Sarah Alamshaw began working with the Mariners in 2022 as the Director of Brand Communications. Alamshaw moved to Seattle in 2016 after spending four years working in Las Vegas in the PR industry for a number of hospitality and entertainment clients. She earned her bachelor's and master's degree from Southern Utah University, where she also played Division One tennis. When asked why she wants to serve as a Hometown Nine mentor, Alamshaw said, "I became a mentor so that I can give back to my community and let young kids, especially young women, know that careers in sports are possible and attainable. We have the opportunity to impact their lives and help them see their full potential - I can't think of anything more special and meaningful than that."

Brier grew up rooting for the Mariners and has been with the club full-time since 2020. As the Marketing & Sales Strategist, Atkinson has his hands in building out our sales automation platform, drafting ad concepts, and overall pushing the boundaries of how to get fans to attend Mariners games. He graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs) with a degree in Sport Management with hopes of working in Major League Baseball. His deep-seeded roots in baseball came from playing at a young age and developing his skills over the years. Although he doesn’t play anymore, he’s found a way to stick near the sport and keep pursuing his childhood dream: winning a World Series ring with the Mariners. Brier became a mentor to be a source of comfort for today’s youth, someone that can be relied on and trusted in situations that they may not understand or know who to turn to.

While attending the University of Washington and as a member of the UW Track Team, Mary joined the Seattle Mariners in 2001 as seasonal retail employee. After graduating, she accepted a full time job as an Assistant Manager at one of the region's Mariners Team Stores. After a variety of jobs within the retail department, Mary is currently the Director of Retail Stores. In her current role, Mary oversees Mariners Team Store operations for two year-round stores, 20 seasonal sites within T-Mobile Park, and the Spring Training Operations for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. Mary wanted to be a mentor for the Hometown Nine because she “has a passion for empowering youth, making a difference in her community, and giving back. As she looks back on her life, she remembers those who made an impact on who she is today and wanted to be able to share her experience with the next generation.”

Carly is from Park Ridge, Illinois, and lived in Chicago for seven years before moving to Seattle in July of 2021, where she is now a member of the Corporate Sales Team for the Mariners. When she's not training for a marathon, Carly reads, listens to podcasts, tries new recipes, hikes, or walks her dog. She played competitive softball for over 12 years and understands the positive influence playing a team sport can have on your developmental years. While in Chicago, Carly volunteered for several organizations, including Dare2Tri and Girls on the Run. She looks forward to continuing her volunteer efforts as a Hometown Nine mentor, especially since it centers around a sport that has played a crucial role in her life.

Forrest Diamond is a Manager of Baseball Analytics for the Mariners. He uses data to help the team evaluate player talent, improve player performance, and assist in collaborative efforts across the baseball operations department. Outside of the office you can find him taking long walks exploring Seattle neighborhoods and parks: last year’s top three were Ravenna Park, Seward Park, and Kubota Garden, but newcomer Streissguth Gardens has officially surpassed Seward Park on the leaderboard. He’s excited to be a part of the Hometown Nine program and be a stronger contributor to the community.

Matt Doughty is a scouting analyst with the Mariners, working in Baseball Operations to help evaluate players across the Major and Minor Leagues for potential acquisitions. He is a Seattle transplant, having spent his early career working for the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. Before launching a career as a scouting analyst, he was a right-handed pitcher on the University of Virginia’s baseball team and earned a degree in Public Policy. Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, Matt grew up with three older siblings and two pugs. In his free time, Matt likes to play basketball and video games and also enjoys the outdoors and exercising. He chose to volunteer with the Hometown Nine in hopes of providing mentorship to the next generation of youth, "I benefited greatly from having mentors who believed and invested in me. I know how critical this support is for impressionable kids, and I hope to play a small part in making our next generation better."

Based in Capitol Hill, Haley is the Director of Strategic Marketing & Sales for the Seattle Mariners and has been since Opening Day of 2021. In this role, Haley acts as the bridge between the Ticket Sales, Marketing & Communications and Analytics departments. Outside of work, she loves to swim! In fact, Haley swam from age three all the way through the D1 Varsity program at the University of Virginia (go HOOS!). She’s also a bookworm with an unhealthy Rick Riordan novel obsession, baker extraordinaire, and proud plant mom. As a former student-athlete who struggled with ADHD and Dyslexia, Haley signed up for the HT9 program because of the mentors she had growing up, “Balancing school and sports is tough with a learning disability. If I can help one person in a fraction of the way I was supported as teen, I’ll be so fulfilled.”

