Meet the Laasers
The husband and wife team of Jon and Renée Laaser met while working together in baseball with the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2011. Their path separated for more than four years while Renée accepted a job back in her native Philadelphia, PA, with the Philadelphia Phillies. Jon, originally from Minneapolis, MN, remained in Richmond, VA, during that time. However, the bond they had forged in their time together and their shared passion for sports and adventure brought them back together in 2015. They began dating shortly before Jon took on the role of the “Voice of the Hokies” at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. They married in May of 2018, a night that included Jon paying off a bet to his bride that resulted in the couple entering their reception to the Philadelphia Eagles’ fight song “Fly Eagles Fly,” after the Eagles had destroyed Jon’s beloved Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game en route to their first Super Bowl title. Jon would like to note that Renée forced him to include that part.
Jon is a 22-year veteran of the broadcasting business, serving stints with seven different minor league baseball franchises, Charleston Southern University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, The ACC Network and multiple other contractual broadcast assignments. He is a reputed broadcaster, speaker and author, taking after his parents Mark and Debbie Laaser. The late Dr. Mark Laaser was a globally respected speaker, author and educator in the area of addiction, while Debbie has continued his legacy while running Faithful & True Ministries and founding the Laaser Legacy Foundation. Jon has a passion for golf, cooking and all Minnesota-based sports teams.
Renée began her career in sports in 2007 after graduating from Albright College where she played tennis while carrying a double major in English and Communications. She first served as a production assistant working in TV in Philadelphia, before entering the baseball industry, initially spending time with the Reading Phillies and Richmond Flying Squirrels before being called to the bigs in 2011 with the Philadelphia Phillies. She also carries a diverse range of experience, including in the philanthropic, hospitality and event-planning spaces. Renée is an avid fitness enthusiast, voracious reader and is a die-hard fan of all things Philadelphia sports related, especially her Eagles. It is not wise to watch games with her (Jon’s note).
The pair remains a fun-loving, adventure-seeking couple, but they pair that with a burning desire to advance the conversation surrounding mental health and combat the stigmas that confront those that suffer. Jon has dealt with low-grade depression and anxiety since childhood, while Renée’s primary passion resides in the pursuit of eliminating the agony of anxiety faced by the younger members of our society. The couple resides in Richmond, VA, and enjoy traveling the world, hiking, pickleball, and correcting each other. Most recently while writing this bio : )