“Silvia Álvarez appointed Interim Director of Communications for the Baseball Players Association”| daily list

The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) today appointed Silvia Álvarez as its Interim Director of Communications, replacing outgoing Director Chris Dahl, who plans to retire later this year.

Álvarez, who joined the Players Association in 2019, is a veteran communications professional with experience in media relations, brand management, crisis communications, strategic messaging and positioning. She previously served as a strategic communications advisor and spokesperson in both the campaign and administrations of Senator Cory A. Booker and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Dahl will assume the role of Senior Communications Advisor through December 31, and then continue to serve the MLBPA as a consultant. Dahl led the union’s communications efforts over a five-and-a-half-year period as Players asserted their rights in bargaining for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, withstood a 99-day lockout, unionized Minor League Baseball Players and joined the AFL-CIO to take a more prominent role in the union movement.

“We are very grateful to Chris for her dedication and extensive service to the organization. Her knowledge of the union’s history and her leadership of the communications team will ensure a smooth transition for Silvia in assuming this role,” said MLBPA Executive Director, Tony Clark.

Prior to joining the MLBPA, Silvia Álvarez was Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications for First Horizon National Corp. Álvarez previously served as Director of Multicultural and Charitable Communications for Major League Baseball. A native Spanish speaker, Alvarez earned her BA from Colgate University and an MA from Middlebury College. Born in El Salvador, she came to the United States as a child during the Salvadoran civil war and became a US citizen in 2015.

“Silvia’s promotion to interim Director of Communications reflects the Players Association’s continued focus on better telling our story and effectively reaching audiences in domestic and international markets,” said MLBPA Deputy Executive Director Bruce Meyer. “Silvia is well positioned to lead the union’s communications team.”

Before joining the MLBPA in June 1997 to oversee the launch of its first website, Dahl was a sports reporter for the Associated Press (AP) and for two years was secretary-treasurer of the Wire Service Guild, representing AP employees and United Press International. From 1991 to 1996 he worked for Pinnacle Brands marketing baseball and football trading cards.