SPORT STUDIES III I FALL Volume Issue ALUMNI NEWSLETTER. Inside This Issue LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY

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1 Volume Issue LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY III I SPORT STUDIES ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Keeping you up to date on news, happenings, and events in the LHU Sport Studies Department. FALL 2014 Inside This Issue We Chat With New! Alumni news LHU Alum section goes in Working in the depth with Industry former students 1

2 20 14 CONTENTS Ryan Erdman Talks About Working in Professional Baseball 3 Emma Randall Discusses Coaching USA Wrestling 4 Ryan Muller Discusses Working in Professional Sports Sean Harper Discusses His Time With Philadelphia Union Brent Kepner Talks about First Season with Atlanta Braves The First Annual Lally Family Scholarship Sport Administration Students Attend RMU Conference Alumni News Section

3 Ryan Erdman Talks About Working in Professional Baseball I was then promoted to our Group Sales Lock Haven Alum Ryan Erdman talks about his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and also reflects on his career to this point. 1. Hometown: Shamokin, Pennsylvania 2. What year did you graduate from LHU? What made you choose LHU and why did you choose Sport Administration as your major? I chose LHU because of their Sport Administration program. I also enjoyed the campus itself, as well as the fact it was not too far from home. 4. What role did sports play in your life and your career path? Sports played a large part in my career because I wanted to work in a field I am passionate about. 5. Describe your professional experience (including internships) and your current role within your professional organization? I began my career interning in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the Yankees AAA affiliate. My duties were primarily in the box office, as well as some selling and in-game tasks. Post-internship, I relocated to Pittsburgh to do Inside Sales for the Pittsburgh Pirates selling Season Tickets and Group Tickets. Department, where my primary focus was on large group outings and suites. I then moved on to the Pirates Service and Retention staff, where I focus on renewing, upgrading, and meeting with Pirates Season Ticket Holders. 6. What made you get involved with your current organization? I have always wanted to work in baseball, and started to gain interest in sales during my internship. When I saw the position posted with the Pirates, it was just a perfect match. 7. What would you say is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part is getting to interact with my customers on a game day. I enjoy being able to visit the hundreds of different account holders I work with, and getting to know them and their families and/or clients. 8. What are some negative aspects of your job? As with most sport positions, long hours and sometimes needing to work holidays. 9. What advice would you give anyone trying to make it in the professional sports environment? Get a feel for what you truly want to do in your career. I want to work in sports is not specific 3

4 enough narrow down what you would like to see yourself doing day after day. 10. If you could describe working in professional sports in one word, what would it be? Thrilling! 11. Additional advice: While it is not technically required, re-locating is something that is commonplace. It can be difficult finding a position close to home doing exactly what you want to be doing. Even after landing your initial job, continuing to move up is difficult if you limit yourself to one location. Other than that, narrow down what you see yourself doing, and go for it! Emma Randall Discusses Coaching USA Wrestling Lock Haven Alum Emma Randall discusses her experience coaching with the USA Wrestling team in Colorado, while also discussing the path she took to get there. 1. Hometown: Jamestown, Ohio 2. What year did you graduate from LHU? What made you choose LHU and why did you choose Sport Administration as your major? I visited LHU on a recruiting visit for women s wrestling. I fell in love with the campus, kind staff and community, and also the wrestling program. I have always had a passion for sport, so Sport Administration was a natural choice for me. 4. What role did sports play in your life and your career path? Sports played a crucial role in my life; it taught me lessons, such as: hard work, dedication, perseverance, and leadership. My own athletic career created a network of sport professionals that opened doors I never thought possible for my internship and eventual career. 5. Describe your professional experience (including internships) and your current role coaching at a high level: As an intern for USA Wrestling, my duties were to help out administratively, work in during practices with athletes, as well as other small tasks. Over time, my role developed into a staff position with the women s national wrestling program with more responsibilities and duties. Currently, I assist in daily practices at the Olympic Training Center and travel internationally with all age groups as a coach for training camps and competitions. I also 4