Camden works within the Seattle Mariners Marketing Department where she oversees promotional giveaways, assists with the Mariners-related special events and assists with pregame on-field ceremonies and in-game contesting. On the radio and TV side, Camden works with radio and TV partners on promotional opportunities and assists with broadcast operations. In her spare time, this proud graduate of Gonzaga (’06) and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (’08), enjoys cheering on her alma maters, running, playing golf and spending time with family and friends. When asked why she became a mentor, Camden wrote “I became a Hometown Nine mentor because I wanted to serve as someone who can offer support and guidance to a mentee who is learning to navigate the challenges of being a student and athlete as they enter and go through high school. I hope to offer encouragement and advice for the next several years and beyond to my mentee.”

Joel Firman works with a team of analysts to help incorporate data science into baseball decision making. He grew up in Covington, Washington, before earning a degree in Economics at Washington State University. After college, he moved to New York City to work as an intern for the New York Yankees. He moved back to Seattle in 2016 for an internship with the Mariners and has been with the team ever since. Joel noticed that some of his co-workers had bios that were far less serious than his, so he’d like to add that occasionally he attempts to cook in his free time, and his favorite snack is cheese and crackers. Joel says he serves as a mentor for the Hometown Nine because “I want to spend my time connecting with people, doing what I can to provide others with the opportunities that I had growing up, and learning from people in my community whose experiences and backgrounds are different than my own.”

A native of Chicago, Jenny graduated from Rollins College in May 2021. At Rollins, she studied Computer Science and Psychology and competed on the Softball Team and Waterski team. While in Chicago, Jenny coached youth softball. She continues to coach in Seattle. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, Jenny has enjoyed trying new experiences, including playing recreational sports. She has heard great reflections from her coworkers who have served as mentors for the Hometown Nine program, and their meaningful experiences led her to apply to the program. She's had incredible mentors in the past and is looking forward to serving our community in this role. When asked what mentorship means to her, she said, "I understand that serving as a mentor is about connection, understanding, and being a good role model. Having the opportunity to be part of the Hometown Nine Community is a true honor."

Hannah attended San Jose State University on an athletic scholarship for the Women's Soccer team. However, due to her post-concussion syndrome, she medically retired from the sport and helped with operations and social media for the team. While dealing with post-concussion syndrome, she founded Head On Foundation, which allows people to share their concussion stories, attend support groups, and relate to others suffering from the same injury. Hannah has also worked with student-athletes to provide them with work opportunities beyond their sport. When asked why she wants to be a Hometown Nine mentor, she said, "I want to be a Hometown Nine mentor because I know what it feels like not to have the resources but still have the drive to succeed. I want to show my mentee that no matter their situation, they can be successful."

David grew up bouncing around in a military family before leaving to play NCAA D3 baseball for the MIT Engineers. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Mariners and spent one season pitching for the Everett AquaSox before transitioning to the Baseball Operations team at T-Mobile Park. Currently, David works with the Baseball Projects team, organizing information to evaluate and optimize player performance. When not at work, David can be found in a Mariners ball cap hiking a local trail or learning to play guitar. When asked why he was passionate about mentorship, David wrote “Growing up, I loved math and I loved baseball, but I felt like those two identities were supposed to be distinct. Through the Hometown Nine program, I hope to help fellow ballplayers fuse their passions into a united identity.”

A graduate of Seattle Pacific University, Amanda's hospitality and sales career spans 15 years. She says her career has taught her patience, constant pivoting, and a willingness to put others first. She describes herself as an enthusiastic helper. She says she wants to serve as a Hometown Nine mentor because she is always looking for ways to give back to the community and "will go above and beyond to make sure fellows feel supported, safe, and are having a good time."

In her role as Manager of Group Events for the Mariners, Alexandra helps develop, sell and execute all of the organization’s Theme and Community Night Ticket Specials. Alexandra relocated from Pittsburgh to join the Mariners Organization in 2021. When she isn't working, she enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring with her Pomeranian/Husky mix named Cleo. She previously worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates as an account manager. Alexandra graduated from Robert Morris University, earning a BSBA in Sports Management, Hospitality, and Tourism Management. Following her cross-country move, Alexandra hopes to learn more about her new community by volunteering with the Hometown Nine. When asked why else she wants to serve as a mentor, she said she wants to help fellows "in unique ways which will help them thrive."

