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IUSMA Cincinnati Networking Trip Recap
By Jon Brown
Upon returning from IUSMA’s first networking trip of the year in Cincinnati, and myfirst networking trip with the organization ever, I am sure I can speak for the group when I say, “wow!” It was a day that started well before the sun rose, but with the adrenaline of career motivation running through our veins (and Red Bull running through Mike’s) we never tired. Our first stop of the day was split between meeting with the University of Cincinnati and the
Greater Cincinnati Sports Corporation. As I did not attend the latter event, I will speak on behalfof the University. UC had a beautiful campus with state-of-the-art facilities, and the groupenjoyed absorbing some of the campus life while waiting for our first meeting. Beth Hussey, who is the Assistant to the Director of Athletics for the university, escorted us into a boardroom. Not long after being seated, Bob Arkeilpane, the Deputy Director of Athletics,came in to offer invaluable advice, direction, and personal thoughts on the industry of collegeathletics and sports in general.
Mr. Arkeilplane made it a point to ensure our group understood that the industry iscontinually evolving, and that we as emerging industry leaders must learn how to quickly adaptto these changes. Bob also spoke on the merits of having good instincts when it comes todecision making within sports organizations, and how building relationships and operating withintegrity are essential to successful careers. He also noted that there are no shortcuts to gettinginto the higher position jobs. As an individual competing with thousands of other worthycandidates, we must establish a positive reputation to those we meet along the way. Finally, Mr.Arkeilplane emphasized that while being perceived as one with good merit externally to thepublic, it is substantially more important to maintain a good image within the organization youwork for.
Next up was Andy Hurley, the Associate Director of Athletics/Development. Andy letour group in on a great deal of professional insight as well. Andy spoke on the value of privatesupport, ticket sales, and corporate sponsorship in collegiate athletics. Most importantly, he letour group know a blunt fact about making it in the industry; you must generate revenue to makeyourself marketable. Of course, we all know the truth behind this statement, but the way he saidit made the information resonate in my mind as a stark truth; it doesn’t matter how much youknow or even how much experience you have, it’s about turning a profit.
Our final speaker representing the university’s athletic faculty and staff was the Directorof Athletics, Michael J. Thomas. Mike stated that getting an advanced degree is imperative tomaking yourself standout from the competition vying for sports jobs. He urged us to askourselves, “What separates me from the rest?” Mr. Thomas encouraged us to go out and talk topeople in the industry so that we can network and grow as much as possible. On that sametoken, he mentioned that if you want to talk to someone, you should do it in person to beeffective. Finally, Mike discussed what kind of role one must embody as an intern. He said thatinterns should always offer to do more, take advantage of opportunities when they presentthemselves, and suggest creative ideas.
Having the opportunity to speak with these high profile, prominent collegiate athleticfigures was amazingly influential. The advice they shared, the experience they offered, andsimply the time out of their unparalleled busy day was something I will never forget. Our next stop was the Cincinnati Reds baseball franchise. We met with the Executive Director of the Reds Hall of Fame, Rick Walls; the Vice President of Finance and the Chief Financial Officer, Doug Healy; the Vice President of Ticket Sales, John Davis; the PublicRelations manager, Michael Anderson; and, the Chief Operating Officer, Philip J. Castellini.
This visit embodies the “wow” factor of this entire trip in its rawest form. These individualsstressed the two segments of the business of sports; the business of the business and the businessof the team. They discussed how fan experience and revenue growth are imperative to running asuccessful organization. They also mentioned the importance of treating corporate sponsors ascustomers, not beneficiaries. A couple of my personal favorite take-aways from theconversations we had with these individuals was their advice to put the right people in the rightplaces with the right resources, and if it doesn’t create commerce or connection (the Reds’organization’s motto) then don’t do it! To attempt to summarize the things we learned from thisparticular visit would do an injustice to the full extent of what we learned there. So, I will leaveit to the reader to approach one of the IUSMA members who attended the trip to give you a morevivid and personal depiction of how genuinely awesome the Reds meeting was.
From the Great American Ballpark we went to Paul Brown stadium to hear from the Bengals. After a short Q&A with Andy Ware, the manager of the Bengals website and media,we then went on a tour of the facility. This was no ordinary tour, it was a VIP behind the scenestour! We got to go into the pressroom, the player’s lounge, the media box, the PLAYER’S LOCKER ROOM, and to cap it off, THE FIELD! Again, all I can say is, “wow!”
After the incredible visit with the Bengals, we retraced our steps to Great American Ballpark, where we were given media credentials to get an inside look of Fox Sports NetworkOhio’s game-day operations. IU alum Brian Hunterman, producer and director, gave us a grand Hoosier welcome by taking us inside Fox’s control trailer, where we captured how the audio,visual, coordination, and production of a game is executed. By the time we finished with Fox Sports Network, we were all exhausted, but we had a baseball game to catch!
That night, The Reds played the Brewers coming off a dramatic clinching of a post-season berth just three days prior. Our seats were spectacular, located in the third row in theoutfield (perfect for potential homerun territory). Just as our excitement all day with thedifferent organizations we met with never subsided, the game too added its own level of highthrills entertainment. Ending in the eleventh inning, the Reds found themselves in a one rundefeat to their worthy opponents. Despite the loss, our group had an incredible day. The entiretrip was surreal in a way, because we all have a desire to be doing what we did that day everyday, and to have the opportunity to live that dream is an incredible feeling that motivates you toreach it even more.
