New Canaries president brings history of athletics leadership, plans to connect with community

This paid piece is sponsored by the Sioux Falls Canaries.

A former college athlete with a history of leading athletics organizations is the new president of the Sioux Falls Canaries.

Brian Jamros and his family just moved to Sioux Falls from the Twin Cities, and he’s quickly settling into his new role.

“I’ve always had a passion and a love for sports,” said Jamros, a former basketball player at the University of Northern Colorado and Concordia University — St. Paul.

At Concordia University — St. Paul, he served as a three-year captain and president of the student athletic advisory committee. It prepared him for roles in athletics leadership that lay ahead in his career, including at his alma mater. He holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and sport management, a Master of Organizational Management and an MBA.

After working in athletics at Concordia University — St. Paul, Jamros went on to lead athletics departments at Division II and III universities from the West Coast to the Midwest before becoming director of athletics and activities at Centennial High School in the Twin Cities. The move introduced him to Brian Slipka, who leads the ownership group that acquired the Sioux Falls Canaries last year.

“We are excited to bring Brian Jamros on board to lead the Canaries as the team’s new president,” Slipka said. “With over 15 years of experience in athletics administration, he brings a strong financial and leadership skill set to the job that will help us to provide an elite experience for our fans and allow us to eventually earn the right to become South Dakota’s premier sports and entertainment asset.”

“He was able to see me in action, see my work ethic and see things he thought might be transferable to the Canaries and where he wanted the team to go,” Jamros added. “It started for me with college athletics, learning team-building, communication and everything that takes place on the court that transfers to the working world.”

Adding a president to the Canaries roster always was the vision of ownership group True North Sports, executive vice president Jack Fossand said.

“Brian is a very sought-after athletic director and is a great fit to continue our momentum,” he said. “It’s a really exciting time for our organization because we’re building out something to be proud of. People are proud to be part of the Canaries and connect to the brand, and now we have a leader who is going to be based in the Sioux Falls area and here for the long haul. From an ownership perspective, this was strategic and planned. We were looking for the right fit, and we found him.”

Jamros first and foremost fits the Canaries culture, Fossand added.

“Our pillars are to equip, collaborate and uplift,” he said. “It starts with the people, and as a leader, he fits all those criteria as a leader in athletics at multiple levels. You can tell he’s an elite leader; he understands the ecosystem and the industry very well.”

Jamros was convinced after visiting The Birdcage and meeting with leaders across Sioux Falls that the opportunity was right.

“I met with staff and fans and supporters, and got a genuine feel for the people of Sioux Falls and the surrounding area, and it’s just a great fit for me and my family,” he said. “I grew up in a town of 2,000, and we just bought a house in Tea, which is over 6,000, so there are a lot of similarities to what I grew up with and had a great experience, so it’s the best of all worlds for me and my family.”

His first impression: “It’s a passionate place,” he said.

“Sioux Falls is very passionate, and there’s a lot going on. My priorities are pretty simple: to form relationships and make sure I’m understanding the historical perspective and ultimately lead us to our goal of being the best team in the American Association of Professional Baseball, not just on the field but off the field and during the off-season.”

That will include building partnerships, he said. The Canaries have been intentional this season in connecting with their corporate and nonprofit partners and plan to enhance that going forward.

“Our ownership has a clear vision for the fan experience and making sure we’re good community members. That’s why I’m here and why there are boots on the ground, and my family lives here,” he said. “We want to be visible and engaged and be great community members.”

From the ownership’s perspective, “it’s all about partners,” Fossand agreed.

“We were able to build the product into something we’re proud of, and now it’s about selling the product and the vision to partners who will bolster our organization – partnerships with the city, community members, organizations and businesses. We want to establish and maintain impactful partnerships. We want our brand to shine, and we want to be true partners with the community,” he said.

“Brian is here to build that ecosystem of us as an organization within the community and make sure our partnerships are thoughtful and well-executed.”

It’s important that businesses know sponsorships and suites for next season are available, Fossand said.

“This is a conversation we’re excited to have with whoever is interested,” he said. “We’ve gone to over 75 events outside our games this season, hosting partners or nonprofits they support, going out to what they have going on in the community because we want these to be true partnerships. We want to bring our mascot to their events, bring players, bring gloves so kids can play catch. This is more than offering marketing pieces and signs in our outfield.”

It’s also a great fit for Jamros and the vision he shares for leading the team.

“We want to remind people that first and foremost the Canaries are Sioux Falls. In the summer, they’re what we want people to come to. It’s a great outing and great way to showcase the city,” he said.

“It is a fan-friendly ballpark that will become even more so and a great experience whether it’s a family or a corporate outing. You’ll have a great time no matter who you’re with. We want it to become a destination that people think about when coming to Sioux Falls. I’m looking forward to going to work to make it happen.”

To get connected with Brian Jamros, email [email protected] or call 605-336-6060.

With 2 weeks of baseball left, here are 8 great reasons to check out Sioux Falls Canaries