Vince Pierson stepped on a plane for the first time in 2010 as he journeyed to Colorado Springs for the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere program. That trip changed his life, propelling him into a career in sports business.
Now, in his role as Minor League Baseball’s director of diversity and inclusion, Pierson is overseeing a program that aims to foster in the next generation of sports business leaders, as well as introduce the idea of working in baseball to more minorities. This week, MiLB will host the fourth annual Fostering Inclusion through Education and Leadership Development, or FIELD, at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida.
The week-long, full-immersion program for college students and recent graduates is a direct result of Pierson’s experiences in Colorado nine years ago.
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“I spent that week in Colorado Springs and my eyes were opened up, so when we started thinking about how we can engage that same age group, something similar was in line,” Pierson said. “It’s the type of thing we wish was around when we were going through this. Last year, there were hugs and tears when we left and the biggest thing for me is that’s 32 new people I get to connect with when they begin their careers. That’s fun and fulfilling for me.”
There were 25 people in the first FIELD class, and Pierson said 20 of them had never been to a baseball game prior to their participation in the program. This year’s class has 32 participants, and Pierson hopes to achieve the 60% placement rate from last year. He considers placement as anywhere in the baseball industry, whether it’s working for MiLB — there are two alumni at the league office — or ticket operations with the New York Yankees.
“There’s an awareness gap. There’s thousands of sports management majors and many aren’t engaging with baseball,” Pierson said. “These are the future leaders of our industry, these are people taking out tons of student loan debts to prepare for their careers and this segment of sports wasn’t on their radar. This program addresses that.”
Pierson said the participants will be running through a schedule simulating their first homestand, from early morning to late nights, and they’ll leave knowing whether they are fit for a career in baseball. Each day starts with a short diversity workshop, leading participants through a series of “bite-sized” exercises addressing topics like stereotypes and microaggressions.
FIELD also welcomes women and minority leaders from across the baseball industry, including Katie Davison, MiLB senior vice president of digital and business development, and Paris Freeman, Oakland Athletics group sales executive.
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There’s also a group project throughout the week, a women in baseball panel and a resume and interview workshop with human resource representatives from the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.
On Tuesday, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp General Manager Harold Craw spoke to the group about the duties and rigors of being a general manager. Craw was the first African-American to win MiLB’s Executive of the Year Award, and hopes to have a near future with multiple African-American general managers.
“For me, ever since this program began, I want to help because it’s one of the things that will help Minor League Baseball continue to diversify from a front office standpoint,” Craw said. “It’s bringing the youngest and brightest talent together to have a full week to share experiences and learn and engage and for them to form relationships.”
Craw hopes to forge enough contacts and stay connected with alumni with potential position openings in mind. He couldn’t stick around beyond Tuesday and was disappointed he’d miss the alumni panel to hear about their experiences and where they’ve ended up.
The program is hosted at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, a fitting setting for a program developing a diverse set of future leaders.
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“It’s cool to be here with the history that lives here,” Pierson said. “It’s the same place Jackie trained.”
The entire FIELD Program costs a participant a $250 registration fee and the travel to Vero Beach. The rest is covered by MiLB, including registration to the Baseball Winter Meetings. Pierson said he hopes to keep the placement rate at more than 60% before expanding the program, but that there’s space as currently set up for upwards of 50 participants. He said it’d be tough to program another minute into the week, but hopes to keep thinking creatively and outside-the-box to curate a better experience.
“This is a money where your mouth is program,” Pierson said. “It’s an opportunity for Minor League Baseball to take the bull by the horns in how we’re addressing diversity. It’s one thing to have great conversations, but it’s another to intentionally create the hiring process for 32 young professionals.”
