Sports As A Job

Our guest Andrew Fletcher former Assistant Athletic Director at Fort Lewis College and current Sports Sales Manager at Visit Bentonville. We discuss his transition up the leadership ladder in the sports world. He also shares with us his own battles that he had to overcome due to the Pandemic. Sometimes the journey in sports doesn't go the way you plan but it is all part of the journey.

We are joined by the first guest of the season Logan Belz the Assistant Athletic Director for Special Projects at California State University, Bakersfield. We discuss building relationships, the power of making people feel special, and the skills that have allowed him to be amazing at selling tickets. Join us as he breakdowns down his journey from ticket operations assistant to Assistant Athletic Director.

The guest of this episode of Sports As A Job is Alana Meraz. She is the founder of Latinx in Sports an organization focused on creating a community for Latinx in sports. She is currently a Sponsorship and Tours Coordinator for ISL. She has event management experience with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Sun Devils Athletics, Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission, and the Arizona Public Service. Alana also has experience doing social media with Sport Sorority and Sports As A Job. We discuss her networking tips and how she found her path in the sports industry.

Hosts of the Cutback Podcast Ian Burleigh and Cullen Munz join us for this episode. Outside of being podcasts hosts they have a combined over 10 years of experience and 6 college degrees. Ian is currently a Consulting Analyst for rEvolution a sports marketing agency in Chicago. Cullen is currently the Director of Food and Beverage for Diamond Concessions at Dozer Park home of the Peoria Chiefs. We discuss their individual journeys throughout sports. Everyone's path is different. We explore how Ian worked in the corporate world before going back to graduate school to pursue his dream of working in sports. Cullen shares how he found his fit and area of opportunity in sports. Learn about their journeys and the lessons they learned along the way.

Checkout The Cutback Podcast at sportsasajob.com

The Sports As A Job podcast is joined by Amanda Weaver the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for the Winston-Salem Dash. At 10 years old she told her mom that she wanted to work in a baseball front office and now it is her reality. We talk about her unconventional journey where she had to overcome not knowing what exactly it is she wanted to do at first. She shares her experience of going through a group interview and what helped her win the job she has currently.

The guest of this episode is Bri Lewerke a Strategic Marketing Associate for SportsEngine. She has been there for nearly five years. Bri is also a freelance photographer that has done work for Sports Illustrated, SLAM, Bleacher Report, Nike EYBL, Overtime, and the WNBA. Bri's passion lies at the intersection of sports, storytelling, and digital media. She is one of the biggest basketball fans we know and we dive into where that love came from. Bri didn't get her start in sports until her senior year of college doing an internship with the Washington Wizards. They were one of two teams that called among 50 applications she put out there. She knew from that point on that sports is where her life needed to be and she has not looked back since. 

The guest of this episode of the Sports As A Job podcast episode is the Director of Facilities and Events for San Jose State University Athletics, Garrett Ton. Garrett was appointed as the Director in January of 2019. Before that, he served as a facilities coordinator at San Jose State from 2015 to 2018. He is also a former Men's Basketball player for San Jose State, he graduated in 2012. Then from 2013 to 2015 at Marshall University, Garrett was a graduate assistant for athletics facilities and operations. We discuss how he developed his system of game management, journey to a leadership role, and why loves this area of sports he gets to work in.

Celebrating episode 70 with a little reflection from founder Kolby Castillo. To celebrate we bring on the better half of the Sports As A Job podcast former co-host Olivia Puttin. The last time she was hosting the podcast she was a Student Contact Intern for the University of Minnesota Athletics. Now she has transitioned into the SEC, more specifically the University of Georgia. She is a Communications GA with the Bulldogs. She shares her expereince, we catch up with her, and shares some of the things she has learned so far. 

Episode Timestamp

0 to 8:00 - Celebrating 70 episodes with reflection and Q&A with Kolby Castillo.