5 carry out administrative duties, such as: communicating with the women s program, creating schedules, travel plans, organizing training camps, and so forth. 6. What made you get involved with your current organization: When I was looking for an internship, I wanted to jump into an organization I was passionate about. I had wrestled from a very young age and even though my own career was ending, I wanted to stay involved in the sport. USA Wrestling s National Staff is the highest level coaching in the sport as they compete on the Olympic and World stage. I want to be the best at what I do someday and the best place to learn the necessary skills was USA Wrestling. 7. What would you say is your favorite part about your job? My favorite part of the job is working with great people. It s rewarding to help an athlete accomplish their goals and dreams, but also to know you re creating opportunities for the next generation of women wrestlers that you yourself never had. I love the international travel; exploring new environments and meeting great people as well. 8. What would you say was a negative aspect about your job? Everything in life has an opportunity cost; it s up to you to decide if what you want is worth the cost. At this point, one negative aspect would be the lifestyle. The distance from my friends and family is hard, and also the feeling of being home is difficult to come by as I travel every two to three weeks, and work is nonstop. Another negative aspect would be the politics involved in an organization such as USA Wrestling where nearly all decisions go through committees and sub-committees. 9. What advice would you give anyone trying to coach at a higher level? Communication and relationships are huge in the coaching setting. Not only the ability to convey thoughts, techniques, and advice to any athletes, but to show them you really care about them on and off the playing field. That relationship cannot be easily faked. You genuinely need to show the athletes you care for their well-being and that their needs come before your own. Once they know you care, they can be taught anything and will work their tails off for you. 10. If you could describe working as a female coach in one word, what would it be? Meaningful 11. Additional advice: Job opportunities are available all over the country and the world. Being willing to move will open opportunities for you. When I first took my internship in Colorado, I had less than a month to graduate, move out of my current home, move home, find a new apartment in Colorado, and drive 5

6 out west. It was overwhelming with details that needed to be taken care of, as well as scary. I would be moving out of my comfort zone, away from my support system, and into adulthood. These thoughts can create doubt in your ability to move and also create unnecessary fear. When I thought about change, doubts, and fears, I reminded myself why I chose this career; I want to coach, I love wrestling, the Olympic Stage, and so forth. Just a simple reminder to refocus myself and be confident helped me to handle the transition. Alum Muller Discusses Professional Sports Lock Haven Alum, Ryan Muller discusses his career within professional sports and gives advice to students who are beginning their job search. 1. Hometown: Burlington, New Jersey 2. What year did you graduate from LHU? What made you choose LHU and why did you choose Sport Administration as your major? I chose to attend LHU because of the professors. When I visited campus, I recall being refreshed by hearing professors who were student-centered. I chose Sport Administration as a major because I love going to professional sport venues. I thought to myself, How can I go to a professional sport stadium for work every day? After a little research, I discovered more about the Sport Administration major and the potential career paths. 4. What role did sports play in your life and your career path? My parents always encouraged my brother and I to participate in sports. From an early age, I found myself playing sports and enjoying the culture that comes with being an athlete. As I grew older, I knew that I was not going to be able to play forever and I began looking for ways to make sports part of my professional life. 5. Describe your professional experiences (including internships) and your current role within your professional organization: I am currently the Group Sales Executive for the Michigan International Speedway. I work with companies throughout the mid-west staging company outings at the race track during our various events. I also will work with national companies on ticket packages designed to get the company s clients out to the race track. From February 2013-August 2014, I worked as the Box Office Manager for the Delmarva Shorebirds of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds are the single-a affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. From July 2011-February 2013, I worked as the Event Experience Specialist with Dover International Speedway. As an Event Experience Specialist, I contacted 6

7 race fans regarding tickets for all NASCAR events. I also interned with the Global Spectrum facility in the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, NJ. I chose to intern with Global Spectrum because the company has facilities throughout the world and is owned by Comcast-Spectacor, which features additional properties within the sport industry. My time with Global Spectrum was short, but I was able to make industry connections that have either been a resource for me as a sport industry professional or helped me secure interviews during my job searches. During my time at LHU, I was heavily involved with the football program and served the program in a variety of roles. 6. What made you get involved with your current organization? I chose to get involved with my current organization because of the unlimited career opportunities. The Michigan International Speedway is operated by the International Speedway Corporation (ISC). ISC operates eight additional race tracks and a broad range of other entities within the motorsports industry. 7. What would you say is your favorite part of your job? One of the coolest parts of my job is being in the Gatorade Victory Lane following NASCAR races at Michigan International Speedway. Seeing the excitement on the faces of the winning race team is truly special. people the many different experiences that await them at the track. 9. What advice would you give anyone trying to make it in the professional sports environment? My advice for anyone trying to make it in professional sports is to not be afraid of the unknown. Take on all the challenges that come from wanting to succeed in an industry that has no limits. 10. If you could describe working in professional sports in one word, what would it be? Exciting! 11. Additional advice: When you begin searching for either your first full-time job or looking to move on from your current position, I believe it is important to know what you want the end result to be. This could be an income level, living in a specific region of the country, or working within a particular part of the sports industry. Personally, when I began to look for a new job early in 2014, my goal was to return to working in motorsports. There are plenty of ways to learn about job opportunities that exist within the industry, so do not limit yourself to one website or job board. The process will be long. There are many people involved in the hiring of a candidate. Stay confident in yourself and remember to always be looking for a new opportunity as you continue through the process until you secure your new position. 8. What are some negative aspects of your job? A challenging aspect of my job is the negative impression some people have of NASCAR. There is so much more to the at-track experience than cars completing laps and I work to show I also recommend being open-minded about moving away. If you look at any market from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to Scranton to State College, there are only so many career opportunities within the sport industry in those 7

