Exclusive Interview with Lucas Dolengowski, Rocket City Trash Pandas Social Media Manager

BY: CRISTINA BYRNE STERNBERG, LOS ANGELES ‘22 PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Of course, there is a Minor League Baseball Team called the Trash Pandas! Yes, the slang word for a Raccoon, you know, the animal that forages through garbage! 🦝

Lucas Dolengowski runs their social media and is constantly figuring out ways to stand out from the other 119 Minor League Baseball Teams. He likes to create comical memes and incorporate some banter into the brand; he also says he is "fortunate to work with many talented people who provide plenty of ideas."

Check out this exclusive interview and learn more about what it takes to be a Social Media Manager to the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The name that is responsible for the highest merchandise sales in Minor League Baseball before the first game.

Love it or hate it the Raccoon, or should I say The Trash Panda lives in Rocket City, and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas is the Double-A affiliate to the LA Angels located in Madison, AL.

Introduce yourself!

Hi! I’m Lucas Dolengowski and I’m the social media manager for the Rocket City Trash Pandas! I grew up in Orlando in the heart of the theme parks, and I’m a graduate of the University of Florida. I’ve been working professionally in social media for 5+ years now, including college athletics, golf, and football.

Have you always wanted to be a social media manager or was it something that you fell into?

I originally wanted to do sports broadcasting, specifically baseball. I did a lot of that for most of my college experience, but in my last year at UF I had an opportunity to work as a social media intern for the athletic department. I’ve always loved social and used it a ton personally, and two months into that internship I decided to switch career paths. A bunch of my friends from our college sports broadcasting program did the same thing I did and got into social – so many of them are working for big teams too. Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Falcons, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Lightning, just to name a few.

What kind of pressures do you face when having to post for thousands of followers? 

I think the biggest challenge is constantly coming up with new content, or at least new ways to present recurring content. You have to keep things fresh online, or your fans will just tune out and engagement will go down. I’m competitive in that regard too – I want to be better and different than the other 119 Minor League teams. We’ve created such a fun and unique brand so far with the Trash Pandas, so my personal pressure is how we keep that going and stay in people’s minds.

Where do you find inspiration for content?

My media relations coordinator asks me this a lot, like “How do you even come up with this stuff?” Honestly, my brain just works in very weird and silly ways sometimes. I love memes and I love comedy so that factors into a lot of what I do. Minor League Baseball (and the internet as a whole) is a very copycat industry, so being able to take whatever trending content you see and spin it to your advantage is something I enjoy doing. I’m fortunate to work with a lot of talented people who provide plenty of ideas, too. It’s a very collaborative effort.

What are some challenges you face in managing social media? And how do you overcome them?

It’s an “always-on” sort of job. The ability to be connected to our professional social channels at all times is a blessing and a curse. Along with our broadcaster, our social media team covers EVERY Trash Pandas game during the season. It’s great that we get to watch baseball and post about it, but our “off days” are definitely much fewer than most other people in the front office. Taking breaks and disconnecting in the offseason is really important to reset your mind. The other challenge is digital envy – there are SO many talented sports creatives out there, many in organizations with a lot more resources to produce great content. I get jealous sometimes of their posts. It’s great for ideas, but you have to execute what you’re able to execute, control what you can control.

In your opinion, what do you think are your top 3 social media posts? And why?

This is our most viral TikTok, with over a million views. It became a bit last season for our athletic trainer, Yusuke Takahashi, to stare into the camera in pregame warmups. It’s just so simply hilarious, and simplicity usually wins on social. This is one of my personal favorites because it was a very “in the moment” type post that had nothing to do with us. Tennessee football fans were literally chucking trash onto the field because of a bad call from the referee, so I had to jump on it. Any trending topic or meme related to trash, garbage, or raccoons is fair game for us and usually performs really well. Finally, this walk-off homer from last season is maybe my favorite iPhone shot. I just had it on a stabilizer and there will certainly be thousands of higher quality videos in the sports world, but giving fans close-up access is really important to me. Emotion plays wonderfully on social. I got splashed with Gatorade and water, of course.

Between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok - how do you distinguish what content to post where?

Most of it just really depends on your age and demographics. Facebook and Twitter skew older, Instagram and TikTok skew younger. A lot of our marketing and sales efforts go towards Facebook and Twitter, making sure we put as much relevant information we can into posts. You almost have to “spoon-feed” details to fans – people can easily look up information on our website or at the link in the post, but most don’t want to take the time. Instagram and TikTok are where we hit on more pop culture and fun visuals. Fortunately for the Trash Pandas, we’re much more of a wide-reaching brand, as opposed to JUST a baseball team. We can get in on memes and trending topics, and that works for us. Society has such a short attention span – how quickly can you capture and hold someone’s attention?

Describe a social media hiccup/regret and what did you learn from that?

I don’t have one specific example, but I do tend to be a little sassy sometimes on our channels, especially when replying to fans. It works on TikTok and Twitter because those are more “fun” platforms, but I have to stay level-headed on other channels. Something very frustrating to me is when people ask us a question that would actually be quicker to just look up on Google, as opposed to waiting for a reply from the social team. We’ve set a good standard of quickly answering customer service questions because it’s a very important part of the job. But what if we weren’t that fast with replies? Or didn’t have the resources to properly answer customer inquiries? I’m a very independent internet user and know how to find things easily, but have to remember that others aren’t wired that way.

What are some skills a social media manager should have?

A skill I really value is copywriting ability. How quickly and how well can you come up with attention-grabbing captions? How’s your spelling and grammar? Do you proofread? Obviously, not everything has to be grammatically correct depending on your brand, but it’s still important. Nothing is more frustrating to me than watching other teams make spelling and grammar mistakes. You should be a multi-faceted content creator. Can you produce, shoot, edit, and post? It’s really nice to have creative support around you, but to a degree, you need to have some independence there.

What is the most important thing a social media manager should know?

This is certainly a learned trait, but you can’t take things personally. People online will send mean responses and have angry messages and post dumb comments – it’s the world we live in, unfortunately. Some things are definitely hard to ingest, but I usually try to take everything with a grain of salt. It’s mostly very funny to me. Comedy is my defense mechanism. I enjoy reading out our most outlandish/irrational comments in postgame meetings.

Describe a typical day for your off-season and in-season.

In-season is my favorite time to be a social media manager. We’ll have staff meetings every gameday to go over the operations for that night. We’ll showcase what giveaways or promotions we may have, new food items, lineups, pitching matchups…it’s all part of the ballpark experience. Once players start arriving in the afternoon, we’ll usually shoot batting practice or pitcher workouts. It’s nice to get out of the office at this time of day, soak up some sun and gameday atmosphere, gather true baseball content. Once the game starts we’re shooting game highlights, crowd shots, monitoring social feeds, answering fan questions, and ultimately posting score updates. In the off-season, we focus a lot on non-baseball events: Beer & Wine Fest, 5K Races, Christmas Light Show, 4th of July Celebrations, etc. We’ll also recap the season that just finished and begin planning for the next baseball season. It’s truly a year-round marketing effort.

In terms of engagement, what content does the Trash Panda Nation seem to respond to?

Sprocket, our mascot, is a fan favorite. His personality is supposed to be mischievous and fun-loving, and that plays really well as the face of our brand. With only one season under our belt so far, Sprocket content still gets more engagement than most of the things we post with players or coaches. People also seem to love groundskeeping videos. They really fall into that “oddly satisfying” genre. Cutting grass, painting lines, raking dirt – it’s all strangely calm and enjoyable to consume. Memes and pop culture references usually kill too. Again, we’re a lifestyle brand more than we are a baseball team.

THIS ARTICLE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY DIBS AND LOS ANGELES ‘22 PRODUCTION ASSISTANT CRISTINA BYRNE STERNBERG

DIBS exists to bring people from all walks of life together to gain perspective and find common ground. According to Urban Dictionary, DIBS is the most powerful force in the universe; it is used to call possession of a specific object or idea.  

Life As a NCAA Power 5 Mascot

BY: CRISTINA BYRNE STERNBERG, LOS ANGELES ‘22 PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

They get the crowd into a frenzy, all while having fun doing it! Various professional and collegiate sports mascots are iconic figures; it is an essential part of college sports and a university's history. What makes a mascot great is the audience, as it is about the franchises it symbolizes! 

Despite seeing them almost every time you watch a sporting event, what do we know about the people who are the sports mascots? Beneath the costumes, who are these "performers"? 

Cristina spoke with a graduate student whose name or mascot we cannot reveal due to the university rules but is the mascot to one of the Power 5 universities and has served as the school's mascot for the longest tenure!

This particular school’s university mascot attends roughly 100 to 150 events a year this would include sporting events such as football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics—these make up over half of the appearances the mascot makes each year. Outside of sporting events, there are campus and community events as well as photoshoots with the school's social media team, graduations, and fundraisers.

*The Power Five Universities encompass 65 schools and are considered the elite in college sports in the United States and are part of the NCAA Division I, the nation's highest level of collegiate sports.

I am aware that you can not disclose what collegiate mascot you are but do people on campus know you are?

Sadly over five years, the word has gotten out to a few people. I was already not the best about keeping secrets, which was the most challenging part of becoming the mascot. However, it is not to the point where people see me going to class and know I am the mascot, which is honestly a part of the fun. One day you can go to class as just an average student, and then the next, you are on the football field in front of tens of thousands of fans. In my opinion, that's what makes it the best college job a person can have.

Why did you want to become a mascot?

Surprisingly to many people, I was not a mascot in high school. Most college mascots I have met were not high school mascots either. However, growing up around my university, I was always incredibly spirited and went to as many sporting events as I could. I knew I wanted to continue that school spirit by becoming a super-fan when I entered college. I sat in the front row for every football and basketball game my freshman year, wearing the craziest outfits I could reasonably put together. That got me noticed by the marketing department, which led me to have an opportunity to serve as one of the school's t-shirt throwers at the games. While there, I got close with the guys who served as the mascot and encouraged me to try out. From there, the rest is history!

Could you explain the process of trying out to be the mascot?

For my program, it was a three-day process! The first step was seeing how I looked in the mascot suit. Since the program already had a few returning members, the coach wanted to pick students who were a similar size as the current members. Unfortunately, having members of varying sizes is not ideal for mascot programs as it ruins the image of there being only one 'mascot' character.

On the second day, we learned the walk and the character of the mascot and an interview with the coach. Then, after cuts were made, the remaining participants had a final tryout which consisted of improv skills, dancing skills, and overall energy. Luckily for me, everyone who was trying out at that point made it, and I officially became my school's mascot. Funnily enough, my first ever event as the mascot was only a few hours later at an event on campus, so I got thrown into mascoting quite quickly.

Currently, the team has five members, but I have been on the team with as few as four and as many as seven.

What do you think it takes to be a collegiate mascot?

The most important trait one can have is learning to be someone completely different. My mascot's personality is over the top, energetic, and loves to be the center of attention, which are traits that I do not necessarily share. However, when I put on the suit and go out to perform at an event, I lose all of my personal qualities and become that character. To be a good mascot, you have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone. For example, while you may not be the type of person to run onto a basketball court during a time out and jokingly imitate the referees, that's exactly what a mascot would do. This does take a while to fully learn; however, it took me over a year to be fully comfortable putting myself in those situations. Also, while dancing skills are not mandatory (I am an example), they are incredibly beneficial.

Were there mascot mannerisms that were already in place? Or did you help create the persona?

The mascot's character was already pretty defined when I entered the team so there weren't too many mannerisms I had the opportunity to create. However, I will say that I may have influenced a few poses the mascot now does while taking pictures with fans.

Did you have any sort of training prior? Is there such a thing as Mascot classes?

Prior to my tryouts, the only training I received was from the current members teaching me the walk and the mascot's character. Once I got accepted into the program, the university sent the team to a college mascot camp in Texas, where they taught us skills such as prop making and planning skits. From there, most of the training comes from a yearly camp we have that is put on by former mascots to refresh us before the start of the fall semester. While these camps and practices are helpful, the best way to learn for me is by doing as many appearances as possible and taking critiques from the other team member.

What are some areas in which mascoting has helped you?

Performing as the mascot has helped a lot with gaining confidence, which I have struggled with for years. It taught me time management skills, as I had to learn how to balance school, social life, work, and mascoting. It taught me how to be a good teammate and work well with others. Best of all, the connections and friendships I have made while being the mascot have been life-changing.

What are some mascot rules that one should be aware of or aren't aware of?

The biggest rule of being a mascot is not taking off your head. While self-explanatory, for many programs, that is an automatic termination from the position. The second biggest rule is to not talk in the suit. Fans, students, and even university workers know this and will do their best to try to make you say something, but it's pretty easy to say collected. Another big rule is keeping your identity a secret. The fun of the mascot is that it is treated as its person and not as a suit a college kid wears. To keep that fun alive, you have to be selective about who can know. I have heard of some programs that only allow immediate family and significant others to know. I heard of a professional mascot who kept their position a secret from their child.

What challenges do you face as a mascot?

Most of the challenges I face as the mascot come from how much time obligation the position is. Over the years, I have missed numerous parties and get-togethers with friends because I was scheduled to do an event as the mascot. Of course, this is similar to almost any job, but when you throw in school and other work obligations, it can be pretty difficult to find any free time some weeks.

What do you want to do as a career?

While fairly broad at the moment, I currently want to pursue a career in the sports industry, particularly in either event management, marketing, or entertainment. However, I haven't fully shut down the idea of becoming a professional mascot, and I hope to reach out to professional teams in the near future.

Who are some mascots that inspire you?

There are so many great mascots out there that it is hard to pick just a few! Obviously, I have to say Benny the Bull is definitely one of the best! He is honestly the Michael Jordan of mascots and often sets the standard for many other mascot programs. Blue from the Indianapolis Colts is great as well! His presence online is incredible, and he has honestly turned himself into a social media celebrity. Some of my other favorites include Orbit from the Houston Astros, Stuff from the Orlando Magic, and the Phillie Phanatic from the Philadelphia Phillies!

What is something that compares to being a mascot?

Very few things! Unless you become a widely known athlete, actor, or musician, there may be no other job you can have that receives as many cheers and picture requests as a school's mascot.

Have you ever done theater?

I did a tiny bit of acting in middle and high school and even did some extra work in a few filmed projects but nothing substantial. Honestly, I wouldn't even consider myself an actor or even good at acting outside of mascot performing. However, you do have to become pretty animated when being a mascot. Since you can't speak or use facial expressions while performing, you have to be significant with your motions to convey what you're feeling. One trick, I thought, is whatever motions you make that feel overtop appear like a normal action in the mascot suit. Due to this, we are always taught to be over the top in everything we do.

For example, when I was at mascot camp, we were taught to 'burst the bubble'. As silly as it may sound, they told us to imagine there is a bubble around us at all times, and every action you make must be big enough to burst the bubble. But, of course, I can never forget the famous quote, "If the fur ain't flying, you ain't trying!'

What are the craziest thing that you have done as a mascot or has happened to you?

Being the mascot, you are always going into crazy events. One of the coolest things I have ever done was being in a commercial in Los Angeles and having the opportunity to fly out and film there for a few days. I honestly felt like a celebrity the whole time I was there. The company behind it got me my own room in a nice hotel in Hollywood, they got me a personal driver to pick me up from the airport and bring me around the city to the filming locations, and I was given my dressing room. It was honestly one of the most surreal things I have ever done. Sadly, that was only temporary, and I had to return to college when it was finished. It was a complete roller coaster going from a pampered actor in a Los Angeles film studio to going to some business class as an unknown student within days.

Some other super cool things I have done include crowd surfing the student section during a football game, appearing at a huge ball in Washington D.C., and even meeting the crew from ESPN College Gameday. Of course, a ton of other crazy stuff has gone on, but I can't get into all of it here.

This article is brought to you by DIBS and Los Angeles ‘22 Production Assistant, Cristina Byrne Sternberg

DIBS exists to bring people from all walks of life together to gain perspective and find common ground. According to Urban Dictionary, DIBS is the most powerful force in the universe; it is used to call possession of a specific object or idea.  

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

KUTZTOWN, Pennsylvania – Living Sport is proud to announce a new partnership with Rugby ATL of Major League Rugby. With this collaboration, Living Sport and Rugby ATL have developed an immersive educational program providing an enhanced hands-on experience to young professionals aspiring to secure employment in the sport industry.

Living Sport will seek to recruit the industry’s best and brightest to partake in this 2-week developmental camp that is scheduled to run June 13-27, 2021. Applicants will be vying for placement on three teams within Rugby ATL including marketing, ticket sales, and operations. Program participants will have involvement in day-to-day operations and will assist in executing two (2) home rugby matches played at Life University (the “Snake Pit”).

Program participants will also receive the standard benefits of participating in a Sport Business Program through Living Sport. Alumni benefits includes joining the Living Sport Network – an ever-growing network of like-minded sport business professionals, future sport business travel opportunities, and the option to continue involvement through free alumni programs such as the Living Sport Alumni Board, Ambassador Program, Book Club, exclusive digital sessions, reunion events, and more!

“A partnership with Rugby ATL aligns perfectly with all that Living Sport has been organizing the past 5 years” says President and Founder of Living Sport, Alicia Marinelli. “We have put major emphasis on teaching young professionals about really great sports that may not get the media draw of the NFL or NBA. Like soccer (football), rugby is a world sport and it’s important to understand the impact it makes in the global sport world. The Rugby ATL staff is really what solidifies this partnership. They are all great people who have a passion for developing young professionals through the sport they love.”

“It's tremendous what Alicia and her team are doing to educate these young professionals inside the business realm while touring around different cities, experiencing different cultures, and really driving a learning experience” says Kevin McCorry, Vice President at Rugby ATL. “Had I had the opportunity to sign up for this, I would have signed up for a 4-year program.” McCorry adds.

For more information about the 2-week Developmental Camp or to apply visit www.livingsport.com/atlantacamp2021

--

Living Sport is a reimagined sport study abroad program that gives aspiring sport industry professionals the chance to receive international and domestic work experience and the opportunity to explore the world through sport. Led by sport industry professionals, the Sport Business Program by Living Sport was created to give passionate students and recent graduates an edge over the thousands of job seekers looking to secure a career in sports. Program participants will interact with sports business professionals creating a lasting network that extends far beyond the program. For more information on Living Sport and upcoming programs, visit livingsport.com.