Mandy has been rooting on the Mariners since she was a young student-athlete herself and continues to do so in her 14th season with the ballclub.As Senior Director of Experiential Marketing, she works on advertising and promotions, provides creative direction for the Mariners game entertainment inside T-Mobile Park, and loves to collaborate on special events including Opening Day, FanFest, Number Retirements and more. Her most memorable moment with the Mariners was helping to oversee the events surrounding Ken Griffey Jr’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 2016. Her ballpark food recommendation? The Edgar’s Cantina nachos! Mandy wanted to become a mentor for the Hometown Nine because she has been a mentee and a mentor throughout her lifetime and knows how rewarding and meaningful mentorship is for everyone involved. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity with the inaugural class of the Hometown Nine,” says Lincoln.

Alex Lipman began working with the Baseball Projects team in 2020 to build analytical tools to help close the gap between Analytics and broader Baseball Operations. Before joining the Mariners, Alex played NCAA D3 Baseball at Salisbury University, on the other side of the world in Maryland, where he was born and raised. Upon graduating in 2016, Alex worked in the corporate world for a few years where he realized it was not as much fun as baseball, which lead him to the Mariners. When asked why he wanted to be a mentor, Alex wrote “Many close bonds I’ve made throughout life have been through the avenue of baseball. This is an amazing opportunity to hopefully create a bond with fellows who are just as passionate about the game as I am!”

Madison is a born and raised Washingtonian with a passion for all things sports, games, and the outdoors! After graduating high school, Madison attended the University of Washington, where she double majored in communications and sociology with a minor in diversity. She honed her passion for communication by writing for the student newspaper, The Daily, and later interned in the UW Athletic Department before joining the Mariners on the marketing and communications team. She received a master's degree from UW in education, focusing on athletic leadership. When asked why she wanted to serve as a Hometown Nine Mentor, she said: "the work that Hometown Nine does for underrepresented communities and for kids from all different backgrounds is so important—not only for representation and access to the sport of baseball—but for the development of fellow's lives, giving more opportunity, and education outside of the classroom. I feel so lucky to be able to give back to my community and positively impact the next generation."

Liz McCloskey is a proud graduate of Central Washington University. She joined the Seattle Mariners organization in 2004 as a Customer Service Representative, while also taking on the role of Head Fastpitch Coach at Bainbridge High School. She has held a variety of positions within the Sales department. Currently, Liz serves as the Director of Sales Development & Group Events, where she effectively manages the recruiting, training, and development of a team of entry level sales professionals. Additionally, she manages the Group Sales activities of a team of professionals that drives group ticket revenue through the creation and execution of game-day events. During her time as the head fastpitch coach at Bainbridge, she led the program to nine straight trips to the state tournament and their first ever State Title in 2009, runners up in 2010 and 2011. When asked why she chose to mentor, Liz stated “I became a mentor because I want to give back to the community I live in. I want individuals to know they can accomplish anything big or small and do anything they set their mind to.”

Mike Mendolia has been a member of the Premium Sales team with the Mariners since 2017. Mendolia helps businesses and individuals get out to T-Mobile Park through a variety of ticket options that best fit their needs. He graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Sport Management and Marketing. In his time away from the ballpark, Mendolia enjoys spending time with his wife (Holly, two kids (Jack and Olivia) and their Golden Retriever (Henrik). When asked why he chose to serve as a mentor, Mendolia stated, “When I was growing up, I was fortunate enough to have great mentors that helped shape me into who I’ve become today. Being a Hometown Nine mentor allows me to say thank you to them while paying it forward to the next generation.” Mendolia and his fellow, King, have bonded over a

Alexa is a native of Tacoma, Washington, where she attended Woodrow Wilson High School. She later went to Central Washington University (CWU), where she played college softball for four years and served as captain during her senior year. Alexa holds multiple degrees from CWU, including a master's in Athletic Administration. While earning her master's degree, she worked as a softball program graduate assistant. She oversaw all team operations in this role, including team travel and budgeting. She also assisted in coach. When asked why she wants to serve as a Hometown Nine mentor, Alexa reflects on her experience in college sports. "As someone who went through the travel ball circuit and eventually on to college ball, I know I can provide guidance and wisdom to those who aspire to play baseball or softball at the collegiate level."

Sam Reinertsen is a Coordinator of Advance Scouting with the Mariners. He's part of a group that helps prepare coaches and players on their upcoming opponents. Sam grew up in San Anselmo, California before earning a history degree and playing baseball at Davidson College in North Carolina. After school, he interned with the Tampa Bay Rays through 2020 before returning to the west coast to join the Mariners. His Seattle area hobbies include pickleball and kicking field goals. Sam serves as a Hometown Nine mentor because "I want to be involved with the local community in helping youth grow through academics and athletics, regardless of background."

