Email: [email protected]

Alma Mater: Rider University

Biography: Sam is the President/Co-owner of the Visalia Rawhide and has happily lived and worked in Visalia since him and his family purchased the organization after the 2019 California League Championship Season. Prior to moving to the area, Sam spent eight years as a Radio/TV sports broadcaster and media personality, working for Minor League Baseball teams throughout the East Coast including the Trenton Thunder, Hickory Crawdads, Johnson City Cardinals, Tri-City ValleyCats, and the Staten Island Yankees, as well as the athletic teams of Union College. Other than his work with the Rawhide, he is on the Board of Directors of ProYouth-Expanded Learning, and Happy Trails Riding Academy, and is also a member of the Rotary Club of Visalia.

Born in San Francisco, Sam was raised a Giants fan, but also roots for the San Francisco 49ers, Tottenham Hotspur, and Indiana University Men’s Basketball. When he's not at the ballpark, Sam will catch up on/spend too much time watching chick flicks and bad reality TV. Talk to him about The Challenge!

Email: [email protected]

Extension: 559-732-4433 x114

Biography: **Mike is a grouch who didn't want to write his own bio. Markus had to write it based on hearsay. The biography below cannot be verified.

Originally from New York, but with roots in Canada, Mike "Salt & Pepper" Candela began his baseball career in 2008 with the Visalia Oaks and was on staff through the ballpark renovation and Rawhide re-branding. In 2012, he left Visalia to join the Bakersfield Blaze as Assistant General Manager and was subsequently name General Manager. The Bakersfield Blaze were disbanded after the 2016 season, though Mike claims it was outside of his control (though his staff has doubts), and he moved to Davenport, Iowa to work with the Quad Cities River Bandits where the team suffered a catastrophic flood that wiped out home games for half the season. After the 2019 season, Mike returned to Visalia as Assistant General Manager right before a worldwide pandemic canceled the 2020 season. He assumed the Co-GM title in February of 2020. Who can say what fate may befall the Rawhide moving forward.

Mike is a proud cat dad who enjoys cheering on the laughable losers, the New York Mets, the always terrible Brooklyn Nets, and the "not-based-in-New York," Dallas Cowboys. He enjoys drinking 80% of his coffees before spilling the remaining 20% on his keyboard. Mike collects dolls, also known as "Bobbleheads," as well as limited edition gummy candies. Go Johnnies!

Email: [email protected]

Extension: 559-732-4433 x100

Alma Mater: University of Iowa

Biography: Markus joined the Rawhide following the 2018 season after spending the previous 7 years working in Stockton, CA (Stockton Ports), Hickory, NC (Hickory Crawdads), Portland, ME (Portland Sea Dogs), Davenport, IA (Quad Cities River Bandits), & Iowa City, IA (University of Iowa Athletics). In his role as AGM, he oversees team ticket & group operations but is also involved in marketing and promotional planning. On game days, you will see him doing laps around the ballpark to make sure he gets his steps in.

Being from the state of Iowa (one without pro sports), he had to pick favorite teams out of a hat and settled on the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Lions, & Oklahoma City Thunder, but those fandoms cannot compare to his love-hate relationship with Iowa Hawkeye basketball, football, & wrestling. In his free time, Markus likes to hang out at home with his dog, Kiva, play his guitars, frisbee golf, and visit the local national parks.

Email: [email protected]

Extension: 559-732-4433 x101

Alma Mater: Fresno State University

Biography: Dalila was born and raised here in Visalia. She attended Fresno State University, majoring in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Administration. She joined the team as an intern for the 2022 season and stayed on as Ticket Operations Manager for 2023. Dalila oversees the ticket office including a number of ticketing programs including the Rawhide Rustler Senior Club, as well as, managing fan activities like bounce houses, tennis ball toss, and more!

When she isn't at the ballpark, Dalila loves to go to the movie theater, travel to the coast (especially the BayArea), and attend SF Giants & Sacramento Kings games. She plays recreation league soccer during the offseason with her family (she is the best one in her family). She also enjoys trying new recipes with her boyfriend, Raymond. Thanks to Raymond, she has an extensive Starbucks cup collection.

Email: [email protected]

Extension: 559-732-4433 x105

Alma Mater: Texas State University

Bio: Joey Gonzales returns to the Visalia Rawhide for his second season as the Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations after serving as an intern in summer 2023. During his time in Visalia, he provided play-by-play commentary during the middle innings and created the social media show “Rawhide Roundup.” Joey is currently a fulltime student at Texas State University (San Marcos, Texas) where he will graduate in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media. He enters the 2024 season with four years of broadcasting experience calling over 200 games on TV and radio. His experience includes working with Texas State radio affiliate KTSW 89.9 FM covering Bobcat Athletics. Since 2019, Joey has called ten different sports including the Texas High School Bowling State Championships and the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

Joey was born in San Diego, California and raised in San Antonio, Texas. During his free time, he enjoys working out and training for triathlons. He has competed at several events including Ironman 70.3 Waco in October 2023.

Biography: Kiva is a 7-year-old Collie mix with good energy and a bad ACL. She is always willing to help if you need your face licked - no matter how tall you are. She is most often found in the office on slow days to let Markus know someone is at the window!

Biography: Brooklyn "Vacuum Cleaner" Rifkind started with the Rawhide during the pandemic year of 2020. The 5-year-old labrador mix serves as President of the Rawhide Welcoming Committee, sprinting to greet office visitors, smelling them, and then returning to his office duties (sleeping, eating, scrounging for food). He rarely works games, but when he does, he usually serves as the usher of the Sentinel Dog Park - sponsored by California Service Dog Academy.