Railers HC Front Office Staff
Cliff and Susan Rucker
Owners
Cliff Rucker has been the owner and governor of the Worcester RailersHC professional hockey team since its inception in 2015. Cliff founded NFS Leasing in 2005 and is currently the President of NFS, one of the largest independent equipment finance companies in the country. Prior to his tenure at NFS, Mr. Rucker was founder and CEO of NEXL, a national provider of IT services and outsourcing. Mr. Rucker oversaw the successful sale of Nexl to publicly traded NASDAQ Company MTM Technologies, in 2005. Mr. Rucker is also the Principal owner of Porzia Properties, a national real estate investment firm, and Fulcrum FXT, a global asset management company.
He has been featured on the cover of Computer Reseller News and served on various technology industry councils including those for Sun Microsystems, EMC and Hewlett Packard. Mr. Rucker is a trustee at The Pingree School, The Brookwood School and on the advisory board for Citizens for Adequate Housing and Kids Kicking Cancer. He is a significant supporter of the Wellspring House, Beverly Bootstraps, EMARC, Haven from Hunger and many other not for profit organizations. Mr. Rucker resides on the North Shore of Massachusetts with his wife and 5 children. Mr. Rucker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Tufts University.
Mr. Rucker and his family are rabid hockey fans and they will be found cheering on the RailersHC at almost every home game at the DCU Center!
Stephanie Ramey
President
About Stephanie
Stephanie Ramey was named president of the Worcester Railers HC on May 11, 2020, bringing with her more than fifteen years of sales, marketing and business experience.
Ramey is a tremendous supporter of the City of Worcester and has been a key-player in the economic development of the region. Prior to her work with the Railers, she served as the Executive Director of Discover Central Massachusetts. Under her leadership, the tourism bureau launched a variety of comprehensive marketing campaigns promoting the Central Mass. region as a premiere event and leisure destination. Ramey has been an active contributor to the Worcester Economic Development Coordinating Council and has been involved in the creation and execution of the city’s cultural plan.
As president of the Railers, Ramey oversees all sales, financial reporting and marketing with a focus on developing the Railers brand and business in central Massachusetts.
Stephanie graduated from Worcester State University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Studies.
Mike Myers
Chief Operating Officer
About Mike
Mike Myers was named COO of the Worcester Railers HC on May 11, 2020 after serving as team president since May 2016. Under his leadership, the Railers were recognized as one of the premier teams in the ECHL which included winning the 2018-19 ECHL Community Service Award, finishing top three in corporate sales revenues in each of the last three seasons, and finishing in the top five in overall group sales. Myers was also named a finalist for the ECHL Executive of the Year in 2018 and 2019. Under his role as COO, he is responsible for all aspects of hockey operations, ticket sales, game day operations, and overseeing the Railers HC Foundation.
Before working with the Railers he spent nine seasons with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks as Senior Director of Business and Community Development. Myers made a significant impact in Central Massachusetts over that time overseeing an award-winning community relations department while also becoming a fixture in Worcester County’s business landscape.
Prior to his work with the Sharks, Myers owned and operated Myers Mask Design in Worcester where he built a reputation as one of the country’s top mask designers for 11 years, having designed and painted masks for NHL greats such as former Conn Smythe winners Cam Ward and Bill Ranford, and NHL All-Stars Olaf Kolzig, Jonathan Quick and Dwayne Roloson. Myers painted a mask for Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild that was voted “Mask of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated in 2010.
Mike continues to actively serve on the boards of several non-profits throughout the area including: The Nativity School of Worcester, Devereux of Rutland and Rainbow Child Development Center of Worcester. A varsity hockey goalie and lacrosse player at Assumption College from 1989-93 he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Psychology/Spanish and a minor in Art.
Myers attended ECHL training camps with the Hampton Roads Admirals in 1993 and the South Carolina Stingrays in 1994. The Assumption graduate returned to his alma mater, serving as the Greyhounds’ hockey assistant coach from 1999-2005. As a USA Hockey Level 3 Coach, Mike has spent the last 11 years coaching over 17 youth hockey teams in the Junior Sharks and Junior Railers Organization. He is currently the head coach of the 2005 AAA Elite and Assistant Coach of the 2002 AAA Elite and Mite II teams.
Myers resides in Worcester with his wife Ann and three sons: Matthew, Damon and John.
David Gwozdz
Director of Merchandise Operations
About David
David Gwozdz joined the Railers HC after spending the previous two years as the Assistant Retail Manager at TD Garden with Delaware North working Bruins games, Celtics games and concerts. The Ludlow, MA native also worked as the Merchandise Manager for the Worcester Tornadoes (CAN-AM) before joining the Worcester Sharks (AHL) in 2006, where he spent nine seasons. David is a graduate of Western New England University where he studied business.