8 markets. The world is a big place filled with terrific opportunities. Give yourself every chance to take advantage of those opportunities. Sean Harper Discusses Time with Philadephia Union Seeing how many graduates went on to work in vast areas of the sport industry was a huge factor in me choose LHU, as well. 4. What role did sports play in your life and your career path? Sports played a huge role in my life. I have been playing sports since the age of 5 and participated in a wide range of sports including soccer, track, basketball, football, and baseball. My biggest passion was soccer and track. I played soccer from that time through high school. I ran track since the age of 10 and continued to run in college. Growing up and playing soccer made me fall in love with the sport, which eventually set me up for my career path. I knew if I could no longer play the sport, I would want to at least be around it and give back to it in some sort of way. Lock Haven Alum, Sean Harper, discusses his time with the Philadelphia Union and the internships he completed prior to his time there. 1. Hometown: Lumberton, New Jersey 2. What year did you graduate from LHU? What made you choose LHU and why did you choose Sport Administration as your major? I chose LHU due to the success of the track team, and knowing that I wanted to compete collegiately. I also chose LHU due to the strong reputation of their Sport Admin program. 5. Describe your professional experience (including internships) and your current role within your professional organization: My professional experiences that I gained through volunteer and internship opportunities provided me with a head-start and proper skill development to be successful in the sport world. I completed two internships while I was in school at Lock Haven. One of these internships included me working Event Operations with World Athlete Track Academy. During my time with World Athlete, I coordinated marketing ideas and ran event operations for a Track Club based in New Jersey. I assisted in running youth and master track meets and was a coach for a youth track club, as well. During my second internship, I was a tournament coordinator for United Sports Training Center. During my time with United Sports I ran numerous tournaments, including: 8

9 soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and basketball. I was able to experience firsthand all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a successful sporting tournament. I got the opportunity to run nationally recognized tournaments that attracted teams from all over the country and Canada, to smaller local tournaments in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Currently, I am a Youth Soccer Development Coordinator for the Philadelphia Union. I coordinate and run numerous programs, camps, and tournaments for youth players in the area. In addition to running these programs, I am also a Field Manager on game days. I manage all onfield operations, ranging from field board set-up, player safety, field seating control, referee liaison, photo marshals, and ball-kid coordination. 6. What made you get involved with your current organization? One of the biggest reasons why I got involved with my current organization was the title and duties of the job that was offered to me. Giving back to the sport that I loved growing up and seeing kids enjoy soccer is what I have always wanted to do. 7. What would you say is your favorite part of the job? I would have to say my favorite part of the job is actually seeing a program in action. There is a lot of build-up and planning that goes into running a successful program and seeing the final product is one of my favorite parts. I also enjoy game days. Being down on the field during a Union game with an electrifying crowd in the stands is second to none. aspects is the hours. Working in the sport industry will at time call for long and extraneous hours. Working long hours in an office and then having to work a game during the week can be rough. I always try to find some down time to recuperate to give my body a much needed rest when the time allows. 9. What advice would you give anyone trying to make it in the professional sports environment? I would recommend networking with people that are working in the professional sports environment. You would be surprised at the number of links and connections between all of the professional teams in the Philadelphia area. There are also thousands of connections from within the leagues, i.e. NFL, NBA, MLS, MLB, and NHL. You never know who knows who and could be of assistance for you down the road. 10. If you could describe working in professional sports in one word, what would it be? Electrifying. 11. Additional advice: I would recommend taking it one day at a time and remaining relaxed. Once you begin the process of working in a professional environment, you want to impress everyone and depending on when you start, you could be thrown into the midst of everything almost immediately. Remaining composed I find can get me through any situation. 8. What are some negative aspects of the job? I would have to say that one of the negative 9

