general manager Carl Gutelius (second from right) stands with, from left to right, Board of Directors CEO Tom Ganey, former general manager Jason Smorol and new assistant general manager Kevin Breen at Falcon Park on Wednesday. Chris Sciria / The Citizen
Maybe there wasn't a PA announcer at Falcon Park on Wednesday, but Gutelius was on the field for his introduction as the team's new general manager.
The Doubledays were serving up bratwurst and sodas at a press conference that saw the torch passed from former GM Jason Smorol to Gutelius. Kevin Breen is the team's new assistant general manager.
Smorol served as Doubledays general manager for three seasons and for the last two Gutelius was the team's assistant GM. Before that he served as an intern.
The Auburn native has also interned with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils as well as minor-league baseball teams in Buffalo and Syracuse. But working in his hometown means something special.
"It's been a dream, I would never have imagined in my life I would be able to come back and be general manager of the team in my hometown," he said. "It's just a thrill to work with the people I've been working with now for five years. I've gotten to know the fans, the sponsors and the board of directors and to be able to represent their team is a huge honor and huge responsibility."
Smorol credited Gutelius for the team's off-field success in which the Doubledays have set new franchise marks for total and average attendance over the last two seasons.
"Carl's going to bring continuity which I think is an important thing," Smorol said. "Carl's had the benefit of seeing my predecessors and me in what it was like here before I came and we worked together. I think there's a stark difference in what it is today and Carl's had a big part of building what it is today. He knows what it's like to work real hard."
His work impressed the Doubledays board of directors which unaminously approved him as Smorol's successor.
"He knows what the business is about, he's out in the community," said Board of Directors CEO Tom Ganey. "Carl is the right fit for us at this time."
Smorol said Gutelius' integrity and work ethic will be important as general manager.
"He's a tireless worker and in this job that's what you have to be," he said. "He's not afraid to put the hours in."
Gutelius wants to continue Smorol's base philosophy of making the ballpark a fun experience for the fans.
"Some of the teams I have worked for have gotten it and some haven't," he said. "There are things you need to do outside the actual games themselves that are what make this experience special."
Another thing Gutelius wants is communication between the Doubledays, its fans, sponsors so they know what the team is doing.
"The key for me is to get out there and look people in the eye and tell them what we're about," he said. "It's going to be the same fun, affordable, fan-friendly experience they've always had. We're on the right track."
The Doubledays were serving up bratwurst and sodas at a press conference that saw the torch passed from former GM Jason Smorol to Gutelius. Kevin Breen is the team's new assistant general manager.
Smorol served as Doubledays general manager for three seasons and for the last two Gutelius was the team's assistant GM. Before that he served as an intern.
The Auburn native has also interned with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils as well as minor-league baseball teams in Buffalo and Syracuse. But working in his hometown means something special.
"It's been a dream, I would never have imagined in my life I would be able to come back and be general manager of the team in my hometown," he said. "It's just a thrill to work with the people I've been working with now for five years. I've gotten to know the fans, the sponsors and the board of directors and to be able to represent their team is a huge honor and huge responsibility."
Smorol credited Gutelius for the team's off-field success in which the Doubledays have set new franchise marks for total and average attendance over the last two seasons.
"Carl's going to bring continuity which I think is an important thing," Smorol said. "Carl's had the benefit of seeing my predecessors and me in what it was like here before I came and we worked together. I think there's a stark difference in what it is today and Carl's had a big part of building what it is today. He knows what it's like to work real hard."
His work impressed the Doubledays board of directors which unaminously approved him as Smorol's successor.
"He knows what the business is about, he's out in the community," said Board of Directors CEO Tom Ganey. "Carl is the right fit for us at this time."
Smorol said Gutelius' integrity and work ethic will be important as general manager.
"He's a tireless worker and in this job that's what you have to be," he said. "He's not afraid to put the hours in."
Gutelius wants to continue Smorol's base philosophy of making the ballpark a fun experience for the fans.
"Some of the teams I have worked for have gotten it and some haven't," he said. "There are things you need to do outside the actual games themselves that are what make this experience special."
Another thing Gutelius wants is communication between the Doubledays, its fans, sponsors so they know what the team is doing.
"The key for me is to get out there and look people in the eye and tell them what we're about," he said. "It's going to be the same fun, affordable, fan-friendly experience they've always had. We're on the right track."