Tipton to replace Graham as GM

The Waynesboro Generals completed an overhaul of their front office on Saturday, introducing the team’s new general manager.

Beth Tipton will replace Chris Graham as the team’s GM, with Graham moving to a community relation’s role.

“Beth’s role will be considerably increased, which will give Chris more time to get our message out 52 weeks a year,” said majority shareholder Jerry Carter.

Tipton was in charge of the players’ housing in 2009 and also filled various other roles for the organization. She said that she is going to adapt and learn her new responsibilities as they are presented.

“I’m just trying to help out where I’m needed because I want to help out the organization,” she said.

Graham will run the department of community relations and will still fill many of the same roles he did as the team’s general manager.

“I’ll still be doing the play-by-play on the [Webcast] ... the important part will be running the Web site and, most importantly, updating the Web site,” Graham said. “We will be doing some things in the fall and spring, some fundraiser type things ... keeping the team out in the community.”

Graham’s wife, Crystal, will be in charge of the team’s sales and marketing.

Carter said that Tipton’s appointment was an easy one to make.

“In all my years of managing, I learned you can teach someone any job you want to, but you can’t teach them to care,” Carter said. “She is the nuts and bolts to what we are doing, and her willingness to step up and have more responsibilities is very exciting.”

Dianne Lundstrom will be the team’s assistant general manger and her husband, Brian, will be in charge of special projects. Brian Lundstrom is also the team’s public address announcer.

Scott McDevitt will run the team’s game-day operations.

Carter said that Lawrence Nesselrodt would continue to be the director of baseball operations and that assistant coaches John Cullen and Derek McDaniel will remain with the team as club ambassadors, and may also return as assistant coaches.

“One of the things we are going to do this off season is not have an off season,” Carter said.

Rebecca Carter will become the team’s event coordinator for the 2010 season and Jay Neal will remain the team’s vice president and club counsel.

Carter said that next season the off-the-field staff will be completely volunteer.