Arkansas Travelers CEO and Vice President Rusty Meeks stepped down as the Minor League Baseball club's top executive after the conclusion of its home series against the Midland RockHounds on Sunday.
According to a post on LinkedIn, in a few weeks, Meeks will be starting a new job as director of practice operations at Practice Plus of Little Rock, which provides business service and support to physician practices in Arkansas. Founded in 1993, Practice Plus now has 1,400 employees supporting more than 90 physician practices, according to its website.
“Well the news is out,” Meeks said in the post. “My last game with the Arkansas Travelers was Yesterday. What an incredible experience these last 13 years have been.”
As to the new job, the post said, “I cannot wait to get started and [I’m] looking forward to some more time with my wife and three little girls.”
In a news release, the Travelers said Meeks has taken a new job locally, but did not offer specifics. Meeks will continue to serve on the team’s board of directors as vice president but will not be involved in day-to-day operations.
Sophie Ozier, the team's first female general manager, is now its top executive. She has worked for the team for six years, spending the past two as GM, a role in which she oversees ticket sales, equipment orders, vendors and maintenance at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Meeks joined the Travelers in 2012 and steadily worked his way up to CEO in December 2020. Over the years, his roles with the team included bat boy, intern, director of merchandise, sales director and assistant general manager.
As a boy, he shagged foul balls at Travelers games in old Ray Winder Field near the Little Rock Zoo.
"The Arkansas Travelers organization is a special place," Meeks said in a statement. "I am so blessed to have been a part of this franchise full-time for the last 13 seasons. I am excited for my new role as a fan and VP of the Board. Sophie and her team do an amazing job leading this organization, and that will continue for many years."
Meeks last year guided central Arkansas’ longtime minor league team through negotiations with the city of North Little Rock over the multimillion-dollar renovation of Dickey-Stephens Park.
The Travelers have been a farm team of the Seattle Mariners since 2016.