--

Rugby ATL represents the Southeast United States in Major League Rugby. Its geographic coverage spans from the Carolinas to Florida, which is one of the largest captured geographies in the MLR. ATL was founded in 2018 by Owner, Marcus Calloway, is led by General Manager, Scott Lawrence and features coaches/players from all over the United States, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Canada, Tonga, and Fiji. Rugby ATL was founded off of a set of four core values that the organization implements in every division of the organization - we call these values P.A.C.E. P is for developing People, A is for embracing Accountability, C is for Create Change, E for focus on Execution. Rugby ATL continues to serve and grow the Atlanta community through youth development clinics, fan activations, education, and supporting local businesses. 

Take Two with Living Sport

BY: EMILY FRAJDOFER, NASHVILLE ‘20 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & MARKETING COMMITTEE MEMBER

My Living Sport journey started a little bit differently from a lot of other alumni. After I graduated in May 2019, I started a new position with my hometown’s National Football League (NFL) team, the Buffalo Bills. After the season ended, so did my position. I went back to the drawing board to figure out my next opportunity. This was when I was first introduced to Living Sport. 

A 10-day Sport Business Program to London, England sounded too good to be true. A program that offers the chance to travel and continue your growth in the sports industry is very rare. It was something I never knew existed, but glad I had found it when I did. 

After applying, I received news for an interview the following week. It was a one-on-one phone call and very straightforward. We talked about my qualifications, aspirations, and any questions that I had. I remember my interviewer was very helpful and made me feel comfortable about the opportunity to go overseas for the first time with 20 strangers. After being accepted and preparing for my first trip to London, the world shut down due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. My career and many others were put on hold while the world adjusted to our new normal. 

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. So, after approximately five long, uncertainty-filled months I received an Instagram notification by Living Sport... “Just Announced: Nashville Program”, it felt like my prayers were answered. I immediately applied without any real knowledge about what the program entailed. The pandemic left a lot of unanswered questions. It was when I was being interviewed on Zoom by Alicia Marinelli, Co-Founder and President of Living Sport, with several other candidates, she made me feel reassured and thrilled for the new opportunity. The whole process was swift and in just over three weeks I was on a flight to Music City!

It didn’t matter that I was on a three-hour flight to Tennessee rather than a 13-hour flight to England. I had never been to Nashville before and was just as excited as I would have been for London. Once the program started, it was all about living in the now and consuming as much culture, knowledge, and advice that was humanly possible. I love the fact that I was a part of Living Sport's history and was a participant on their first domestic program! 

Every second of my time in Nashville was precious. But one thing I really enjoyed was talking to all of the sport business professionals. We talked to 3 different Nashville teams, the Sounds, Predators, and Titans. Hearing their journey in sport was not just for fun, I took a lot of useful advice from them. One key piece of information that was mentioned just about everywhere we went, was the importance to do the little things. The difference between candidates can be those small tasks that are overlooked. If you are the person to take the extra steps along the way it will pay off in the end. This was just one of many takeaways I learned from those conversations. I also learned, Jim Rice, Senior Manager of Ticket Sales, for the Tennessee Titans was from Western New York and went to a rival college of mine! It was inspiring to hear something that hit so close to home. 

When I think of Living Sport the next word that comes to mind is family. Before the trip, the people you talked to always mentioned once the program is over you inherit this new family. Let me tell you, you truly don’t understand what that means until you experience it for yourself. In Nashville, where one of us went the other 20 followed! Being connected through Living Sport gives you friends that you can laugh and have a good time with but also friends that you can call up and ask for help with your resume, cover letter, or anything else! 

My roommate, Kiersten Stiers, is from Texas and one of my favorite memories was when we were all outside this restaurant waiting to get some good ole southern BBQ food. The music was flowing through the window and she taught some of us how to 2-step right on Broadway Street! We talk almost daily since our program in August and she knows exactly the right thing to say to make sure I conquer my days filled with new work applications, interviews, and everything else! 

I am a classic example of the phrase “you get what you put in.” One of my goals I set for myself after the program was to make sure I continued my involvement with the Living Sport community. So, I decided to join the Ambassador Program. I currently participate in themed monthly videos, share and answer questions about my story to new program participants and anyone interested in Living Sport. Being an advocate for the program that helped me reignite my passion for the sports industry was the least I could do. Due to my quality involvement with that program, at the end of 2020, I was personally asked to join the alumni marketing committee for the upcoming year. Now on top of my ambassador work, I also attend bi-weekly zoom calls to create internal and external content and marketing tactics on the Alumni Board for the company. I give Living Sport my best and in return, it continues to lead me to new roads, endless connections, and an ever-growing family. 

The program is designed to push you, challenge you, and enlighten you to opportunities, employment possibilities, and chances that you didn’t know existed. There are assets that you just can’t learn in a classroom and Living Sport gives you the tools to unlock your potential. 

Living Sport is more than the location the program takes place in. No matter where the company goes you recognize the high-quality content that always follows. It's not the place nor the setting, it’s the people that make it so special. From Alicia Marinelli, your mentors, junior mentors, and your new peers that you meet.

The matter of fact is international or domestic Living Sport is a top-tier program for any individual looking for a step up in the sports industry.

Tampa Bay ‘21 Joins the Living Sport Family

BY: DANIEL GOLDBERG, NICOLE MARONEY, GREG SOKOL, AND JUSTIN McCARTHY, TAMPA ‘21

Four members of the Tampa Bay ‘21 Digital Media Team joined forces to introduce some new members to the Living Sport Family. Daniel Goldberg, Nicole Maroney, Greg Sokol, and Justin McCarthy hosted one-on-one interviews with Tampa Bay Program Participants to get to know them a little better. These participants have different backgrounds, stories, personal and professional goals.

Now that the Tampa Bay ‘21 program is coming to a close, they have all joined the Living Sport Network. The program may have only lasted a short time, but the Living Sport Family is forever. Follow along to learn more about these young sport business professionals.

---

KIMBERLY DIEROFF | SUNY-CORTLAND

Kimberly Dieroff is currently in her last semester of grad school at SUNY-Cortland where she is studying Sport Management. She studied at SUNY-Albany for her undergraduate degree in business. She is currently working two jobs; at a gym called Bine Health and Fitness and as a bartender at Dashers.

Kimberly has been involved in sports her entire life and the reason why she wanted to go into the sport industry is that “sports unites cities, universities and even the world.” Her dream job is to be a sport business manager. When asked what all that entailed Kimberly answered that it is a bit of everything; marketing, managing, and working with numbers. “I am most productive when I am busy,” she commented. Kimberly played soccer in college and being a college athlete can be hard to juggle everything but she loved the experience of being an athlete and as someone who is most productive when she is busy, she thrived in that environment. Her favorite sport to play is soccer and she can be found cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning, and their affiliate team the Syracuse Crunch. 

---

TAYLOR SALYERS | JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY

Taylor Saylers graduated from James Madison University this past December with a degree in Sport and Recreation management. What is even more impressive than graduating in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic is the fact that Taylor graduated a year and a half early.

Taylor will be moving to Winchester, Virginia to work for TTI, where she will be selling cordless power tools for Hart Tools. While it isn’t a sports industry job, Taylor commented that it has job security and seemed like the right culture fit for her. Sports has had a big influence on her life as both a participant and spectator. Taylor grew up playing field hockey and went on to participate in track and field in high school.

Taylor doesn’t know what her dream job would be but she wants to help make a difference in people’s lives. Speaking on the topic of adversity, she talked about how growing up her family wasn’t wealthy and how sports was a way to distract her from those hardships. Her favorite sport is ice hockey, and she can be found cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

---

SPENCER HESS | MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY

Spencer Hess graduated from Mercyhurst University where she studied Psychology with a minor in Sports Studies in 2019 and went on to complete her Master’s in Organizational Leadership this past spring. She currently works for a small non-profit organization called Erie 360 as the Director of Communications. Spencer commented that she “wears whatever hat needs to be worn depending on the day.”

After Spencer was injured while playing lacrosse, she realized that she didn’t want to give sports up so she spent her time taking photos and videos of the lacrosse team, and eventually earned a position with the Mercyhurst football team. Her dream job in sports is to be the Director of Communications for a professional hockey team like the Pittsburgh Penguins or Columbus Blue Jackets.

When asked about adversity that she has faced, Spencer gave an answer that we are all familiar with. “The pandemic,” she said, “every day is a challenge and it is an experience that we have all pushed through.” Spencer can be found watching college football, more specifically the Ohio State Buckeyes. Her favorite teams are anything Ohio State and the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

---

EMILY CANZANO | STONEHILL COLLEGE

Emily Canzano is currently getting her Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications. Now you may be asking, what exactly is that, Emily describes it as a marketing, communications, and design program all in one.

Currently, Emily is interning for Puma. Previously, she interned with the New England Revolution soccer team. Emily has played tennis since she was a child and when she went to college she didn’t have the opportunity to play, but she knew she had to find some way to be involved with sports. She commented by saying “I wanted to find a family and new opportunities,” She found that second family by working for the football team at her school.

Emily’s dream job is to work on the football sidelines in either operations or something with marketing. When asked about any adversities that she has faced in the past she talked about being away from home at school. She found her way through that with sports because it caused her to stay at school and enjoy what she was doing. Her favorite sport to play is tennis and her favorite to watch would either be football or hockey. She emphasized that she is a HUGE New England Patriots fan and she likes the Reds as well. 

---

DANIEL GOLDBERG | GEORGETOWN

Daniel Goldberg is currently obtaining his Master’s in Sport Industry Management from Georgetown University. He has a degree in Economics from Purdue University. Daniel does not currently hold a job, but in the past, he has interned for the Washington Football Team and the Frederick Keys who are an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.

Daniel says the reason why he got into the sports industry is that he has always had a passion for sports. When researching what goes into a sport event he saw all the different roles and that there “are so many opportunities to participate even if you aren’t physically playing in the game.” Going off of that question Daniel says that his dream job would either be in data analytics or as a general manager in football or baseball. Daniel hasn’t always had it easy in his sports career. During his sophomore year of high school, he had Tommy John Surgery which left him out of the game for a year. After that year, he never returned to the game of baseball. “Having the determination to go through that process really taught me a lot about myself,” Daniel commented about his year off.

Daniel’s favorite sports vary from season to season but if he had to choose he would say either baseball or football. His favorite sports teams are all D.C. sports teams, except he is a bigger Baltimore Oriole fan than Washington Nationals Fan.

---

MADYSEN KONTIO | SAGINAW VALLEY STATE

Madysen Kontio is currently a senior at Saginaw Valley State studying Business Management with a minor in Marketing. She currently works as a game day assistant at Saginaw valley where she helps out with game day operations. Madysen wanted to get into the sports industry because she played sports throughout her life and she “didn’t want to give it up yet.” She played travel basketball as a child and when she got to high school she added volleyball and softball to her forte. She currently plays club volleyball at her school. Diving deeper into her career as an athlete,

Madysen was asked what her favorite memory is; she talked about how on her basketball team everyone had their own role including herself. She said “I played a lot of defense and was responsible for getting rebounds.” On her senior night against her school’s rival, the game came down to her shooting free-throws. “I was playing a different role than what people expected of me,” she missed the first shot but ended up making the second and winning the game.

When asked about any adversities that she faced, Madysen described a situation that all of us college students may be acquainted with. Her freshman and sophomore year of college she worked as an intramural referee. She talked about having to reach out and network with people that she didn’t know. Which is a very common situation that we all face. Her dream job is to work in event planning or operations within the professional sports realm. Madysen’s favorite sports to watch are football and volleyball and to play would be either basketball, volleyball, or softball. You can find Madysen cheering on the Green Bay Packers even though she is from Michigan. When asked why she said “honestly, they are closer to where I live.”

---

DELIA RITCHIE | LOYOLA UNIVERSITY-CHICAGO

Delia Ritchie is a junior at Loyola University-Chicago studying Sport Management and is adding a minor in Marketing. She currently works retail at Madewell which is owned by JCrew. From an early age, she was exposed to sports; her mom introduced her to baseball and more specifically, the Chicago White Sox. Her parents had a big influence on her journey into the sports industry.

Her dream job in sports is to be a Director of Community Relations or an Event Coordinator. “I want to be behind the scenes and connect fans with their favorite teams and players.”

When asked about any adversities she has faced, Delia commented on overcoming mental health issues. “I was trying to fit a square into a circle,” said Delia. She knew she had to make changes in order to better herself and has overcome the difficulties she has faced in the past. Delia can be found cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, and Green Bay Packers and her favorite sport is hockey. 

---

MICHAEL WARNER | George Mason UNIVERSITY

Michael Warner received his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from California University of Pennsylvania and his Master of Arts in Energy and Sustainability Studies. Currently working as an Athletics Event Management Assistant at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Warner stressed his desire to enhance the relationship between sports and its energy and sustainability sponsors. Instead of brainstorming how sports can benefit these specific sponsors, Warner is interested in how these sponsors can efficiently benefit sports teams and their stadiums. His inspiration for this area of study came during an interview when he was made aware of a sporting venue roof that had the ability to recycle and reuse rainwater to benefit the stadium and its consumers. Little do people know, multiple teams now have this feature installed in their stadiums.

If there were to be a skill highlighted on Warner’s resume it would be his ability to overcome challenges. Dealing with a stutter, Warner described what it was like to live with this disorder while trying to overcome the struggle of finding a job during the COVID-19 pandemic, “I found myself more concerned about what the interviewer thought about my speech rather than my actual qualities.” Realizing this fact, he worked hard and was able to overcome this fear and continues to work on his speech.

Warner is your “all-around athlete” type of guy. Playing collegiate ice hockey and dabbling in and out of sports such as lacrosse, soccer, tennis, running, and cycling; Warner can also be found with his clubs out on the golf course. He is a fan of all Washington sports teams including the Football Team, Capitals, Wizards, Nationals, and Mystics.

---

NICOLE MARONEY | TRINE UNIVERSITY

As a current student of Trine University studying Sport and Recreation, Nicole Maroney is one who knows how to manage her time effectively. Previously receiving her Associates Degree in Sport Management at Southwestern Michigan College, Maroney recently started a new position as a member of the ticketing operations team for the Fort Wayne Football Club. Juggling this position on top of her studies, she also helps produce the “Adventures with Aggie” podcast. Can you see how she is good with managing her time now?

Her inspiration to get into the sports industry dates all the way back to fifth grade when her uncle gifted her a book called “Best Seat in the House” by Christine Brennan. Maroney instantly began to look up to Brennan. Another person she looked up to was her older sister, who was a Division 1 hockey player at Ohio State University. Going to her sisters’ games and watching her compete, she began to grow her own love for the sport and started her own hockey career. Unfortunately, Maroney experienced a number of concussions throughout her high school career, crushing her hopes and dreams of playing collegiate hockey like her sister. Although this was the case, she was able to learn how to deal with her issues and also learned what works best for her. In all, Maroney was able to become a more positive individual.

Today, as she continues her studies and gains tremendous work experience, she fights to work towards her dream job of becoming the VP of ticket sales for a professional hockey team. Maroney is an avid Chicago sports fan, as she regularly roots on the Blackhawks and the Cubs.

---

JUSTIN McCARTHY | IUPUI

Justin McCarthy, a current senior at IUPUI studying Marketing and International Business, is a die-hard motorsports fan. Inspired by his father, McCarthy began racing go-karts when he was just six years old. As he grew older, he found an interest in how these motorsport events operated, and landed an event operations internship with Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As he continues to follow this industry, McCarthy dreams of working full time on the business side of motorsports. Whether it is working in the marketing department, creating new and improved ways for fans to experience races, or starting his very own race team, McCarthy aims to become a very important individual in the motorsport industry. The ultimate goal, he mentioned with a smile on his face, is to become the President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Yet life has not come so easy for McCarthy. Just the Monday before he started his college career, McCarthy suffered the loss of his father. The man who originally introduced him to motorsports and who shared the same passion for racing as he did, was gone too soon. As one can imagine, this made starting college very tough for McCarthy, adding to the fact that he did not know a single face on campus. To get through this difficult time, he turned to the motivation and words of wisdom conducted by his mother. “She helped me get through that first year, she pushed me to finish,” McCarthy said. There is no doubt that McCarthy is one dedicated individual.

Now sharing his love for motorsports with his friends, McCarthy continues to study the ins and outs of the industry while spectating races. He is also a diehard Chicago sports fan, as he roots on his beloved Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Cubs.

---

ASHLEY DOYLE | JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY

If you are looking for a motivated, determined, strong-willed individual, look no further. Ashley Doyle, a current graduate assistant at James Madison University, admits that it has not been the smoothest of paths to get her to where she is today, but says that she was able to find herself and her true aspirations in the process. As an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, Doyle set out to become a dietician, a plan she had, dating back to when she was just thirteen years old. After getting her feet wet in the program, she realized that career was not for her, and decided to make a switch and study family sciences.

An avid Washington D.C. sports fan, Doyle broke into the sports industry as a member of the D.C. United event operations staff. She described her first day on the job as being a long and fast-paced fourteen-hour day consisting of steady rain. Yet this did not bother her. Rather, when questioned by many if this was in fact what she wanted to do, she expressed her love and passion for the job. This experience has motivated Doyle to want to become more involved in the sports industry on the event operations side. Her dream job is to one day be able to run her own stadium, including the ability to host large sporting events such as the Super Bowl and March Madness. With her tremendous focus and joyful spirit, she continues to work hard to reach her goals.

---

JORDAN JOHNSON | YORK COLLEGE OF PA

Jordan is from Ebensburg, Pennsylvania and recently attended York College of Pennsylvania, majoring in Sport Management with minors in Business Administration and Marketing. She currently works at Saint Francis University as a Multimedia Communications Coordinator. Jordan is also pursuing an MBA with a concentration in Marketing. 

