When Aris Theofanopoulos walked through the doors of Atlantic Cape Community College in 2010, he carried with him a dream that many young sports fans share: turning his passion for athletics into a career. Today, the Atlantic City native is living proof that with dedication and the right mentorship, those dreams can become reality.
Now 33, Theofanopoulos serves as Assistant General Manager of Marketing and Entertainment for the Knoxville Smokies, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. It's a role that keeps him at the heart of America's favorite pastime, orchestrating everything from theme nights and promotional giveaways to managing social media and coordinating game-day entertainment.
A Local Foundation Built on Mentorship
The Absegami High School graduate credits much of his success to the foundation he built right here in our community. At Atlantic Cape, Theofanopoulos studied communication under Professor Keith Forrest, whose influence continues to resonate years later.
"Professor Forrest is a big reason of where I am in my success," Theofanopoulos reflected. "He is a great mentor. He always dedicates time to his students, and he really listens to each and every person."
That personal attention made all the difference for a young man who knew from childhood exactly what he wanted. "I've always liked sports ever since I was a child and I knew I wanted to work in sports," he explained.
Climbing the Minor League Ladder
After transferring to Rowan University to pursue Radio/TV/Film with a journalism minor, Theofanopoulos didn't just study—he immersed himself in the sports world. He worked as a public address announcer for multiple athletic programs, from volleyball and soccer to softball, building a diverse skill set that would prove invaluable.
His first professional break came close to home with the Lakewood BlueClaws (now the Jersey Shore BlueClaws) in 2015, where he served as an on-field host. The competition was fierce, and Theofanopoulos remembers feeling the pressure. "It was very competitive and just thinking about all of the people there that wanted the same job as I, it was a little bit intimidating," he recalled.
But intimidation didn't stop him. He learned to operate replay machines, mastered press box operations, and absorbed every lesson the experience offered. The following year, he headed west to California as Manager of Promotions for the Inland Empire 66ers, where he spent three years honing his skills in creating theme nights, managing social media, selling ticket packages, and producing content.
Recognition and Rising Success
In 2018, the Knoxville Smokies brought Theofanopoulos on board as Director of Video Production. His talent and work ethic didn't go unnoticed—by 2022, he'd earned a promotion to his current role as Assistant General Manager.
Today, his responsibilities span both the creative and technical sides of sports entertainment. He switches camera angles during games, feeds information to play-by-play announcers, manages score bug graphics, and oversees the team's entire social media presence—all while orchestrating the promotional events that keep fans coming back to the ballpark.
Our community recently celebrated his achievements when Atlantic Cape named him "Communication Alumni of the Year" at the 2025 Annual Communication Awards. Dr. Joy Jones, a former communication professor at Atlantic Cape who now teaches at Stockton University, praised his unwavering determination.
"He was always setting goals for himself and then working towards accomplishing those goals and he was always driven. He had a strong work ethic," Dr. Jones noted.
A Testament to Local Education
Professor Forrest summed up what makes Theofanopoulos's journey so inspiring for current students: "Aris has been bold in his career choices. He definitely exemplifies the three rules of the communication program: hard work, support each other, and get involved."
For young people in Atlantic City and throughout our region who dream of careers in sports, media, or entertainment, Theofanopoulos's story offers a powerful message: world-class careers can start right here in our own backyard. With the right education, dedicated mentors, and a willingness to work hard, those childhood dreams of working in sports can become a daily reality.
From the classrooms of Atlantic Cape to the bright lights of minor league baseball, Aris Theofanopoulos is proof that our local institutions are launching pads for national success—and that's something our entire community can cheer about.
