Rays announce hires in communications & marketing
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The Tampa Bay Rays have hired De Anna Sheffield Ward as vice president, media and communications, Patrick Abts as senior director, marketing and Jason Wallace as senior director, baseball communications.
Ward started with the Rays on January 3. In her role as vice president, media and communications, she assists with business-related communications and crisis communications. She spent 14 years in marketing, communications, development and corporate partnership roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. She began her career working in local television as a reporter, anchor and community affairs host in six different markets, including six years with WTSP. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Jackson State University and has certifications in fundraising and diversity, equity and inclusion. Ward spends time volunteering in the community as a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was named Tampa Bay’s Big Sister of the Year in 2013. She and her husband, Rodney, reside in Apollo Beach with their two children, Payton and Jackson.
Abts joined the Rays on March 14 to lead the marketing team and oversees advertising, promotions, and digital marketing. He spent nine years with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including the last four as their director of consumer marketing and digital. With the Lightning, he developed the creation and execution of all business and marketing plans for the consumer marketing and digital department as well as overseeing their retail marketing and eSports efforts. Prior to the Lightning, he spent two seasons in marketing for the Florida Panthers. Abts earned a bachelor’s degree in history and anthropology from Washington State University and a master’s degree in sports administration from Seattle University. He has served on the committee for the Tampa St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital run/walk 5K event since 2015. He and his wife, Amy, reside in Tampa.
Wallace started with the Rays on March 17. He oversees the club’s baseball communications efforts, including its player and media relations, and serves as a contact for local, national and international media on interview requests for uniformed personnel. He joined the Rays after 11 seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, including two as senior director of communications and publications. He has previous experience with the San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic, where he spent eight combined seasons. Prior to the NBA, he completed internships with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, Houston Texans, Triple-A Richmond Braves and the PGA Tour. Wallace earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport sciences with a specialization in sport management from the University of Florida. While at UF, he volunteered extensively with the sports information department. Originally from Richmond, Va., Wallace and his wife, Katie, have two sons, Andrew and Ryan.