Juan Rodriguez moved to Seattle in 2018 with his wife, Carla, after stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (15’-17’) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (10’-14’). He enjoys cooking and spending time with his family and their dog Coco. When asked why he chose to mentor, Rodriguez wrote, “I wanted to be a mentor because the opportunity to serve our community and work with youth from our city resonated with me. This relationship is not one sided but the opportunity for us both to grow together.” His favorite quote is "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on earth.” Rodriguez and his fellow, Noah, push each other to practice a growth mindset by setting challenges for one another.

Melissa Ross was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She is the Director of Guest Experience and has been with the Seattle Mariners since 2018. Melissa currently resides in Puyallup, Washington with her husband, Shaun, and their French Bulldog, Moose! In her spare time Melissa enjoys visiting with family and friends, traveling and being outdoors. She claims she can’t cook but is a decent baker, and her homemade cookies have been known to put others to shame. When asked why she wanted to volunteer for the Hometown Nine, Leung wrote “I wanted to become a mentor because of the impact other mentors have had on me throughout my life. Mentoring gives me meaning and a true sense of purpose and belonging. We have an obligation in life to help make this world and our community a better place, mentoring allows me to help make an impact on my mentee’s life and gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise with others.”

Andrew Scott is a Manager of Corporate Partnerships with the Seattle Mariners. He is responsible for developing comprehensive and innovative brand partnerships that enhance the overall fan experience and drive authentic business and community outcomes. Together he has 10 years of sports industry experience in Sponsorship and Hospitality sales with the XFL, Seattle Sounders, Seahawks and Seafair. A native of the northwest and graduate from Washington State University, Andrew is married to his high school sweetheart (Marcie), and they have two children: Brooklyn & Riley. Andrew says he serves as a mentor for the Hometown Nine because “I want to make a lasting and meaningful impact in the youth throughout our region.”

Letitia is passionate about the role sports play in building core skills critical for success in the classroom, a career, and life. She was previously a D-1 student-athlete, a D-1 and Jr. National level coach, and has been a people leader in the corporate world for 20+ years. At her core, Letitia believes that student-athletes inherently have a unique set of skills that apply to all facets of one’s life. When asked why she wants to serve as a Hometown Nine Mentor, Letitia says it is ultimately the opportunity to play a small role in a mentee’s journey – to be in the stands and witness their greatness.

Skylar Shibayama works in Baseball Operations as the Director of Data Strategy, where he helps coaches and players make good strategic decisions. He has always loved playing, coaching, and thinking about games in all forms, and finds himself lucky to do so as a job. If he's outside the office, odds are he’s probably practicing at his next niche sport. When asked why he wanted to be a mentor, Skylar wrote “I’ve always loved interacting with kids and helping them connect with their passions, so the opportunity to do so with fellows interested in baseball was a no-brainer for me!”

Mason Shigenaka has been with the Seattle Mariners since 2016. His job is to help the business side of the organization collect, analyze, and report on data to help make informed data-based decisions and optimize business processes and procedures. Mason’s love for baseball began at a young age. His father is a 25-year Mariners Season Ticket Member, so Mason has many fond memories of going to games with his family and learning everything he could about the sport. He was born and raised in Seattle and is a proud Ingraham High School alumnus. Mason attended the University of Washington, first studying Oceanography, and then pivoting to dual-degrees in Informatics and Business. When he’s not in the office or watching baseball, you can find him playing video games, watching movies, and playing Magic the Gathering. Mason became a mentor because he “loves baseball and wants to do all that he can to give everyone the opportunity to fall in love with it too.” Mason elaborated by saying “along with the opportunity to play, it's important to show to the next generation that you can make contributions to the sport off the field as well. My mentors in high school played a huge role in helping pave the path that I am on today and I am eager to pay it forward to the next group on deck!”

Liza was born in Busan, South Korea, and adopted by a wonderful baseball-loving family in Sammamish, Washington. She played softball throughout her childhood, including while at Skyline High School and, later, at Western Washington University. She later pursued coaching as a graduate assistant at her alma mater while she earned her master's degree in Human Movement and Performance with a focus on Biomechanics. She has a master's degree in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership from the University of Washington and learned programming languages SQL and R through self-taught study. When asked why she wants to serve as a Hometown Nine mentor, she said: "baseball has been a transformative force in my life. It has helped me form close bonds with my family and friends, earn educational opportunities and find a career. I would cherish the opportunity to mentor a young person who may not have the same access to baseball or softball as I did."

