The Fayetteville Observer's 40 Under 40 Class of 2024: Meet Michelle Skinner

Michelle Skinner, 39, of Fayetteville, is the general manager of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.

She was nominated for 40 Under 40 because "Michelle comes to North Carolina from New York with an impressive track record," nominator Nicole Ryan writes. "While working for a minor league team there, she was a two-time recipient of the New York-Penn League JoAnn Weber Female Executive/Staff Member of the Year Award (2014, 2018), was named to the Albany Business Review's 40 Under Forty list in 2019, was a 2020 United Way Capital Region Philanthropist of the Year finalist, and is a graduate of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Institute. ... She sees the remarkable potential that Fayetteville has and wants to be a key component of building functional and benefit relationships within the community."

Here's what else you should know about this member of The Fayetteville Observer's 40 Under 40 Class of 2024.

Who are your immediate family members?

Partner, Nicole Ryan; pets, Finley and Segra; parents, Bob and Christy Skinner; and sister, Jennifer Skinner

What does your job entail?

My job is to make sure our staff is all moving in the same direction — balancing business, fan experience, community involvement and baseball. I work closely with the Houston Astros, our local partners, the Carolina League teams and Major League Baseball. Thankfully, I don't do it alone; we have a great, full-time staff of 23 —many of whom have been in Fayetteville for years.

Where did you receive your education?

Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

What community and professional groups are you affiliated with?

I serve on the board for the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, DistiNCtly Fayetteville and the Salvation Army. I am a member of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, Ball State University's Alumni Council and Epsilon Sigma Alpha.

How do you volunteer your time in the community?

I love to volunteer and be active in the community. Thankfully my job naturally lends itself to many opportunities from representing the Woodpeckers at Fayetteville Pride Festival or Fourth Friday to sorting food at Second Harvest Food Bank, playing Buddy Baseball or packaging meals with the United Way.

What is one thing you wish people knew or understood better about your profession?

Working in sports is a lot of fun, but it isn't as glamorous as it seems. It is a lot of long days and hard work. Each day may involve anything from corporate meetings to pulling tarp in the rain. We work year-round to make sure the season is the best it can be, and it affects us personally when people don't have a great experience at the ballpark.

What's the best advice you've ever received and/or the worst advice you've ever followed?

I was told early in my career to not ask anyone to do anything I wouldn't do myself and to treat everyone the same, from an intern to a CEO. Because of that advice, I've done everything from being mascot to unclogging toilets at the ballpark and I wouldn't have it any other way. One of my former interns went on to work at Major League Baseball and actually referred me for my current role!

What goal have you already achieved, and how did you make it happen?

Becoming a general manager of a Minor League Baseball team. I worked my way up the ranks from administrative assistant to assistant GM with the Tri-City ValleyCats. No matter what my role was, I made sure to learn as much as I could in all aspects of the business and built my network within the industry. I also had to take some chances to relocate to where there were open opportunities.

If you weren't in your current profession, what would you be?

If I didn't work in sports, I'd want to work for a nonprofit on the fundraising and events side.

What are five things (not people or pets) you can't live without?

Sports, travel, water activities, chargrilled oysters and nerdy TV like Discovery+.

What's something you do outside of work to enrich yourself?

I travel and run marathons as a St. Jude Hero, fundraising for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. My involvement has allowed me to meet people from all over the country and travel to places like London, Berlin, Honolulu and Los Angeles. I've raised over $100,000 and made a lot of great friends. I've even convinced a few people to run a marathon with me! Never say never.

What's a song that always makes you happy or that motivates you?

"Drop Top" by Keith Urban or "I Am Here" by P!nk.

Some responses may have been edited for style and grammar.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 40 Under 40: Michelle Skinner of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers