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Laven was the stadium operations intern and "fell in love with minor league baseball," he said.
Laven went on to work for other teams but retunred to the Travelers in 2000. He was named general manager before the start of the 2007 season. Laven oversees the daily operations of the Double AA Texas League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and handles everything from adversting to promotions.
In 2008, the Travs won the Texas League Championship. And the team, which plays in Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, broke its own attendance record in 2008 with nearly 378,000 fans, up 1.3 percent from 2007.
In 2006, Laven was named the Texas League Executive of the Year. In 2008, he receive the Closer Award as the top salesperson in minor league baseball.
Away from the baseball diamond, Laven is a board member of the Miracle League of Arkansas and Argenta Downtown Council of North Little Rock. He's also involved in the Jim Elder Good Sport Fund and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pulaski County.
"I'm fortunate to have worked for several great general managers, including [Arkansas Travelers'] Bill Valentine," Laven said. "They just taught me ... three words, 'Get it done.'"
