Fellow: Ty’Mori Greene

Years with the Mariners: 25

In her role as Senior Director of Partnerships & Activation, Ingrid Russell-Narcisse has spent the past 25 years developing and forging partnerships and engagement with global brands. Prior to the Mariners Ingrid was a 'walk-on' turned scholarship athlete on the University of Washington's Women's Basketball team, playing on teams that won two league championship titles, reaching the 'Sweet 16'. Ingrid was named the Husky Award Winner in her senior season. In 2019, Ingrid was honored as the Women in Businesswoman of the Year at the University of Washington Foster Business School in 2019. Ingrid has served on the Big W Athletic Board at the University of Washington and the Title IX Recognition Committee to honor all women who represented the University of Washington in athletic competition prior to Title IX. Since 2016, she has served on the BECU Foundation Scholarship Committee, which provides college scholarships to over 80 students each year. She continues to work with University of Washington athletes by serving on the newly formed Boundless Futures Advisory Board that will work with students as they prepare for life after School. As an advocate for early childhood education, Ingrid serves in an advisory capacity on the Greater Trinity Academy Board, which provides and reinforces a healthy academic curriculum for strategic cognitive development before Kindergarten. When asked why she chose to serve as a mentor, Ingrid wrote "I wanted to make sure I am available to help inspire our next generation of leaders. I especially wanted to let young women know that careers in professional sports are possible for everyone and to make these kids know - they can be anything they want to be especially if they look like me. Race, gender, socio-economic status, etc. will no longer be an obstacle. All your dreams are possible! Through the Hometown Nine, mentors will give fellows the support needed to accomplish any goals they set. I am where I am because I had great mentors and allies who told me I can do anything, and I am honored to let these kids stand on my shoulders so they can get where they want to go."

Fellow: Ty’Mori Greene

Years with the Mariners: 5

Joel Firman is a Director of Baseball Analytics with the Mariners. He works with a team of analysts to help incorporate data science into baseball decision making. He grew up in Covington Washington, before earning a degree in Economics at Washington State University. After college, he moved to New York City to work as an intern for the New York Yankees. He moved back to Seattle in 2016 for an internship with the Mariners and has been with the team ever since. Joel noticed that some of his co-workers had bios that were far less serious than his, so he’d like to add that occasionally he attempts to cook in his free time, and his favorite snack is cheese and crackers. Joel says he serves as a mentor for the Hometown Nine because “I want to spend my time connecting with people, doing what I can to provide others with the opportunities that I had growing up, and learning from people in my community whose experiences and backgrounds are different than my own.”

Fellow: King Allah

Years with the Mariners: 7

Mike Mendolia has been a member of the Premium Sales team with the Mariners since 2017. Mendolia helps businesses and individuals get out to T-Mobile park through a variety of ticket options that best fit their needs. He graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Sport Management and Marketing. In his time away from the ballpark, Mendolia enjoys spending time with his wife (Holly, two kids (Jack and Olivia) and their Golden Retriever (Henrik). When asked why he chose to serve as a mentor, Mendolia stated, “When I was growing up, I was fortunate enough to have great mentors that helped shape me into who I’ve become today. Being a Hometown Nine mentor allows me to say thank you to them while paying it forward to the next generation.” Mendolia and his fellow, King, have bonded over a

Fellow: Noah Broussard

Years with the Mariners: 4

Juan Rodriguez is in his 4th season with the Seattle Mariners, working within the Ballpark Operations Department. Rodriguez moved to Seattle in 2018 with his wife, Carla, after stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (15’-17’) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (10’-14’). He enjoys cooking and spending time with his family and their dog Coco. When asked why he chose to mentor, Rodriguez wrote, “I wanted to be a mentor because the opportunity to serve our community and work with youth from our city resonated with me. This relationship is not one sided but the opportunity for us both to grow together.” His favorite quote is "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on earth.” Rodriguez and his fellow, Noah, push each other to practice a growth mindset by setting challenges for one another. Noah has tasked Juan with dunking by the end of the year. His vertical is reportedly improving, slowly.

Fellow: Noah Broussard

Years with the Mariners: 4

David grew up bouncing around in a military family before leaving to play NCAA D3 baseball for the MIT Engineers. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Mariners and spent one season pitching for the Everett AquaSox before transitioning to the Baseball Operations team at T-Mobile Park. Currently, David works with the Baseball Projects team, organizing information to evaluate and optimize player performance. When not at work, David can be found in a Mariners ball cap hiking a local trail or learning to play guitar. When asked why he was passionate about mentorship, David wrote “Growing up, I loved math and I loved baseball, but I felt like those two identities were supposed to be distinct. Through the Hometown Nine program, I hope to help fellow ballplayers fuse their passions into a united identity.” Like his co-mentor, Juan, David has been tasked with attempting to dunk by the end of 2021. He would appreciate any words of encouragement and support as he embarks on this journey.