Since his first job with the Spokane Indians, Tyler has only ever worked in sports… and in 2018, he moved to the Emerald City to make his dream of working for the Seattle Mariners come true! In his current position, he has the pleasure of writing, scheduling and live-producing the show at Mariners home games. Between crafting ceremonial first pitch scripts, choosing which Hydro Boat wins and selecting the perfect song for fans to dance to after a big inning, Tyler plays a role in throwing a party at T-Mobile Park 81 times per season. When he’s not at the ballpark, you can find the Eastern Washington grad cheering on his Eagles, reeling in (mostly small) fish, and spending time with his friends, family, fiancé and dog, Vern. Tyler is thrilled to be a mentor in the Hometown Nine program because he wants to “empower the amazing young women and men who will have an incredible impact on our sport and community for years to come.”

Judy is a graduate of the University of Washington and has spent her entire career in the sports industry. She spent many years with the UW Trademarks & Licensing program working on sponsorships and merchandising and was fortunate enough to experience three Rose Bowls and one Co-National Championship. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family watching sports, traveling, cooking, listening to music, and exercising—walking and biking are some of her favorite pastimes! She is excited about the opportunity to serve as a mentor for the Hometown Nine Program because she "wants to make a positive impact in a young person's life."

Brent Vogel is an Account Executive of Membership Sales with the Mariners. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina before venturing west to earn a degree in Sport Management at Washington State University. After college, he moved to Spokane to work as an intern, and then in the ticket office of the Spokane Shock/Empire, the indoor football team at the time. Brent then started work at Washington State University and Learfield as an Account Executive in the athletic department before coming to work for the Mariners in the Fall of 2022. While not working, Brent spends his time listening to music and reading books. Brent says he serves as a mentor for the Hometown Nine because “being a mentor allows me the opportunity to help impact the community with a sense of pride and purpose. This mentorship allows me to give back to the community and provide my knowledge and insight to the youth of tomorrow.”

Tim is the Director of Digital Marketing & Social Media with the Mariners, where he leads the strategy and content across all of the Mariners digital and social channels and accounts. Tim was born and raised in New York and previously worked for the New York Mets, Major League Baseball and Fanatics. He joined the Mariners and moved out to Seattle in 2020. Tim enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching and playing sports, working out, watching TV/movies and of course, good food! After being both a mentee and mentor in the past, Tim joined the Hometown Nine as a way to make an impact on others. “Having someone you can look up to and rely on for advice, guidance and to be there when you need it, is important. I know the impact that mentors have had in my life so the opportunity to give back
and support others was a no brainer for me. It will be a fun experience to build a relationship with Imani and know we will both learn a lot from each other.”

Austin spent the first 22 years of his life in Los Angeles with the year-round sunshine and the year-round bumper to bumper traffic. In his free time, you can find Austin watching basketball, playing board games, and collecting sneakers. The one thing he wants people to take away from reading his bio is that the Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread from Costco is amazing, and that readers should show support by purchasing it. He’s very concerned that Costco will stop making the seven-dollar treat, so apparently, it was worth a few sentences in his professional bio so that Costco never discontinues it. On a more serious note, “Though it’s just a drop in the ocean,” Austin wanted to be a mentor so that he could “do his part to start evening out the inequity and inequality that surround us.”

Andy graduated from the University of Washington, majoring in Statistics and double minoring in Japanese and Business. He loves the mental and physical aspects of baseball. He hopes to use his degree to work as a baseball data analyst. Andy practiced the Japanese martial art of Kendo for over 13 years as a competitive athlete and served as an assistant coach of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation Junior Team. Andy says he's interested in serving as a Hometown Nine mentor because he "loves the city of Seattle and the community that surrounds it and wants to be able to support the future in whatever way that would be."

The child of immigrants, Yvette grew up in Pasco, Washington, where her parents worked in the fields picking asparagus, cherries, and potatoes. In the summer, Yvette took her younger siblings to the nearby baseball field to get them out of the house. Over time, they forged a sense of community with the local baseball players and their parents, which made her even more passionate about the game. Yvette previously volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club South Puget Sound and has served as a professional mentor for MiLB. She has degrees in marketing and management with a human resource emphasis from the University of Idaho. When asked why she wanted to serve as a Hometown Nine Mentor, Yvette reflected on the support she received from others when seeking career advice as a student in high school, "I vowed I would always pay it forward if I could."