John Katz, President of the Columbia Fireflies will address the club on Monday, March 7, 2016. The 2016 season marks Katz’s 24th year in Minor League Baseball and his 18th as a team’s top executive. He came to Columbia to serve as President Columbia Fireflies after serving as President of the Savannah Sand Gnats – a position he held from 2009-2015.
Prior to his positions in Columbia and Savannah, Katz had operated professional sports venues in Salem, VA, Stockton, CA and Modesto, CA. Katz was named the Sterling Mets Minor League Executive of the year in 2009. He was also named the Executive of the Year for the Carolina League in 2006 and the California League in 2000. In addition, he was the owner’s representative on the design, development and construction of Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, CA which opened in April, 2005.Katz enjoys spending his free time playing soccer and reading obscure books about economics. A Boston native, Katz lives in Columbia with his wife, Anne, and their three children.