Although she grew up around sports, they were never her passion. She did not really know what she wanted to do going into college, so she looked into event planning. She was very hesitant about it but looked into majors and programs that had to do with events, which is how she found herself involved in Sport Management. She also visited different schools that had similar programs and saw that the classes she’d be taking fit her interests. Jordan started working all the sporting events at her college and this allowed her to see which aspects of the sports industry she was truly passionate about working in. 

Jordan’s dream job in the sports industry is working for the NHL because it is her favorite sport and constant competition surrounding it creates long-lasting rivalries. She also feels like she would enjoy the NHL schedule that has multiple teams playing multiple times per week as opposed to that of another league like the NFL where every team usually plays one game a week. When Jordan came into college, she did not really like to talk to other people. As she began doing presentations, she gained more confidence in what she knew about the sports industry. Finding that confidence was a huge game-changer for her since networking is a big part of working in sports. Jordan’s favorite sport to play is soccer but her favorite sport to watch is hockey. Her favorite sports teams are the Pittsburgh teams: Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins. Recently, she has become a fan of the Nashville Predators after interning with them before COVID-19.

---

RYAN JENSEN | SETON HALL

Ryan is from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and just graduated from Seton Hall with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Sport Management. He is currently an Inside Sales Consultant at HomeAdvisor. Before Seton Hall, Ryan played football at Wagner and Cortland. Ryan attributes his love of football for getting him involved in the sport industry. He played through high school and college until he tore his ACL. Sports have been his whole life, as he was a three-sport athlete in high school and when he was younger he played up to 7-8 sports. His dad has been a basketball coach for over 20 years and everyone in his family plays sports. He knew that although he was done playing football, he still wanted to be involved in sports and a degree in Sport Management was the best route to go. His dream job in sports is to become a general manager for an NFL team. He has a lot of experience with recruitment, networking, and transition for athletes from the high school to the collegiate level, and then to the professional leagues. He has also been involved with the Canadian and Arena Football Leagues. 

Ryan’s biggest obstacle was hopping around from school to school trying to find what the right thing was for him. After his sophomore year at Cortland and being done with football due to injuries, Ryan came home and went to a county college for three semesters and changed his major. He pretty much had to start over after two years of college and got his Associate’s Degree in those first three semesters and then his Bachelor’s Degree the following three semesters. These obstacles motivated Ryan to pursue a career in sports because even though he could not play football anymore, it will always be a part of him. Ryan’s favorite sport is football and is a huge fan of the Las Vegas Raiders. He is also a Yankees, Knicks, and Devils fan. He has also worked for the New York Red Bulls as an operations intern. 

---

AVA ZIZZA | UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Ava is from Boston, Massachusetts and just graduated in December from the University of Alabama with a degree in Marketing and will begin his Master’s in Sports Administration in the fall. In the meantime, she will be a social media intern for Tide 100.9 FM, the Alabama sport radio station in Tuscaloosa and will continue cheerleading for the Crimson Tide.

Ava was inspired to get involved in the sport industry through her experiences on the cheer team. The cheer team works a lot with the marketing department for game day and being behind-the-scenes made her want to get involved more. Her dream job in sports is working on corporate sponsorships or working in fan engagement because she enjoys talking to people. Gameday operations is also a path she could choose to follow as well.

Ava’s biggest obstacle was being a student-athlete and managing her time. She had to manage schoolwork, cheerleading, and internships. It was hard at first, but she was eventually able to find a balance and her internship with Red Bull was very convenient as they let her work around her schedule to complete it. Her favorite sport is football and she is a big fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide and the New England Patriots. She also is a fan of the Boston Red Sox.

---

TYLER BRITTON | MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH UNIVERSITY

Tyler “Tom Brady” Britton hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Mount Saint Joseph University in 2019.  

Like most people, Britton’s interest in sports began when he was a young age. Growing up watching football with his dad, he found a love for the sport and knew he wanted to get involved.He began playing at a young age with the dream of playing professionally. He even got as far as playing collegiate football before he decided to take a different path.  

When asked about his journey through sports and whether he had to face any adversity, Britton told a story about what it was like growing up in a military family. He talked about the difficulty in creating relationships with others due to moving so much. “You meet a lot of people, but you never build lifelong relationships with people.” said Britton. “I’ve always felt I was behind the eight ball with connections.” Although he felt the lack of relationships made things more difficult, he has not let that stop him. Britton has worked to create strong relationships and connections allowing him to gain experience within the industry. However, it wasn’t easy for Britton to get his first position. 

Like many others, Britton was faced with the hardships of the Covid-19 pandemic shortly after his graduation. At the same time, the BLM riots were in full force across the country and Britton was considering entering the police force. He said it was something he always considered and was even told by a recruiter, they didn’t offer him the position because they thought he would be better as a security officer based upon his resume. Ultimately, Britton pushed through these hard moments and continued pursuing his dream. 

 Currently, Britton works part-time at Best Buy as a Loss Prevention Manager. However, he has built a strong resume of experience from working for the Cincinnati Reds, Florence Yall’s, and now the Super Bowl. Britton has a position lined up to work the Western and Southern Open later this year as an Event Operations Intern. Britton has dreams of becoming a GM or team owner for an NFL team, but describes his interest in starting at the bottom of a football organization and working his way to the top. 

 If you hadn’t guessed it by now, Britton’s favorite sport is football and he loves Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. He is also a big fan of the Los Angeles Angels, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Bruins. Be on the lookout for Britton to own a team of his own in the future!

---

EDDIE McQUADE | LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

Eddie “Madison Square Garden” McQuade isn’t your stereotypical New Yorker. Hailing from Long Island, New York, McQuade’s enthusiasm and friendly personality brings energy to the group whenever he enters the building.  

McQuade is attending his last semester at Long Island University and will be graduating in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. Growing up, Eddie was a major sports fan. All he wanted to do was talk about the players, stats, and highlights with anyone he met. “When I was younger, I’d be watching SportsCenter all day, telling everyone about the batting average and stats,” said McQuade. “I was just telling everyone about my passion.”

 Growing up, McQuade talked about his own career in sports having played baseball, basketball, and swam the 200 free in high school. He highlighted baseball as his favorite sport due to the relationship he had with his teammates. McQuade told stories about the interactions all the team members had and you could feel the family atmosphere his team had created.

 After high school, things weren’t always easy for McQuade. He has been to four different universities due to various reasons such as not having his major. However, McQuade never gave up; he continued to work hard and just has one internship to complete before finishing his degree. 

 Currently, McQuade works as a security guard at Madison Square Garden and City Field. When asked if he could have any job in the industry, he said he wanted to be a sports agent but his current goals are to become a high school or college athletic director. 

 McQuade is an all-around sports fan but when asked to pick what his favorite sports were, he named football, basketball, baseball, and hockey at the top of his list. Being from New York, it’s no surprise his favorite teams are the Giants, Knicks, Mets, and the Rangers. However, don’t let this fool you, McQuade has a big jersey and hat collection and isn’t afraid to support any team across the country.

---

HEATHER FORTUNE | UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD

Heather “The Longhorn” Fortune graduated from University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Sport Management in just 5 years. 

 Currently, Fortune works for a nonprofit organization called San Antonio Sports. The organization hosts after school youth programs providing five different sports, equipment, and nutrition classes throughout the year. Fortune told the story of how she got started in this position highlighting her involvement with the Men's Final Four tournament. She designed the material for the Read to the Final Four program which is currently used for all reading programs. “It’s like a little legacy,” said Fortune. “I got to start that program and it’s probably the biggest highlight of my career.”

When asked about her dream job, Fortune said she wanted to work for the Warrior Games for the military. She talked about her father being in the military and her respect for all military personnel. “After talking with vets and hearing their stories, it got me excited,” said Fortune. She is very excited for the development of the Warrior Games and hopes she will be able to create her own legacy there like she did with the NCAA. 

Like most people in sports, Fortune’s inspiration can be attributed to her involvement at a young age. She truly is the jack of all trades as her parents signed her up for every sport she could play. As Fortune got older, she became more serious and played four competitive sports in high school while also assisting the men's sports teams on the weekends. This ultimately led to her first position in the sport industry as an umpire for high school baseball. However, this is also when she encountered some adversity.  

Being a woman in sports has not always been easy for Fortune. She talked about the misogynistic views of some men in the sport industry. In her first role as an umpire, she said she wasn’t taken seriously by the other officials or players. She was seen as someone who knew nothing about the sport and the officials treated her as such. Fortune had to overcome these viewpoints and prove that she had the knowledge to be an umpire. However, she had a great attitude about the situation and never let their views get in the way of proving them wrong. 

 Growing up in Texas, Fortune is a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Astros, and Las Vegas Golden Knights. She is also a big Texas Longhorn fan and will be more than happy to show her team spirit around any Aggie fans. If she is ever in your fantasy league for any sport, be aware because she is very good at managing her teams. 

---

NICK LISI | CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

If you’re ever looking for Nick Lisi in a crowd, just look for the guy rocking Clemson apparel. Lisi is a freshman at Clemson University majoring in Economics. 

When asked about why he chose Clemson, Lisi said, “I wanted a university that would make me feel like a little fish in a big pond so I could make myself a big fish in a little pond.” It shows the drive Lisi has to work hard and make a name for himself within the sport industry. 

 Lisi is currently unsure what he would like to do when he graduates. All he knows is his love for sport, stats, and the players. One day he hopes to be able to have a job encompassing his favorite aspects of the sport whether it’s helping on the business side or the player side.

 Although Lisi is in his first year, he is already taking the initiative to make a name for himself in the sport industry. Last fall he worked for the University inside the football stadium. From there he found the Living Sport program taking him on the next step of his journey. His drive and dedication earned him the title of being one of, if not the youngest participant in program history. 

 Lisi’s inspiration for the sport industry was different from many of the other participants. It began when he was a Junior in high school attending a two-week program in Syracuse, New York studying analytics. While he was there he said he realized it was possible and there was a path to work with analytics in the sport industry. He even highlighted some members from the program who went on to work for his favorite team, the Brooklyn Nets.

 While Lisi has already had many great achievements in the sport industry, it wasn’t always easy for him. His top university was the University of North Carolina. However, after struggling with a chemistry class in high school, he realized he might not be able to make it to the university. Instead, he went to Clemson and has embraced the culture. He never let it get in the way of working towards his goals. 

 It’s very clear Lisi is a huge Clemson fan. Rarely is he seen without sporting some kind of Clemson apparel and says he loves all Clemson athletics. Beyond his university, Lisi is a big fan of the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Browns. He said he isn’t a big hockey fan, even though he’s currently in a fantasy hockey league. When asked about his success in a sport he isn’t familiar with, Lisi said “I just tried to pick the players with the best beard!” His response captures the energy he brings to the team and his openness to get involved any way he can. 

---

MATTHEW HAMMAD | OHIO MEDIA SCHOOL

Matthew “The Drone Guy” Hammad, attended Ohio Media School where he received a degree in TV and Radio Broadcasting in late 2019. During his Living Sport interview, Living Sport founder, Alicia Marinelli, heard of his drone and media skills and instantly became intrigued by how he could contribute to the team. It’s no surprise he was selected to become a participant of this program. 

 Hammad has had a slow start in the sport industry. Recently, he started a position working at a Sports Cards Shop stating it’s his first job within the sport industry. Before this position, Hammad wasn’t afraid of working anywhere. He did it all, from working at a grocery store to a haunted house. He’s not afraid to look for opportunities and try new things. 

One skill Hammad excels at is going out of his way to build strong relationships with people. When applying for his job at the card shop, Hammad decided to hand deliver his resume to the card shop. When asked why he wanted to hand deliver his resume, Hammad said, “I really just think going to the store shows initiative. I think it shows a little bit more effort.” His response truly captures his character and shows he’s not afraid to put in the extra effort on the job. 

Hammad’s inspiration in sports began when he was a toddler. He grew up watching sports with his dad and grew to love the players. As he got older, he found his passion for photography and realized he could combine the two and make a career within the industry.  One day Hammad would like to have his own freelance production company. He wants to be out on the field at the event and make a story or highlight reel of the game. 

When asked about adversity, Hammad talked about his struggle in highschool and what he wanted to do afterwards. He believed college wasn’t an option which is how he found the Ohio Media Trade School. “I was trying to find a way to make something out of nothing,” said Hammad. “A lot of people told me not to go to college for this.” Eventually he found the trade school and a month later he was enrolled in the program. 

Being in Ohio, it’s no surprise he’s a big fan of all Ohio professional sports. However, he’s also a big Boston sports fan because of his father. If you ever get the chance to talk to Hammad, be sure to ask him about Kareem Hunt and the signed replica helmet he just got, and certainly stay on the lookout for Hammad working the sidelines at your future sporting events.

Career Roadmap: Working Outside the Big Four – Recreation Sports

BY: ANNA AUDLER, GLASGOW ‘19 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & PRODUCT AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER AT P&P IMPORTS LLC

In my previous blog, I mention that working in sports was something that I had always wanted to do and sports was something that had always been a part of my life. When I made that decision to pursue a career in sports, I knew it was going to be a hard task to land a job in sports because I was earning my degree in Psychology, not Sports Management or any other related field. Then, I was asking myself a bunch of questions like “Are you sure you want to do this?” and “Should I just apply to graduate school?”, but I knew that if I just look for the experience and use my competitive nature to its advantage, I will find my path to working in sports.

I figured my best bet of getting my foot in the door in the sports industry was to work for the Club and Intramural Sports Department at UCLA Recreation while I was in college. There, I started off as just a referee for our soccer, softball, flag football, and volleyball leagues and always making sure I stay focused on what my overall goal is: getting a job in sports. Luckily, my supervisors noticed my determination and work ethic and decided to promote me to Student Supervisor where I could gain experience in league operations like coordinating referees and basic operations and customer service. The experience I gained during college gave me the confidence to continue with my path, but not without falling in love with recreational sports.

In addition to looking for full-time work after college, I wanted to make sure that I was still able to do all the things I fell in love with doing at UCLA Recreation outside in the adult world. When I discovered ZogSports, I knew it was a perfect match, but what I did not know was that there was so much more about it that made it more unique than your traditional college intramural league. ZogSports is a social sports league that has a primary focus on creating personal connections, caring communities, and a sense of play all through the power of sports. The company was founded after the events of 9/11, where founder Rob Herzog was 5 minutes late to work that day. He was inspired by the sense of camaraderie that New York City was feeling afterward and how sports was the main thing that brought everyone together. Though he did not just want to create a sports league, he also wanted to incorporate charity as a core part of the social sport experience. Every team that plays in the leagues gets to play for a charity of their choosing, and the winning team of that league wins proceeds for their charity. That is why when I was hired as a referee for ZogSports, I knew that I was going to be a part of something much larger than just sports.

Being a referee for ZogSports was the most fun experience I had in my career. Not only was I officiating the sports I enjoy playing, but I also got to build connections with the teams and players I interacted with daily. The players loved that I was able to bring energy to the court or field and have fun while getting the job done. There were even moments where I was invited to their happy hours or even to play on their teams and it was in those moments where I realized that I was doing more than just officiating games; I was also building connections and a sense of community that Rob had envisioned ZogSports would do. Those experiences were well worth the long tournament days, lugging heavy equipment around, working weekends, and the occasional SoCal sunburns.

All of this hard work eventually paid off when I was offered a full-time role as Operations Coordinator just 2 weeks after returning from my Living Sport trip to Glasgow in July 2019. My dedication to being the best referee I can be and the experience I gained while being abroad gave me that competitive edge to get this promotion. As Operations Coordinator, I oversaw our Basketball, Bowling, Kickball, Softball, and Spikeball leagues across Los Angeles. This included managing, hiring, and training referees, organizing teams, managing schedules and creating them, taking part in securing permits, and handling customer service requests, all of which I’ve had experience in doing when I was in college and would not have the chance to do if I pursued a career in the Big Four.

Being Operations Coordinator for ZogSports was more than just running the leagues, it was also creating an experience that both the players and I would enjoy. I always made sure to check in on my leagues by visiting them or joining them as a player (which I joined a league for every day of the week). I believed that if I didn’t have a great time playing or saw that the league did not have a sense of a community, I would go back to my desk and brainstorm how I can make this league better. Because I was going out to the leagues, I was able to create a sense of family among those I played with as those I worked with. One of my fondest memories is when I joined our Flag Football league where my coworkers also joined and we all contributed to bringing this league that at one point only had 3 teams registered to have 12 teams at its peak. Because my coworkers and I gave the league some love and attention to create a better experience for all players, everyone there became a family. Being able to go out to the parks and experience first-hand all the hard work we put in helped create a job experience so unique to the sports industry and made me love what I was doing and I will always consider my ZogSports coworkers as family.

Looking back, I would not have had the experience I had with ZogSports if I did not get comfortable with being uncomfortable and going above and beyond what was expected of me. Living Sport helped get give me that mentality to always seek opportunities to make a job seem more like just a job. Both ZogSports and Living Sport have such a strong passion for building communities and life-long connections and that allowed me to use what I learned in Glasgow to succeed in my non-Big Four jobs.

MLL's 2020 Season Amidst the Pandemic

BY: JESSICA GARCIA, BARCELONA ‘17 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & OPERATIONS AND MARKETING MANAGER AT NEW YORK LIZARDS

2020 was not a typical year. Life as we knew it had changed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The way we socialize, shop, become educated, receive healthcare, and work has changed. Many people have started working and learning remotely. Thousands of people were put on unemployment or were furloughed after thousands of businesses shuttered due to quarantining. Despite all of this, we have seen incredible healthcare heroes emerge, everyday people evolve and adapt to the changes, and we are all persevering through this “new normal.”

 For sports fans in March, the biggest question was “When are sports going to come back?” Seasons like the NBA’s were postponed, others, such as the NLL, were canceled entirely. I was very grateful to be part of a league able to participate in a modified 2020 season. It took a lot of creativity and manpower to come up with a plan so that we could get back on the field and bring lacrosse back to the fans.

The NBA and NHL instituted a bubble in order for the leagues to resume play in their 2019-2020 seasons. This strategy was determined to deliver the best protection for players and staff. Major League Lacrosse recognized the value in this strategy and also took a bubble approach to the season, under the guidance of partnered medical professionals.