10 Alum Kepner Talks About First Season with Atlanta Braves 5. Describe your professional experience (including internships) and your current role within your professional organization? I spent three summers interning with the Williamsport Crosscutters (an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies). I spent one summer in Marketing and two summers in Client Services. Currently, I am a part of the Atlanta Braves Ticket Sales Office where I have been since January. Lock Haven Alum, Brent Kepner, talks about his new position with the Atlanta Braves and what it took to get there. 1. Hometown: Montoursville, Pennsylvania 2. What year did you graduate from LHU? What made you choose LHU and why did you choose Sport Administration as your major? I grew up in the area and had heard great things about the professors and the major itself. The professors really care about you. Having a professor reach out to me when I was deciding between schools really helped seal the deal for me. It made me feel like I was going to become a part of a family that would help me grow. 4. What role did sports play in your life and y our career path? My entire life has revolved around sports, from participating as a youth to attending sporting events throughout my career. Going to baseball games with my father growing up was one of my favorite memories, and I wanted to be in a position to help create those memories for other fans. 6. What made you get involved with your current organization? I have been a Braves fan all of my life and their front office is one of the most respected in all of sports. Being involved with an organization that is thought of as one of the premier organizations in all of sports can help set you up well for your future. 7. What would you say is your favorite part of your job? Interacting with the fan base. I got into this field because I love interacting with clients and being a part of their experience at the ballpark, along with being at the ballpark everyday myself. Walking into Turner Field every day is tough to beat. 8. What are some negative aspects of your job? It is incredibly time-demanding. During the summer when most people are enjoying vacations and time off, you are in the busiest time of your year. You have to be able to sacrifice a lot of your time. 9. What advice would you give anyone trying to make it in the professional sports environment? Start gaining experience early. Don t wait until your school requires an internship. In sports, it is 10

11 sometimes hard to get your foot in the door, but the more experience you have before you graduate, the better off you will be. 10. If you could describe working in professional sports in one word, what would it be? Rewarding. For all of the hours you put in and all of the people you deal with, being able to see the final result and seeing fans enjoying themselves on such a large scale is a great feeling. scholarship award is Leah Peppelman (pictured below). Alumni are encouraged to give back and help other students achieve their dreams of a lifelong career in the sport industry, and maybe even create the possibility of a scholarship for the other side of the spectrum, a male student. Thank you to the Lally family for creating this opportunity for future students in our program. 11. Additional advice: If you want to be successful in sports, you sometimes have to be willing to move. Lock Haven can only help you so much. Being 13 hours away from home has really taught me a lot about myself. The First Annual Lally Family Scholarship The Lally Family has been instrumental in the success of the Sport Studies Department at Lock Haven University, and has decided to give back to the place that has also done so much for them. Dr. Richard Lally and Dr. Patricia Lally have created the first Lally Family Scholarship, which provides funding specifically for a Sport Administration student. While recognizing the important role of sport in the lives of students, and also having three young girls at home, the Lally s designated that the scholarship go to a female student. The first student to receive this 11

12 Sport Administration Students Attend Annual Conference at Robert Morris University A group of Sport Administration students represented Lock Haven by recently attending the annual sports conference at Robert Morris University. Pictured above is Drew Holland, Charles Zimmer, Jason Dubler, and Nick Bishop who attended this conference to gain some valuable information from sport industry professionals. During this trip, they got to speak with some of the Pittsburgh Pirates professional staff to learn more about what it takes to reach your goals in sport. 12

13 ALUMNI NEWS! 07 Victoria Tornambe 07 is currently the Executive Director of the Fayette Area Lion s Den sports facility, while also serving as a high school softball coach for the past six years. As a high school coach, she loves to see the improvements of her girls each and every year, while also learning a lot from them. Prior to these positions, she achieved her Master s Degree from California University of Pennsylvania in Sports Management with a focus on Intercollegiate Athletics. At the conclusion of her internship, she was asked to be the Assistant Director of the Middle Creek Area Community Center, which led into her current position at the sports facility. 10 Kyle Ayers 10 is currently a fully-licensed Mortgage Originator at GMH Mortgage Services. Recently, associate Todd Hennessy started his own branch of the company and brought Kyle along as the Client Manager. During his time at LHU, he was a part of the lacrosse team. Kyle would love to offer services to any alumni, family, or friends in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware and you can achieve his contact info by returning the from which you received this newsletter. 11 Julie Buonaguro 11 is currently in her third year as the General Manager of a branch of the youth sports organization called i9 Sports in Loudoun County. Prior to this position with i9 Sports, she made the most of her time at LHU by working game-day events in the athletic department, which led into an internship at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in their athletic department. After the completion of her internship, she worked part-time for i9 Sports before gaining a full-time internship with the York Revolution as a Corporate Sales Assistant. Each of these positions led her to her dream job working with kids. 12 Kyle Denlinger 12 is the newly appointed Athletic Director for the Panama City Beach community in Florida. He is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and is currently enrolled in the Master s Program at LHU and is set to graduate in May. To apply to the Master of Science in Sport Science program and to complete the admissions process students need only submit: Online Application Official Transcript Three Letters of Recommendation Statement of Professional Goals All inquiries and material can be sent to Graduate Admissions Lock Haven University 401 N. Fairview St., Lock Haven, PA gradadmissions@lhup.edu

14 In an effort to make our Sport Administration programs stronger, we are looking for your help. We want the hard work of past and present students to be recognized. If you have any career updates or stories, want to give back to the program, have job or internship positions, or want to get involved with the program contact 14