8:00 to the end - Our special guest Olivia Puttin

The guest on this episode of the Sports As A Job podcast is Rachel Joy Baribeau is a retired 17-year sportscaster and is now focused on her company I’m Changing The Narrative. Her relentless pursuit is a major part of why she has broken so many barriers and continues to have amazing opportunities.  Rachel is the first known female sports reporter to participate in a professional football training camp and was the 1st female host SiriusXM College Sports. She had the opportunity to deliver insightful commentary on national broadcasters such as Fox Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, and Yahoo. In this episode we discuss the mental barriers and adversity she overcame to have the career she did. There was a shift in her mindset and purpose. We discuss that moment and how it has led her down the path she is today.

The guest on this episode of the Sports As A Job podcast is the Assistant AD of Creative Services at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Ali Fisher. Ali has worked for the University of Missouri-Columbia for a little over six years. She graduated from Toledo University with her MBA, her Bachelor of Fine Arts in New Media, and she was also a cross country student-athlete. We discuss how even someone with her experience in the industry she is constantly learning. Her curiosity in graphic design as a young kid sparked her interest in the career she has today. Listen in to see how she got where she is at today.

In this episode of Sports As A Job podcast, we are joined by Allie Popp the recently announced Assistant Director of Marketing for BGSU Athletics. Allie started working for BGSU Athletics as a freshman in college in 2017. From there she has climbed the ladder and has challenged herself to always do more. Before she has even graduated with her B.S. in Sport Management in 2021, she accepted the offer to return to BGSU Athletics in her current role. Her story starts before her freshman year in 2017. Allie is an amazing example of how maximizing the opportunity in front of you can open up doors for you.

The guest on this episode of the Sports As A Job podcast is Matt Farrell current president of Farrell Sports Worldwide a sports marketing and communications consulting agency focusing on teams, leagues, governing bodies, and facilities. He brings his 20 plus years of sports experience that includes working for USA Swimming, the Golf Channel, United States Olympics Committee, and even Warner Home Video. He spent nearly 14 years as the Chief Marketing Officer for USA swimming from 2005 to 2018. We discuss his journey through working in the Olympic world. More importantly, understanding when the time is right to make that “leap” or change in your sports industry career. Buckle up and join me on this ride through Matt’s Journey.

Today’s guest on the Sports As A Job Podcast is the sportsbiz obsessed Athletics Business Analyst for the University of Virginia. Our guest graduated from UMASS in 2019 with his MBA. His experiences aside from his current position include being the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations for Mercer University, a Development & Operations intern for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of fame, a Minutemen Club Graduate Assistant for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During this pandemic he is also known for his take on networking events where he has been hosting sportsbiz zoom trivia events. This episode’s special guest is Joe Kuykendall.

Today's guest on the Sports As A Job podcast is the co-founders of NARP Clothing KJ Bryant and Patrick Cromwell. They were teammates on the baseball team at Clemson University. KJ after three years at Clemson transferred out to College of Charleston for his senior year and completed his masters in public administration. Patrick after his time at Clemson continued his baseball career oversees in Australia and Germany. They started NARP clothing together and are leading the way in this entire new market. NARP Clothing is a marketplace that gives former student-athletes the opportunity to profit off their name, image, and likeness by selling their player-owned apparel without the threat of inequitable NCAA sanctions. We discuss the interesting story on how the business started, their athlete backgrounds, and everything you need to learn about their innovative business.

Today's guest on the Sports As A Job podcast is Casey Katofsky. He is currently the executive director of operations for the Future Legends Complex. The Complex will be completed in 2021 and when finished will be a 118-acre premier complex for sports and events. He was born and raised in Southern California. He decided he needed to explore outside his bubble and moved to the East Coast where he graduated from Georgetown University's master's program. From there he went on to work for Under Armour in Business Development. He found out that the large sports corporate world might not be the best fit. In this episode we discuss how moving out of your comfort zone is a benefit to your development and how he is becoming a transcendent leader in the sports industry. 

The Sports As A Job podcast guest is Emily Chenery. She is a freelance producer and storyteller. She has previously worked with organizations such as ESPN, SEC Network, Flordia Gators, and the CrossFit Games. Emily has worked in the social media field since 2007. Traditionally like many others, she began her career path working full-time. There was a transition where she decided to pursue freelance work but also e the manager for her sister who became a Youtube Beauty Influencer. In this episode, we talk about her childhood, how she got her start in sports, and her social media strategies. What seemed to be a traditional career path ended up being everything else but normal. She is about empowering others in their own journey, lifting heavy stuff, and constantly testing out new social media strategies. 