 The 2020 MLL season was Major League Lacrosse’s 20th Anniversary Season. Having the ability to execute the milestone season, despite the pandemic, brought a great level of fulfillment to the league, its alumni, players, and partners.  

MLL’s  20th Anniversary Season was held from July 18th to July 26th, in Annapolis, Maryland at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  

MLL instituted a comprehensive testing plan, that included quarantining, testing before entry into the bubble, and detailed travel protocol.

Players and staff arrived at the bubble on Wednesday, July 15th, to check-in at the hotel. Every player that was participating in the 2020 MLL season stayed at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis. The bubble included only the hotel and the stadium. Players and staff were transported between the two locations via an exclusive shuttle service, that also underwent an exhaustive sanitization protocol. Upon arrival at either location, players and staff were temperature checked in order to be allowed admittance. Everyone was required to wear a mask at all times when roaming the hotel or up until it was time to gear up and start gameplay for the players.

There were not any fans allowed on either premise.

Before the 7-day regular season started, each team participated in training camp. The training camp consisted of two-hours of on-field training, for two days, on Thursday, July 16th, and Friday, July 17th. During the season, each team competed once against all other teams in the league, and the top four teams moved on to playoffs. There were two games daily, except for the first day of the season where all 6 teams played one game. Each team would have two days off throughout the week.

 Equipment distribution was a challenge for the New York team. Most of the equipment was delivered to the office of the Chesapeake’s team, as it was in-market for the 2020 season. Some of my team’s gear was delivered to us in our office in New York before quarantine had started. During my travels to Maryland, one of my responsibilities was to bring this equipment along with me. Inside the hotel, we had built an equipment room for the first 2-3 days of everyone arriving.  Each team took turns working in small groups to put the players’ and coaches ’ team bags together. Once all of the team bags were built and the equipment was distributed, all of the leftover equipment was sent back to each team’s rooms. The equipment room was then transformed into a training facility where trainers would meet the players to get stretched out or taped up.  

All food and beverages were provided via individually packaged meals for players and staff at the hotel. Team managers and coaches accommodated all dietary needs and food allergy concerns. Teams ate separately and were assigned time slots to dine.

 Regardless of victory or loss, the league offered opportunities for reflection and team bonding. Each team was able to reserve time in one of the conference rooms to conduct team meetings. The hotel also provided teams an outdoor area with tables, chairs, and outdoor activities where players could hang-out.

Each player, coach, and staff member had their own room to make sure we adhered to the social distancing protocols. While players understood, and some appreciated having their own space, many others missed having roommates. They didn’t let the separation keep them from socializing. I remember walking out of my room and a number of our athletes were working on their tablets/laptops, in the hallway outside their rooms, while talking and laughing.

 The players experienced changes on-field to assimilate to COVID protocol as-well. Due to social distancing, MLL updated the way the field was set-up. Usually, team benches are on the same side of the field, but this year teams remained on opposite sides.  

All teams played in the same stadium and shared a field, but they all had unique local partners back in their home communities that they needed to generate value for via field signage (visibility on TV). The league was creative and made the logistics work. Each team deemed the “home team” would have their local partners displayed during their game. As there were two games per night, that started within 30 minutes – 1 hour of one another, a group of league staff would change the field signs after the horn of one game and before the next whistle would go off.

Sanitation took a huge priority and was handled with great care. Locker rooms were not used throughout the season, and at all times in the stadium, the players remained outside. Players came to the stadium fully taped and equipped, and then showered and stretched back at the hotel.  

Players did not share water bottles and the bottles were only handled by specific staff members. After each water bottle was filled, it was sanitized before moving on to the next one. Each player had their own box with their water bottle and a personal towel to use during the game. Coaches, athletic trainers, and any other staff members on the sideline wore a mask at all times.

We as a league, took all possible precautions to ensure the safety and health of everyone present. The season may have been shorter than a traditional season would have been, but I think it was incredible that we were even able to bring sports, especially lacrosse, back this summer. I personally can say that I am grateful to have had an opportunity to be a part of this unique season. We had some challenges but, I was able to learn and grow and better myself as a sport business professional. It was also my pleasure to have been able to, after a long period of time without sports, bring some form of normalcy into the lives of our players, fans, and partners. This was the first season I was able to travel, and, after this experience, I can’t wait to see what will be in store for our 2021 season. If we, as a league, can overcome the challenges of the pandemic, I strongly believe we can overcome anything.

Breaking into Sports? Try a New Hat.

BY: AUSTIN DYKSTRA, DUBLIN ‘18 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & GAME AND STUDIO PRODUCTION, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

“We must be willing to wear many hats to put the best version of ourselves forward!” This is the advice that I carried with me after returning from the Living Sport program in Dublin, 2018. After graduating from college in California, I moved back to Las Vegas. When I moved back to Vegas, the city was only home to only 3 professional sports teams, two of which had just completed each of their inaugural seasons that summer. I was breaking into my sports career in the new sports hub, and actually, I still am breaking in.

I attended California Baptist University, where I majored in History.  My aspirations heading into school and even into my senior year of college were to be a teacher. However, that same year, I started working for my school's media production team for the athletics program, introducing me to instant replay, specifically for college basketball games. There, my aspirations changed.  This was the time when I decided that I no longer wanted to become a teacher and instead wanted to pursue a career in sports production! Now the only problem I had was, where do I start?

To the internet I went to scour the job boards for places I thought I could get a job or an internship that had to deal with something remotely in the world of sports. Many applications to jobs and internships around the Southwest region of the US one application came back: Living Sport. The email I received from Living Sport was the first positive email I had received in regards to working in sports in the months I had been applying. I jumped at the chance, especially since I loved traveling and loved the opportunity to go to Ireland to learn more about the business of sport!

Prior to heading to Dublin for the 2018 Living Sport Program, I accepted my first position outside of college with the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I started the day after I returned from Ireland as a Ticket Sales Representative - a combination of sales and customer service. It was my first breakthrough into the Vegas sports scene even, if it wasn’t the department I wanted to be in, but I was thankful for the opportunity of being fresh out of college and especially after Dublin, giving me the affirmation to try a new hat.  

While in Dublin with the Living Sport Program I met some amazing people that I still remain in contact to over 2 years later! There we learned great advice from industry professionals about how we can better set ourselves up for success in the world of sport, while also being able to explore the beautiful country of Ireland. It was in Ireland on one of our lecture sessions that the phrase, “wear many hats’” stuck deep in my mind. At this time I was only focused on coming back to the US and working in Instant Replay in some way for sporting events but then I thought back to my college team and all the other people that sat in the same control room as me and all the different positions. This is when I decided to not limit myself to what I was applying to and start trying on some hats!

After this opportunity, I applied and was granted a position with the Vegas Golden Knights, an NHL hockey franchise that was coming off of their historic first season, as a part-time Runner/Tagboard Operator. I assisted the production department during game days with various tasks that could be helpful in any way to make sure the game runs smoothly for all those involved in the control room and on the crew staff. I was also in charge of Tagboard, the social media filtering website that allows us to post fan images on our “Knighton” (our nickname for our jumbotron). For the current season, I was promoted to Clips Operator, where I would take charge of playing pre-recorded content and fan engagement videos throughout VGK home games. During those two years, I was also cross-trained in various positions around the control room, so I can take on more roles on game days. 

My approach to taking on various roles in the control room not only helped me gain a promotion but also led me to three more opportunities. My manager with the Vegas Golden Knights referred me to Xpressions, a motion graphics company that has partnered with various professional Vegas sports teams. Through this referral, I have worked with both the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A Affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, and the Las Vegas Aces (WNBA) as an Instant Replay/Clips Operator. I created and distributed computer graphics onto the display board for fan engagement and sponsorship purposes. With the Aces, I was able to jump around more and take on multiple positions. Recently, this referral led my next step to work with Xpressions as an Operator for the Las Vegas Raiders. My exact role is not set yet, but I am excited to take on this new role during their first season in Las Vegas.  

So far, what I’ve learned working in the world of sports production is you can never know too much or too many people. As Vegas sports grows bigger and my network continues to expand, I look forward to continuing to learn and grow along with this new sports scene! I would love to work for a team full time one day, but for now, I’m amazed at the blessings of opportunity I have been able to get while still being so young. For future Living Sport alumni, remember no job is too small or below you. Wear as many hats as possible! A “small” job can lead to an amazing opportunity, just like what happened to me in Vegas.

UPDATE: Austin Dykstra has begun his new role with the Las Vegas Raiders in Game and Studio Production! Congratulations, Austin!

Career Roadmap: Working Outside the Big Four – Youth Sports

BY: ANNA AUDLER, GLASGOW ‘19 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & PRODUCT AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER AT P&P IMPORTS LLC

One of my fondest childhood memories includes waking up early on a Saturday morning to get ready for softball tournaments, tennis matches, volleyball games, or any other sport I managed to convince my parents to register me for. I was always that child that would rather be out on the field playing with a ball instead of staying inside and watching cartoons like any other child my age at the time. Back then I knew I wanted to work in the sports industry, but if you ask my 10-year-old self, she would expect me to be a professional athlete by now.

Looking back, I know I would never have had any of my memories playing sports as a child if it were not for the adults that helped organize the different leagues that I would play in. As a child, you don’t notice all the hard work that goes into scheduling your tournament, ordering your jerseys, or coordinating the fundraisers to help pay for your registration fees; all you can think about is going outside and playing the sport you love while hanging out with your friends.

When I made the decision to pursue a career in sports, I knew that a portion of what I wanted to do was to provide those same opportunities I was given when I was younger to others. During my job search after my graduation from UCLA in 2017, I discovered Super Soccer Stars and knew immediately that this would be a perfect opportunity for me. Super Soccer Stars is a soccer development program that focuses on the development of soccer skills in children between the ages of 12 months-12 years old across the nation. Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world and just the thought of providing opportunities for kids to learn the sport excited me.

During my first few months at Super Soccer Stars, I was able to oversee Customer Service for our programs in Los Angeles and Orange County while also assisting the San Diego and San Francisco Customer Service teams. Being in that Customer Service role allowed me to see the other side of running a program and work directly with the parents that signed up their child for these programs and hearing the stories behind why they want to sign up their 2-year-old in soccer development classes. Eventually, I was able to earn a promotion to Regional Program Coordinator where I was able to oversee all programs in the Greater Los Angeles area and Orange County. Now, I was the person that decided when the development classes would take place based on need, how many classes based on demand, liaise with our current business partners to decide on where the classes would take place based on availability, and a bunch of other business-related projects that I didn’t even know existed in the world of youth sports to help generate revenue and provide opportunities for kids to learn soccer. Who knew that going to meetings with city officials or school directors/teachers and applying for permits would be essential to youth soccer, but it is and being exposed to those experiences helped me learn the business side of sports.

The more my responsibilities increased, the more I was able to look back and have a greater appreciation for those programs I played in as a child and the more appreciation for the work I was doing. Going to the events I would help organize (some events I got to help out with included some for LA Galaxy) or even some of the classes I helped put on the schedule and seeing a smile on a child’s face while they kicked around a soccer ball justified my reason for working in this industry. I also realized that working for Super Soccer Stars provided opportunities that I would not have received working in the Big Four (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) and provided greater flexibility to explore other skillsets, like customer service and business operations, compared to working in one specific department.  

As I look back on my experience with Super Soccer Stars and my experience with the Living Sport program, I now have a greater appreciation for job experiences that the Big Four does not offer, and understand that it is completely okay to not have experience in professional sports and still be able to have a sports job.

--

Super Soccer Stars offers fun and educational soccer classes, birthday parties, after school programs, and camps to children in New York, Boston, Florida, Chicago, DC, Philadelphia, Texas, San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles/Orange County and has plenty of job opportunities available. Their new online model and preventative COVID-19 measures for in-person classes have allowed them to remain in operation during this pandemic. For job opportunities, please visit apply.workable.com/super-soccer-stars/ for further information.

Life After the Program with Connor Herlihy: A Participant that Never Stopped Living Sport

BY: WALTER LEMBECK, NASHVILLE ‘20 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & SPORT COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT AT BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

In my past blog, I wrote about current Living Sport participants. Let’s switch our focus now to one of our Junior Mentors on the program, the ever-reliable and hard-working, Connor Herlihy. 

Connor was a part of the first Living Sport program in Barcelona, Spain 2017, as a participant. His journey through Living Sport has now come full circle, as he became a junior mentor with our Nashville group and has since gone on to become the Director, Digital Media of Living Sport.

Connor is someone I related to a lot on the trip, given that he was a little more soft spoken, but a hard worker from the get-go. After seeing him put in tireless effort throughout the ten days, I knew I had to pick his brain a little about the program.

Like I mentioned before, Connor was a part of the first program in Barcelona. Connor went into the program a few months after graduating, and used it to propel his career. “I came out of the trip ready to go, feeling inspired, trying to get to where I wanted to be,” Connor explained. 

The trip opened up Connor’s eyes to international travel, and working internationally. Fresh out of the Living Sport program he had an interview with the Junior Golf Tour of Asia to live in China, and travel around Asia working on the media side of the golf industry. 

Connor has a unique ability to be a part of firsts for Living Sport. He was on the first ever trip, going to Barcelona, and he was also on the first ever domestic program with our Nashville crew. Connor saw benefits to the domestic program, “We worked with the Trash Pandas, and there is a good chance you could find a position or internship with them afterwards.”

Connor also saw benefits for the international program as well. He mentioned how international travel looks great on a resume, and there are opportunities to work abroad as well, if you’re willing to take the leap. Connor is first hand proof that you can get an opportunity after doing a program overseas. 

Connor has had the opportunity to see Living Sport grow as a program, and through the growth a sense of community has developed. “There are participants that I have never met, but I feel like I am friends with them, and that I know them on a personal and professional level,” Connor explained.

Connor continued his high praise for the program, “I don’t know too many programs that do it like Living Sport does, it’s easily top tier in terms of community and building that sense of family.”

Connor is excited to see the program continue to grow, and has hope there might be a trip to Asia in the future. 

I hope to continue to build a relationship with Connor going forward, as his hard work inspired me from the beginning. All of the work he put into the program can be seen through all the photos being shared, by Living Sport, and program participants. It’s a beautiful thing when someone can capture the essence of a trip through photos and videos, and Connor did just that. It makes it easy to see why Connor has had success, and will continue to succeed going forward, including his new role of Director, Digital Media with Living Sport.

Walt's Living Sport Journey

BY: WALTER LEMBECK, NASHVILLE ‘20 PROGRAM PARTICIPANT & SPORT COMMUNICATIONs STUDENT AT BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

Living Sport is like one big family. We're all connected and all want to help each other succeed. One of the biggest lessons I have already taken away from my Living Sport experience is to utilize your network instead of just using. What does this mean? It is the mindset to not only seek what others can do for you but also recognizing and acting on what you can do for them as well. This creates the foundation for our strong Living Sport network. This should be the golden rule for business, not only in sports, but everywhere else as well. 

With this new mindset, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight some Nashville ‘20 program participants through a blog while we are in Nashville on this sport business journey. It’s a win-win situation where I can utilize this platform to highlight a peer of mine within the program while brushing up on my blogging and interview skills. It also allows the Living Sport Alumni Network or possible organizations following our program to receive more information on some participants.

---

VANESA CRUZ | FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Vanesa Cruz hails from Miami, Florida, and studied marketing at Florida International University. She also comes from a lineage of over THREE HUNDRED, first generation grandchildren. 

Vanesa’s path to sports is a unique one, she started out in health service administration, having come from a family in the medical field. While getting her bachelor’s degree she got an opportunity with the Miami Marlins in marketing. “They gave me so many opportunities to learn, grow, and just really be myself. Honestly, that’s what shifted me over to getting my masters in marketing,” Vanesa explained. 

Since then Vanesa has developed a passion for marketing, “I really enjoy marketing in all aspects, not only in sports, but I definitely have a passion for sports.”

Vanesa’s time with the Marlins was an eye opening experience. Her focus was on the marketing side of the things, and shadowed different aspects of the industry as well. She saw the hard work everyone in the industry puts in, and it has motivated her to continue to learn.  

“I feel like we never stop learning and the more you learn every day, the more you can continue to become better,” Vanesa said. Going forward she is keeping her options open, whether it be an entry level position or an internship, Vanesa is open to anything. 

Further down the road Vanesa would love to be Vice President of marketing and promotions. As she stated earlier marketing is her passion, but believes it helps with more aspects in a company. “Marketing assists with the sales, for a company to really succeed you have to sell,” Vanesa explained. 

Vanesa’s infectious enthusiasm for marketing and sports, will put her in a position to lead a marketing team in the future. 

---

NICOLE TEKLITS | WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Next up comes an avid traveler, who wants to visit every national park, and two-time Living Sport program participant, Nicole Teklits. 

Nicole finished up her undergrad in sport management at Kutztown University, and is now onto West Virginia University to get her master’s degree. At West Virginia, Nicole will be getting her master’s in integrated marketing with a special in public relations leadership. 

Growing up Nicole played many different sports including: swimming, volleyball, gymnastics, tennis, and cheerleading. She also has a unique connection to Living Sport founder Alicia Marinelli. “I was actually a part of the program Alicia set up with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A Affiliate of the Phillies) for high schoolers,” Nicole said. 

Nicole has a vast experience already in sports. Having worked three years with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (a professional indoor football team), she moved her way up the ranks along the way. “I started out as a promotions intern in my first year, and by the end of my time there I was helping coordinate in-game promotions,” Nicole said. 

Nicole gained momentum from that experience to work with the Philadelphia Eagles. She was a part of their game day staff, and eventually gained the fan ambassador role. “Being put in the fan ambassador role is something rare, so I was really happy about gaining that role,” Nicole said with pride.  

Going forward Nicole is looking to become a coordinator/manager of a public relations or marketing department.

Her experience will no doubt lead her to success going forward!

---

ALEX EDGEWORTH | NEW HAVEN UNIVERSITY

One of my last participant interviews I’ve done as part of the Living Sport Nashville ‘20 program is a recent graduate from New Haven University, Lawrence Alex Edgeworth (goes by Alex). 

