Ever wonder what it was like to do branding and marketing for a professional sports team? Bob Moulette shares with Don and Ebony what it has been like to build the MLB affiliated Wind Surge from the ground up. On this episode we discuss:
Learn more about the Wichita Wind Surge:
The Wind Surge were supposed to begin play in 2020 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins in the Pacific Coast League. However, a combination of the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Major League Baseball's realignment of the minor leagues for 2021, resulted in the team changing to Double-A as affiliates of the Twins without having played a Triple-A game.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wind Surge were scheduled to begin their inaugural season on the road playing against the Round Rock Express on April 8, 2020, and to play their first home game on April 14 against the Memphis Redbirds. Initially postponed due to the pandemic, the season was ultimately cancelled on June 30. That summer, owner Lou Schwechheimer also passed away
In 2021, the team dropped to the Double-A classification without having played a Triple-A game due to Major League Baseball's realignment of the minor leagues after the 2020 season. Instead of being a Miami Marlins affiliate, the Wind Surge became affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. The Wind Surge went on to win the Northern Division title by finishing the 2021 season in first place with a 69–51 record. They qualified for the championship playoffs by possessing the league's best record. In the best-of-five series, they were defeated by the second-place Northwest Arkansas Naturals, 3–2. Wichita manager Ramon Borrego was selected as the league's Manager of the Year.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Fresno State University, California, in 2008, Bob then began working for a casual luxury retailer. Although he worked up to a management role, where he was leading a team of 1,000+ workers, after eight years with the company, Bob decided to make a major career change. In 2013, Bob took an internship with the California League, Colorado Rockies affiliate, Modesto Nuts. In this position, he was responsible for many different responsibilities including developing of the Nuts' social media, marketing, and advertising platforms.
In fall of 2016, Bob joined the then named New Orleans Zephyrs as the team embarked on a complete rebrand, transforming into the Baby Cakes. The Baby Cakes rebranding was hugely successful, resulting in over three-quarters of million dollars in merchandise revenue, in a little over one year. Following the 2017 season, Bob was promoted to assistant general manager. In this role, he was responsible for marketing; social media; and all game day responsibilities, employees, training, and the internship program. Thanks to his previous experience in the retail management and internet marketing industries, Bob was able to apply his versatile skills to many aspects of his baseball responsibilities.
Bob moved once again from New Orleans to Wichita as he excitedly joined in the process to aid in the building of the Wichita Wind Surge brand. Now, as Director of Fan Experience, he is currently responsible for the many aspects of the business as it relates to the fan experience, but also overseas many aspects of Riverfront Stadium operations and is heavily involved in the Wichita community.
A little over a year ago he and his wife Stephanie made their very first house purchase in the Riverside Neighborhood.
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