Aliyah Funschelle is a sports reporter and recent May 2020 graduate from Wichita State University. Despite her young career, she has been able to build a brand and following equivalent to a 20-year veteran. The creation of the "Sports with Aliyah" brand started her Junior year. She has not gone without adversity and she understands how it has helped build her into who she is today. She leads the way for women and young girls to break the glass ceiling in this male-dominated sports industry. 

Our guest today is Jeff Hanel the Director of Post-Production for Auburn Athletics. Previously, he was the Associate Director of Athletic Video Productions and Creative Lead for Baylor University from 2012 to 2014. His journey started over nearly 20 years ago as a musician who lived in Australia for three and a half years. We discuss how him questioning why, ultimately led him down his career in sports. Each day of our lives is an opportunity to learn. As amazing as he is in art, he seems like a philosopher at heart. Jeff shares his approach to pushing his creativity to new levels. How does he approach work? How does he approach work-life balance? How does he approach life? Learn how asking why can lead you to surpass what you think your ceiling is. This episode is filled with philosophy, creative advice, and shows you the true side of what it's like working in sports.

This podcast is possible due to the donations of its supporters. Donate here if you believe in what we do: https://anchor.fm/sportsasajob/support

Our latest podcast guest is the founder of JokerMag, Tyler O'Shea. JokerMag is a media platform dedicated to telling the stories of the underdog in sports through articles and/or podcasts. Tyler is a former D3 College Baseball player who was an underdog himself. His own journey led him to taking interest in all underdog stories. His stories feature guests such as UFC Star Francis Ngannou, Sports Analyst Jessica Mendoza, and many more. 

Embrace the "Underdog Mentality" with Tyler O'Shea. 

Episode Timestamp

2:07 - How has JokerMag a media platform adjusted during the quarantine the past few months?

4:14 - JokerMag is a unique name and even more so their logo of the bulldog. Where did the inspiration come from?

5:37 - JokerMag is all about the Underdog Stories in sports. What does the underdog mentality mean to Tyler especially being a former D3 College Baseball player?

8:20 - Tyler shares with us a moment he adopted the underdog mentality in his own life. 

10:35 - We discuss a little bit of baseball. Tyler is a Philly Sports fan all around. Who was his favorite baseball player?

11:35 - Tyler graduated with a communications and media degree. Yet, building a media platform is not always something someone wants to do right off the bat. 

14:46 - The average time someone does a podcast or media platform is 6 months. Tyler has been doing it for three years. What has kept him going?

21:46 - Tyler shares his advice for anyone that wants to sport a blog, podcast, or any media platform.

This podcast is possible due to the donations of its supporters. Donate here if you believe in what we do: https://anchor.fm/sportsasajob/support

This podcast is possible due to the donations of its supporters. Donate here if you believe in what we do: https://anchor.fm/sportsasajob/support

Our guest in this episode is Drew Zlogar,  a media and communications professional. Drew was formally the social media manager for the XFL New York Guardians. Before that, he was a digital and social media editor for the NBA. We all admired what the XFL represented and were doing. Professionally and personally the XFL gained people’s respect. Drew shares with us the secrets that help XFL become popular on social media. Also, he takes us on his journey from college, to working for the NBA, then the XFL, and now.

2:10 - Drew shares with us his experience as the Social Media Manager for the XFL New York Guardians.

5:36 - Professionally and personally we all admired what the XFL was. What were the secrets to the XFL building such a community on their social media platforms?

11:05 - Drew's tips and advice for other social media managers. 

17:35 - The first job in social was with the NBA. We all use social media personally but how does that translate to when you first get a professional social job. Was it a Mount Everest of a challenge for him?

25:00 - Drew is a frequent user of LinkedIn, how does he approach using it and how can others better use it to network as well?