Alex is from Harlem, New York, and like Living Sport teammate Julien Sheriff, wants to be a sports agent. Alex is a silent leader, which is a common theme within this Living Sport group. His actions and demeanor naturally draw people to follow his lead.

Alex also wants to help give back to others, by helping them achieve their goals and dreams. Alex wants to give back by being an agent, and feels he is a very personable person that can relate to athletes through his experiences in life.

“I have two ears and one mouth, so I can listen twice as hard as I can speak,” Alex explained. This shows how Alex wants to be able to listen to others, and be able to formulate how he can help players negotiate contracts. 

Alex was an umpire for five years, where he learned how to deal with athletes, coaches, and players. Here he learned how to cater to different people, and he grew an appreciation for the grind that comes with sports. 

Going forward Alex is looking for an agent he can shadow or mentor, that way he can see the ins and outs of the position. He would like to also pursue a master’s degree in law to better set his future, as an agent, up for success. Alex is also up to filling any position where he can use his interpersonal skills to help players out within a team. 

Alex is a critical thinker, which is shown by his appreciation for chess and checkers. This critical thinking will no doubt set up success for Alex as he builds his brand as an agent.

---

DEREK DINGLEY | JOHNSTON aND WALES UNIVERSITY

We have a jack of all trades up next, with the talent to be on Broadway or sing a national anthem, Derek Dingley. 

Derek is from Johnston, Rhode Island, where he goes to Johnston and Wales University for sport entertainment and management. Derek got involved early and often in the sports industry. He first was a bench coach, keeping track of scoreboard, for a junior high team starting in high school. 

Derek parlayed that into a unique experience, “I got a job in high school for a company called Baseball Info Solutions. They take a lot of statistics, they’re basically the company that sell a lot of the stats to ESPN. I secured a job as a scorekeeper and data collector working at games for the Pawtucket Red Sox, who are the Triple-A Affiliate for the Boston Red Sox in Rhode Island. I did that for 2017 through last year,” Derek explained. 

Derek’s last experience, before Living Sport, brought him to Major League Soccer, with the New England Revolution. With the Revolution, Derek worked with the game day event staff. Derek looks to continue working for the Revolution going forward, but hopes to have a more ambitious internship next summer.

Derek has gravitated naturally towards baseball, and specifically Minor League Baseball. “I guess just being a bigger fish in a smaller pond and also just being able to work with a lot of the different facets of it,” Derek said.

With Derek’s passion for Minor League Baseball, he drew some inspiration from Ralph Nelson, CEO of the Rocket City Trash Pandas. “When I’m older and heading into retirement, I could even own a Minor League Baseball team, like Nelson, but that’s obviously a long way away so however I get there I’m open to it,” Derek said.

Wherever life takes Derek you can find him with a heart full of joy and music! This jack of all trades will be a valuable part of any organization going forward. 

---

JULIEN SHERIFF | UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN

Next up we have a teammate from Brooklyn, New York, with a cannon for an arm, Julien Sheriff.

Julien is someone with a great personality once you get him to open up. He is one of two participants from the University of New Haven, where he studied sport management.

Julien has a big heart, and you can tell just how big it is with his career goals. “I want to be a sports agent, because if I can’t fulfill my dreams, I want to help others fulfill their dreams,” Julien said. 

Helping others is a big part of what Julien wants to do in his career. He wants to eventually set up his own sports agency to give back to athletes trying to make a name for themselves. With his sports agency he hopes to recruit guys that want to be the best, but aren’t the big name players. He wants to help those athletes build and grow their brand/reputation, while he also builds and grows his agency. 

Julien is a natural born leader, with an infectious personality. Julien was named a captain of his baseball team in high school because of his personality. “They (his teammates) voted me a captain, because I had the ability to bring the team together. I had a positive attitude, I was uplifting, and motivating,” Julien explained. 

Living Sport opened Julien’s eyes to other avenues besides becoming a sports agent. He had never considered working in Minor League Baseball before, but could now definitely see being a part of a front office team. 

I had the pleasure of working directly with Julien, when we were with the Rocket City Trash Pandas. No matter what area of the ballpark we were working together in, Julien would devise a system to make the work a fun game between coworkers. One of those systems involved doing pushups, while we were helping build a road. Eventually others saw what we were doing, and one-by-one they joined in.

Whether Julien becomes an agent or works in baseball, he will definitely be a joy to have a part of your team!

---

LOGAN WESOLOWSKI | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Sometimes the people you need to watch out for are the quiet ones, because when they speak everyone listens. I believe that to be true for our next participant, Logan Wesolowski.

Growing up Logan tried a lot of different sports, but hockey was the only sport that stuck with him. Logan explained, “Once you get involved in that community it’s hard to stop, because it’s such a close and tight knit community.” 

Logan was one of the few people in the program that had no prior experience, but that’s because he is about to start his sophomore year. Logan is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but attends the University of Minnesota.

Living Sport was the first experience Logan got in the sports business industry. This was a last minute opportunity that he jumped at, “I really wanted to do something this summer related to sport management. I applied within two days of the deadline, and was lucky enough to get in.”

Logan was able to gain his first taste of what working in sports was like with the Trash Pandas through this Living Sport program. He described working in sport as, “Chaotic in a way, but also fun because of the people around me.”

Despite this being Logan’s first experience there were no nerves. “In the past stuff like this would make me nervous, but I was mostly excited,” Logan explained. As the late great Stuart Scott would say, Logan was “as cool as the other side of the pillow.” 

When Logan returns to Minnesota he hopes this experience will propel him to an experience on or off campus. 

I can’t wait to see how much Logan will grow going forward. Logan might not be the loudest in the room, but there is no doubt he will always be a bright star. Every organization needs someone who is willing to do whatever with no questions asked.

---

ANTHONY LOTITO | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

“I’m such a football guy, that I cry at the end of Rudy every time I see it,” noted our football guy Anthony Lotito. 

There is no better introduction to Long Island native, Anthony Lotito, than his quote above. An energetic, passionate, and overall fun person to be around, Anthony studies sport entertainment and management, at the biggest sport management school in the country, the University of South Carolina.

Anthony’s journey wasn’t straight to South Carolina. Anthony grew up playing lacrosse, and eventually took his talents to Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. After one year playing collegiately he was burnt out and decided to pursue his career at South Carolina. 

Anthony explains why he chose sport management, “to be honest all I was really good at was talking sports. Now I realize, I am good at other things, but I have always had a passion for sports that drove me.” 

Anthony got involved in sport management as a senior in high school, becoming the youngest intern for the New York Lizards (Major League Lacrosse). During his time as an intern he absorbed everything he could, and also met fellow Living Sport alum, Jess Garcia (Barcelona ‘17 alum).

After Anthony’s time in New York, he continued to pursue sport management while at Methodist University. In his one year at Methodist he was a sports information assistant, recording stats, working the shot clock, and setting up games during halftime during basketball season. During soccer and football season he helped with game operations. 

Transferring to South Carolina didn’t stop Anthony from seeking out opportunities. In his first year he became a student ambassador for the football program. He also helped the men’s basketball team as a ticket taker. 

Anthony’s impressive experience doesn’t stop there, he was also an intern with Staten Island Yankees. As an intern he was a part of ticket operations, selling tickets, working in merchandise, and helping with stadium operations. 

Lastly on his long list of experiences, Anthony served as a volunteer at this year's Super Bowl in Miami. 

Anthony has a unique mindset that he brings to every team he works with. “I think everyone should have the mentality, that I’m the best in the business, and I want to be the best I can be,” Anthony said. “Obviously, you want to see everyone succeed, but still want to be better than the guy ahead of you.”

Going forward at South Carolina, Anthony wants to see if he can do more for the women’s basketball team. “We don’t do a lot for them, which is crazy because they’re one of the best teams in the nation,” Anthony said.

Anthony would be perfect for any sales team, as he loves to talk and is also a very personable person. I’m excited to see what else he adds to his experience before graduating!

---

Ryan MURRAY | SUNY BROCKPORT

My next interview is another New York native, and one of two from Long Island, Ryan Murray. 

Ryan attended SUNY Brockport where he studied sport management with a minor in business. Ryan is a highly competitive individual, which drives him to be the best he can be. 

He described his competitive drive, “No matter what, I want to win. Whether it comes down to a regular baseball game or a job. I want to do the best I possibly can do to beat everybody else out.”

Ryan has experience working with ProVenue, a ticketing site many professional teams use for ticketing. He gained this experience through the New York Mets, when he was a part of their 2018 ticket staff as a sales representative. 

Ryan also has a background in coaching, which he would like to continue if the opportunity presents itself. He is currently a coach/GM for a men’s baseball league, that consists mainly of college players no longer pursuing Major League Baseball. He also coached a 13u baseball team last fall, helping those players grow and learn. 

His competitive drive has set up lofty goals for himself, “I always had a dream of being a General Manager for a baseball team.” 

Ryan is determined to put his drive and hard work into action to get there. By learning from Garrett Fahrmann, GM of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, he believes he can see where his path will go next.

---

SEMIAH BOWDEN | GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Another upcoming strong woman in sport is teammate Semiah Bowden. Semiah originally wanted to get involved with athletic training, but after entering an anatomy class, Semiah thought maybe that athletic training was not for her.

She then focused on a more journalistic side, but after conducting interviews and working with production she decided that wasn’t the perfect fit either. After testing those two areas and not finding a comfortable fit Semiah found her role, “I switched to sport management and figured out what I really liked.” 

To Semiah the people drew her to the sport management side of things. “I was welcomed in with open arms, they (her co-workers) were always so friendly and would help me outside of sport if I needed help with anything. They always made me feel like a part of a team,” she said.

Currently Semiah has 3 years of experience within the athletic department at Georgia Southern University. Her first internship focused on marketing where she helped with game day promotions for the football team. After working in the marketing department for two years, she found her passion within the operations side. She became part of the team helping with team logistics such as snacks, meals, and travel plans.

Semiah came to the Living Sport program certain she was meant for the operations side. After our 10-day excursion, she now realizes that she has interest in event coordination as well. There is one thing she is certain about, and that’s her desire to work in football. 

“I don’t mind working in any other sport, but the energy that football gives off is an energy that is unmatched with any other sport,” Semiah explained. That energy and passion drives her desire to work in football. 

Semiah’s energy throughout the trip drove me to be better. I have no doubt that her passion will continue to grow, and will help radiate whatever team she works with going forward.

---

Hannah Shuette | the ohio state UNIVERSITY

Lifting her way to the top is a former Olympic weightlifting competitor, Hannah Schuette, or commonly known on the trip as Schuette (Shootie). Schuette is from Cleveland and studies sport industry at THE Ohio State University. 

Growing up Schuette not only lifted weights, but also played tennis. She played a little bit of volleyball and swam a little as well, but she excelled at tennis. She became a leader straight away on her high school team, after establishing herself as one of the top players. 

“Being one of the top players really helped develop my communication skills. I was able to talk to those older than me for advice, and was also able to gain respect for my skills on the court,” Schuette said. 

Her original plan was to get into the strength and conditioning side of sports. With her lifting background she had fallen in love with the atmosphere of competitive lifting. Her plan may have changed some, but she still loves the environment that sport brings. She described sports as warm and welcoming to all that are involved. 

Schuette would go on to explain her love for the environment in sports further, “In general, they (sports) bring together people from all different backgrounds. It is something everyone can enjoy and come together as one for.” 

Schuette interned this past summer with a tennis academy. As an intern she helped run their social media and their website. If you don’t already, I recommend following her on social media. She was one of the Living Sport participants who helped with social media during the trip, and absolutely crushed it. 

Going forward Schuette would like to get started in the sales side of sports. “I have a lot of customer service experience that can translate into the sales side of things, so I think it would be a natural fit,” Schuette said. 

To all the Chicago Bears fans out there, get familiar with the name Hannah Schuette. She is likely to be in charge of their sales department one day!

---

CHRIS LEVINS | BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY

Next up, is Chris Levins, a rising Sophomore from East Rockway, New York. One thing different about Chris, from everyone else on the trip, is his major. Chris goes to Binghamton University, where he studies Business Administration with a concentration in Finance Analytics. 

Chris has a strong background in finance, having already secured two internships. His senior year of high school, Chris interned with an Angel investing company, and helped facilitate growth. This led to an internship with Phoenix Financial Services, where he interned as a private equity intern on Wall Street. 

Chris has quite the impressive financial background already. He is trying to begin developing a mutually beneficial relationship within the sports industry, where both parties build off each other. 

Chris has been interested in sports from a young age, having grown up playing soccer and basketball. Since his school does not offer Sports Management as a major, he decided to join a Sports Management group that was co-founded by another Living Sport alumni, Kieran Rose.

Through Kieran he was introduced to Living Sport, and early in the fall of 2019 he was introduced to Alicia as a guest speaker. After seeing how passionate and dedicated Alicia was to the program, Chris knew he wanted to be apart of the program. Shortly after meeting he applied, and would later get accepted into the Dublin program. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Dublin program was canceled. Later, he would get invited to the Nashville trip, and accepted it right away.

"Sports have always been something I've been passionate about," Chris said, "I'm excited to get to know more about an industry I have always been curious about, while growing my network in the sports industry." That passion comes from a family history of competing in sports, specifically basketball.

"Growing up I bonded with my family playing basketball, we all supported, and encouraged each other through the game of basketball," Chris explained. "I carried that support and encouragement with me into my basketball team." This seamless transition led Chris to become team captain of his basketball and soccer team. He was seen as a natural leader that brought the team together.

Chris isn't ruling out any options going forward, "I want to make sure I am getting a taste of every possibility before going into the real world."

Look out for Chris going forward, whether it is on Wall Street, CFO of the Knicks, or even the GM of the Knicks, the opportunities are endless. 

---

EMILY FRAJDOFER | SUNY Buffalo STATE

Our next participant was at the football game where Frank Gore became the 4th all-time leading rusher in the NFL. This participant is none other than, Emily Frajdofer, a Buffalo, New York native.

In college Emily attended SUNY Buffalo State, where she studied communication, and played softball. Softball is where Emily found her passion, "I fell in love with sports from a young age and never looked back," Emily said.

Through that love for sports, Emily began to get started within sports industry. Emily got her start with the Buffalo Bison, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, where she worked as a public relations intern. As an intern Emily worked on: game notes, lineup cards, social media, line score, operated the scoreboad, updated the website after games, and distributed the box score to local media. Whatever the Bison asked Emily to do, she did.

After doing it all with the Bison, Emily would move into print media as a special section intern with the Buffalo Newo. From there, she was offered a full-time job, but had to decline as she received an opportunity with the Buffalo Bills. With the Bills she was a media relations team member where she: conducted interviews, took pictures, and kept track of statistics.

"I really like being the gatekeeper of information," Emily explained, "when I was an intern with the Bison it made me feel more apart of the team." This is a big reason why Emily wants to be apart of the public or media relations side of things going forward.

"One thing I have learned from Living Sport is to take more volunteer opportunities," Emily said. Which ties into her ultimate dream job, working for the Bills Play 60. Her aspiration to work for them came from Bills Play 60 visiting her school growing up.

Emily's warm and bubbly personality will be welcomed no matter where she works!

---

Hannah Hammon | WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Coming in next, we have Hannah Hammon, an experienced traveler. Through all her travels, Hannah likes to collect Starbucks mugs from every stop along the way. Hannah is originally from Columbus, Ohio, but currently attends West Virginia University studying Graphic Design and Communications.

The Hammon last name is no stranger to the Living Sport family, Hannah's brother Dylan is a Living Sport alumni. Her brother Dylan has been a big part of her sports business journey, encouraging her every step along the way. "My brother is always sending me opportunities to apply for and then following up asking how they go....I honestly wouldn't be where I am without him," Hannah explained.

Through the guidance from her brother, Hannah has picked up a vast experience in the sports industry. Hannah has been an intern with the West Virginia athletics department, developing any and all kinds of graphics. "I've made social media graphics, billboards, posters, banners, pretty much any graphic they wanted me to make," Hannah said.

Her experience with the athletic department has helped propel her into Sky Blue Football Club. With Sky Blue, Hannah has mainly worked on social media graphics for the club. She also has had a chance this summer to work with USA Triathlon doing social media for them as well.

Hannah talked about where she draws her inspiration from, "I draw a lot of inspiration from skull sparks on social media, because they do a lot of cool posts."

Going forward she is keeping all her options open, especially considering everything going on. "I don't really have a dream job, because everyone talks about you might end up somewhere that you love without realizing it," Hannah said.

At the end of the day Hannah wants to combine sports and art, that can reach and speak to many people. 

---

LUKE MCDERMOTT | DELAWARE UNIVERSITY

The first person I would like to highlight is my Nashville roommate Luke McDermott from Suffern, New York. Luke is currently going into his last year as a Sport Management student at Delaware University. Luke's secret talent is that he can sing, and he can sing very well. When I inquired more about it Luke admitted, "My go to song is Dream On, because I can hit the high note at the end and everyone loves it." Luke might secretly be a singer, but there's no secret about his passion for sports.

Luke grew up playing football and has since transitioned to rugby, which he now plays in college. "Sports were always a big part of my life. They have taught me a lot of life lessons and shaped who I am today." I have learned that working in a team environment is crucial in sports. Luke shares similar thoughts, "Working in a team, you have to put them above yourself to reach the common goal."

This is a great example of why I chose Luke as my first interview. Since meeting him just a few days ago, he has come across as a team oriented leader, that isn't afraid to do the small things for the betterment of the team.

Luke currently has a few sport business experiences under his belt. In 2019, he served as a game day staff intern for the Philadelphia Eagles, in which he served as a concierge for luxury areas at Lincoln Financial Field. 

Luke currently holds the position of president for his rugby team. "I oversee every position within the organization and I am a point person to make all the final decisions" he says. 

Lastly, Luke has helped organize different events and volunteer opportunities within the student services & leadership program on campus.

Luke is looking to build personal connections within the Living Sport Network and is excited to grow his network outside of New York. He is thrilled to receive a more hands-on position for his resume to help him secure his next sport business opportunity.

