My parents always instilled in me that if you 'put in the time and work hard at something, it will eventually pay off in the long run'. They couldn't have been more accurate with that statement. Liz Kern, general manager for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, manifests again that this advice was valid.
If you have worked in sports, you know that the days can be demanding, you always have a new challenge to overcome, and your typical day of work consists of around 14 hours of chaos. The reason why anyone would choose to continue to work in such an environment is puzzling to some. We do it for the love of athletics, our competitive nature, and the desire to enhance the lives of others by promoting something that we are passionate about.
Liz Kern has demonstrated her passion for her craft and has recently been acknowledged for her efforts by multiple observers. Kern was named Northwoods League Executive of the Year, after guiding the inaugural season efforts of the expansion Wisconsin Rapids Rafters this past summer. Today, she was again recognized nationally after being named a recipient of the Ballpark Digest Executive of the Year award. Both honors were well deserved. She engineered a team which drew 1,368 fans per game, ranking the Rafters 7th out of 16 teams in the Northwoods League, while exisiting in the third smallest market. Not bad for a team that was near the bottom in the league standings for a good portion of the year.
I have been fortunate to have seen Liz's work ethic on a daily basis, and am privileged to be able to learn from one of the best in the business. I have worked with many people that I consider top-notch executives in the world of sports, and Liz is right at the top of the list. Her persistence, passion, and drive to always improve, both personally and professionally, highlight the reasons her hard work has now lead her to reap the benefits. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to work beside this genuine executive, mentor, and friend.
Below are links to the articles for her recent awards:
http://ballparkdigest.com/201010193188/awards/news/executives-of-the-year-dannemiller-kern-venuto
http://www.raftersbaseball.com/rafters-gm-liz-kern-named-northwoods-league-executive-of-the-year.html
-John