The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders today announced the addition of local partners to its ownership group, further strengthening the organization’s commitment to long-term growth and community engagement. The current owners, Rob and Nikki Zerjav, have expanded the team’s ownership group with the addition of current Dock Spiders General Manager Jim Misudek and inaugural Dock Spiders General Manager Ryan Moede. This partnership brings a diverse mix of baseball experience, leadership, and local ties that will help support the team’s continued success both on and off the field.
Prior to the Spring of 2025, the Dock Spiders shared an ownership group with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the High-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. In April of 2025, the Timber Rattlers were purchased by a group that currently owns 48 Minor League Baseball teams across the country. The Dock Spiders were not part of that sale and Rob Zerjav, a member of the previous Timber Rattlers/Dock Spiders ownership group and the Timber Rattlers current President, along with his wife Nikki Zerjav, purchased and took full control of the Dock Spiders organization at that time.
Rob Zerjav will continue in his day-to-day role of running the Timber Rattlers organization as well as his role as President/Principal Owner of the Dock Spiders while Jim Misudek will continue in his role of running the day-to-day operations of the Dock Spiders.
“Ten years ago when we were exploring the opportunity to create the Dock Spiders, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Fond du Lac community and how special of an area it truly is,” said Dock Spiders Principal Owner Rob Zerjav. “Nikki and I are thrilled to continue our journey with the Dock Spiders and I am also pleased to announce the additions of Jim Misudek and Ryan Moede to the ownership group. Both bring a tremendous amount of industry knowledge as well as connection to the greater Fond du Lac community. We look forward to deepening our connections, continuing to provide amazing summer entertainment, and delivering top-notch baseball to this area for many years to come.
Misudek will mark his 20th season in baseball in 2026, including his fifth as General Manager of the Dock Spiders. A Fond du Lac native and graduate of Fond du Lac High School, he graduated from UW-Fond du Lac and UW-La Crosse before beginning his baseball career as an intern with the Timber Rattlers. Misudek then spent 14 years with Major League Baseball organizations, most recently, as the Senior Manager, Baseball Communications with the Baltimore Orioles for six seasons. Prior to joining the Orioles front office, Misudek spent five seasons in a similar role with the Atlanta Braves as Media Relations Coordinator, one year as an intern with the Cincinnati Reds media relations department, and two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2007, he served as an intern in the Brewers media relations department and 2008 was spent as a sales representative while assisting with media relations duties. He also assisted Major League Baseball and the Brewers media relations department with their 2008 Postseason appearance. On behalf of Major League Baseball, Misudek was selected to provide media relations support for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019, the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the National League Championship Series in 2012, 2013, and 2014, the American League Championship Series in 2015 and 2018, and the American League Division Series in 2019.
Misudek is a member of Fond du Lac Noon Rotary, serves on the Board of Directors for Destination Lake Winnebago Region, is an ambassador for Envision Greater Fond du Lac, serves on the Advisory Park Board for the City of Fond du Lac, and was named a 2023 Future 5 recipient by Envision Greater Fond du Lac. He resides in Fond du Lac with his wife, Jessica.
“I’m incredibly proud to become part of the ownership group of my hometown team,” said Dock Spiders General Manager and Owner Jim Misudek. “I’m deeply grateful to the Zerjavs for welcoming me into this ownership group. I believe strongly in Fond du Lac, which is why I chose to return, and I see a very bright future for both the team and our community. I look forward to the strong leadership within this group, marking a long-term commitment to the club, enhancing the fan experience, and continuing to collaborate with the many outstanding people and organizations throughout our community.”
Moede will enter his 18th season in baseball in 2026, including his seventh season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as Vice President of Business Operations. He served as General Manager of the Dock Spiders for the club’s first three seasons from 2017-19 including being named the Northwoods League Executive of the Year in 2018. Since rejoining the Timber Rattlers staff in 2020, Moede has continued to provide guidance and support for the Dock Spiders. Prior to his time in Fond du Lac, he had worked as the Director of the Tickets with the Timber Rattlers from 2010-16. Before joining the Timber Rattlers, Moede worked for the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics as a Ticket Sales Representative. He previously interned with the Milwaukee Brewers in their Corporate Marketing department. Moede is a native of Algoma and graduated from UW-Parkside with a degree in Sport Management. He currently resides in Greenleaf with his wife, Amanda, and daughters, Larkin and Piper.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the Dock Spiders ownership group,” said Timber Rattlers Vice President of Business Operations and Dock Spiders owner Ryan Moede. “Nearly 10 years ago, we shared a vision of bringing baseball back to Fond du Lac, and being part of this organization from the beginning is something I will always cherish. I’m thankful for the opportunity to join Rob, Nikki, and Jim in continuing to make Dock Spiders baseball a cornerstone of the community.”
2026 will mark Rob Zerjav’s 30th season in baseball. A native of Green Bay, Zerjav received a marketing degree from UW-Whitewater and began his career with the Timber Rattlers as an unpaid intern. He spent two years in ticket sales and three years in baseball operations for the Timber Rattlers before being promoted to Team President and General Manager in the fall of 2002. Zerjav is a five-time baseball Executive of the Year as he was named the Midwest League Executive of the Year in 2007, 2012, and 2018, was named the 2023 Baseball America Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year and was, most recently, named the 2025 Minor League Baseball High-A Executive of the Year. Under Zerjav’s leadership, the Timber Rattlers organization has also been recognized numerous times including being named the 2012 Fox Valley Small Business of the Year, the 2012 Minor League Baseball team of the year, the Midwest League team of the year in 2005, 2012, 2018 and 2019 and Baseball America’s Single A team of the year in 2022.
Zerjav was instrumental in bringing a Northwoods League baseball team to Fond du Lac and has served as the Dock Spiders Team President since their inception in 2017. The team was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Marian University Business and Industry Awards in 2017 and captured their first league title the next season in 2018 while repeating as league champion in 2020.
Nikki Zerjav, a native of Hortonville, Wisconsin, had a 10-year career with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from 1999 to 2009. She began as Retail Manager and rose through the ranks to become Vice President of Communications. In 2004, she was named the Midwest League Female Executive of the Year and earned the Seattle Mariners’ “John Ellis Award” for outstanding community service three years in a row (2005, 2006, 2007). Widely known in the community as “Promo Nikki,” she served as the in-game host for Timber Rattlers games and was voted the “Fans Choice Bobblehead” in 2006. Since her departure from the Timber Rattlers, Nikki has focused on raising her family while actively engaging in various nonprofit initiatives. Most recently, she was named Director of Marketing for the Dock Spiders. The Zerjavs currently reside in both De Pere and Fond du Lac with their eldest son, Cooper, attending UW-Milwaukee and their youngest son, Davis, attending West De Pere High School.
The Dock Spiders will begin their 10th season of Northwoods League play during the Spring of 2026. Information about ticket packages is currently available at dockspiders.com or by calling the ticket office at (920) 907-9833. Visit the Dock Spiders ballpark Box Office and Team Store during normal business hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE FOND DU LAC DOCK SPIDERS
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are members of the Northwoods League, the premier summer collegiate baseball league of its kind, and boast over 400 former players in the Major Leagues. The Dock Spiders have won two Northwoods League Championships (2018 & 2020) and are proud to have eight former players reach Major League Baseball, as well as 45 players drafted by MLB teams. During a season that runs from May through August, the Dock Spiders play 36 regular season home games each year at Marian University’s Herr-Baker Field. The Dock Spiders provide a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, reflective of their mission to “create the best entertainment experience in Wisconsin so that every guest walks away with a smile and the desire to return.”.