Michael Thornton
Walton
Summary
A seasoned leader in sports operations, I spearheaded strategic growth at USSSA Baseball, enhancing market share and revenue with a focus on operational excellence and staff development. My tenure is marked by fostering a high-performance culture, mentoring for professional growth, and implementing lean processes.
Operations professional dedicated to optimizing organizational processes and achieving strategic goals. Extensive experience in streamlining operations and implementing best practices. Known for fostering collaborative team environments and adapting to dynamic business needs. Expertise in strategic planning and resource management.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Baseball Operations Director /Baseball Umpire
USSSA Baseball
02.2018 - 12.2024
- Developed strategic plans for business growth, enabling the company to expand its market share and increase revenue.
- Reviewed financial and operational reports on regular basis to make effective decisions.
- Led, supervised and provided strategic direction for workforce of 130 employees.
- Initiated change management strategies that effectively addressed employee concerns while driving forward organizational transformation efforts.
- Designed training programs for employees that resulted in increased skills proficiency and higher workplace morale.
- Collaborated with executives to develop and execute strategic business plans.
- Analyzed performance metrics and identified key areas for improvement, leading to optimized processes across the organization.
- Coordinated logistics planning efforts to ensure timely delivery of products while minimizing transportation expenses.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement, empowering employees to identify areas for optimization and implement innovative solutions.
- Cultivated a high-performance work environment by setting clear expectations and fostering open communication among employees.
- Mentored staff members, providing guidance and support that led to enhanced professional development and increased job satisfaction.
- Built strong relationships with stakeholders at all organizational levels, fostering collaboration between departments for optimal results.
- Recruited and hired top talent by selecting qualified individuals to maximize profitability.
- Negotiated contracts, pricing structures and delivery schedules.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, ensuring competitive pricing and favorable terms for the organization.
- Managed payroll processes by collecting staff time sheets, checking accuracy, correcting hours, tracking in database and approving routing.
- Added critical equipment to eliminate production bottlenecks, increasing output by 22%.
- Mentored employees and offered constructive feedback for performance improvement.
- Rolled out lean manufacturing processes, which initiated quality control and decreased arrears.
- Promoted good sportsmanship among players.
Baseball / Softball / UIC Umpire
Top Choice Officals
03.2006 - 11.2023
- Maintained a professional demeanor throughout games, effectively managing conflicts between players or coaches when necessary.
- Promoted good sportsmanship among players.
- Officiated games fairly and impartially using sound judgment and decision-making skills.
- Improved game fairness by enforcing rules, regulations, and upholding the highest standards of sportsmanship.
- Retained knowledge of sporting rules and regulations for compliant adjudication.
- Developed strong relationships with coaches and teams, promoting mutual respect and a positive atmosphere during games.
- Stayed composed and professional in high-pressure and emotionally-charged situations with coaches, players and fans.
- Provided clear explanations to players and coaches regarding rulings made during gameplay, fostering understanding among all participants.
- Ensured proper equipment use by inspecting player gear before each match for compliance with league requirements.
- Collaborated with tournament staff to address any scheduling conflicts or logistical challenges that arose during events.
- Reviewed and provided feedback on game footage for training purposes, helping to identify areas for improvement in officiating.
- Trained new umpires in proper officiating techniques, raising overall quality of officiating across league.
Education
MBA - Operations Management
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZBachelor of Arts - Business Administration And Management
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZSkills
- Operational excellence
- Staff management
- Standard operating procedures
- Staff training and development
- Maintaining compliance
- Safety management
- Facilities management
- Coordinating schedules
- Organizational development
- Recruiting employees
- Operational efficiency
Accomplishments
- Over 20 Years Experience in Baseball / Softball Operations
- Supervised team of 130 staff members.
- Umpired over 2,000 Games
- Umpired 50 Spring Training games
- Umpired Little League / High School / Club Ball / Men's League / College / Spring Training.
- UIC & Official for Top Choice Baseball (Bryan Fields)
Timeline
Baseball Operations Director /Baseball Umpire
USSSA Baseball
02.2018 - 12.2024
Baseball / Softball / UIC Umpire
Top Choice Officals
03.2006 - 11.2023
MBA - Operations Management
Arizona State University
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration And Management
Arizona State University
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