FSU Department of Sport Management Newsletter - Fall 2021

FALL 2021 NEWSLETTER

F L O R I D A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

M A N AG E M E N T

CONTENTS SMSA Networking Trip to Jacksonville ...................................................... 4 Dr. Pappas’s New Book: Masters of the Game .................................... 5 The Heartbeat of USA Volleyball: Dr. Cecile Reynaud ................... 6 Alumni-Student Mentoring Program ............................................................ 7 FSU/Lions United Partnership .......................................................................... 8 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Mark DiDonato ......................................................... 9 Alumni Spotlight: Wilma Proctor ..................................................................... 10 Alumni Spotlight: Ally Shortt ............................................................................... 11 Alumni Spotlights: Shelby and Josh Petersen ............................................ 12

PROGRAM NEWS SMSA NETWORKING TRIP TO JACKSONVILLE

By Rami El Shammas

to career paths in the sports industry while emphasizing the importance of adaptability, flexibility, and dedication. Students were inspired by the insightful words of the various executives, who encouraged students to keep gaining experience at Florida State, and to extend that experience to other organizations in the sports world. Students were able to exchange contact information with the executives, highlighting the importance of networking by presenting students an extraordinary opportunity to do so.

On September 26, 2021, our Sport Management Student Association delegation of 90 highly motivated students traveled to Jacksonville for a greatly anticipated networking opportunity with the Jacksonville Jaguars organization.

Upon arrival to Jacksonville, the SMSA team was introduced to experts in the fields of marketing, sales, finance, and analytics. Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to meet with Jaguars executives, including: Megha Parekh, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer; Aneisha Johnson, Director of Member Experience & Retention; Shawn Dubrow, Senior Manager of Season and Group Sales; Daniel Quintanilla, Manager of Inside Sales; Amit Patel, Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis; Bryan Kupfer, Ticket Operations Specialist; Victor Li, Quantitative Research Manager; Anne Boccuzzi, Vice President of Partnership Activations; Shanta Washington, Director of Corporate Partnerships; and Noel Kreger, Marketing Manager.

Following a quick introduction by the Jaguars team, students were distributed into break-out rooms, each led by a Jaguars executive. Students had ample time to ask questions regarding internship opportunities, job descriptions and deliverables, and general questions about the Jaguars’ hiring process. These meetings were exceptionally interactive, where the Jaguars’ representatives gave students insights relating

Next on the schedule was the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. the Arizona Cardinals game at TIAA Bank Field Stadium. After a slow start, the Jaguars were revitalized by Jamal Agnew’s historic 109-yard return for a Jaguars touchdown. The game had a tightly contested second half and ended with a 31-19 win for the Cardinals. After meeting with the Jaguars’ representatives, students described how fascinating it was to see the efforts of these executives from various departments come together to make the event so successful.

Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Jason Pappas, Dr. Joshua Newman, Ms. Kennedy Knisley, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the trip to Jacksonville was very well organized and gave students further insight into the sport management field and the opportunity to network with the Jacksonville Jaguars executives.

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PROGRAM NEWS DR. PAPPAS’S NEW BOOK: MASTERS OF THE GAME

By David Littlejohn Alan Zucker

Masters of the Game, a book co-authored by Dr. Jason Pappas and Vratik Sharma, aims to educate young professionals about the career paths of some of the most influential leaders in sport.

Pappas’ professional journey began with a wealth of experience working in collegiate athletics. With over 20 years of experience, Pappas has played an integral part in some of the most well-known athletic departments in collegiate sports. Whether it was under the leadership of Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier at the University of South Carolina, Pete Carroll at the University of Southern California, or Bobby Bowden at Florida State University, Pappas has learned what it takes to be a leader in the industry today and shares that with his students.

Vratik Sharma was a graduate student in Pappas’ infamous professional development class eight years ago when he approached Pappas with the idea to write a book highlighting the career path of several prominent industry professionals. Today, Sharma operates as a senior account manager at Nielsen Sports.

The goal to inspire the next generation of leaders in the sport industry prevails as the primary reason behind authoring this book. In Pappas’ own words, Masters of the Game “is meant to highlight the chronicles of inspirational leaders in the sport industry who continue to influence their games and leave lasting impacts.” And there is no one better to spark inspiration than Pappas.

