Front Office Staff - Union Omaha

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Martie Cordaro

President

Martie Cordaro is President of the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate and of Union Omaha, a USL League One franchise. Under his leadership, both clubs won league championships in 2024. A fixture in the Omaha metro since 2007, Cordaro was recently honored as the 179^th Face on the Bar Room Floor by the Omaha Press Club. He was also honored as the 2021 USL League One President of the Year, 2020 George Brett Award for Commitment to ALS and as the 2013 Baseball America Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year.

Cordaro was intimately involved in the research, negotiation, and project management to build a ballpark for the franchise in Sarpy County, thus keeping Triple-A Baseball in the Omaha metro area. He led the process of the successful rebranding and renaming of the Omaha franchise. In addition to orchestrating the naming rights partnership with Sarpy County-based Werner Enterprises for Werner Park, the organization hosted the 2015 First National Bank Triple-A All-Star Game and won back-to-back Triple-A National Championships in 2013 and 2014 under Cordaro. Since Werner Park opened in 2011, the Chasers have found a home in Sarpy County as nearly six million fans have enjoyed games and events.

With community at the forefront of Cordaro’s daily efforts, the team was named 2016 Ballpark Digest’s Charity Team of the Year. The club was honored with Ballpark Digest’s 2018 Best Marketing Campaign for efforts celebrating the franchise’s 50^th season. In 2013 and 2017, the team was the Pacific Coast League’s nominee for MiLB’s John Henry Moss Community Service award, given to a club “that demonstrates an outstanding, ongoing commitment to charitable service, support and leadership within their local community and baseball industry”. The Chasers were also honored as the PCL’s nominee for MiLB’s Larry MacPhail Award in 2014. The franchise was bestowed the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce business of the year in 2009 and 2015. Omaha won a prized “Veeckie” from ESPN the Magazine in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The team was nominated for MiLB promotion of the year for their Omaha Potholes April 2019 campaign.

The Pacific Coast League voted Cordaro the 2011 PCL Executive of the Year. Ballpark Digest named Cordaro and former team president Alan Stein the baseball industry’s 2011 co-executives of the year. The Kansas City Royals honored Cordaro as their 2009 recipient of the Matt Minker Award as the outstanding minor league affiliate employee. Cordaro also was among the honorees for the Midlands Business Journal’s “40 under 40” for 2009; he also was a Suburban “Under 40” honoree in July 2011. In 2012, Cordaro was honored by his high school alma mater, Ruston High School, as its Young Alumnus of the Year.

Cordaro came to Omaha from Battle Creek, Mich., where he spent two seasons as GM for the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (Single-A, Rays). Prior to that, Cordaro spent two seasons with the Birmingham Barons (Double-A, White Sox). Cordaro started in professional baseball in 1999, spending for four seasons with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Double-A, Cubs) of the Southern League.

A 1998 Louisiana Tech University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, Cordaro served three seasons as Director of Marketing for his alma mater’s baseball program. Cordaro also served as color analyst for radio broadcasts. He concurrently worked as general manager of the property management department for Today’s Realty, Inc. Cordaro is a 1991 graduate of Ruston, La., High School.

A 1998 Louisiana Tech University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, Cordaro is a native of Ruston, La., Cordaro (51), and his wife, Sara, have three sons, Gavin (29), Collin (21) and Cass (16). In addition to being an active member in area chamber and business associations, Cordaro is active in the community and is a volunteer for Millard West Show Choir, is a trustee and a past president of Omaha West Rotary Club; serves on the Boys Town Boosters, is a member of the CHI Health Midlands Hospital Charitable Council; and is on the Omaha Sports Commission board of directors. He also serves on industry committees within Minor League Baseball and the United Soccer League. In addition to baseball, Cordaro enjoys the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and all-things Star Wars. Cordaro is also a music follower and in the 1990’s he played drums professionally with Stonybridge, Pummel and Squint and now plays in the local band, Strange Pleasures.

Laurie Schlender

Chief Financial Officer

lauries@omahastormchasers.com

Laurie Schlender, a native of Quimby, IA, has lived in Omaha for over 30 years. She began her career as a CPA in public accounting with Arthur Andersen. After a short time off with her young children, she started her own consulting practice in the Omaha area with non-profit clients, such as the Iowa West Foundation, as well as several small businesses. In early 2000, the Omaha Royals contracted with Schlender to provide accounting assistance to their business office.

In December 2001, Schlender made the choice to phase out her consulting practice and became a part time accountant for Completely Kids (formerly Camp Fire USA-Midlands Council). She was with Completely Kids for six-and-a-half years and had been promoted to Finance Director by the time she left employment there in March 2008. That was when Schlender joined the Omaha Royals as full time Controller. As Controller, her main function was to manage all aspects of the finances of the club. She was also an integral part of office management, IT, human resources, risk management and community relations.

During the move to Werner Park in the fall/winter of 2010, Schlender spearheaded the implementation of an updated IT solution as well as new security procedures for the new facility. In October 2011, Schlender became an assistant general manager for the Omaha Storm Chasers and continues to manage all financial functions of the club as well as assisting with other operational areas. In May 2012, in addition to continuing as Assistant General Manager for the Omaha Storm Chasers, Schlender was named CFO of Alliance Omaha Soccer LLC, the owner of a new franchise for a USL League One team in Omaha beginning play in 2020.

Schlender came to Omaha after graduating from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, NE with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accounting emphasis degree. She is a Certified Public Accountant, currently holding inactive status. She resides in Omaha with her husband, Greg and has 3 grown children and 2 granddogs.

In the community, Schlender has been actively involved with St. Andrews Church since it began over 20 years ago serving in various roles. She also serves as Treasurer for Chasers Charities and volunteers for the Food Bank for the Heartland and other local groups.

ALEXIS BOULOS

general manager, business operations

alexisb@unionomaha.com

With nearly two decades of expertise in sports broadcasting and sports management at both collegiate and professional levels, Alexis Boulos has contributed significantly to renowned organizations such as Creighton University, ESPN, SFX Sports Group and the PGA TOUR.

A dedicated Owls fan from the beginning, Boulos served, previously, as the Director of Operations for the Pinnacle Bank Championship, starting with its inaugural year on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2017. Her tenure with the golf tournament helped bring about several remarkable achievements, including the PGA TOUR awarding their team Rookie of the Year in 2017, the TRUCK Award in 2018 for operational excellence and the prestigious Charity of the Year in 2023, recognizing the Pinnacle Bank Championship for its impactful partnership with local non-profit EPIC for Girls.

A native of Omaha, Boulos is a proud alumna of Westside High School. She earned her Bachelor of Journalism degree with an emphasis in Television Broadcasting from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Alexis combines her passion for sports with a commitment to community engagement. She actively volunteers for Westside Community Schools, where her children Niko (15) and Stella (11) attend. Alexis is currently serving a three-year term as a member of the Aksarben Women’s Ball Committee for the Aksarben Foundation. She also lends her support to organizations such as Rotary Club of Omaha, Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, Lauritzen Gardens and All Holy Spirit Orthodox Church.