Fellow: Darnell Carlisle

Years with the Mariners: 3

Skylar Shibayama works in Baseball Operations as the Manager of Data Strategy, where he helps coaches and players make good strategic decisions. He has always loved playing, coaching, and thinking about games in all forms, and finds himself lucky to do so as a job. If he's outside the office, odds are he’s probably practicing at his next niche sport. When asked why he wanted to be a mentor, Skylar wrote “I’ve always loved interacting with kids and helping them connect with their passions, so the opportunity to do so with fellows interested in baseball was a no-brainer for me!”

Fellow: Darnell Carlisle

Years with the Mariners: 5

Mason Shigenaka has been a Business Analyst with the Seattle Mariners since 2016. His job is to help the business side of the organization collect, analyze, and report on data to help make informed data-based decisions and optimize business processes and procedures. Mason’s love for baseball began at a young age, His father is a 25-year Mariners Season Ticket Member, so Mason has many fond memories of going to games with his family and learning everything he could about the sport. He was born and raised in Seattle and is a proud Ingraham High School alumnus. Mason attended the University of Washington, first studying Oceanography, and then pivoting to dual-degrees in Informatics and Business. When he’s not in the office or watching baseball, you can find him playing video games, watching movies, and playing Magic the Gathering. Mason became a mentor because he “loves baseball and wants to do all that he can to give everyone the opportunity to fall in love with it too.” Mason elaborated by saying “along with the opportunity to play, it's important to show to the next generation that you can make contributions to the sport off the field as well. My mentors in high school played a huge role in helping pave the path that I am on today and I am eager to pay it forward to the next group on deck!”

Fellow: Kahealani Sharpe

Years with the Mariners: 14

Camden is in her 14th season with the Seattle Mariners Marketing Department where she oversees promotional giveaways, assists with the Mariners-related special events and assists with pregame on-field ceremonies and in-game contesting. On the radio and TV side, Camden works with radio and TV partners on promotional opportunities and assists with broadcast operations. In her spare time, this proud graduate of Gonzaga (’06) and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (’08), enjoys cheering on her alma maters, running, playing golf and spending time with family and friends. When asked why she became a mentor, Camden wrote “I became a Hometown Nine mentor because I wanted to serve as someone who can offer support and guidance to a mentee who is learning to navigate the challenges of being a student and athlete as they enter and go through high school. I hope to offer encouragement and advice for the next several years and beyond to my mentee.”

Fellow: Kahealani Sharpe

Years with the Mariners: 21

While attending the University of Washington and as a member of the UW Track Team, Mary joined the Seattle Mariners in 2001 as seasonal retail employee. After graduating, she accepted a full time job as an Assistant Manager at one of the region's Mariners Team Store. After 21 years, and a variety of jobs within the retail department, Mary is currently the Director of Retail Stores. In her current role, Mary oversees Mariners Team Store operations for four year-round stores, 20 seasonal sites within T-Mobile Park, and the Spring Training Operations for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. Mary wanted to be a mentor for the Hometown Nine because she “has a passion for empowering youth, making a difference in her community, and giving back. As she looks back on her life, she remembers those who made an impact on who she is today and wanted to be able to share her experience with the next generation.”

Fellow: Joy Wilde

Years with the Mariners: 4

Emily Curtis is a Baseball Analyst for the Mariners. She conducts baseball-related research and builds quantitative tools to assist decision making throughout the organization. Curtis grew up in Norman, Oklahoma and completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics in her hometown while working at a yarn store part-time. She then drove the 2,000 miles to the West Coast, received her MS in applied mathematics from the University of Washington, and still knits in nearly all her free time. Now, she primarily uses her math and computer science background to build models in Python and R for pitcher injury prediction and prevention. Emily chose to mentor for the Hometown Nine because she “could use her own experiences to help others, and to encourage folks who may not think they have a place in baseball.”

Fellow: Joy Wilde

Years with the Mariners: 3

Francesca is a proud University of Washington alumna, sports enthusiast, and book lover. She grew up in the PNW and you can often catch her at a game or concert in the city. Francesca is the Merchandise Assistant in the Merchandise Department and has worked for the Seattle Mariners for six years. She has been a mentor and a mentee in other formal programs in the past – her desire to be a part of Hometown Nine stems from her “belief in the power of mentorship and the impact it has had on her own growth.”

