SEATTLE -- In the middle of a Mariners homestand, you can find Mandy Lincoln running from the control booth to the field, headset resting over her blonde hair, Red Bull in hand, her Northwest Green heels leaving indents in the warning track. She is calm under pressure with an unrivaled tenacity and infectious laugh. Whether it is a Tuesday night game in April or a sold-out Saturday with playoff implications, one thing is certain, Mandy Lincoln will deliver on making a Mariners game memorable.

Lincoln, the senior director of experiential marketing, is the woman behind the scenes who is largely responsible for the magic of the Mariners. A product of fandom fostered in 1995, she has carried the “Refuse to Lose” mentality with her -- infusing it into Mariners home games and “the little details” that make unforgettable experiences at T-Mobile Park.

“I was a ‘95 kid,” says Lincoln. “It was hook, line and sinker from me that season. I think I was in fifth grade. I became a huge Mariners fan and haven’t looked back. It helps that my dad has been a season-ticket holder for 40-plus years. He shared season tickets that were in the front row of the Kingdome. So, I really had a front-row seat to a lot of those ‘90’s games.”

As with many of her fellow millennials, the 1995 season served as a catalytic spark to a lifetime as a dedicated Mariners fan. In her 15th season with the organization, Lincoln now strives to create the same kind of lasting connection for “both young and die-hard fans” alike. Part of Lincoln’s new role -- she was promoted to her new position last December -- is understanding how to turn a first-time attendee into a Mariners fan, while simultaneously infusing details catered to season-ticket members who have been fans for decades.

Lincoln is a pro at balancing the diverse needs of a variety of target audiences. A skill she has honed from years of experience in the marketing department and a laser focus on fans.

“My north star is trying to create unforgettable experiences, “says Lincoln. “It is part of our mission statement. We do that through game presentations, special events and high touch experiences. We can’t control the outcome of the game. But how can we control the environment? React to it? How can we create those special moments at the ballpark?”

Special moments and little details are her specialty. Throughout her entire fruitful career at the Mariners, one event stands out as a salient example of Lincoln’s planning prowess. In 2016, Lincoln led efforts to plan a weekend-long extravaganza celebrating the Hall of Fame induction of her childhood hero: Ken Griffey Jr.

Once a 10-year-old fan in the front row of the Kingdome, Lincoln spearheaded a complex production to celebrate Junior’s historic career. “It was a challenge,” reflects Lincoln. “Especially since it hadn’t been done before. There was no blueprint for hosting back there in Cooperstown. I had to learn quickly how to put on events across the country.”

Every element and detail of the celebrations had the signature “Mandy” touch. Personal details honoring Griffey Jr. and his legacy, his tenure in Seattle and the silhouette of his signature swing were meticulously placed around each event in Cooperstown, N.Y. One of baseball’s biggest stars was honored in a way that highlighted the little details that really make him special -- details only Lincoln would identify as necessary elements.

“There was a moment when they were doing a toast for Junior during this Saturday night celebration. That’s where it went silent for a few moments and I thought wow, this is pretty special. Here is this person I grew up idolizing and now they’re going into the Hall of Fame,” says Lincoln. “I definitely never thought that opportunity would exist.”

Lincoln’s next milestone will be spearheading the Mariners' efforts for MLB’s 2023 All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park. Next year’s Midsummer Classic marks the third time in franchise history that Seattle has served as the home for the week of events (1979 at the Kingdome; 2001 at Safeco Field).

“I like it because it’s a challenge, 15 years in. There are things I definitely have to learn with this. It’s not just a Mariners event. It’s a Seattle event. I’m most excited about those ‘touches’ on a bigger scale. It’s exciting that MLB is saying ‘make this event uniquely Seattle.’”

Making the 2023 Midsummer Classic “the most inclusive All-Star Game yet” will take all members of the Mariners organizations to step up as leaders. As Lincoln says “it’s a team effort. We have to continue to keep creativity alive. We have to continue to ideate and not settle on what’s been done year after year. That’s what sparks my joy, and I know that’s something that’s valued in my department.”

“It’s a team effort,” is one of Lincoln’s most commonly used phrases. Aside from her innovative mind and attention to detail, her most endearing quality is her humility. One detail she has failed to recognize is the legacy she herself has stamped onto Mariners history and the reverence her colleagues hold for her.

From the BELIEVE signs hoisted during the last homestand of the Mariners 2021 season to Hall of Fame induction ceremonies to All-Star Game planning, Lincoln has undoubtedly made her mark. Perhaps her greatest legacy within the Mariners office is with the colleagues she has mentored.

“I really felt purpose with overseeing the Navigator program for 10 or so years," Lincoln said. "That was getting to serve as mentor for men and women who were interested in working in sports. Griffey and Cooperstown was great. But mentoring really gave me a sense of purpose. It’s fulfilling to see them grow and succeed.”

Kalli Rutherford, a former Navigator, now oversees the same program that Lincoln led as the Mariners' coordinator of experiential marketing. “Mandy has easily been the single most influential person in my career,” says Rutherford. “She has taught me so much over the last seven years and taken chances on me time after time, and for that I am eternally grateful. She is always fostering my creativity and encourages me to pursue every off-the-wall idea I have, even if others have their doubts.”

Tyler Thompson, manager for game entertainment and experiential marketing, has worked alongside Lincoln since he got his start at the Mariners. He sums Lincoln’s impact up best: “Mandy is the most passionate and creative person I get to work with. She makes our entire team better on a daily basis and her attitude is infectious. I feel so fortunate to learn from such an incredible leader.”

Nearly 27 years later, Lincoln is still making unforgettable experiences as a Mariners fan. She has since replaced her handwritten posters for Griffey Jr. with a hand-painted BELIEVE sign hung in left field. Instead of jumping up and down to get on the big screen, she is responsible for creating young fans as excited as she once was. Instead of front row at the Kingdome, she now stands directly on the field at T-Mobile Park -- injecting her magic into Mariners home games.

“Imagine telling 10-year old Mandy she is going to do this. It’s wild,” says Lincoln. Undoubtedly, 10-year old Lincoln would be elated. Proud that she created the kind of legacy and magic that made her fall in love with baseball all those years ago.