BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Making her mark in the Bowling Green Ball Park, Ashlee Wilson is the first female executive of the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

The Bowling Green native said the city’s minor league baseball team affords her loads of opportunity.

“Because we really do come with new ideas, fresh ideas, and there’s just a lot women can offer to the industry,” Wilson said. 

A Western Kentucky University grad, Wilson joined the Hot Rods on the marketing team after pursuing a career in the acting world and wanted to be closer to home. 

“In December, they came to me and said, ‘Ashlee, we’ve seen what you’ve done and by the way we want to promote you to assistant general manager.’ And by the way—I kid you not—the next line out of Eric’s mouth was, ‘You’ll be the first female executive in Hot Rods history,’” Wilson said. 

General manager Kyle Wolz agrees that she brings a unique skill set to the team.

“She brings a lot of energy, a lot of excitement,” Wolz said. 

Which is fitting, seeing as she’s the on-field emcee. 

“I get to be my performative self and my creative self. And it is so fulfilling and so rewarding, and I’m so grateful every day that I get to do it,” Wilson said. 

The decision seems to be a positive one. 

“She has nothing but exceeded our expectations,” Wolz said.  

According to one consulting company, men and women likely won’t have equal representation at the senior VP level until the year 2040. But Wilson wants women to fulfil their dreams now.

“I don’t want any women, any woman to be afraid because we can do anything and I really believe that,” Wilson said.