Alana and Dr. Hemme sat down with Chris Ryder, Associate Athletic Director / Athletic Facilities & Event Management at Florida Atlantic University, and discussed the challenges of putting on events during COVID-19 and the importance of creating strong organizational cultures that provide a blueprint for employee excellence. 

Sport Management Industry Insight Series

Episode 15: Chris Ryder

We're kicking off 2021 with Megan Robinson, yet another tremendously successful former HPU student and currently Senior Coordinator of Partnership Marketing at Major League Soccer. She's held a variety of positions in sports and offers great insight on how to make connections and remain laser-focused in an ever-changing industry.

Episode 14: Megan Robinson

Just in time for the holidays, Alana and Dr. Hemme sat down with Haley McKeown, Manager at Wasserman, a global sport marketing and talent management agency. In this 45-minute conversation, Haley shares amazing insight on the importance of mentors, how to prep for difficult job interviews, and the need to get involved early in your career. 

Episode 13: Haley McKeown

In another alumni-spotlight episode, Sport Management Association President Alana Sullivan and Dr. Florian Hemme interviewed Kelsey Gomes, Manager of Corporate Partnerships Services and Activations at the Tampa Bay Rays. A former sport management minor, Kelsey reflects on her career, the impact of COVID-19 on the sport industry, and lessons learned during her time at HPU and beyond. Another great conversation with one of our many successful former students! 

Episode 12: Kelsey Gomes

To kick off the new semester, Sport Management Association President Alana Sullivan and Dr. Florian Hemme caught up with former HPU student Mikaela Campbell. Mikaela is currently working as an Associate with the National Basketball Association (NBA), a coveted position open to only a select few applicants each year. In this episode, Mikaela reflects on her time so far with the NBA, the power of strategic choices in selecting work assignments and fostering connections, and how High Point University&apos;s Sport Management program prepared her for her career. 

Episode 11: Mikaela Campbell

Alex Majd, former GM of Ticket Sales for the Premier Lacrosse League, visited campus on November 18 and spoke about his lacrosse career and industry experience. Reflecting on his own journey in professional sports, the European and 4x national champion shared valuable career advice, including his “2 out of 3” rule for picking the right job and the three qualities that make successful salespeople.

Episode 10 - Alex Majd

C.J. Johnson has 17 years of experience in Minor League Baseball. He began his career with the Hagerstown Suns in Hagerstown, MD. During his time in Hagerstown the team experienced a 27% increase in attendance. Johnson also spent three seasons as the Vice President of Business Development with the Trenton Thunder in Trenton, NJ. Johnson served as the Vice President of Ticket Sales for the Winston-Salem Dash for seven years prior to being promoted to Team President in October of 2017. In his first year at the helm, the Dash were recognized by Baseball America as the top Class A organization out of 60 clubs. Johnson has been recognized by the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce with an Under 40 Leadership Award and by the Triad Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 recipient.

Episode 9 - C.J. Johnson

One of the earliest graduates from UMass Amherst&apos;s prestigious sport management program, Greg Bouris boasts decades of experience inside and outside of the sport industry. Most notably, the Rhode Island native created, and for 19 years oversaw, the Major League Baseball Players Association&apos;s (MLBPA) communications department. There, he served as chief spokesperson and media liaison, crafted strategic communication efforts, and guided digital content creation, to name but a few of his numerous responsibilities. Today, he is the president of Power X Communications, an innovative PR, communications, and marketing firm. In this episode, Greg reflects on the lessons learned throughout his career and offers insight for aspiring sport management leaders how to succeed in pursuing their dream careers.

Episode 8 - Greg Bouris

Despite his young age, Christian Heimall is a veteran in the sport industry, with over ten years of experience in sports communication, broadcasting, and promotions and public relations. Currently, he is the Assistant General Manager of the High Point Rockers in High Point, NC, where he oversees all aspects of the city's new minor league baseball team's operations. In this episode, we take a deep dive into fan engagement, the challenges of working in minor league baseball, and how to break into the sports industry.

Episode 7 - Christian Heimall

Kyle Kallander is in his 23rd year as commissioner of the Big South Conference. During his tenure, the conference has experienced unparalleled growth and has emerged as the premier non-FBS conference in the Southeast. 

Episode 6 - Kyle Kallander

As fashion and sports become increasingly entangled, apparel and uniform manufacturers are constantly on the lookout for the latest styles. Industry expert Mark Graff, most recently with Under Armour, sheds light on how to spot trends, interact with professional athletes, and build meaningful relationships.

Episode 5 - Mark Graff

Senior Vice President of Global Sports and Entertainment Consulting at GMR Marketing, Matt Hill is an industry veteran with experience working with both brands and sport properties. Previously with the NFL and MLS, the Columbia MBA since 2014 focuses his efforts on providing GMR's clients with the perfect exposure opportunities through innovative experiential marketing and sponsorship activation.

Episode 4 - Matt Hill

A veteran sport agency professional, Lisa Murray has been with industry powerhouse Octagon for almost 30 years. As Global Chief Marketing Officer, Murray matches Octagon’s clients with major global sports properties such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. She has previously been named to the Sporting News annual “Power 100” list, SportsBusiness Journal’s top 20 most influential women in the industry, and Adweek’s “Most Powerful Women in Sports” list. 

Episode 3 - Lisa Murray

Ashley Fox is one of the trailblazers in female sports broadcasting and reporting. Her career stops include industry juggernauts like Sports Illustrated and ESPN - where until 2017 she served as a lead NFL reporter and analyst. A world-class communicator, Ashley now shares her expertise with audiences around the world. 

Episode 1 - Ashley Fox

Sport industry experts share their success stories with High Point University's Dr. Florian Hemme, Assistant Professor of Sport Management

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Sport Management Industry Insight Series

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