Luke's dream job is working in basketball as either an agent or general manager. 

---

KIERSTEN STIERS | TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Two-stepping her way into the program is Kiersten Stiers, who studied Recreation Administration at Texas State University. 

Even though Kiersten's degree is not in sports, she has always had a love for sports. "I love sports, I know that's something we were told not to say and it's cliché, but it's true," Kiersten said. 

Kiersten's love for sports has brought her to where she is in life now, "it (sports) has shaped who I am today. It shows how dedicated you have to be, develops your communication skills, and works on your time management skills." 

Kiersten has been working from a young age with her families bay fishing company. Through her families company she has learned the value of hard work, and asking for help when needed. 

She has no previous experience in sports, but believes her internship with the parks and rec department of Lake Tahoe can translate to sports. 

How you ask? As an intern Kiersten helped with event coordination through the department. Some events she helped set up were: Eggstravaganza, Ski and Skate Week, and Snowfest to name a few. Kiersten believes this can translate into event coordination with sports or even promotion nights she can create. 

"I think my next step is to get into MiLB somehow. If I can get a background in event coordination that would be great, but I'm open to whatever," Kiersten said. 

Kiersten doesn't have a clear plan next, but thinks after the program her horizons will be open to more. Wherever she goes next, she'll be two-stepping her way there with a smile.

Behind Every Group of Guys is a Great Group of Girls

By: JESSICA E. GARCIA, Living Sport BARCELONA ‘17 Alumna, Alumni board marketing lead & OPERATIONS AND MARKETING MANAGER AT NEW YORK LIZARDS

“Behind every great group of guys, is a set of great young women.” This is a quote from one of my High School assistant coaches, Jason Hoover, and has stood out to me for the past ten years. At the time that he said it, I knew it was meaningful, but I didn’t know how powerful his words would be to me, until now. Ten years ago, if you asked me if I knew that I was about to start a journey that would lead me to my career. I wouldn’t have believed you. 

As a young girl, back in 2010, I made the decision that I would manage my high school football team. I had a passion for sports, especially football and two loving parents, who wouldn’t sign a permission slip for me to be the kicker on the team. My health teacher in Middle School, Mr. Rado, suggested that if I had a passion for football, I should be part of the team in a non-traditional form. I took that advice and for 4 years, I moved with my class and managed the junior varsity, and later, the varsity football teams. When I first started, a lot of people would call me the “Water Girl”, but I was more than just the water girl. I wrote down stats on game day for our defensive coach, I handed out all the equipment, assigned uniform numbers, I assisted with the Athletic Director to make sure all players had up-to-date permission slips and physical documentation. I also ensured the were not on academic probation, which guaranteed that they could practice. I also coordinated our traveling for away games and secured everything that was needed in our medical supply bag for the trainer. For just a high school student, I had a played a fairly large role, and I loved it. 

Managing that high school football team has given me my most cherished high school memories. By my senior year, I had classmates asking me for my jersey to wear on game days because I was an important member on the team. People started to recognize that, which meant the world to me. 

Ten years have passed since the day I first stepped on that field, and I have continued to look forward. I now have a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from East Stroudsburg University and have a full-time job in my field. I’m proud to say that I am currently the Operations and Marketing Manager for the New York Lizards, a professional men’s lacrosse team in Major League Lacrosse (MLL). It is ironic that years later I am still a manager for a men’s sport team, and I continue to learn, develop, and have fun. 

In January of 2018, I started my final senior semester, as the Sales and Marketing Intern for the New York Lizards. As my internship came to an end, our CEO and Vice President asked to see me in their office and indicated that they were impressed with my work ethic. They proceeded to offer me a part-time position for the rest of the season. The 2018 season came to an end and I was unsure of what would happen next. Again, I was asked to go to the back to see them and they offered me a full-time position as a Sales and Marketing Associate. Fast forwarding a little bit to mid-season in 2019, I was again asked to go speak with my senior officers. This time they offered me a promotion to be the new Game Day Operations and Marketing Manager for the team. I have been with the organization for 2 years now and have been recognized 3 times. 

Some of my current job responsibilities are quite similar to what I used to do back in high school but, more advanced and now I am helping to “run the show”. I work on a daily basis with some of the greatest lacrosse players, not just the U.S. but, in the world. I have worked with members on the national teams from Canada, Puerto Rico, and of course U.S.A. I assist in designing their team uniforms, apparel, and equipment with companies like Cascade, Warrior, New Balance, and Brine. I coordinate team travel for home and away games. I create the content for our social media platforms. I am the youth programing coordinator and share coaching duties with my players to the young athletes who attend our clinics. Game day materials such as media guide, game notes, visiting team guide, theme nights, sponsorships, fan experience, timelines, and PA scripts, are just a few examples of what I create for game days. I can keep going on with all the things I do on a daily basis for my job but, the one job I am the fondest of is that I am the voice for these players. As my one of my players, Lizard’s attackman, Dylan Molloy, who I also consider a personal friend, said, “Jess is very accommodating and is always there when we need her on and off the field.” To me this is not just a job that I do to get a paycheck but, something that I truly love to do. 

In the male dominant industry of sports, there are not many female professionals that can say they have a significant role when it comes to organizing and managing a team. So, this is truly a privilege and a personal accomplishment. Another one of my attackmen, Justin Reh’s, stated his opinion when asked about how he felt to have a female manager, he stated, “gender doesn’t matter when managing a team, as long as that person does a great job which Jessica does. Then it’s not a problem!” My team’s face-off player, (aka: FOGO), Mark Andrejack mentioned, “I never thought twice about having a female as a manager. If anything, I think Jess does has better qualities than a guy would have in the sense that she is very personable, attentive to details, and always goes that extra mile for all of us on whatever she is doing.” 

I’m very flattered with what some of my guys had to say about me not just because they are positive but, because they recognize and appreciate the hard work, the passion, and the dedication, that I put into this job. My players aren’t the only ones who notice this though. Last year, my colleagues in the front office and the MLL awarded me the 2019 MLL Honors Staff Recognition Award for the NY Lizards.

To bring it back to what my high school Assistant Coach Hoover said, “behind every great group of guys, is a set of great young women.” I work for an incredible group of athletes and I strongly believe that they will agree that there is a great young woman behind them. This quote was proven back in high school when my two classmates/friends managed the football team with me, and I continue to prove this on a daily basis as a young professional sport manager who is just trying to create a name for herself in this industry.

Top 5 Things the World is Learning and So Could You

BY: Alicia Marinelli, Founder & President at Living Sport

Surreal. Crazy. Unfathomable. 

Those are all words that I have heard the COVID 19 epidemic referred to. We certainly are in uncharted waters here. One year ago, when the job market was flourishing, we never could have imagined that COVID 19 was just a few months away and it would change the trajectory of the lives of people worldwide.

Even though the uncertainty of the situation we face may be overwhelming at times, I encourage everyone to stay positive. We may be down, but we are not out. Babe Ruth left us with a timeless quote, “It’s hard to beat a person that doesn’t give up.” Indeed Babe would encourage us to continue to push forward. 

While we are at home, let's keep our mind flowing! Each day this week we will countdown our top 5 things that the world is learning and so could you. 

#5: How to work or school from home

I’ve spent my entire professional career reporting to an office building for work. At each building I had an office or a cubical, coworkers, report times and office etiquette that most people followed. When I decided to pursue Living Sport full time in 2019, I went from an office space to a home office. 

Little did I know that there are many more challenges than I originally thought would occur while working from home. The world is now experiencing that first hand as well. The hardest part, I would say is staying focused, while any number of distractions can be going on in the house as well. Some distractions throughout the day include family interruptions, speed of home internet, personal phone calls, pet interruptions, lack of exercise, and not ever truly being able to walk away from work, because it’s always there!

Now, do I enjoy working from home? Absolutely. But there are some guidelines to set into place to conquer some of these challenges. Let’s break down some of the distractions and see how they can be overcome.

Family Interruptions: This one is tough. Let your family know that you have specific work times that you are unavailable. It will help to set up a private area that allows you to separate yourself and provide an area that you know it's time to work. This separates work mode from personal time. At my home office, there is a rule in place that if the office door is closed, I am off limits for the time being. It may take your family some time to realize the importance of this so in the beginning be patient with them! 

Weekly Monday morning Zoom meeting with the team.

Speed of Home Internet: One of the most crucial parts to your work or school day is your internet connection. The faster it is, the faster you can work. A slow internet connection will hinder productivity, so you may want to check into upgrading your internet speed. It's not a fun thing to spend money on, but trust me it will save a lot of time and headaches. If it's a problem that doesn’t happen often, then (if and when possible) check out a local coffee shop that has wifi for you to use that will also provide a different atmosphere for you.

Pet Interruptions: I love my pets and thoroughly enjoy having them visit me in my office. Though, there is behavior from these lovable creatures that may not mix so well with working from home. When my dog Roscoe hears another dog outside the house, he will begin barking in his loudest, deepest bark he can pull off. When I first started working from home, this happened while on a conference call. That is when I learned my lesson! 

Dugan in midmorning form after walking away for a few minutes!

Then there is my cat, Jimmy Dugan (named after the coach in A League of Their Own), who graces me with his presence for two different reasons. If he is vying for attention he will jump on my desk and start walking on my keyboard before sitting directly in front of my monitor. The other typical reason for his visit is if he is tired he will lay in my lap while I work. Cute, right? Yes, but this doesn’t seem like a problem until I have to get up to get look for paperwork, get a USB, or grab a file folder. Then I feel bad getting up and waking him! The trick with this one is again, shutting the door to keep pets out during important times. If you don’t have a door on the room you're using for your office you may have to reverse the idea, and place the animals inside a room with a door until you're finished. 

Personal Phone Calls: When working or schooling from home, you become much more accessible than being in an office or a classroom. I even found that I get a lot more requests to do errands from friends and family, because I am the only one they can think of that can leave work easily. Don’t get me wrong, I always love helping people and most of the time I find a way to get it done. Whether it is a phone call to catch up or a phone call asking for a favor, understand that each time you answer the phone it takes you away from your work that you will have to make up for later. I find the most challenging aspect of taking personal calls happens after the call when I have to remember and refocus on what I was doing prior. If it was a spreadsheet or calculations, I may even have to start over to make sure I’m fully focused. This process takes up even more time out of your day. Just like you would if you were working from an office, it is okay to call people back when you are finished with work.

Roscoe and I on an afternoon walk through the neighboring campus of Kutztown University.

Lack of Exercise: Simply working/schooling from home eliminates so many steps from your day. Just think about walking to your car, walking inside the office/school building to your desk, walking across campus to meetings or classes, etc. Getting up from your desk throughout the day is important for exercise, but also to refresh the mind. If you have a dog at home, this is where a walk could be very beneficial to you both! Remember, this is important and is definitely something that is easy to forget to do. 

Walking Away From the Work: Having a home office means that work is easily accessible at all hours of the day. No matter how hard of a worker you are, unplugging and giving yourself some time is much needed and will pay dividends in the long run.

With many people around the world learning how to work and school from home, this experience can set the tone for more flexible work schedules post COVID 19. Building good habits now or learning from those who are doing it could also enhance a future employer’s confidence that you can handle a work from home position.

4. Creating Ways to Stay Connected

I think we are all starting to get to the point where social distancing is becoming a bit challenging. We are social butterflies. Our world is built around connecting and conversing with each other, and we just want to fly!  As much as we want to get out there into the world, the responsible move is to follow orders to stay at home and do our part in the fight against this pandemic. Just think how sweet it will be when we are back to business as usual. 

Let’s dive into creative ideas on how you can stay connected to family, friends, and coworkers during this time. 

Social Happy Hours: I have been seeing so many group social hours on social media and it is a fabulous idea! You can choose any of your social groups to make this happen. The social hour provides a way to step aside from business or school work and use the digital platforms for everyone to connect, chat with each other, and have a good time. I even saw a good friend of mine dress in a suit while attending a digital party! Now that's the spirit! 

Zoom is my top choice platform for video and audio conferencing for groups. It's simple, if you plan to be the host you will have to set up a free account. Instructions can be found here. Those that join your conference do not need to have a zoom account. 

Digital Wellbeing: Business and individuals are getting very creative and offering all types of classes online. Get the day started with a friend or two while participating in a digital group workout or an evening group yoga class. To compliment your workout, check out some online cooking classes that can help improve your cooking skills and teach you how to cook healthy meals.

Living Sport Mentor, Murv English conducting Form Follows Function (3F) Training Zoom workouts.

Movie/Games Nights:  Are you missing movie night? Me too. It is very simple to recreate! It can be as simple as using Facetime with a friend or family member, both turning to your favorite streaming app, and timing it just right so both of you press play at the same time. 

Chelsie Bingham & Jess Garcia (Barcelona ‘17) started a weekly movie night!

Another way to watch movies with others is with Netflix Party, an extension that lets multiple Netflix users watch a show together from different locations. The extension is only available for Google Chrome browser. Get the extension through the Google Chrome store within the same browser. Install it and you are able to watch Netflix with someone. Netflix Party also provides a personal chat room for your group.

Apart from Facetime and Zoom, HouseParty is another video app you can use to stay connected. HouseParty gives a split screen look at callers in the “house” and allows eight people on the call at once. It also allows you to play trivia games with whoever you are chatting with.

If you are interested in playing board games digitally with family and friends there are many options out there for free! Monopoly and Settlers of Catan are two popular group games. There is even an online game called Remote Insensitivity that is very similar to Cards Against Humanity. You can share the link to have multiple people join in on the game. If you are into card games there are options that include Hearts, Canasta, Rummy, Crazy 8’s and more!

Mike Wasco, Barcelona ‘17 alum and Alumni Board Chair, posted about an online gaming platform called Quiplash. This is a party video game where you come up with answers for the questions the game presents to you. Everyone playing answers the questions and then votes on the best answer. You can even see everyone you are playing with via video. Those that win the votes, get points. The game has a $4.99 fee to download (on sale from $9.99), but I think it is totally worth it for hours of fun with friends.

Don’t forget about Facebook for online games. Who can forget that time when the world was addicted to Words with Friends? It’s one of my favorite games that also allows us to brush up on our spelling. 

Take your meetups online: Organize a Zoom with your Sport Management Club, Young Professionals Club, Book Club, Sorority/Fraternity, sports team or any group you may be involved in. During these types of groups share ideas and help encourage others to stay positive during this time while still being productive! Is there an initiative that your group could take on to make a positive impact on something that is important to you? Go after it!

I had a conversation with Sport Management students from East Stroudsburg University who were conducting an interview for a class project. One topic we discussed was that in order to find success in the sport industry, it is more than just going to class, you have to do what other people are not doing. Here is an opportunity to take leadership amongst your peers and create stories for future interviews!

This all sounds great, right? The one trick with is that with all of the ideas that were shared, someone has to step up and do the planning. Be the person in your family, friend group, office staff, or college class that organizes this to help everyone get together. Whether we know it or not, we can all use some social time right now, and afterward, people will be thrilled they joined in. 

3. Creating Opportunities From Home

WIth the internet the world is right at our fingertips. If you come up with something clever you can share with people from all over the globe in seconds. My social feed is filled with really great ideas. Below are some of my favorite ideas I have seen thus far.

A bit of encouragement came from Nike’s latest ad campaign, “If you ever dreamed of playing for millions around the world, now is your chance. Play inside. Play for the world”. I processed this campaign in two different ways.

1. Stay at home. By doing this you are contributing your part to this team effort to fight against COVID 19. 

2. Play indoors and share your videos so that you can be seen by millions around the world like you always dreamed. 

My initial thought from this campaign was #2 and I thought it was brilliant. This brings us to our first way to create an opportunity while at home.

Hop on the TikTok Train: My favorite entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk (GaryVee) has been talking about TikTok for over a year now, maybe longer. He has been raving that it is the next big thing based on consumer metrics. This stay-at-home order has pushed TikTok to the next level making it mainstream and something that is here to stay...at least for how long it’s trend cycle lasts. 

Why I really like TikTok is because it encourages creativity and it is giving millions of video creators time to focus on creating great content. I specifically love the trick shot obstacles where you can see it took time and effort to build out the obstacle from household items and even more time to make the shot actually work.

If you are not into the dancing part of TikTok, stick to what we all know, sports!

If you are someone that is home with their parents, TikTok has been a vehicle for families to do something they wouldn’t usually do together. This type of getting out of your comfort zone activity creates for excellent bonding time, and is really special during unprecedented times. 

Learning how to develop successful content on social platforms like TikTok isn’t only for personal gain. Social media is so important in business and if you utilize these social channels to build your portfolio you can have examples and statistics to share with potential employers.

Take Your Love for Cooking/Baking to the Next Level: I am seeing a lot of online cookie shops pop up. It is a perfect side hustle for those that have a passion for baking and it's a business that doesn’t have too many upfront costs associated. After all of the equipment is purchased, the business can market through social media and word of mouth. 

Cookies made for medical staff and first responders.

A former Minor League Baseball coworker, Tyler deRouen and his wife opened their cookie business a few years ago. It has been really fun to see the business grow. They are very creative with putting out ideas that are attractive to different demographic markets. Just last week they had an Easter cookie pre-sale and sold out in days! I’m sure their sights are now set on the next upcoming holiday.

Another idea with this same concept is to create a cooking club style video session helping people make a certain type of dessert or meal. Provide them with a shopping list prior to the session and then everyone can bake/cook together! This provides both social interaction and a meal/dessert for their family!

We could list thousands of ideas here but it is important that you find something that really interests you.

Do Research for a Future Project: With most stores closed, some ideas may have to wait until businesses are open again. Don’t let this discourage you. Now is the time to put it research for a future project. Remember that Google is your friend. If you simply Google a few key words you can come up with an article like this one, 22 Best Side Hustles, that could provide inspiration and direction on how to get started. 

A large piece of advice is to be patient with your ideas. Opportunities, side hustles, and especially businesses take time to grow. We may think that some people have had overnight success, but the question is if they would agree or would they inform us that they put a lot of time and effort in before they found success?

