Chris Rogers – Team President
crogers@marylandblackbears.com
Chris Rogers was named Director of Game Day & Business Operations in August of 2021. His responsibilities had included ensuring fans have a great experience during Black Bears games and working within the community to partner with numerous outstanding people and businesses around Central Maryland. Most recently Chris has been named the Team President of the Maryland Black Bears in August of 2023.
He comes to the Black Bears after more than a decade of wide-ranging experience with the Bowie Baysox, the ‘AA’ affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Rogers has brainstormed and executed numerous creative promotions, brought in thousands of fans year after year, directed youth camps, and even filled a mascot suit or two.
Rogers is a native of Northern Virginia and graduate of the College of William & Mary. He resides in Silver Spring with his wife Emily and their two small kids, Amy & Xavier. An avid Washington Capitals and San Francisco Giants fan, Rogers enjoys running in his free time.
James Harding – Photographer
For inquiries regarding James Harding’s Maryland Black Bears Photography : theartofpictures2008@gmail.com or reach out to @TheArtOfPicture on Twitter & @my_artofpictures on Instagram.
Currently entering his 5th season with the Maryland Black Bears, Jim has more than 20 years of experience as a professional photographer capturing images for NASCAR, 25 different NCAA Universities covering teams playing hockey, football, baseball and soccer and more, including 4 years photographing exclusively for Penn State, and freelance work with The Washington Post. Prior to taking up sports photography, Jim spent 21 years serving our country as a Special Tactics operator with the Air Force Special Operations Command, 720th Special Tactics Group, 10th CWS.
Jim is a Penn State graduate with Bachelor’s degrees in History, Russian Language and Photography and is currently working on his Phd in Russian History with George Mason and Penn State universities.
Jon Pitanzo – Photographer
Joining the Black Bears in 2018, Jon has a long history with photography, including trips to numerous NHL Drafts and Winter Classics. Pitonzo also has strong ties to the state, graduating from Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore and McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) in Westminster. On top of photography, Jon co-hosts Face Off Hockey Show; a podcast about the world of hockey. In his spare time, Jon enjoys golfing and traveling.
For inquiries regarding Jon Pitonzo’s Maryland Black Bears Photography email faceoffhockeyshow@gmail.com or reach out to the Face Off Hockey Show (FOHSRadio) on Facebook & Instagram.
Herb Hasenpusch – Public Address Announcer/DJ
Herb Hasenpusch was introduced to ice hockey when he was seven years old. He watched his grandmother shoot a puck through a small opening in a board as part of a Washington Capitals promotion for their 1975-1976 season. That goal resulted in Herb’s first NHL game in a sky suite at the Capital Center in Largo, MD. Herb was in high school in the 1980s and found his way behind a microphone on his high school student run radio station, “WJFK”. Also, while in high school and college, Herb worked various jobs at Cabin John and Wheaton Ice Rinks in Montgomery County, MD, including producing “mix tapes” for public skating sessions. Herb received his Bachelor Degree in Communication Arts from Salisbury University, where he was involved in college radio station “WSUR.” Herb has been around Piney Orchard Ice Arena for many years where he watched his kids learn and play the great sport of ice hockey, and where his kids still play in adult leagues.
Herb said, “I feel very fortunate to be a member of the game day operations team for the North American Hockey League Maryland Black Bears. I love knowing the small part I play helps create a family fun and exciting ice hockey atmosphere.”
Herb has been with the Maryland Black Bears since the 2018-2019 inaugural season.
Alex Utano – Broadcaster
Bruno – The Bear