Greater Cincinnati Sports Corporation. As I did not attend the latter event, I will speak on behalfof the University. UC had a beautiful campus with state-of-the-art facilities, and the groupenjoyed absorbing some of the campus life while waiting for our first meeting. Beth Hussey, who is the Assistant to the Director of Athletics for the university, escorted us into a boardroom. Not long after being seated, Bob Arkeilpane, the Deputy Director of Athletics,came in to offer invaluable advice, direction, and personal thoughts on the industry of collegeathletics and sports in general.
Mr. Arkeilplane made it a point to ensure our group understood that the industry iscontinually evolving, and that we as emerging industry leaders must learn how to quickly adaptto these changes. Bob also spoke on the merits of having good instincts when it comes todecision making within sports organizations, and how building relationships and operating withintegrity are essential to successful careers. He also noted that there are no shortcuts to gettinginto the higher position jobs. As an individual competing with thousands of other worthycandidates, we must establish a positive reputation to those we meet along the way. Finally, Mr.Arkeilplane emphasized that while being perceived as one with good merit externally to thepublic, it is substantially more important to maintain a good image within the organization youwork for.
Next up was Andy Hurley, the Associate Director of Athletics/Development. Andy letour group in on a great deal of professional insight as well. Andy spoke on the value of privatesupport, ticket sales, and corporate sponsorship in collegiate athletics. Most importantly, he letour group know a blunt fact about making it in the industry; you must generate revenue to makeyourself marketable. Of course, we all know the truth behind this statement, but the way he saidit made the information resonate in my mind as a stark truth; it doesn’t matter how much youknow or even how much experience you have, it’s about turning a profit.
Our final speaker representing the university’s athletic faculty and staff was the Directorof Athletics, Michael J. Thomas. Mike stated that getting an advanced degree is imperative tomaking yourself standout from the competition vying for sports jobs. He urged us to askourselves, “What separates me from the rest?” Mr. Thomas encouraged us to go out and talk topeople in the industry so that we can network and grow as much as possible. On that sametoken, he mentioned that if you want to talk to someone, you should do it in person to beeffective. Finally, Mike discussed what kind of role one must embody as an intern. He said thatinterns should always offer to do more, take advantage of opportunities when they presentthemselves, and suggest creative ideas.
Having the opportunity to speak with these high profile, prominent collegiate athleticfigures was amazingly influential. The advice they shared, the experience they offered, andsimply the time out of their unparalleled busy day was something I will never forget. Our next stop was the Cincinnati Reds baseball franchise. We met with the Executive Director of the Reds Hall of Fame, Rick Walls; the Vice President of Finance and the Chief Financial Officer, Doug Healy; the Vice President of Ticket Sales, John Davis; the PublicRelations manager, Michael Anderson; and, the Chief Operating Officer, Philip J. Castellini.
This visit embodies the “wow” factor of this entire trip in its rawest form. These individualsstressed the two segments of the business of sports; the business of the business and the businessof the team. They discussed how fan experience and revenue growth are imperative to running asuccessful organization. They also mentioned the importance of treating corporate sponsors ascustomers, not beneficiaries. A couple of my personal favorite take-aways from theconversations we had with these individuals was their advice to put the right people in the rightplaces with the right resources, and if it doesn’t create commerce or connection (the Reds’organization’s motto) then don’t do it! To attempt to summarize the things we learned from thisparticular visit would do an injustice to the full extent of what we learned there. So, I will leaveit to the reader to approach one of the IUSMA members who attended the trip to give you a morevivid and personal depiction of how genuinely awesome the Reds meeting was.
From the Great American Ballpark we went to Paul Brown stadium to hear from the Bengals. After a short Q&A with Andy Ware, the manager of the Bengals website and media,we then went on a tour of the facility. This was no ordinary tour, it was a VIP behind the scenestour! We got to go into the pressroom, the player’s lounge, the media box, the PLAYER’S LOCKER ROOM, and to cap it off, THE FIELD! Again, all I can say is, “wow!”
After the incredible visit with the Bengals, we retraced our steps to Great American Ballpark, where we were given media credentials to get an inside look of Fox Sports NetworkOhio’s game-day operations. IU alum Brian Hunterman, producer and director, gave us a grand Hoosier welcome by taking us inside Fox’s control trailer, where we captured how the audio,visual, coordination, and production of a game is executed. By the time we finished with Fox Sports Network, we were all exhausted, but we had a baseball game to catch!
That night, The Reds played the Brewers coming off a dramatic clinching of a post-season berth just three days prior. Our seats were spectacular, located in the third row in theoutfield (perfect for potential homerun territory). Just as our excitement all day with thedifferent organizations we met with never subsided, the game too added its own level of highthrills entertainment. Ending in the eleventh inning, the Reds found themselves in a one rundefeat to their worthy opponents. Despite the loss, our group had an incredible day. The entiretrip was surreal in a way, because we all have a desire to be doing what we did that day everyday, and to have the opportunity to live that dream is an incredible feeling that motivates you toreach it even more.
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