Staff Directory
Administration
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Tahsler | Commisioner | (812) 437-8709 | stahsler@frontierleague.com |
| Matt Shepardson | Deputy Commisioner | mshepardson@frontierleague.com | |
| John White | Umpire Supervisor | jwhite@umpcourse.com | |
| Mike Guistolise | Director of Data & Digital Marketing | mike@frontierleague.com | |
| Dave Rowan | Business Development | (215) 356-7460 | drowan@frontierleague.com |
| Lara Palazzolo | Digital Marketing Assistant |
Steve Tahsler - Commissioner
Steve Tahsler is in his 30th season in the Frontier League and was named Commissioner after spending 14 years as the Deputy Commissioner. He previously served as General Manager for the Windy City ThunderBolts. He has also been the General Manager for the Slippery Rock Sliders, Evansville Otters, and Dubois County Dragons along with serving as Director of Operations for the Otters.
Steve was selected Frontier League Executive of the Year in 2005 and 2006, while his teams won the Organization of the Year award in 1997 and a Commissioner’s Award of Excellence in 2004 and 2009. His teams have set 11 club single-season attendance records and advanced to the Frontier League playoffs in 11 out of 13 seasons, including seven appearances in the Frontier League Championship Series and winning championships in 2006, 2007, and 2008. With the ThunderBolts, Steve was selected the Minor League Executive of the Year by the Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago in 2008, received an Award of Merit from the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce in 2008, and was voted Member of the Year by the Crestwood Chamber of Commerce in 2009.
Steve is a graduate of Georgia State University where he worked in the Sports Information Department. Prior to joining the Frontier League, he also worked with the Atlanta Glory of the American Basketball League and was a member of the Results Staff for Baseball for the 1996 Olympics.
Steve is originally from Bay Village, Ohio (near the Lake Erie Crushers’ ballpark) and now resides in Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jodi.
Matt Shepardson - Deputy Commissioner
Matt Shepardson is in his second season the Frontier League office. Matt spent three seasons as Director of Baseball Operations for the Joliet Slammers. He also served as interim manager at the start of the 2023 season, for which he was voted Coach of the Year in the Frontier League. He has also served as Director of Analytics and Technology and as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Hawks Baseball and Softball Association since 2015.
Outside of baseball, Matt is an award-winning audio/video producer (including podcasts and traditional broadcast). He also has experience in organizational leadership and creative arts consulting (including past work for Chick-fil-A, Willow Creek Community Church; Leadership Network; and authors Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodge.
Matt and his family reside in Romeoville, Illinois.
John White - Umpire Supervisor
John White was named Umpire Supervisor in October 2023.
Prior to being named the Frontier League Umpire Supervisor, White worked in baseball operations in Minor League Baseball from 2002-2016. After his career in Minor League Baseball, he attended and graduated from the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy.
White worked for various organizations in professional baseball in the Frontier League, Northwest League, South Atlantic League, California League, Texas League, Golden Baseball League, Arizona Fall League, Southern League, and Pacific Coast League.
White’s accolades while in college baseball after graduating from the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy include the 2019 NCAA Division II South Regional, multiple conference tournaments, and the 2018 Summer Collegiate World Series while in the Northwoods League. He also umpires on staff across several NCAA Division I Conferences, and has umpired in the American Association (MLB Partner League), and Minor League Baseball as a Fill-In.
White is also the Director of the Umpire Placement Course, and Umpire Supervisor of the Northwoods League, West Coast League, and California Winter League.
Dave Rowan - Business Development
Dave Rowan has over forty years of experience in the sports and entertainment field. His background includes leading sales and business operations at various NFL, MLB, MLS, and Minor League sport franchises, as well as extensive experience in sports media and facility management across the United States and Canada. Dave is one of the most respected in the industry.