2. HELPING YOUR Community

When humanity is dealt with an unfortunate situation it is the sense of community that allows our heart to keep believing that we will all get through this. It's the people helping people aspect that touches our soul.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller

This quote defines the concept of community and the overall montra of COVID 19, that we are all in this together.

There have been so many great stories of how people and businesses just in the sport industry alone that have come together to help. Here are my favorites:

A look at the face shields Bauer is able to provide to protect medical workers.

1. Bauer, a hockey equipment manufacturing company shifted its focus from equipment that serves players on the ice to materials such as masks and shields for medical professionals as hospitals across the world have faced a shortage of protective equipment.

2. Sports apparel maker Fanatics’ halted production of baseball jerseys to begin making safety masks and gowns for healthcare workers on the front line.

3. Mark Cuban led the charge to commit to continue to pay arena workers during the stoppage of play. This action prompted other teams and even players from across the sports world to follow suit and announce plans to help compensate those workers who are typically paid by the hour. Many teams and athletes have also been donating to COVID 19 related charities.

Medical staff are provided with a new team look from Fanatics to aid in the shortage of protective equipment.

Outside of sports, there have been so many other people helping to do their part as well. On my social feed, I have seen many sewing machines come up from being packed away in the basement to be used to make masks for health care workers and first responders. 

We have seen musicians play for neighbors on balconies, group workout sessions from apartment buildings, and even police officers getting out of their vehicles to dance in the empty streets to put a smile on the faces of people that reside in nearby buildings.

You too can make a difference in your community. How can you utilize the skills you have learned through school and work experiences to make a difference?

Here is a great idea that took place in my neighborhood of Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Our town is a small, tight knit, college community with a main street filled with shops, restaurants, houses, and apartment buildings. 

To help raise the spirits of the community, last Friday an event was organized for community residents. The event titled “The Whole Town Toast”, invited people (via social media) to step outside on their porch at 6:00PM. At 6:05PM, the mayor broadcasted a message to the community and afterward neighbors shared a moment and toasted from afar. Afterward, a parade of first responders in fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars with flashing lights and sirens came through the town’s Main Street. Residents had the chance to wave and thank those responders who were honoring all the medical staff throughout the world that have been working tirelessly throughout this pandemic. 

The Whole Town Toast Parade on West Main Street in Kutztown, Pa - headquarters of Living Sport.

It was a very touching moment that brought tears to my eyes. Seeing a community organize an event that provided everyone a bit of hope in a time we need it most was something very special.

How can you help your community? There are endless possibilities. Delivering groceries to elderly neighbors, mowing the lawn of someone that may need help, volunteering at a food kitchen or donating food to your local food bank are all ways you can help.

Taking the example I provided about my community’s event, it is a fantastic idea to raise your community’s spirit and also gain experience organizing an event. A story like this is something you can be proud to discuss in a future interview.

Is this something you can try to organize in your own community? All it takes is a few phone calls. Will you make the call?

Making Family Time a Priority

It's no secret that people around the world are busy. We try to squeeze in as much as we can into 24 hours a day. With each individual being out in the world working longer hours, attending more events, and getting sucked into that social app or Netflix series, over time one thing has gone missing from many of our everyday lives.

The more we do, the more family time has to be put on hold. Why is that? Maybe because we think it is always going to be there, or maybe we think we will get to it later. I don’t think it is because we don’t want to spend time with family, it's just impossible to do everything. Prior to COVID 19, many homes didn’t have a family meal time in some time, children went to practice instead of playing ball out back, and of course there were so many other things to do that left the house empty for the majority of the day. A Lot may be wrong in the world right now, but I think this is one part that is right. 

When I look back these past few weeks, I think about how the world has slowed down and that is the part of all of this that I love. We now have time to come up for air from the daily hustle and bustle to accomplish tasks that were on the to-do list for sometime. My favorite was seeing a little girl outside chasing her dog around in the yard on a beautiful spring day. She was laughing and her dog probably loved it just as much. I have also seen parents in the backyard playing baseball and football with their kids. A York College student that I spoke with last week showed me a scoreboard his family made to keep tally on different indoor and outdoor games they have been playing with each other. I have seen posts of all kind of family activity (see #4 of this blog: Creating Ways to Stay Connected). This is something that I know I haven’t seen in quite some time and it truly warms my heart.

I think families have connected in ways they never would have without this time in quarantine. Now that we got a taste for it, I hope we will continue to make time for it even after our lives move toward our new normal.

I think it's important to add that we can’t forget those they may be in a different situation. On the other side of the spectrum, there are young professionals, amongst many other groups, that have moved halfway across the country for work that don’t have family near them. I am sure they are doing fine and I do think this period will serve as a growth moment for them but it is almost inevitable that at some point during this quarantine they would have enjoyed some company. Maybe they wished they had the chance to spend time with family. Whatever the case, as a community of young professionals I ask that if you know anyone that is staying by themselves, give them a call and schedule a time to connect. We have our immediate family, but our friend families, work families, etc. are so important as well.

Do you have family you should check in with? How about a family member that may enjoy a phone call? Now is the time more than ever that a simple phone call could brighten someone's day.

Continue to be kind everyone!

If You Need a Sport Industry Refresher, This is It!

By: julia martinez, Living Sport glasgow ‘19 Alumna & client service representative at indianapolis motor speedway

In college, the sports industry was a sector of the events industry that immediately sparked my interest. This was due to not only my love for athletics but also the diversity in the experiences the industry allows. I was able to explore these options through a variety of volunteer opportunities and professional internships that I felt would make me a competitive candidate during my full-time job search. However, with graduation complete and many full-time job application submissions later, I eventually felt burnt out and slightly discouraged. Therefore, I altered my approach and instead began looking for opportunities that would allow for a competitive edge in a sea of job applications.

After a great deal of reflection on my career goals and even more research into what was available to recent graduates like myself, I eventually discovered Living Sport. I reviewed the official website and connected with Living Sport alumni to better understand what the program had to offer, which encouraged me to immediately apply, interview, and accept a spot with the 2019 Glasgow team. In no time, I was at the departure gate in Newark, New Jersey with 22 other sport industry students and professionals from around the United States eagerly waiting for what had become an opportunity of a lifetime.

Within our 10-day excursion, we joined the staff of Tough Mudder Scotland under the guidance of the Tough Mudder International staff members. One of my main responsibilities was assisting the Senior Workforce Supervisor, Corrina (Coco), with the Tough Mudder volunteer check-in station. Due to previous internships involving volunteer coordination, I felt extremely fulfilled in how I was able to best work with Coco to achieve a smooth volunteer check-in process. We made our own fun to work through the long setup day grind too! She welcomed us with the kindest heart and the greatest patience while teaching our team how Tough Mudder traditionally organizes events. 

Julia (left), fellow Glasgow ‘19 teammate Anna Audler (center), and Tough Mudder Staffer, Coco (right).

As I continue to think back on my time at the Tough Mudder, the value of working with others from around the world allowed me the opportunity to further develop my life-long team building skills. I quickly developed relationships with not only my fellow Living Sport participants but also the diverse Tough Mudder staff like Coco, who was born in Germany and works in the UK, in order to successfully execute a 9,000-athlete event.

When we weren’t at the Tough Mudder, our Glasgow ‘19 team was exploring Scotland both far and wide. Some of my favorite locations include Glasgow, Stirling, and Edinburgh due to the rich history of sports, entertainment, and culture. The architecture of various castles and monuments were what I couldn’t help but admire from the coffee café in Old Town. The quaint yet charming character of alleyways like Ashton Lane and Buchanan Street were a dream. The rolling green fields of the Princes Street Gardens are what many wanderlust about. 

A view above the city from Edinburgh Castle.

My adventures provided a humble kind of happiness in the purest way possible because Scotland allowed for my first experience outside the United States. Therefore, I learned how to adapt to various social norms and cultures at an expedited pace. In doing so, I created bonds with individuals from around the world that I have ensured to maintain and will continue to do so for many years to come.

As a young professional looking to revitalize my enthusiasm in my full-time job search and refresh my passion for the sports industry, Living Sport has allowed me the rare opportunity to recognize my comfort zone and go beyond that boundary! I learned to never allow myself to become stagnant and consistently work progressively. Seek the opportunities that will allow meeting new people, learning new cultures, and expanding your perspective of the world. It’s in those moments where I have felt lost that I have found exactly what I needed to better myself. 

For that reason, Living Sport has been a piece of the puzzle that has transformed my career path and acted as a huge proponent in leading me to my dream job at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Additionally, I am currently a Living Sport Program Ambassador and will also travel on another program in 2020! I look forward to networking with and encouraging other young professionals to explore what challenges them as Living Sport has done for me.

The Glasgow ‘19 team at Celtic Park, home of Celtic FC.

#iamlivingsport

Changing Your Mindset May Get You That Job in Sport

By: jennifer wunder, Living Sport hamburg ‘19 Alumna & Director of Promotions and Fan Engagement at the Gateway Grizzlies

Growing up, I always found excitement and adventure in travel. Watching the world on TV or reading
about it, is never the same as actually experiencing it. Along with traveling, I have always felt a united community in a sports arena, making many of my travels around sporting events or sport experiences. It took me little to no time in school to realize I wanted to work for the National Hockey League. I knew I wanted to be part of a Promotions and/or Event Management department. When I found Living Sport, I saw an exciting opportunity to develop and experience my two favorite things; travel and managing sport events.

I use to think that working in the Big Four was the only way to make a career in the sports industry. Yes, I knew there were the minor leagues, and I even interned for an independent league one summer. Those are fun, and it sparked my passion in sports. Nothing is like the Big Four where all the teams have massive fan loyalty with excitement and energy for their team. During my time in Hamburg, Germany with Living Sport, it hit me that I was keeping myself in such a small, sports industry box back home. There are so many more opportunities to get involved in sports outside of the Big Four, even in my own hometown.

While in Hamburg, we toured different sports stadiums and I learned about the unique sports culture behind each team. The Hamburg Towers really stood out to me. The Hamburg Towers, now a professional basketball team, started as a simple youth basketball program.

Hamburg Towers of the Basketball Bundesliga

It is amazing that this club grew from an after school basketball program with a dream, to selling out a large sports arena, topping it off with a huge championship win. The impact this organization has made on the Hamburg community sounds like a movie. I was touched by this franchise and thought about all the work that went on behind the scenes to make such a dream come true. I put it in the back of my mind and continued to soak up Hamburg and all the experiences Living Sport had to offer.

Photo taken after our presentation by a member of the Towers staff

During one of our workshops, my Living Sport mentor mentioned a list of different ways to stay in the sports world outside of the Big Four. I was honestly mind-blown by the different areas I could get involved in, especially because I realized many of these exist in some way in my local community right now. As soon as I got home from Hamburg, I was searching my area for opportunities in a new light.

Throughout our week in Hamburg, Living Sport offers workshop sessions with sport professionals

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and Living Sport has justified this belief. I kept my eyes open for any possible opportunities and continued to take chances. I have realized the worse thing I can hear is “no” and “no’s” are just going to send me in a different direction. That different direction is not necessarily the wrong way, in fact it’s just the right one for me.

The position for the Director of Promotions and Fan Engagement was available at the Gateway Grizzlies baseball team just a bit outside of my town. I had admired the Gateway Grizzlies organization since my sophomore year of college. I filled out the application on TeamWork Online and a few days later followed up with the front office. We scheduled a phone interview and followed by two in-person interviews. The interviews felt natural, and I felt like they were just chats amongst professional friends.

After the second in-person interview, the GM shook my hand with an offer and a start date. I
was over the moon with this opportunity, but also so proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone to take that chance and reach out to the organization. If my career were a puzzle, I wouldn’t want to force a piece to fit if it doesn’t fit well. Sometimes from a distance it looks like it may work, but it may not always be the best fit! I knew it would be worth it to find the right piece.

My official Gateway Grizzlies staff photo!

I still dream to someday work in the Big Four, but I am so happy to be where I am in my local sports community in the present time. With this position I am letting my creative ideas run free, I am doing projects I enjoy, and I am in an environment that supports me and my dreams. I get to be hands on with my projects and see them come to life. Here I can grow into the professional I seek to be.

I am so excited to get this 2020 season started in Sauget, Illinois! I wouldn’t be where I am today without the confidence and education I received from my experience with Living Sport. I AM LIVING SPORT!

France: Did You Know?

France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre and monuments like the Eiffel Tower. The country is also renowned for its wines and sophisticated cuisine. Check out our favorite facts about France!

20 Interesting Facts About France & its Sport Culture

Sport Facts:

Sports are an intricate part of the French lifestyle. France is very proud of their teams and very nationalistic when it comes to sports. A match will unite or divide the country in a way that few other things are capable of doing. As such, it is impossible to truly understand French culture without understanding their relationships to sports.

1. In the game of football (soccer), France is the first country to win all international soccer competitions: Olympic games (1984), Euro (1984), and World Cup (1998).

2. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Hippodrome de Longchamp in Paris, is one of the most respected horse races in the world. It anchors the biggest weekend of racing in France with more than 200 horses competing in 16 races worth upwards of a hundred thousand euros in prize money.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

3. The first French Open was played in 1891. It has been played at its current location (Stade Roland-Garros in Paris) since 1928. Tennis is believed to have originated in the monastic cloisters in northern France in the 12th century. Interestingly, the ball was then struck with the palm of the hand. At that time it was named “jeu de paume” (game of the palm). Rackets came into use during the 16th century. 

4. The first Tour de France was organized in 1903 to help increase sales for the L'Auto newspaper. The cycling competition takes place over 23 days and covers over 2,000 miles. Each year the race takes a different route, but ever since 1975 the finish has always been on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The average cyclist will burn around 4,000-5,000 calories during each stage of the tour. That’s 123,900 calories for the entire race which is equivalent to eating 252 McDonald's double cheeseburgers.

Tour de France finishing on Champs-Élysées in Paris

5. France is the world's most populous country in which rugby union has a large and dedicated following, with over 65 million people. France has participated in every Rugby World Cup since its inception in 1987, and has been a runner-up on three occasions. France is the only team to appear in a final without ever winning one. 

6. Because of the French Alps and the French Pyrenees, skiing is the national winter sport of France. With incredible slopes and resorts, a skiing trip is considered the perfect vacation, and one that is often done more than once a year. The highest point in the Alps is also the highest point in France and Europe; Mont Blanc is 4,807m at its peak.

7. The first Winter Olympics was held in France in 1924. It was located at Chamonix, the oldest and one of the largest winter-sports resorts in France.

8. There are only around 10 French players in the NBA. Most notable French NBA players have included Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) and Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls). What helped propel basketball's popularity in France were the pop culture aspects. Players like Michael Jordan and brands like Converse made their way into mainstream fashion and culture, prompting French citizens to adopt trends and products.

Tony Parker

9. While it's true that France did not establish an official handball team until the early 1990s, since that time, they have gone on to make several successful showings in several tournaments including winning the bronze medal during the 1993 Summer Olympics, reaching the finals of the 1993 World Championship, and finishing third in the 2005 Summer Olympics. More recently, they won the Olympic gold medal in 2008 and 2012, and a silver medal in 2016. They were World Championship winners in 1995, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2017, and European Championship winners in 2006, 2010, and 2014.

10. The sport and art form of Parkour was developed in France. Parkour, or the art of mastering moving skills that consists in finding a way to overcome the obstacles, using a combination of running, jumping, climbing, which differentiates from a regular exercise in a gym. Overall, combining speed, fluidity, aesthetics and originality. Today, Parkour grows around the world with the media also taking over using “Traceurs” (name for whom practices Parkour) for video clips, commercials and movies. Sponsored by different brands like Red Bull or Adidas, athletes like Daniel Ilabaca, Yoann “Zephyr” Leroux make a living today from their Parkour practice, and appear in videos seen by millions.

Parkour wall climb

General Facts:

France, and in particular Paris, the city of lights, have been one of the world’s cultural center points for hundreds of years. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the French culture and charm rapidly spread all over the world, bringing with it the latest trends of French culture and lifestyle.

1. France receives more visitors than any other country in the world, with an average of 82 million visitors per year. Next on the list is the United States and Spain, each with over 75 million visitors.

2. France is the largest country in the European Union. With an area of 551,000 square kilometers, it occupies almost 20% of the entire EU space. France is also extremely green and popular with 25% of its landscapes covered by forests. 

Beautiful French forest

3. France is known for art. The most famous art gallery in the world, The Louvre, is located in Paris. It is home to the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.

4. The language of French is known as one of the “romance languages” and is the most studied language in the world after English. 

5. Food and wine are central to life at all socioeconomic levels, and much socializing is done around lengthy dinners enjoying time with family and friends. It is not uncommon for a lunch break to be up to 2-hours!

A delicious French meal

6. Paris is known as the world’s fashion capital and is home to many high-end fashion houses, such as Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Many French people dress in a sophisticated, professional and fashionable style. Typical outfits include nice dresses, suits, long coats, scarves and berets.

7. In addition to traditional marriage, French couples also have the choice of getting a pacte civil de solidarité (PACS). This is a union that has many of the same benefits of marriage, like tax breaks, but can be dissolved with a notice or by marrying someone else instead of a divorce. Two-thirds as many French couples are in a PACS as are married. 

8. The French government has mandated that at least 40% of all music played on private radio stations in the country be of French origin. Half of that quota of French music is also required to be less than six months old.

9. Among the many French inventions, some notable are the hot air balloon, pasteurizer, stethoscope, and the parachute. In 1997, Philippe Kahn, developed the cell phone camera, and made a technological first by sharing a photo of his newborn daughter to over 2,000 connections around the world through his phone. 

The first camera phone was created out of a laptop, digital camera, stereo wires, and a phone

10. In 2016, a historical decision was made where France became the first country in the world to ban supermarkets and food stores from throwing away or burning unsold food. From then on, all food approaching its expiry date must be donated to charities that will feed the poor.

An Alumni Trip to the NHL All-Star Game

By: Sam Clark, Living Sport Barcelona ‘17 Alumna

I am excited that I kicked off 2020 with a bang. Living Sport has done it again with providing amazing opportunities to those who want to pursue a career in the sports industry. This time was no exception as it was an exclusive opportunity to those program alumni that have traveled with Living Sport as part of the International Sport Business Program.

