Alumni
Scoring in
the Sports
Industry

My main role is to serve as content head of our daily, 30-minute live football show, “Football Night in Chicago.” We are also partners with the Bulls, White Sox and Blackhawks—and I produce pre- and post-game shows for all three teams throughout the seasons. I get paid to talk and write about sports…all day. Seriously, who has it better than that? And I get to do it in what many would consider the best sports city in the world. It’s really quite surreal when I step back and take it all in.

There are two reasons I am a sports producer: first, my best friend Travis. He always wanted to do it growing up. I looked up to him so much that whatever he wanted to do, I did too. So, I went to school for it. That leads me to reason two: Wilkes. It’s not like a tiny, private school in northeast Pennsylvania screams “mecca for sports journalism.” But I wouldn’t be here if not for Wilkes. The ability to dive into every aspect of journalism from the second I stepped on campus my freshman year was invaluable. I got to suck at it and then learn from my mistakes—not when I was 22 or 23 at my first job, but 18 and a freshman in college.

I was also handed the reins of the annual Tom Bigler Journalism Conference during my time at Wilkes. The theme that year was “Sports Journalism.” That, to me, was a huge deal. Preparing and executing that major task taught me to be accountable, timely and focused. All these things that are necessary for a successful career. So, yes, I’m not where I’m at now without my time at Wilkes.

As Nike says: “Just Do It.” I waited too long to dive back into sports. I veered off into the news world for over a decade. It took the Cincinnati Bengals and Bearcats football teams being ridiculously good to get myself back to where I belong. My only regret is waiting this long to do what I know I was supposed to be doing. So, if your passion is sports, then go after the dream. Intern anywhere and everywhere. Whether that’s in a newsroom, with a professional team or in a college athletic department. Put yourself out there because when a position opens, they’ll remember you. It’s your foot in the door.
And once you get your foot in the door you can start mapping your own path.

I love the versatility and freedom of my job. The versatility plays a role in what I do on a daily basis. I can talk to executive officers of Fortune 500 organizations or to a die-hard Giants fan who is looking for their first pair of season tickets. I also have amazing managers that do an excellent job of allowing the premium sales team, which I am a part of, to have freedom to work their book of business the way that they deem appropriate. Whether it’s 100 phone calls in a day, 10 zoom calls or even site visits with large organizations, they support my ideas and innovative thoughts to put as many people in seats as possible to cheer on Big Blue.

The ability to multitask, prioritize and challenge critical thinking skills are all points of emphasis through my classes in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership and throughout my extracurriculars at Wilkes University. Collectively maintaining the promise that “At Wilkes, You Will ____,” with the blank being a variable of the students’ dreams, is a testament that Wilkes University is here to help. I am the proof.

I would advise any student who is looking to break into the sports business industry to value your time and find a quality of yourself that helps you stand out better than the rest of the candidates for that same position you desire. Working at these skills early in your career makes it easier later to be the strong asset to the organization that you hope to be.

Unlike most positions in the front office, I’m afforded a unique opportunity to cover every game, home or away. Instead of looking at our organization from one lens, I’m able to cover player highlight clips from each game, promotions for fans and market our game-day experience. A 150-game season lends itself to constantly learning and soaking up information. This not only applies to gaining a broader perspective but to building a rapport with the players, managing interns the past two seasons and collaborating with clients on special events—all of which create a highlight reel for some of the favorites of my job.

Yet, I’d be remiss not to note what tops my favorites list: The love I have for capturing the moments that you can’t replicate. There’s nothing more fulfilling to me than capturing someone’s authentic reaction and ingraining it in history. Anthony Volpe’s Triple-A debut, Oswald Peraza’s call up to the Bigs, the excitement of a walk-off for the team and everything in between. I’ve gone from having a love of baseball to having a love for marketing each nuance of the experience. It’s more than just the game on the diamond; it’s daily promotions, giveaways, fireworks, ballpark food and families bringing their children to make lifelong memories. On my favorite days, you can find me with a camera in hand.

Wilkes instilled in me that hard work will be rewarded, and success is earned. I prided myself on being an Honors Program student who was involved in numerous extracurricular activities, ultimately earning top leadership positions during my senior year. As the editor-in-chief of The Beacon, the director for Wilkes Now! television news show and a Communications Scholar at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, I became accustomed to full days, a rigorous workload and collaborating with others, all of which are vital in the sports industry.

Working in sports is more than just watching sports. Expect to have an untraditional lifestyle with the hours you put in and the variety of hats you wear despite your title. Remember that everyone has something to bring to the table, so when you need some inspiration, chat with someone in a different department. And sleep … learn how to sleep. In college, there’s more freedom as to how you design your schedule or when you do your classwork. There’s definitely a learning curve in the sports industry with transitioning your sleep schedule to fit the early morning hours in the office and staying late to cover games.

P.S. Buy a pair of rainboots … you’ll need them for tarp pulls if you work in Minor League Baseball!