“The book is designed for students to understand the opportunities that are out there for them in sport from a diversity perspective, not just as it relates to gender and ethnicity.”

Sharma says that “the objective of writing this book was to give the reader an insider’s view of the inner workings of the business, and the key skill sets and characteristics required to succeed in our ever-competitive industry. In meeting with this diverse pool of executives, we were able to highlight their personal and professional stories, thereby sharing invaluable business and life lessons that apply to every facet of one’s life.” Masters of the Game gives readers insights from industry executives that will help them in the next stages of their careers and in life.

Masters of the Game features industry leaders such as Brandon Schneider (CEO of the Golden State Warriors), Kim Davis (Senior Executive Vice President of the NHL), Tamika Catchings (GM of Indiana Fever), Tyron Brooks (Senior Director of the MLB), and Alan Zucker (Sports Agent at Excel Sports). The common themes identified by each of the professionals interviewed can be perfectly summarized in this quote by Vince Lombardi: “The difference between a successful person and others is not the lack of strength or knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” These leaders also highlight the importance of networking, and how to use that to your advantage when looking to grow in the sport industry. As most leaders will say, it’s about putting in the work no matter who is looking, and always giving 100 percent.

A chapter to be highlighted introduces Brandon Beane, the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills. He was quoted saying, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve things that (may) seem out of reach…let your actions decide what you will accomplish.” This quote speaks to the fact that hard work always prevails in this industry and to always believe in yourself no matter what, both of which were common themes throughout the book. The book is written in a way in which it feels like a podcast, in the sense that you get to know the professional journey of each speaker while learning more about the industry and various career paths.

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PROGRAM NEWS THE HEARTBEAT OF USA VOLLEYBALL: DR. CECILE REYNAUD

By Taryn Knuth

and USA Volleyball Halls of Fame. Beyond her career at Florida State, Reynaud served a variety of instrumental roles with the USA Volleyball organization. Her most recent position was her election as Chair of USA Volleyball’s Board of Directors in 2019.

“I like serving on boards because that’s where you really can make a difference,” said Reynaud. And she has profoundly made a difference, despite the adversity the Board had faced with canceling the 2020 Tokyo Games and the calls to action surrounding social issues across the country. Now, the Board’s main responsibility is to set the strategic plan for the organization and of course, a central mission to remain highly competitive internationally. That strategic plan provides the resources needed for the men’s and women’s indoor, sitting, and beach teams to flourish on a competitive level. Undoubtedly, the American teams thrived as the women’s beach, women’s indoor, and women’s sitting teams all took home the gold medal in Tokyo this past summer.

Cecile Reynaud

Tully Gym is a historic building on Florida State’s campus and is the home of our Sport Management program. It also serves as the host of Florida State’s long-established women’s indoor volleyball program, which has boded itself as a powerful force in the ACC. Eleven straight NCAA tournament berths, multiple Elite Eight appearances, and a trip to the Final Four are all included on the long list of accomplishments the volleyball program has curated. The highly regarded reputation of Seminole volleyball is a testament to the effort and success of every woman that has come before, one of those being Dr. Cecile Reynaud.

Reynaud served the longest coaching tenure in Florida State volleyball history, maintaining the role of head coach from 1976-2001. Throughout her 26 years, Dr. Reynaud garnered over 600 wins and six conference championships, earning her place in the Florida State Athletics, American Volleyball Coaches Association,

The three gold medals made waves as far as the publicity and the exposure these groups of women had on an international stage. This has a great impact on young women and grows the sport of volleyball on all levels. The success of so many women in volleyball is a testament to Reynaud’s work and her dedication to give back to the sport of volleyball.

Since then, Reynaud finished her Chair term in June of 2021 and retired from the Board. She remains involved on Florida State’s campus through teaching Sport Management courses and doing the color analysis for Florida State volleyball games. Her passion and commitment to the sport of volleyball and as an educator is evident as she’s made a lasting impact on every organization she has been a part of. For that, we are lucky to have Dr. Cecile Reynaud as a Seminole.

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PROGRAM NEWS ALUMNI-STUDENT MENTORING PROGRAM

By Courtney Beck

own personal experiences and a conversation with a former professor can lead to the development of something great for helping others.

