Staff

Lee Latini

President of Ignite Sports and Entertainment

Lee Latini is an accomplished Sales & Operations Executive with an impressive 20+ year career that includes advancement into increasingly demanding leadership roles based on sales leadership and business growth results. With a solid history of driving revenue increases, cost reductions, and innovation, he has delivered multimillion-dollar top- and bottom-line results for high-profile brands.

Most recently as Executive Director of National Retail for Comcast, Lee has made key contributions, serving as a top-performing people leader. He provided solid leadership as the business model changed from internal heads to an external salesforce of 800–1000 reps selling in Walmart, Best Buy, Brandsmart and Boost Mobile stores.

Lee also attended The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania from 2014 to 2016, where he obtained his Certificate of Professional Development. Also noteworthy for the past 6 years, Lee has given back as an active mentor in Comcast’s ERG Mentorship Program, where he advises and guides entry-level employees to build successful careers.

In summary, Lee Latini is a seasoned executive and exceptional salesforce leader who is passionate about empowering, galvanizing, and leading large-sized teams, as well as training, mentoring and coaching high-potential performers to grow into managers/directors. He brings game-changing perspectives to the table due to his expertise in leading sales and operations to quickly surpass expectations. Lee is a proven thought leader and difference-maker who develops and executes a corporation’s strategic vision to deliver unprecedented results.

Show less

Scott Brand

Chatt-a-Hoots President/General Manager

EmailSend a message

What can we say about Scott Brand that he hasn’t already said about himself? Brand is a product of amateur hockey having played youth hockey in Michigan, Iowa, Texas, and Illinois.

After leaving the ice, he held the position of Vice-President and General Manager of the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League from 1992-96 where he guided the team to set record crowds, corporate sponsorship and the building of a new arena. He also founded the Waterloo Bucks, the 1st expansion team in the Northwoods College Baseball League in 1995 and was named executive of the year. In May of 1996, he was named the Vice-President of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL, where he increased attendance for two seasons in a row.

In 2015 Brand returned home to his family farm in St. Louis, MI, where he helped start a local farmers market and was named Vice President of Operations for Pure Pro Wrestling, a Michigan based sports entertainment promotion.

In June of 2019, he was hired as to the position of President/General Manager of the Columbus River Dragons and in 2020 was hired into the same title with the Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots

Show less

Kristen Buley

Chief Financial Officer

EmailSend a message

Although she was born and raised in Louisiana, Kristen spent most of her adult life calling Georgia and Alaska home. With a Bachelor's degree from Louisiana College, and a Master's from University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kristen has held a variety of positions that have prepared her for her roles with Ignite Sports and BKI Accounting.

She's a bit competitive, having played sports all of her life. From playing high school through college athletics and intramurals, to coaching her kids' sports teams, to competitive archery and kickball; she's at home on the field of play and often leans into those experiences while making career decisions.

She's a self-professed lifelong student, often picking up courses to have the ability to better her clients' business. When she's not in the office she's usually looking for something new to experience, or curled up with a book and her dogs.

Show less

Shannon Rutledge

Assistant General Manager

EmailSend a message

Shannon was born and raised in Chicago, IL and earned her B.A. in marketing from Aurora University. Her free time is spent exploring the Columbus area with her two dogs, and putting her creative brain to work renovating a 90s Winnebago motor home.

Shannon has lived in multiple states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Mississippi, Florida, and now Georgia by way of her husband’s hockey career. She has a love for sports and is excited to be a part of the Chatt-a-Hoots team!

Show less

Sydney Vadney

Ticketing Manager

EmailSend a message

Sydney is from Monroe, GA. She played collegiate DII soccer at Columbus State University and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology! She is always happy to assist with tickets!

Zak DeBeaussaert

VP of Communications/Play-By-Play Announcer

EmailSend a message

Prior to working for Ignite Sports, Zak was a traffic reporter, producer and play-by-play man for local radio in Lansing, Michigan. He got his start doing play-by-play back in college and the fire has stayed with him ever since. He is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and is a native of Shelby Twp., MI.

Jaden Krueger

Game Night and Event Operations Manager

EmailSend a message

Jaden was born and raised in Grand Junction, CO, graduating in May of 2021 from Colorado Mesa University with a B.S. in Sports Management and Business Administration.

Growing up he played several different sports, including basketball, golf, track and field, and baseball, where his love for sports continued to grow. Prior to working for the River Dragons, Jaden held positions as the Events and Activation Coordinator for the Grand Junction Sports Commission, and as a Game Night Operations Staff Member for CMU Athletics.

In the fall of 2021, Jaden was brought on to Ignite Sports and Entertainment, where he continues to develop his expertise in Game Night Operations and Community Relations.

Show less

Taylor St. Jacques

Special Projects Coordinator

EmailSend a message

Born in Edmonton and raised stateside in Glen Allen, VA, Taylor is a senior at Auburn University majoring in Business Administration with a focus in management.

When not in school or with Ignite Sports, Taylor is a world-class show jumper with the Auburn Equestrian team and has won 3 SEC titles and 2 national titles with the Tigers.

Show less

Steve Smith

Head of Baseball Operations/Field Manager/Playing Manager

EmailSend a message

Steve Smith is the man responsible for the current upward direction of the Calvary Christian baseball program in Columbus. From when he took over to the present day Smith has led Calvary to State championships in 2018 and 2019 and has been named GICAA coach of the year in those years as well.

Smith is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He has presented at multiple coaching clinics with systems on creating a championship culture and building/developing successful athletic programs.

Show less

Rodney Rutherford

Assistant Coach

Rodney is serving as an assistant coach in the Hoots inaugural 2021 season.

Rutherford's local baseball roots stem back to 2003 when he was drafted as a senior out of Shaw High School in the 36th round to the Florida Marlins. He forewent that opportunity to play college baseball at Chattahoochee Valley Community College and then later at Columbus State.

With the Cougars he was a two-time All-Conference player and a 2008 All-American. In 2008, he led the NCAA D-2 ranks with 26 home runs. While in college he was drafted in the 20th round by the Oakland A's where he spent two season in the minors before retiring from baseball as a player all together.

Show less

McLendon Hill

Assistant Coach

McLendon Hill graduated from Columbus High School in 2010, where he played baseball for four years. He then attended Georgia Perimeter College for two years where he was an NJCAA Georgia Gold Glove winner and Second-Team NJCAA Georgia All-Conference. He is currently an assistant baseball coach at Columbus High, and plans to graduate this fall from Columbus State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Chason Perry

Director of Strength & Conditioning

With a Bachelors in Exercise Science and a Masters in Athletic Coaching with an emphasis in Strength and Conditioning, Coach Perry brings a wealth of knowledge to the Chatt-a-Hoots.

He has over 12 years experience coaching at every level with every type of athlete imaginable. Coach Perry has worked as an Assistant or Head Coach capacity with the Atlanta Thrashers (NHL), West Virginia University Athletics, Morgantown High School, US Army Infantry OSUT Brigade, and over 5 years with a US Special Forces unit where he built the entire program for Operators at Fort Benning, Hunter Army Airfield, and Joint-Base Lewis McChord.

He also owned and developed the largest youth training center in Cincinnati, OH prior to moving to Columbus, GA in 2011.

Show less