Back in December, Alicia (the Founder & President of Living Sport) reached out to the alumni group about an opportunity to work the Fan Fair at the 2020 NHL All-Star Weekend in St. Louis, Missouri. I jumped at the chance.

In order to make this trip happen a fellow Living Sport Alum, Maryssa Bridges (a Dublin ‘19 alum who I didn’t travel with but met at another Living Sport function) and I drove from Colorado Springs, Colorado to St. Louis, Missouri. I haven't had to do a cross country road trip in a while so I forgot what the journey was about, seeing different bits of the states as we drove through. We of course experienced what you may expect on a road trip, a small patch of rough weather while driving through Kansas that was a little hairy for a minute. 

Once we arrived to St. Louis, Maryssa and I made a quick trip to see the St. Louis Gateway Arch. I mean, it is a St. Louis staple, right? I had been there before but it was Maryssa's first time there so I was excited for her to see it and I definitely appreciated it more than I did the first time. It was really interesting to hear just how influential this city was in the expansion of the United States. Sadly it was too cloudy to make riding to the top fun, so we will leave that for another trip!

After getting our must-see tourist sites checked off of our list, it was time to get down to business. We attended a team orientation for our Fan Ambassador positions to kick off the weekend.

This is were we finally met Kendall Colston, a Living Sport ‘19 alum, who was serving as a coordinator for the All-Star Game and originally brought the opportunity to Living Sport. A huge thank you to her and the entire Living Sport Network who continuously pass along opportunities to our network. It shows how special this network is.

We also heard from the Chief Content Officer and a few Directors that created excitement and let us know the impact we are making. We then received our staff uniforms, which were really cool! The experience was great, and getting nice NHL swag is the cherry on top!

One of the many high points of this entire weekend was the ability to network with all sorts of people in different parts of the industry. The experience began with a Living Sport #minireunion at Fox Sports Midwest Live at Ballpark Village. If you haven’t ever been to Ballpark Village in St. Louis, you should take the time to experience it. It’s located directly across the street from Busch Stadium, and is filled with numerous restaurants, bars, and giant screens to view all of the live sports games being televised.

Living Sport Alumni Group in St. Louis

Ballpark Village in St. Louis

While at Ballpark Village our fearless leader Alicia (Living Sport Founder) ran into someone she had worked with at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. This goes to show how small the sport industry is and that a strong network is really important. This then lead to Maryssa, my newfound friend Paige (Milan ‘18 alum) and I to get the chance to talk with a group of NHL professionals. It was really nice of them to take the time to talk with us and give us pointers on how to stand out when applying for jobs in the sports industry. 

The next few days were filled with working with amazing people and experiencing a wonderful event . I helped run the autograph line for some notable St. Louis Blues Alumni, scanned tickets for school children and recorded top scores for our Kid Zone games. I got to see some of the most famous trophies in sports and even scored tickets to see Patrick Kane win the inaugural Shooting Stars Competition at the NHL Skills Competition. I worked so many hours that my feet still hurt as I write this, but I loved every minute of it.

I can't wait until the next Living Sport excursion. We'll have to see how it stacks up to this fantastic weekend. ;)

How I Mastered the Dreaded Interview Questions

By: Taylor James, Living Sport Hamburg 2019 Alumni

The Question: Tell me a little about yourself? 

The most common interview question. No matter how many times I had practiced this question, I hated answering it. I never had confidence in my answer and it always sounded rehearsed and robotic. Because it was. There was not much I could say to make me sound unique and stand out among hundreds of applicants. Or so I thought. Why should anyone believe you have any valuable experience when you do not have confidence in yourself to express the experience you do have?

After returning home from Hamburg, Germany with Living Sport, this all changed. I had experiences I loved to talk about and felt much more confident in all of the skills I could bring to an organization. 

When I talk about my experience during my international journey, I can tell the difference in my demeanor and tone. I now have a non-robotic answer that is natural and conversational. Based on my Living Sport experience, my advice when answering this type of question is to NOT write it out word for word and recite the same information for each position. Instead, tailor your answer to the specific job you are interviewing for and say every word with confidence that your experience will add to their organization. The more experience you have to talk about, the easier it is to prove your knowledge and skills. 

Now, my new response would look a little like this: 

My name is Taylor James and I am a current senior at Aurora University double majoring in Sport Management and Business Administration. This past year, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Germany with 12 strangers to experience a different culture and learn about international event operations. Throughout my four-day experience with the Tough Mudder staff, I learned the ins and outs of what it takes to make a 12,000-participant event run smoothly. 

Here is the start of one of the many race heats. Each participants received a specific heat time to start the race.

I gained experience in everything from parking to the logistics of the course layout. I made connections with sport business professionals from around the world and learned to communicate with those that do not speak the same language as me. This experience helped me grow personally and professionally into a hardworking individual who could utilize this experience to add great value to your organization. 

Assisting the staff build the 8 mile wooded course.

Taping off locations to ensure correct course flow.

The Question: Tell me about a challenge you've faced at work, and how you dealt with it. 

Communication is hard. It’s even harder when you don’t speak the same language as those around you. My time in Germany allowed me the chance to figure out how to communicate with people whose first language is not English. On the third day of our Tough Mudder experience, there were several lightning strikes in the nearby area, which is a major issue for outdoor events. 

We were forced to shut down any obstacles that contained any metal or water. I was stationed at an obstacle that had both. After being informed that we must shut down the obstacle, we had to communicate to the runners to evacuate the area and head back to base camp. 

Taking a break from the action to take a photo of myself working the fan favorite obstacle, Blockness Monster.

This presented a challenge for me and my Living Sport teammate, Emily. How do we tell event participants that are flying past us to go back to base? They are tired, wet, and muddy. On top of that, English is not their first language. 

We decided to resort mainly to hand gestures in order to direct the runners toward the base. It gave them a visual that they understood that would allow them to keep running and not stop and ask what we were saying. Before we knew it we had everything under control. 

This is a unique story that I am able to pull from to answer this type of question in an interview. 

The Question: What can you contribute to our organization?

This vague or general question should be tailored to the job you are applying for. Make sure you pull from the right experiences to show off how you will add to the organization. 

Our social media team creating our plan of action.

If I was applying for a marketing job, I would mention the work that I did as a member of the social media team. I can talk about what I learned through the process of collaborating with others as well as working by myself to create content that followers would like to see. 

On the other hand, if I was applying for an operations job, I would mention the logistics and problem-solving skills I gained working with the course zone leaders during the setup process of our work experience. 

I was fortunate enough to build a relationship with one of the zone leaders named Henning. We worked together so well on day one that he asked me to work with him again the next day. We worked together to layout the course outline and build obstacles and signage for the 8 mile course. We collaborated with other zone leaders and completed the course in time for the 12,000 participants that would trek through the course over the following two days. 

I learned the logistics of the course and used problem-solving skills to fix issues that arose. These two experiences are completely different and can be used to my benefit when considering many job opportunities. 

Henning and I after a successful day of Tough Mudder

Henning and I reviewing our game plan for setup.

The first thing I did when I got back to America was write down the stories and experiences I had. I knew the trip had made an impact on my life and I wanted to make sure I remembered it all. 

Before going on the International Sports Business Program with Living Sport, I was a shy person who didn’t know how to use my experiences to the best of my abilities. Germany gave me the chance to be exposed to so many new things. Maybe the most important lesson of all was the professional advice on how to talk about those experiences to earn my dream job. 

After returning home, I had another internship experience where I pulled from many of the lessons I learned and I have had several successful interviews based on the skills and knowledge acquired. 

I was an insecure student that went on an overseas trip with 12 people I didn’t know and came out a completely different person. This experience changed my life for the better in my professional career and allowed me to develop lifelong friendships that I will cherish forever.

A few members of our Hamburg 2019 team in the streets of Hamburg enjoying our free day exploring the city!

Take the Risk. Live the Adventure.

By: Hayden Weaver, Living Sport Glasgow 2019 Alumni

From a young age I was blessed with the opportunity to travel frequently but I never realized just how lucky this made me. My travel adventures as a child instilled a passion for learning new cultures, trying new things and exploring unknown places. I would see pictures of places and either cut them out of magazines or pin a memory in the back of my head to later come back to. It was only a matter of time before those memories became a reality. I knew that this is exactly what I wanted to do with my life just for the simple freedom and joy you can obtain from traveling, and knew I was destined for it later in life. 

My Living Sport adventure all started when I applied for the International Sport Business Program in Scotland. I never thought I actually had a chance of being selected for the position because it sounded too good to be true; it was a 10 day work trip overseas in Scotland. Sounds like a great time, right? 

Well, my decision to go got more complicated after telling my parents about the opportunity. Usually, they are some of the most free-living and go with the flow type of individuals you’ll ever meet. The "follow your dreams" type you could say -- if it’s what makes you happy, then go do it! I told them about how I applied and later received a phone interview which ultimately led to me getting put on the team to allow me to achieve the ability to go work the Tough Mudder overseas, but neither showed the enthusiasm I had for this chance to travel. At the time I kept saying it’s an experience I’ll need to later achieve my dream. Now you hear me say that because every company you apply for just wants experience loaded on top of more experience. But in my opinion experience doesn’t just happen, you have to actually earn it. 

Before this, I got lucky out of college and was able to land a job working for a professional sports team, but I quickly learned what actual work was. I was so excited when I was able to land this as my first actual work experience let alone with a professional team, only to learn it was not at all what I wanted it to be. It’s not always the glamour of what you hope it is but in fact ten times more challenging. I was doing a job that I felt limited in and didn’t push me to my full potential and I just felt stuck. But my mindset at the time was that it’s the foot in the door that I need, especially since the sport industry is already so hard to get work in -- let alone excel in. When the season finished and I learned a new boss would be taking over so I decided this is my chance to pursue other options, which just so happened to be perfect timing for this opportunity to join Living Sport overseas.

Despite the fact that my dad didn’t feel that spending money for a short-term work experience was the best thing to do, I decided to go. Once he saw how much it meant to me and that it was something I genuinely wanted to do, he did end up supporting my decision.

Now that I had said yes to going on this journey, it hit me that I had no idea what to expect, besides the fact I would be traveling to Scotland to work with 22 other individuals that shared the same desire as me; working in sports. 

Never had I felt so out of my comfort zone, for the simple fact that I was lost in what to do. I had just stopped working for a professional sports team to now be in a different country working with new people. It was reassuring to know my travel companions were all trying to achieve a goal just like me so there was nothing to be scared of; we were all in the same boat. Once I got past my nerves and just focused on being myself and to learn from others, it was smooth sailing.

The trip exceeded all expectations I had ever imagined. The amount of connections and friendships I had developed and built were beyond my belief, not to mention the amount of knowledge we all had within sports. From the trip’s start, it was an immediate connection where we were brought together by our experiences and knowledge in the set fields our previous experience was in. 

This trip also allowed me the opportunity to meet the international Tough Mudder staff, and within an hour I knew I made the right decision by taking this opportunity. I made an instant connection with the staff and I can easily say they felt the same way. The amount of information and knowledge I learned from program mentors and co-workers was overwhelming and exhilarating. 

I had always had a dream of moving overseas at some point in my life, with Barcelona being my main destination. To obtain more information on how to make this happen was one of my main goals of my Living Sport trip to Scotland.

Low and behold I was introduced to my newfound buddy Pete on the first day of setup for the event. We were told that we are here to work but also to go out and get to know the people we’re working with as they are international sport business professionals that could provide insight about the industry. I was introduced to Pete during our lunch break and it turned out to be a godsend. We got to know one another very well and he told me how he lives in Barcelona for six months out of the year. I then shared with him my dream of moving there. 

Not even being on site for a full day yet and I was able to make a connection to help make my decision to follow my dream and move abroad much easier. Not only was I able to meet Pete but also Corrina (aka Coco). Pete and his crew were part of the whole setup process while Coco was in charge of the event day staff. By meeting Coco and getting to know her well, I was invited to travel to England to work with the Tough Mudder London South team to assist in running in the event.  

You can call it luck or you can say it’s faith, either way it’s still amazing what you can accomplish if you truly just take a risk. I use to be the one to question myself and not take risks because I didn't want to mess anything up or disappoint anyone. Living Sport changed my life by helping me understand that it’s okay to ask for help and advice. 

I told all the mentors on the trip that I wanted to move to Barcelona in the upcoming months but didn’t know how to. They all worked to make me feel comfortable in the situation and to make new connections. 

Chasity Brown, program mentor, sent me LinkedIn jobs in Barcelona and even introduced me to meet Kieran, whose Scottish company works with multiple professional soccer teams. 

Anthony Marquez, program mentor, initially made the introduction to Coco, in efforts to try to work other events after I move overseas.

Alicia Marinelli, program founder, did what Alicia does best and connected me with others outside of Tough Mudder. 

I was able to make more connections and find more opportunities than I could’ve ever imagine were possible just by simply asking for help. These were all the opportunities I came across in just a few days into the trip, but the opportunities didn’t stop after I left Scotland.

Living Sport invited me to work an event in the states for an additional work experience with Long Tail Creative, who facilitates the Reading Radsport Festival. This experience allotted me even more international connections and provided the opportunity to meet and network with other Living Sport alumni.

A friend of mine, Timothy Kerr (Living Sport Alum, Glasgow ’19 & Athens ‘19) was once quoted saying “If you’re given the opportunity, even if it’s an unpaid internship, you take it. You never know where it could lead to, let alone the experiences and lessons you learn just by accepting it.” 

That quote has stuck with me for the simple fact that if I would’ve never taken the risk to travel with Living Sport and assist the Tough Mudder staff, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today nor have even half the connections and experiences. I am currently living out my dreams and exploring the streets of Barcelona, but I’ve only just begun my journey. 

I can't imagine where I would be if I hadn't taken a chance on the opportunity of a lifetime, so thank you Living Sport!

Mexico: Did You Know?

Mexico, located in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico is an incredibly diverse country with everything from towering mountains and steamy jungles to ancient ruins and succulent street snacks. Check out these 20 interesting facts about Mexico!

20 Facts About Mexico and its Sport Culture

General Facts

1. Mexico’s real name is not Mexico. Mexico’s official name is United States of Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos). The country is divided into thirty one states, plus the federal district. 

2. Mexican children don’t receive gifts on Christmas Day. Don’t worry though, they do receive gifts. The bigger celebration is on the day of Three Kings on January 6th.

3. Mexico has the oldest university in North America. The National University of Mexico (UNAM) was founded in 1551 by Charles V. of Spain, eighty five years before Harvard.

4. Mexico is home to the world’s smallest volcano - Cuexcomate. This volcano sits just outside of the city of Pueblo and is forty three feet tall, barely a small hill.

5. Mexico is home to the world’s largest pyramid which is the Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico. It is also the largest monument ever constructed in the world.

6. The Chihuahua, the world’s smallest dog is named after a state in Mexico.

7. The Pico de Orizaba sits on the border between the Mexican states of Veracruz and Puebla and is the third-highest peak in North America after Denali, also known as Mount McKinley (Alaska, United States) and Mount Logan (Yukon, Canada).

8. Without Guillermo González Camarena, a seventeen year-old Mexican inventor, creator of the color transmission system for televisions called the chromoscopic in 1942, the world would be a lot more black and white.  

9. Mexican Juan Pablo used North America’s first printing press in 1539 and went on to create thirty five books with it.

10. Even though there's a variety of lists of the  “seven wonders”, the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are often considered among them. The ruins are what’s left of an ancient Maya ceremonial city on the Yucatan peninsula.

Sports Facts

1. Soccer was brought to Mexico by the British who founded the Orizaba Athletic Club in 1898. The club’s main sport was cricket, and the soccer team was founded in 1901.

2. Mexico’s national football team ranks as one of the best in Latin America as it has qualified for fifteen FIFA World Cups. The country also hosted the World Cup tournament twice, in 1970 and 1986. 

3. While soccer dominates the airwaves, baseball is quite a popular sport in Mexico. Mexico has two leagues, a northern and southern league, that play a similar seasonal schedule as Major League Baseball.

4. Mexico has produced over one hundred players into Major League Baseball. Some of them considered sports legends including Fernando Valenzuela, Adrian Gonzalez, Ted Williams and Nomar Garciaparra.

Adrian Gonzalez

5. Mexican athletes have a deep history at the Olympic games, having competed in every Summer Olympics since 1900 and won a combined sixty two medals. Their strongest events have been boxing, track and field, and diving.

6. When Spain colonized Mexico around four hundred years ago, it brought along the sport of bullfighting. The sport has remained one of the most popular in the country ever since. Mexico City boasts the largest bullring in the world, Plaza Mexico. 

7. Out of the ranch and animal-handling competitions of Colonial Mexico came the Grand Gala that is today the Charrería. Similar to rodeos in the U.S., the Charreado includes events like cattle roping, horse riding and horse performances, and other skill-based contests and competitions.

8. Fronton is a very popular sport in Mexico. The idea of the game is similar to handball – on a rectangular court players hit a hard ball (usually with their hands) against a main wall (called a fronton, or front wall) and receive points for where it bounces back on the court, while their opponents have to try to return the serve.

9. The Mesoamerican ballgame has been played by Mexicans for over three thousand years and is known as the original Mexican ballgame. The oldest ballcourt ever discovered, dating to around 1400 BC, is at Paso de la Amada in Mexico. The exact rules of the sport are lost, but historians believe that one or two players would play on each side of a stone court. They would use rackets, bats, or even their own bodies to keep a ball, made of solid rubber and weighing over eight pounds, moving across the court. At some point, the Maya added an extra challenge by making the aim to pass the ball through stone rings placed high up on a wall at the ends of the court. In the Mexican state of Sinaloa, a version of the same game is still played, called Ulama.

10. Another uniquely Mexican sport is Lucha Libre, which means "freestyle-wrestling". Lucha Libre is a form of professional wrestling, famous for the colorful masks worn by the Luchadores (wrestlers). Like professional wrestling in the United States (WWE), Lucha Libre is quite a spectacle, with rapid and dramatic maneuvers, a brazen atmosphere, and over-the-top personalities.