The first black woman executive in baseball will speak to Utah Valley Community College students at noon Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the college's ballroom.
Sharon Richardson Jones, executive assistant for the Oakland Athletics baseball team, will speak on "Creating Your Own Opportunities and Overcoming Obstacles."Jones was the first black woman to be hired in the history of Major League baseball and is the highest-ranking woman in the sport. Jones has been with the A's since 1980 and currently serves as liaison between the owners, the league, the press, community, administration, staff and outside organizations.
In addition to her full-time job, Jones serves as an executive vice chairwoman of the Baseball Network and is a member of the American Women's Baseball Association.
She is also the West Coast reporter for Ethnic Treasures and writes a monthly column on baseball and collecting baseball memorabilia. Jones is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research and is particularly interested in the old Negro Leagues.
Jones said, "I decided years ago that, if I must work, I have to do something very creative and alive and something I'm madly in love with."
For more information on the noon forum call the college's Student Center at 222-8000, ext. 618.