This Tar Heel works at the ballpark

When Chris Zaber walks through the gates of Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., he feels the same sense of pride, purpose and gratitude as he did arriving at the then-named Ericsson Stadium for an internship with the Carolina Panthers after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1999.

That intern is now the chief revenue officer for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball.

Titles and teams have changed — he’s worked for MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL organizations — but Zaber remains thankful to be “playing a small part” in the major leagues.

Zaber oversees the Nationals’ local revenue from its 81 home games, corporate sponsorships, local TV broadcasts and other ballpark events like this summer’s Bruce Springsteen concert.

At the stadium hours before a Wednesday night game in June, Zaber said this calm-before-the-storm feeling doesn’t get old. Soon the fans would file in to cheer not only the Nats’ three home runs but also the presidents’ race, pitting mascots of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt in a sprint between innings.

“The Geico presidents’ race, as we call it,” Zaber said.

Just doing his job.

“I think baseball is probably nearest and dearest to my heart at this point in my life,” he said. “It’s America’s pastime, and we play it in America’s capital. Celebrating America 250 this year, it has been a fun year.”

This story is the second in a four-part series on Carolina alumni working in Washington, D.C. Outside of the state of North Carolina, the Washington region is home to the largest concentration of Tar Heel alumni in the country.

Learn about Elizabeth Adkins ’18, who’s gone from student body president to Capitol Hill chief of staff.

Pivoting to sports at Carolina

Long before working in sports, Zaber was a young fan in DuBois, Pennsylvania, watching Michael Jordan sink the game-winning shot in the 1982 men’s basketball title game on a TV in the family basement.

Carolina became his dream school.

Zaber came to Carolina planning a medical career, maybe as a physical therapist. But he realized he didn’t have the passion for it. He pivoted to the sport administration program in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences’ exercise and sport science department.

“I found my home there,” said Zaber, who also volunteered with Carolina athletics and worked for Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation.

Former professor and EXSS department chair Fred Mueller taught one of his first classes and became a mentor, a relationship that later led to his Panthers internship.

“I think he saw something in me I didn’t even know existed,” Zaber said.

department spotlight: Exercise and Sport Science

Part of the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, the EXSS department prepares students for a variety of careers through several degree programs.

Explore EXSS at Carolina →

‘In control of my own destiny’

Zaber went from intern to business operations assistant, but he realized he had found his niche working in ticket sales with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. He appreciated the competitive nature of the role and loved adding his sales to the staff standings on the dry-erase board.

“I was in control of my own destiny,” he said. “I needed to make money to pay my student loans off. The harder I worked, the more tickets I sold, the more money I made.”

From there, Zaber worked with the Atlanta Hawks, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Penguins before joining the Nationals in August 2025.

“Our product has been around for over 125 years,” Zaber said, “but the businesses behind the product are constantly evolving. How much thought, strategy and analysis are put into the business would probably surprise people.”

Did you know: In April UNC-Chapel Hill opened its Carolina in the Capital office in Washington. 

Returning the favor

Zaber has hired and worked with Tar Heels at the Nationals and in previous roles. He has a great relationship with Nels Popp, professor and director of graduate studies in the EXSS department, and is glad Popp “sends me his best and brightest.”

Zaber helps with class projects, like taking mock sales calls from students, and hosted Popp and his students at a Nationals game, where they met with team employees.

He relishes the chance to do for fellow Tar Heels what was once done for him. “I always try to find time to connect with them and see how I can help,” Zaber said. “Be a resource for them as they’re trying to get their start in this business.”