{"id":89852,"date":"2019-10-21T14:07:11","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T18:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/?p=89852"},"modified":"2019-12-05T12:33:33","modified_gmt":"2019-12-05T17:33:33","slug":"college-of-business-covers-bases-with-alumni-honors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2019\/10\/21\/college-of-business-covers-bases-with-alumni-honors\/","title":{"rendered":"College of Business Covers Bases With Alumni Honors"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a freshman at Mary Washington, Pat Filippone \u201988 knew right off the bat what he wanted to do with his life \u2013 build a career in professional baseball. He just didn\u2019t know how. Four years later all that had changed, he told a crowd last week at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center.<\/p>\n

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UMW alum Pat Filippone ’88, president of 7th Inning Stretch, which owns and operates three minor league baseball teams, was this year’s College of Business Executive-in-Residence. Photo by Karen Pearlman.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A bachelor\u2019s degree in business administration, a well-rounded perspective from a liberal arts education, and an undergraduate career marked by personal attention from memorable professors, allowed him to hit a grand slam in his professional life. Now the president of 7th Inning Stretch, which owns and operates three minor league baseball teams, Filippone returned to campus last week as this year\u2019s College of Business (COB) Executive-in-Residence.<\/p>\n

The program, now in its 30th year, gives UMW students the opportunity to learn from and interact with established corporate leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe foundation of my career was definitely built here,\u201d Filippone told a roomful of community leaders, UMW business students and administrators last Thursday morning.<\/p>\n

Also a founding board member of Minor League Baseball Enterprises \u2013 the marketing and business development initiative of Minor League Baseball \u2013 his nearly three-decades career began in 1991 with the Prince William Cannons of the Carolina League. From sales and operations, he was promoted to general manager, before accepting successive roles as vice president\/general manager of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League and president of the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. With 7th Inning Stretch, Filippone has overseen purchases of the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Everett AquaSox.<\/p>\n

\"Lydia <\/a>
Lydia Rogers, a consultant in consumer resources management, was among community business leaders who turned out for the Executive-in-Residence breakfast. Photos by Karen Pearlman. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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UMW President Troy Paino and Vice President of Advancement and University Relations Lisa Bowling listen as 7th Inning Stretch President Pat Filippone ’88 answers questions about his career. Photos by Karen Pearlman. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMW's <\/a>
UMW Provost Nina Mikhalevsky talks with junior Sophie Ahava at the 2019 College of Business Executive-in-Residence Breakfast. Photos by Karen Pearlman. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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UMW senior Nehemia Abel (middle) and freshman Gadsoni Abel (right) mingle during the Executive-in-Residence breakfast, featuring speaker Pat Filippone ’88. Photos by Karen Pearlman. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pat <\/a>
Pat Filippone ’88, president of 7th Inning Stretch and this year’s UMW College of Business Executive-in-Residence, speaks with a group of business students. Photos by Karen Pearlman. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

He credited Mary Washington faculty members Patricia Metzger, Gardner Campbell and Marshall Bowen with taking the time to make a personal impact on his education and on his future success. The one-on-one attention, coupled with the confidence and perspective he gained in college, helped him build leadership skills he was able to transfer from the East to the West Coast in a game-changing career.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an awesome time for our sport, particularly in this area,\u201d Filippone said, citing the recent creation of the Fredericksburg Nationals minor league baseball team, of which UMW is a major sponsor, and the Washington Nationals\u2019 first-ever spot in the World Series.<\/p>\n

Filippone was one of several alumni honored last week by the COB. The following professionals were recognized Friday evening at the third annual COB Alumni Awards.<\/p>\n