Alumni Spotlight - Jen Yorko

Lake county captains general manager

Upon graduation from LEC as a communication major with a concentration in sports, Jen Yorko ’07 has certainly forged her own way professionally, becoming General Manager of the Lake County Captains. We sat down with her to find out how her LEC education has helped her along the way.

What was the biggest lesson you learned as an LEC student? I was given the opportunity to have a voice, to develop something or make an important change.

How did your LEC education help you attain the success you’ve had in your career? I had so many opportunities to get involved during my time at Lake Erie. Classroom learning combined with actual field work and the opportunity to get to know so many professors and staff members helped offer experiences and valuable information I still use today.

What advice would you give to current LEC students? I would tell Lake Erie Students to volunteer, get involved on campus, network and learn your passions. While I was a student I was involved in Mortar Board, Student Government Association, SAAC and Yearbook. Those activities really helped make me a well-rounded individual, as well as offered me the opportunity to meet new people.

What is it like to be one of only a few females at the head of a minor league team? In our league specifically, I am the only female. I’m not sure how it would be different if I wasn’t a female—my voice and decisions are heard and acknowledged on our team, and I have fair representation in our league and through our contacts at the Cleveland Indians (our affiliate, now the Cleveland Guardians) and Major League Baseball. I would definitely encourage more females to work in baseball and sports in general.