Favorite Spot in Worcester: Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field
Favorite Team (other than the Railers): 88-89 Bad Boys
Dream Dinner Guest: Jess Whedon
Secret Talent: Movie Quotes from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Nikki Koppel
Director of Special Events
About Nikki
Nikki Koppel joined the Railers in 2020 . The New York native turned Floridian has now made Worcester her new home. She has extensive experience in event planning and relationship management. Prior to joining the Railers, Nikki worked as an educator of students on the Autism spectrum and started her own companies, Links Jewelry and Outside the Box consulting company.
Favorite spot in Worcester: Crompton Collective
Favorite Sports Team (Besides the Railers HC): New England Patriots
Dream Dinner Guest: Rafael Nadal
Secret Talent: Jewelry Design
Connor Haynes
Manager of Group Sales & HC Memberships
About Connor
Connor Haynes joined the Railers in April 2017 after spending the previous season with the Providence Bruins. The Sutton, Massachusetts native graduated from St. Peter-Marian as well as Nichols College where he studied sports management and received the Zeta Alpha Phi Award for outstanding achievement in sports management. While at Nichols, the football kicker interned with the Copa America international soccer tournament and Worcester State University’s Sports Information department. Connor now serves as the Manager of Group Sales and HC Memberships and enjoys helping his groups and members have the best Railers experience possible!
Favorite spot in Worcester: Bay State Brewery
Favorite Sports Team (Besides the Railers HC): Boston Bruins
Dream Dinner Guest: Tom Brady
Hobbies: Soccer, Snowboarding, Running, Playstation 4 and hanging out with his dog, Eabha
Paul Harris
Community Relations Manager
About Paul
Paul Harris joined the Railers in 2017 as the Community Relations Coordinator. The Shrewsbury, Massachusetts native graduated from St. John’s as well as Western New England University where he studied marketing and sport management. While in school, he spent four years interning with the Springfield American Hockey League teams, the Falcons and Thunderbirds. Now, Paul loves helping his community as the Railers’ Community Relations Manager with his best friend TRAX, especially through his favorite program, Skate to Success. He played an integral part in the team winning the ECHL Community Service Team of the Year in 2019 and 2020 and Connor Doherty winning the ECHL Community Service Award in 2020.
Favorite spot in Worcester: Railers Tavern…gone but never forgotten
Favorite Sports Team (Besides the Railers HC): Boston Bruins
Dream Dinner Guest: Patrice Bergeron
Fun Fact: Has traveled to 14 different countries and counting!
Jacqueline Avola
Corporate Fulfillment & Game Operations Manager
About Jackie
Jackie Avola joined the Railers in January 2017 as a corporate partnership intern. The Westborough, Massachusetts native graduated summa cum laude from Assumption University where she studied organizational communication, sport management and French. Following graduation, she joined the Railers full-time and was later promoted to her role as Corporate Fulfillment & Game Operations Manager. She is responsible for the fulfillment and activation of all contracted sponsor elements while maintaining partner relationships. She also oversees all aspects of in-game production.
Favorite spot in Worcester: Worcester Common
Favorite Sports Team (Besides the Railers HC): Boston Bruins
Dream Dinner Guest: Patrice Bergeron
Favorite Music Genre: Country Music
Vincent Ciavarra
Manager of Corporate Partnerships
About Vinny
Vinny Ciavarra joined the Railers in November 2019 after serving as an account executive of global agency sales with WordStream. The Sutton, MA native graduated from Worcester Academy as well as The College of the Holy Cross where he studied political science. Vinny is currently finishing his Master’s of Sports Leadership at Northeastern.
Favorite spot in Worcester: Bay State Brewing Company
Favorite Sports Team (Besides the Railers HC): Boston Red Sox
Dream Dinner Guest: Tiger Woods & Adam Sandler
Secret Talent: Eating spicy food – invite me to your next spice challenge!
Cam McGuire
Broadcaster/PR and Social Media Coordinator
About Cam
Cam McGuire joined the Railers in June 2019 after graduating from Lake Forest College in Chicago where he studied communication and business. The Ridgefield, CT native served as the Media Relations & Broadcast intern for the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders in the Northwoods League (NWL) during the summer of 2018. The former hockey player discovered a passion for broadcasting and media relations while providing play-by-play for the athletic department at Lake Forest College.
Favorite Spot in Worcester: Lake Quinsigamond
Favorite Team (other than the Railers): Green Bay Packers
Dream Dinner Guest: Aaron Rodgers