Fellow: Michelle Arimura

Years with the Mariners: 17

Liz McCloskey is a proud graduate of Central Washington University. She joined the Seattle Mariners organization in 2004 as a Customer Service Representative, while also taking on the role of Head Fastpitch Coach at Bainbridge High School. She has held a variety of positions within the Sales department. Currently, Liz serves as the Senior, Manager of Sales Development, where she effectively manages the recruiting, training, and development of a team of entry level sales professionals. Additionally, she manages the Group Sales activities of a team of professionals that drives group ticket revenue through the creation and execution of game-day events. During her time as the head fastpitch coach at Bainbridge, she led the program to nine straight trips to the state tournament and their first ever State Title in 2009, runners up in 2010 and 2011. When asked why she chose to mentor, Liz stated “I became a mentor because I want to give back to the community, I live in. I want individuals to know they can accomplish anything big or small and do anything they set their mind to.”

Fellow: Gabe Lopez

Years with the Mariners: 5

Albert Jaimes, Corporate Partnerships Manager for the Seattle Mariners, has focused his career on the sports industry over the last 17 years ranging in various areas covering; Partnership Sales, Business Development, Marketing, Public Affairs, Community Relations, and Broadcasting. Jaimes has been with the Mariners organization for the last 5 years. He currently resides in Edmonds with his wife Jade and three kids, Graysen, Emelyn and Elleana. He enjoys spending time with his family, coaching in various sports, and working on his golf game…which needs some help! He wanted to become a mentor for the Hometown Nine because he “believes in the power of our youth and what they are capable of in making a difference in our communities.” Jaimes believes “they just need guidance, support and encouragement, and we can help provide that.”

Fellow: Gabe Lopez

Years with the Mariners: 3

Austin spent the first 22 years of his life in Los Angeles with the year-round sunshine and the year-round bumper to bumper traffic. In his free time, you can find Austin watching basketball, playing board games, and collecting sneakers. The one thing he wants people to take away from reading his bio is that the Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread from Costco is amazing, and that readers should show support by purchasing it. He’s very concerned that Costco will stop making the seven-dollar treat, so apparently, it was worth a few sentences in his professional bio so that Costco never discontinues it. On a more serious note, “Though it’s just a drop in the ocean,” Austin wanted to be a mentor so that he could “do his part to start evening out the inequity and inequality that surround us.”

Fellow: Tycean Martin

Years with the Mariners: 8

McKenzie is in her 8th season with the Mariners, starting as a Fielder in the Ballpark Operations department when she was a freshman at Seattle University. She has worked within the Community Relations department for the past four years, creating the On BASE initiative, managing the Hometown Nine program, and helping oversee Mariners recent social justice commitments. Mitchell, a lifelong sports fan, and former athlete, firmly believes that all youth should have access to the benefits of athletics and a team environment, irrespective of the barriers they may face. She is passionate about advocating for equitable outcomes for BIPOC youth, and ensuring our communities are places where everyone can thrive. When asked why the Hometown Nine program is special, McKenzie stated “I’m overwhelmingly proud of the Hometown Nine program because it is a testament to the power of collaboration across the entire organization. The progress we have made for our youth would not have been possible without the leadership of our players, Front Office staff, and support from Leadership.” When asked why she chose to serve as a mentor, she stated “It’s imperative that our Front Office staff, uniformed personnel, and fans reflect our communities, not just the affluent subset of the population. I want to make sure all young people interested in sports, especially young women, know that they can have a future in our office. Moreover, it’s our responsibility to ensure that once the next generation does join our staff, that they feel empowered, are given development opportunities, and feel safe to show up as their authentic self. My work won’t stop until we can honestly say we’ve made Major League Baseball accessible and equitable across all sectors.” McKenzie’s fellow is Tycean Martin, who has challenged her to hit a fastball to practice her growth mindset. She has yet to make contact.

Fellow: Tycean Martin

Years with the Mariners: 14

Mandy has been rooting on the Mariners since she was a young student-athlete herself and continues to do so in her 14th season with the ballclub. As Director of Marketing, she works on advertising and promotions, provides creative direction for the Mariners game entertainment inside T-Mobile Park, and loves to collaborate on special events including Opening Day, FanFest, Number Retirements and more. Her most memorable moment with the Mariners was helping to oversee the events surrounding Ken Griffey Jr’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 2016. Her ballpark food recommendation? The Edgar’s Cantina nachos! Mandy wanted to become a mentor for the Hometown Nine because she has been a mentee and a mentor throughout her lifetime and knows how rewarding and meaningful mentorship is for everyone involved. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity with the inaugural class of the Hometown Nine,” says Lincoln.