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Video Introduction
Major: Sport Management
Job Title: Director of Premium and Season Ticket Sales
Company: Columbus Crew
Company Description: The Columbus Crew is a men’s soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Did you have any initial career goals when you entered Isenberg? Were there any key moments or influences (a guest speaker, course, or extracurricular) during your time at Isenberg that changed or confirmed your career goals?
Can’t say I had any distinct career goals as a freshman in Isenberg. However, once I saw that the Sports Management department selected 10 Top Seniors each year, I made it a goal of mine to be elected as one of those individuals upon my graduation. This led me to participating in class more, networking with professors, and getting as much experience with internships as possible.
Can you share a favorite work assignment that could help a student understand more about what you do?
Each year, we have a “Select a Seat” event for our new season ticket members to choose their seats. The goal of this event is to convert all clients with a deposit on file for the next year’s season tickets (in this case, the 2025 season). This event is fast-paced for our sales team, with three clients arriving every five minutes. This urgency is by design to create a sense of importance for people selecting their seats. By the end of this event, all clients will have selected their seats for the 2025 season, giving us a clear picture of how many season tickets we still need to sell to continue a season ticket sellout.
Now that you’re in this position, what aspects have surprised you that you didn’t anticipate before starting?
The various matches that pop up for us throughout the season due to the team’s success, such as Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup, and playoffs. This provides my staff and me with plenty of additional matches to sell on a quick turnaround throughout the year.
What inspires you about the work you are doing in your industry?
I’m proud to work for the original club in MLS and to help them achieve the success they’ve had on the ticketing front. Keeping this momentum going and finding ways to improve is what inspires me each day in my current role.
What are some daily challenges you experience in your role?
Overseeing a team of five individuals presents different, unique challenges. There are varying levels of experience and age on my team, so knowing how to train and hold each team member accountable is a daily challenge in my role. The fun part is that no two people are motivated or respond in the same exact way, so you have to be intentional with how you work with each individual.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently while a student at Isenberg?
I got great experience from internships and classes, but I did not get very involved with the student organizations outside of volunteering for a few events. I wish I had gotten more involved with a club like ADS while I was in Isenberg.
Networking is extremely important but can be intimidating to undergraduates. What tips do you have for getting started engaging with alum or upperclassmen?
Don’t be afraid! Especially with alumni. We are always willing to find time to connect with students who are still trying to navigate what they want their career to look like. One tip is to not lead with, “What internships do you currently have available?” That can certainly be a question during your networking call, but I recommend leading with, “I’d love to learn about your career path as I’m currently juggling a few different options and would enjoy hearing about your path to gain insight into what sales looks like in sports.” The biggest thing is to just take that first step and send that first connection or message—you never know what will come from that.
