Name: Chuck Domino, chief executive manager, Richmond Flying Squirrels
Why you know him: Domino was ownership's choice as primary operator of the Double-A baseball franchise that relocated from Norwich, Conn., to Richmond in September of 2009. The Triple-A Richmond Braves relocated to Gwinnett County, Ga., following the 2008 season.
Domino, along with Todd Parnell (vice president and COO) and Bill Papierniak (general manager), got the Squirrels up and running in short order, and oversaw about $2 million in renovations to The Diamond. The Squirrels led the Eastern League in average home attendance (6,626), and EL President Joe McEacharn following the season called the Richmond franchise's success "above and beyond even the highest of expectations."
Domino, 51, lives near Reading, Pa., and made dozens of trips from home to Richmond before and during the season. He also is chief executive manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, of the Triple-A International League.
What's new: Domino is planning for a bigger and better 2011 season, but also is looking long-term at the construction of a new stadium near The Diamond. He recently reported continued "progress behind the scenes" on that front.
Domino credits Lou DiBella, the Squirrels' president and CEO, for giving him the opportunity to supervise the Richmond operation.
"I watched it just grow and flourish around me with all of the hard work of everybody involved," Domino said.
In October, he was named EL executive of the year, the fifth time he won that award. Domino previously won four times as the operator of the EL franchise in Reading. Domino said the latest EL recognition was special because when he arrived at The Diamond in late summer of 2009, "you're going into a shell of a stadium, with not a piece of furniture, not a piece of equipment, not one staff member."
joconnor@timesdispatch.com
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