Lane, Sam 2-15-17

Sam Lane

Director, Membership Services
Signed with Sporting: 2016
Hometown: Tampa, FL
College: Florida State University

Prior to Sporting: Prior to joining the Sporting Kansas City family, I worked as an account representative with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2015-16 season and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a digital media specialist for the 2014 season. I held the same position with the Florida State University Office of University Communications and was a sports television anchor for WCTV, the CBS affiliate in Tallahassee, FL, for four and a half years after graduation.

Favorite Sporting KC Player: Erik Thommy

Favorite Part about Kansas City: Having seasons! Raised in Florida we only know hot, hotter, and hottest.

Something Most People Don’t Know About Me: My high school baseball coach is in the MLB Hall of Fame.

Dignan, Devan 2020

Devan Dignan

Manager, Premium Membership Services
Signed with Sporting: 2012
Hometown: Oxford, MO
College: University of Central Missouri (UCM) & University of Central Florida (UCF)

Prior to Sporting: Prior to joining Sporting Kansas City, I worked for the St. Joe (MO) Blacksnakes Minor League Baseball Club and for the athletic departments at the University of Central Missouri and the University of Central Florida. From 2011 - 2012, I worked as an Account Executive for the Springfield (MA) Armor of the NBA Developmental League.

Favorite Sporting KC Player: Tim Melia

Favorite Part about Kansas City: It’s home. As much as I love the barbeque, sports, and fountains, what I have always appreciated most about KC is that it has everything you could want in a major city while also having the familiarity, ease, and hospitality of a small town.  

Something Most People Don’t Know About Me: I grew up on a small farm raising pigs and cattle. It is one of the many factors that make me a self-proclaimed KC BBQ snob.

BenGaul

Ben Gaul

Premium Membership Services Executive

Signed with Sporting: 2021
Hometown: Ames, IA
College: Iowa State University

Prior to Sporting: Worked for the Royals, Mavericks and most recently the T-Mobile Center

Favorite Sporting KC Player: Johnny Russell

Favorite Part about Kansas City: All of the sports/entertainment options of a big city with a small-town feel.

Something Most People Don’t Know About Me: I’ve completed 3 Marathons

Heidrick, Dillon 2021

Dillon Heidrick

Senior Membership Services Executive
Signed with Sporting: 2021
Hometown: Olathe, KS
College: Kansas State University

Prior to Sporting: Prior to Sporting Kansas City I worked at Netsmart Technologies in Overland Park, Kansas, as a Business Development Representative for almost 2 years.

Favorite SKC Player: Johnny Russell

Favorite Part of Kansas City: The sports teams and the BBQ

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have visited 11 different countries in my life

Derek Pfeifer - Headshot 2022

Derek Pfeifer

Membership Services Executive

Signed with Sporting: 2022
Hometown: Lindsay, NE
College: Nebraska Wesleyan University

Prior to Sporting: Prior to Sporting Kansas City I worked for the Sacramento River Cats (SF Giants Triple-A affiliate) as a Group Sales Account Executive and before that I worked for Bladium Sports and Fitness Club in Denver as a Membership Sales Representative.

Favorite SKC Player: Daniel Salloi

Favorite Part about Kansas City: The sports teams, the food, and the views (specifically from the top of the WWI Memorial Museum)

Something Most People Don’t Know About Me: I have met Larry the Cable Guy and worked a golf tournament of his.

Simon, Kody - Photo

Kody Simon

Hometown: Kansas City, MO

College: Graceland University - Lamoni, IA

Signed with Sporting: 2022

Prior to Sporting: I worked for T-Mobile & the KC

Current Favorite Sporting Player: Daniel Salloi

Favorite part about Kansas City: The different types of cuisine downtown and on the plaza

Something most people don’t know about me: Before college, I used to act in plays and musicals every year.

Rao-Karthik-web-1x1

Karthik Rao

Membership Services Executive

Signed with Sporting: 2024

Hometown: Centerville, OH

College: University of Cincinnati

Prior to Sporting: I worked as a Ticket Sales Consultant for the Cincinnati Reds

Favorite player: Dany Rosero

Favorite part of KC: I love the food (especially the BBQ) and the energy on matchdays!

Something people don’t know about me: I was nationally ranked in chess

luke_baker

Luke Baker

Signed with Sporting KC: 2024

Hometown: Blue Springs, MO

College: Wichita State University

Prior to Sporting: Prior to Sporting, I worked as a Ticket Sales Account Executive at K-State Athletics. Before that, I was with Orlando City SC as a Matchday Operations Associate.

Favorite Sporting KC Player: Jake Davis

Favorite Part of Kansas City: The Chiefs, Royals, and Barbeque!

Something Most People Don't Know About Me: I was a Top 250 player in the world in NBA 2K for two years