In this bonus episode, we are joined by Chad Wakabayashi a Marketing & Social Media Intern for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation. Sports As a Job has partnered with them in hopes of bringing what they represent and their mission into the spotlight. We did a previous article discussing the inspiration behind the foundation: https://bit.ly/ActofValorAward

Learn about Chad's journey from Hawaii to Minnesota and how he got his current internship position with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation. During a time like this, it is important to get experience and the foundation provides remote internship opportunities to aspiring sports professionals. Learn about Chad's duties as an intern along with more information about the foundation. 

This podcast is possible due to the donations of its supporters. Donate here if you believe in what we do: https://anchor.fm/sportsasajob/support 

We are joined by Nicholas P. Smith. He is an Instructor and Internship Coordinator of Sport Management in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education in the Department of Counseling, Recreation, and School Psychology at Florida International University. He received his Master of Arts from the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University. Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Louisiana State University. Smith also completed his internship at St John's University Athletics in New York, New York. Mr. Smith currently teaches sports management undergraduate courses, both traditional and online. He comes to FIU with over a decade of experience in various management positions with ASM Globals formally SMG / Mercedes Benz Superdome / Smoothie King Center / Champions Square. Along with teaching at FIU, Mr. Smith volunteers with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Sunbelt Conference, Orange Bowl Committee, Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, and is on the recruiting volunteer committee for the 2020 Miami Super Bowl Host Committee. Smith has also managed events for Louisiana State University Athletics, Tulane University Athletics, University of New Orleans Athletics, New Orleans Babycakes, and Landmark Event Staffing Services over the years.

 Let’s learn how to “Apply Yourself” with Nicholas Smith!

 Episode Timestamps: 

1:34: Nicholas shares with us his background and 13 years of practical experience. 

7:30: We dive into his 13 years of experience starting with being hired at the famous Superdome. There is a moment that Nicholas does not get the job he originally applies for. 

13:25: Nicholas is now an instructor and internship coordinator. How much does his previous experience play into what he emphasizes to his students? 

15:00: Are you thinking about going back to school or switch majors? Hear about what a great sport management program looks like and the importance of it. 

22:38: What is any trends that Nicholas thinks will be big in the future?

This podcast is possible due to the donations of its supporters. Donate here if you believe in what we do: https://anchor.fm/sportsasajob/support

We are joined by Mark Fratto who has tremendous amount of experience. He started Linacre Media, a full-service digital/social media, production services, and public relations consulting company in 2014. Before that he after served as a collegiate athletics administrator in the communications departments of St. John’s University and the University of Maryland for 15 years. Ten-year NCAA Final Four news conference moderator. He also has many experience behind the microphone.

Some of his experience behind the microphone includes serving as a public address announcer at Madison Square Garden for New York Knicks, college basketball and New York Liberty games, at Yankee Stadium for New York City FC Major League Soccer contests, and at MetLife Stadium for the New York Giants. Mark also has served as ring announcer for Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather Promotions, K2 Promotions, Roy Jones Jr. Promotions and many others and has called fights on HBO, HBO PPV, Showtime, HBO Latino, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, CBS Sports Network, MSG Network, and Ring TV.

Episode Timestamp: 

2:42 - Mark shares with us information about his business, doing voiceover, and being behind the mic. 

4:38 - "When basketball implemented the press, I could only dribble right. That is when my sports career began." We dive into Mark's journey working in sports and navigating the different places he has been. 

9:23 - How did Mark's Michael Jordan obsession fuel his career choices?

11:44 - Mark has been a Ten-year NCAA Final Four news conference moderator. We get behind the scenes of what he does and that is how co-host Olivia met him as well.

18:12 - Bob Beretta is a legend in College Sport Administration. Mark was lucky enough to work for him at one point. He credits a lot of his success to Bob. What did he learn from Bob and that he passes on to students today?

24:18 - We go into Mark's experience with ring announcing and being behind the mic. 

26:51 - Story of how Mark was fired for his first-ever boxing event on a Tuesday of fight week. 

29:31 - Practice is important. Mark would announce sparring at a local boxing club to get the reps in before being under the lights of Madison Square Garden

32:40 - After 15 years working in college athletics, how did the idea of his company Linacre Media come about?