The Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Rowdies are announcing promotions and title changes spanning marketing, communications, security and community engagement roles.

The Rays’ moves elevate several longtime staffers into senior leadership positions as the organizations continue to expand business operations alongside ongoing stadium talks in Hillsborough County.

Yanna Boutzoukas has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing & Promotions, where she will oversee advertising, promotions, digital strategy and experiential marketing efforts. Boutzoukas enters her third season with the club after a decade with the Florida Gators, most recently as Director of Marketing.

Brian Deck was elevated to Vice President of Security after joining the Rays in 2024 as Security Director. Deck brings a lengthy federal law enforcement background, including 23 years with the U.S. Secret Service, where he served in leadership roles within the Presidential Protective Division before retiring in 2021.

David Egles, a longtime figure within the organization, now serves as Vice President of Community Engagement while continuing his role as Executive Director of the Rays Foundation. Egles has been with the club since 2013 and oversees philanthropic initiatives tied to both the Rays and Rowdies, including budgeting and strategic investment of community funds.

The communications department also saw multiple promotions, with Kim Couts moving into a Senior Director of Communications role in her 12th year with the team. Couts joined the Rays in 2015 in Corporate Partnerships before transitioning to Community Engagement in 2017, where she spent eight years prior to her current role in Communications.

Elvis Martinez also advances to Senior Director of Communications and Player/Alumni Relations. Martinez will oversee the club’s baseball communications, serve as the primary media contact for interview requests, manage player appearances, travel with the team, and coordinate interviews for players, coaches and front office staff.

Devyn Amara became Director of Communications and Media Relations to focus on business communications and media relations after seven seasons in Public Affairs managing relationships between the team, and local chambers and business organizations. 

Additional moves include Stephon Thomas stepping into a Senior Director of Procurement role in his 15th year with the organization, Vince Caffiero being named as Creative Director after seven seasons with community affairs, and William Wetzel serving as Director of Community Engagement about eight years after joining the Rays as an intern in 2018.

Juan Serna was promoted to Director of Soccer Operations for the Rowdies as he enters his 10th season with the team. Serna previously served as Manager of Soccer Operations, and the promotion follows a year of managing high-stakes operations for international clubs like Boca Juniors during the FIFA Club World Cup and the Paraguay national team during Copa América.

The promotions come as the Tampa Bay Rays push for public funding for a new ballpark and mixed-use district in Tampa. Hillsborough and Tampa officials are expected to discuss potential public funding for the redevelopment effort, which aims to redevelop the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry Campus, during public meetings next month.