Donald Lewis-Owner     dons@elmirapioneers.com

         Don Lewis' background stems back from his first job in sports as an Equipment Manager for the Elmira Jackals when they were in the United Hockey League in 2005-06. He then moved to Florence, South Carolina with the Pee Dee Cyclones of the Southern Professional Hockey League from 2006-07 as their Senior Sales Executive and Head Equipment Manager. The following season the Cyclones moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to become the Twin City Cyclones he was named Director of Sales for the Cyclones during the summer of 2007.

  Don then moved to Jacksonville Florida with the Jacksonville Barracudas of the Southern Professional Hockey League, where he was the Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing in 2007-08, the Barracudas fell short of a championship in game 4 of the SPHL Commissioner's Cup, before the Barracudas had to seize operations. He then moved into the General Manager position for the Lake Erie Vikings in the Mid Atlantic Hockey League.

  Don eventually found his roots back in Elmira and was hired on with the Elmira Jackals and First Arena as their Senior Sales Executive and the following season was promoted to Assistant General Manager of the Elmira Jackals and First Arena for 3 seasons, during his time in Elmira the Jackals lead the ECHL in sellouts and had a franchise record crowd during the 2010-2011 season.

            Don resides in Elmira, NY

Nellie Franco Nichols-Owner     

          Nellie Nichols is wife to Robbie S. Nichols, General Manager of the Elmira Jackals and First Arena. She has been around professional sports for the last 14 years, including baseball. Being married into the professional sports business, she has learned about the engine of any organization and that is the business end; corporate sales, marketing and community that make a team operate.

             Nellie has worked as a Sales Executive, Box Office Manager and Merchandise Manager for such hockey teams as the Richmond Riverdogs and Texarkana Bandits. She was also the Head Cheerleading Coach of the Memphis Explorers Arena Football Team.

  She is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Elmira Pioneers and their interns,  as well as the volunteers.

  Nellie is excited about the new opportunity of being an owner of our local baseball team and it is all about giving back to the community.

       She and her husband, Robbie, also enjoy helping out area children. In addition to having two children and being grandparents, they have been foster parents for fifteen years. The Nichols have fostered many children in the Elmira area. It's all about giving back to the community and we look forward to many fun filled exciting nights at Dunn Field.

Joy Smith-Controller 
Allan Charlap-Team Attorney  
charlaplaw@stnyrr.com    (607)271-9089  
Josh Snyder-Intern: Sales Executive/Color Commentator

Josh is in his first season with the Elmira Pioneers as a Sales Executive and Game Day Color Commentator to the Pioneers Broadcaster.

His primary duties will be in group ticket sales, as well as dealing with our corporate sponsors. On game days he will assist in the broadcast of the games.

     Josh is from Pulteney, NY and is attending the State University of NY at Fredonia, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management.
Pioneers Front Office
Office: 607-734-2690  Fax: 607-734-7343
Jill Rockwell-Cheerleading Coach of The Pionettes  jmr4571@yahoo.com

Jill is in his first season with the Elmira Pioneers as the Cheerleading Coach for the first ever cheerleading squad called the "Pionettes".

She has been a Cheerleading Coach of the Small Fry Cheerleading squad for the past 8 years.

     Jill is from Elmira, NY
Mike Gurnsey-Pioneers Official Photographer  MGURNSEY3@stny.rr.com

Mike is in his first season with the Elmira Pioneers as the Official Photographer for all photos of the Pioneers, events and game day. Fans can access all of his photos on game days at the "instant photo" booth which will be set up at all games.

He is the former photographer for Stock Car Racing Magazine where he was credentialed for Victory Lane when Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first NASCAR Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. He is also the former Track Photographer at Chemung Speedrome when it reopened and at Miles Mountain MX track in Elkland, PA. 

Mike loves baseball and enjoys traveling the country and photographing Major League Ballparks.  Several of his ballpark photos can be viewed on his facebook page.  Mike’s family attended several Pioneers while he was growing up and he is excited about coming on board as the official photographer of your Elmira Pioneers.

     Mike resides in Osceola, PA