Staff
Mike Groll - Vice President of Operations
Mike Groll has been with the MLBPAA since 2004. His responsibilities include the coordination and execution of more than 70 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 10 years of sports background, including two years in the athletic department's marketing and development office at the United States Air Force Academy. 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, Colorado.
Email: mike@mlbpaa.com
Jennifer Gulino - Director of Memorabilia and Player Relations
Jennifer Gulino rejoined the Major League Alumni Marketing Team in July 2018. Gulino graduated in 2007 with a degree in Business Marketing from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. Following graduation, Gulino honed her sports memorabilia talent with companies such as Steiner Sports and All American Collectibles before making her way into the MLAM family. During her time away from Major League Alumni Marketing, she sharpened her skills at SP Images LLC as a National Account Manager for Hand Signed and Game Used Memorabilia and Lead Buyer. Ultimately, she returned home to MLAM to assist her team in wholesale and retail memorabilia sales as well as handle player relations, signings and exclusive memorabilia contracts. Gulino currently resides in Sparta, NJ with her husband and three children.
Email: jennifer@mlbpaa.com
Office: (719) 477-1870 ext. 126
Landon Ocker - Director of Stadium Auction Programs
Landon Ocker joined the MLBPAA as a special events coordinator in January 2017 following his communications and membership internship with the organization in the fall of 2016. Ocker graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in sport management and a minor in marketing. While attending Central Missouri, Ocker competed for two years on the university club baseball team.
Prior to the MLBPAA, Ocker served as a marketing intern and a seasonal ticket sales representative for the University of Missouri - Kansas City Athletic Department.
Ocker currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Email: landon@mlbpaa.com
Office: (719) 477-1870 ext. 107
Greg Thomas - Director of Memorabilia Operations
Greg Thomas joined the MLBPAA staff in October 2011 after graduating from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelor's in business administration and a concentration in marketing. Thomas first worked with the non-profit memorabilia efforts of the MLBPAA, before taking on MLAM duties as well.
While at Colorado, he interned with the MLBPAA in 2008 and the CU Athletic Department in 2010, where he coordinated and assisted with numerous CU sports promotional activities. Thomas' background with competitive baseball has taught him a true appreciation for the game.
Thomas completed his master's in project management from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in fall 2014 and currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Email: greg@mlbpaa.com
Office: (719) 477-1870 ext. 117
Cameron Bell - Marketing Coordinator
Cameron Bell joined the MLBPAA staff in February 2019 to serve as the Marketing Coordinator for Major League Alumni Marketing. Cameron graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in the fall of 2016. Upon graduation, Bell interned with the Select Sports Group, a top-five football representation agency. After completing his tenure with Select Sports Group, he interned with the NFLPA in their Player Services department.
Bell currently resides in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Email: cameron@mlbpaa.com
Office: (727) 898-8900
Ryan Thomas - Manager of Player Marketing
Ryan Thomas began his tenure with Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association in February 2012. He serves as manager of player marketing for Major League Alumni Marketing at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., with MLAM Vice President Chris Torgusen and fellow manager of player marketing Callie Welch, where they develop appearances and licensing programs for members of the Alumni. Prior, the native New Englander attended the University of Massachusetts at Boston, where he graduated in 2010 with a bachelor's in English and worked as sports editor of the University's newspaper The Mass Media for two years. In spring 2010, Thomas moved to Florida and worked in the Tampa Bay Rays Communications Department for the duration of the 2010 season and the second half of the 2011 season. In 2011, he was a part of the Rays' amazing September run to the American League Wild Card. Thomas currently resides in central Florida with his wife, Samantha.
Email: ryan@mlbpaa.com
Office: (727) 898-8900
Chris Torgusen - Senior Vice President, Legends Entertainment Group
Chris Torgusen has worked for the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association since 1992. He currently serves as senior 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. He currently resides in Tampa, Florida with wife, Christine, and two sons, Tighe and Colin.
Email: chris@mlbpaa.com
Office: (727) 898-8900