Management & Sales Team
Kent Larson, CEO/President
A native of Minnesota, Kent was born and raised in Austin, Rochester and Blue Earth. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Kent remains a huge Golden Gopher supporter and booster! Kent founded Minnesota Athletic Apparel in 1991 after spending a number of years working in the retail sporting goods industry. Kent and his sons, Spencer and Bennett, live in Eden Prairie. The 3 of them spend a lot of time coaching and playing various sports!Steve Gnoza, VP/Sales
Steve grew up on Hibbing's Iron Range hunting, fishing and exploring the great north woods. A graduate of St. Cloud State, Steve now resides in Edina and enjoys traveling, in-line racing, riding motorcycles and snowmobiles and being in the outdoors. His time is also dedicated to volunteering and is involved with making the North Minneapolis community a better place to live.John McIntosh, Manager- IS/IT/Sales
John was born and raised in Schaumburg, IL, a suburb of Chicago, where his love of Cubs baseball began. Prior to college, his family relocated to northwestern Minnesota, where John graduated with an A.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota-Crookston and a B.S. degree in Marketing from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.John was a two year starter on the football team at the U of MN-Crookston, served as an assistant coach on the football team at MSU-Moorhead and later played two more years of semi-professional football. Since college, he has spent many years refereeing and umpiring youth football and baseball. John enjoys coaching his kids while serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cooper-Armstrong Fastpitch Association and the Eden Prairie Baseball Association. He loves the outdoors and has a special passion for Minnesota winters.
John has worked in the promotional products industry for 13 years and serves as M.A. Apparel's Manager, Information Systems and Technology/Sales. He currently resides in New Hope with his wife, Jyl, and their two children, Michaela and Johnny.
Stacie Jones, Sales Coordinator
Stacie was born and raised in Mendocino, California, home of the Redwoods, where she graduated from Mendocino High School. During her childhood and as a young adult, Stacie appeared in several major TV commercials including ads for Red Lobster and Kodak. She also had a small role in the Hollywood movie, Dead and Buried. After living in Phoenix, Arizona for 9 years, she moved to Minnesota. Stacie has been a Sales Coordinator at M.A. Apparel since the summer of 2004.Stacie has two teenage children, Christopher and Reanna. In her spare time, Stacie enjoys fishing, reading, cooking and playing pool. Stacie has been a member of the Minnesota 8 Ball league since 1996.
Jeff Northrup, Graphics and Marketing Manager
Jeff was born and raised in Cedar Falls, IA. After graduating from high school, Jeff moved to Waterloo, IA where he attended college and in 1992 received his AAA (Associate of Applied Arts) degree. In 1995 Jeff began working in the screen printing industry, and has specialized in this area ever since. Jeff moved to the Twin Cities in 1998 and began working as a free-lance artist and quickly learned the many facets of the ASI industry. After nine years as a free-lance artist, Jeff joined forces with M.A. Apparel and brings the latest and greatest in cutting edge graphics & technology.Jeff currently resides in New Hope with his lovely wife Tammy, and their three children, Brandon, Brooke, and Brady. Jeff enjoys family time, boating, fishing, camping and playing pool.
Chris Babiash, Sales Representative
Chris is originally from the land of cheese, Green Bay, Wisconsin and made his way to the greater Twin Cities in route to the University of Minnesota. He graduated in 1999 with a B.A. in Leisure Services Management. In 1998, during his undergraduate tenure, Chris was introduced to M.A. Apparel, Inc. as a college intern and has been with the company ever since. While at the U of M, Chris became highly involved with the University Rugby Team where he became Captain for 3 years.Chris is still highly involved in the rugby community where he holds positions as the Youth Rugby Director for the Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation (MARF) and the Minnesota Rugby Football Union (MnRFU), as well as the Youth Development Officer (MN) for USA Rugby. As a result of his involvement in rugby and years of doing rugby team sales under the M.A. Apparel umbrella, Chris was the drive behind the launch of our sister company Rugby Athletic, Inc. in September, 2005 (www.RugbyAthletic.com).
Chris currently resides in Lino Lakes, MN with his wife, Jen, son, Cal - & man's best friend (the dog), Dixie. In his free time he enjoys rugby, tailgating at sporting events, and spending time with his family.
