An Evening of Mentoring and Networking at St. Ambrose University
Last week I had the privilege of serving as a panelist at St. Ambrose University’s inaugural “Buzz Into the Sport Industry” event. Fellow panelists included:
Mike Zapolski – Director of Athletics, Augustana College
Tyler Gilles – Director of Sales, Quad City Mallards
Lynn Hunt – VP of Sales, Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau
During the panel we discussed our career paths, advice for students, and thoughts on various industry trends, and we answered several audience questions. Once the panel concluded I visited one-on-one with students and gave all who were interested a chance to see my World Series rings.
Below is a brief summary of the highlights:
The St. Ambrose University students and faculty did a terrific job putting together a successful event. “Buzz Into the Sport Industry” was the senior capstone experience in the St. Ambrose Sport Management curriculum. Students got experience selling sponsorships, marketing, and managing an event. The turnout was impressive – one of my students from the University of Iowa even made the trip over to participate. Several local sport organizations were there to network with students following the panel.
Dr. Liz Sattler is creating excellent opportunities for her students. I hope to find ways to collaborate with Dr. Sattler and the St. Ambrose program in the future.
I enjoyed discussing college athletics with Mike Zapolski from Augustana College. I look forward to staying connected with Mike and bringing him into my Sport Administration course in the future to share his many years of experience running programs in NCAA Divisions I and III with my graduate students.
It was a thrill to meet so many eager students. I spent well over an hour after the panel answering questions from numerous St. Ambrose students who sought advice related to their specific interests in the sport industry. The students all represented themselves and their school with professionalism. I hope to stay connected with many of them as they progress through their careers.
A final takeaway for students: Seek out and attend conferences such as Buzz Into the Sport Industry. It was a free event offering loads of advice from sport industry veterans and the potential to make connections that could lead to internships, jobs, and professional contacts. My program at the University of Iowa held a similar conference early in the fall semester. St. Ambrose and the University of Iowa both plan to repeat the conferences on their campuses next year. Get serious about your professional development by putting yourself in positions to get the break you need in the ultra-competitive sport industry - conference attendance is a great way to start.