Reds Hall of Fame & Museum

Executive Director

A 32-year veteran of the Hall of Fame and Museum industry, Rick Walls was named Executive Director in 2007 and is responsible for the 15,000-sq.-ft. museum, overseeing all facets of its operations, including strategic planning, development, programming and large-scale events that include Induction festivities, statue dedications (Bench 2011; Morgan 2013, Perez 2015, Rose 2017), Reds Fantasy Camp, and alumni events. In 2018-19, he oversaw a $5.5 million legacy campaign that funded a comprehensive renovation of the museum. A 2020 Leadership Cincinnati graduate, he previously held positions with The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame, Inc., including Executive Director of the College Football HOF (2005-07), Dir. of Operations, Dir. of Public Relations, and Special Projects Coordinator for the NFF (1997-2005), overseeing membership, chapters, awards programs, and tabulation of the BCS Standings. From 1990-95, Walls served as Special Projects Coordinator and Collections Manager for the College Football HOF. An Ohio University graduate, he and his wife, Julie, their daughter, Hailey, and son, Tyler, reside in Milford, Ohio, where he coaches youth baseball and basketball and is an umpire.

Director of Operations/Chief Curator

Chris Eckes joined the Reds Hall of Fame staff in August 2004, one month before the museum opened to the public. His responsibilities include management of the museum’s collection, exhibit development and oversight of general building maintenance. In 2007, Eckes was integral to the introduction of the museum’s annual changing exhibit program. This slate of exhibits has included career retrospectives of Reds greats Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Barry Larkin as well as exhibits that explored the 1919 and 1990 World Series Champion Reds teams, the Big Red Machine and, in 2015, an exhibit that highlighted the Reds’ All-Star history. Eckes served a pivotal role in the comprehensive renovation of the museum that culminated in the opening of a re-imagined Reds Hall of Fame experience in the spring of 2019. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Eckes is a graduate of Elder High School and the College of Mount St. Joseph. He and his wife Sheila live on Cincinnati’s West Side.

Ticket Operations Manager

A native of Beavercreek, Ohio, Mark Harlow earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Earlham College, where he also was a member of the varsity football and rugby teams. He then earned a master's degree in sport management from the United States Sports Academy. Prior to joining the Reds, Mark has enjoyed a unique 20+ year career in athletics/business management, all in the Cincinnati area. This includes stints as an athletic director, sports travel manager, and manufacturing sales management positions. Additional athletic pursuits have included over 17 years as a player and administrator for the Queen City Rugby Club of Cincinnati, and as an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Marshals Indoor Football Club in 2006.

Education and Programming Manager

Ken Freeman grew up in Okeana, Ohio, and earned zoology degrees from The Ohio State University and Miami University. Before joining the Reds, Ken worked as a program coordinator in the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden's Education Department, taught biology at the University of Cincinnati, and conducted aquatic research at Lake Erie. Some of his earliest childhood memories come from Riverfront Stadium, beginning with George Foster tipping his cap to him from left field. He was in attendance for hit No. 4192, saw Eric Davis hit for the cycle, and screamed with 55,000-plus fans as Billy Bates scored the winning run in Game 2 of the 1990 World Series.

Membership Manager

Sherry Rowland inherited a love of sports from her father. Even though she grew up in Akron (with 3 brothers), she found a love for Cincinnati baseball and The Big Red Machine. Sherry earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from The University of Akron and did post-graduate work at Miami and Xavier Universities. After an early career in theatre, she joined Jacor/Clear Channel Entertainment which included 700WLW radio as Promotion Director and voiceover talent. Sherry has enjoyed working with Cincinnati broadcasting legends over the years such as Bob Braun, Nick Clooney, Gary Burbank, Bill "Seg' Dennison, Bill Cunningham and of course Hall of Famer, Marty Brennaman. Because of her dedication to charity work, Sherry was inducted into the Matthew 25: Ministries: Humanitarian Hall of Fame. When not sharing her enthusiasm for baseball history and the Reds Hall of Fame, Sherry enjoys visiting with friends at a good restaurant, a night at the theatre, or taking in a Cincinnati Reds game.

Visitor Services and Retail Manager

Christina, a native of Centerville, Ohio, is a born Reds fan. She attended the University of Cincinnati, majoring in communications before working in sales in both the brewing and real estate industries. Ever since she wrote to Marge Schott (as a teen) asking for a job as a bat girl, Christina's goal has been to work for an inspiring organization for which she has passion. Her job as Visitor Services and Retail Manager of the Hall of Fame and Museum achieves both. She oversees the volunteer program, ballpark tours, visitor services and retail sales initiatives. Her favorite player is Dave Parker, and her most memorable team the 1987 Cincinnati Reds. Christina enjoys spending time with her family, biking, vacationing at the beach, and cooking. She lives with her husband, Brian, in downtown Covington and enjoys being just a short bike-ride away from the ballpark.

Marketing and Events Coordinator

A Northern Kentucky native, Garrett Combs graduated from University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in Marketing and then from Xavier University with a masters in Sports Administration. Before joining the Reds Hall of Fame, Garrett worked for two seasons as an intern with the Reds in both Premium Sales and Group Sales. As the Marketing and Development Assistant for his first three years at the Reds Hall of Fame, Garrett helped with marketing campaigns and development efforts. Now as the Marketing and Events Coordinator Garrett will be in charge of running many of these important events including the Hall's Induction Gala and Reds Fantasy Camp in Goodyear, AZ. He also will be the lead with other special events and alumni relations. A favorite Reds memory for Garrett was being in attendance to watch Todd Frazier win the 2015 Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park.

Operations and Archives Assistant

Jim Farmer grew up in Forest Park, Ohio and has resided in the Greater Cincinnati era his entire life. A longtime historian of professional sports in Greater Cincinnati, he joined the Reds Hall of Fame staff in September of 2004 as a Museum Ambassador. In that capacity, Jim has been involved in numerous aspects of the Museum’s operations including front desk ticket and membership sales, conducting ballpark tours for daily visitors and groups, and serving in multiple capacities in support of the Museum’s Redsfest activation and Reds Hall of Fame Induction Celebrations. Jim joined the Museum’s curatorial staff in 2018 and was promoted to his current position in April 2023. In this role, Jim is directly involved with the development and installation of exhibits and displays, provides crucial support for the cataloging and care of the Museum’s collection, and oversees and facilitates general maintenance of the museum building.