“The idea for the mentoring program stemmed from a conversation I had with Dr. Flanagan about ways to meaningfully connect Sport Management alumni with the program. This provides a feasible way for alumni to maintain a connection with the department that simultaneously provides current students introductions to individuals who have been in their shoes.”

Erin Verity

The Department of Sport Management at Florida State University will be introducing an alumni-student mentoring program to assist students as they navigate through their journey in sport.

The impact of mentorship can be profound for a student at any level of their academic or professional career. Erin Verity, Associate Director of Admissions at FSU and current Ed.D. student, found the value of alumni-mentoring through Florida State University’s Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies (ISLT) Mentoring Program.

Erin began her academic career in Sport Management at FSU, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Communication/Sport Management and a master’s degree in Sport Management in 2014. Erin has always stayed close to her roots in sport management throughout her professional career and continues to work with athletics through college admissions. Erin explained, “I never stopped working with athletics or the side of sport that I cared about. But now, I have a broader reach of this institution in general.”

In graduate school, Erin was exposed to the widespread opportunities sport presents, but she was still unsure where these various paths could truly take her. “As you get into things in grad school, you start learning about recreational sports, nonprofits, all sorts of different leagues, and marketing. I wish I had known a little more early on about the different ways you can have a career in these areas.” It became evident that sometimes your

Erin’s thoughts on the importance of mentorship for students begins with building relationships. “It’s networking and so much of this industry comes down to it. Having a connection with someone who is more established in the industry you are interested in is important, because you then know who they know.” The significance of a mentorship program does not stop at networking but can also provide the student with a sense of guidance and direction. Mentors can identify the student’s strengths and offer them insight into how the student can then capitalize on these strengths within the sport industry. Erin explained, “Especially in sport, it is an industry that really breeds and fosters mentorship more than some of the others.”

The Alumni-Student Mentoring Program will allow for students to be paired with a mentor who shares a similar interest within sport and can provide a valuable insight.

The potential to see networking opportunities could be expanded through this program by providing more access to those students who may not have the means to volunteer or intern during various stages of their academic career.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor for a student, please be on the lookout for an alumni interest survey coming your way very soon.

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PROGRAM NEWS FSU/LIONS UNITED PARTNERSHIP

By Matthew Cole Basnight

United, Cain partnered with Florida State students, providing the opportunity to work with students with disabilities. Our partnership is coordinated and led

by Dr. Katie Flanagan, who was referred to Cain after working with Scott Evans. After previously working with Cain at Raa Middle school, even last year during the pandemic through virtual gym sessions, we are looking forward to working closely with Lions United.

Volunteering is the act of giving back to a community through time, effort, and service for the greater good. Our program welcomes the opportunity for students to serve others in the community. We are excited to partner with Leon High School’s Lions United program, a program designed to allow Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students to have experiences that will prepare them for life outside of school.

The Lions United program was started by Scott Evans in 2008, with the goal of allowing general education students to work with ESE students individually and foster relationships through sport. The program aims to develop and cultivate a community and family-like environment at Leon High School by participation in unified, inclusive sports. Sporting activities offered by the program vary by season, with flag football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and soccer and track and field in the spring. Lions United provides opportunities for teams to play at Leon, and to compete at the state and national levels. Students volunteer in PE classes, as well as with the Special Olympics sports that take place on Fridays.

The Lions United program was extended to Raa Middle School, named Rams United, where Emily Cain organized activities for the students. With Rams

Cain is now an ESE teacher at Leon High School and works with the Lions United program. When asked about the Florida State students who volunteer, Cain said they are “really great at engaging and interacting with the students” and some have even come back to volunteer their time outside of class required hours. FSU students participate in activities with the ESE students, build relationships with the students, and work with the general education partners to provide an inclusive experience through unified sports.

Great volunteeres are loving and caring with the students, easy going and flexible, respectful, responsible, and present with the kids. Sport Management students embody what it means to be a great volunteer, offering their time in exchange for lifelong experiences and memories that they will share with the ESE students they meet. Volunteers are present and involved while sharing the world of sport with others. While many become involved as a part of their service-learning hours, students who are looking to get involved with the program may reach out to Leon High School or Dr. Flanagan for more information.

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT DR. MARK DIDONATO

By Ryan Poche

Behind every consistently great academic program is a dedicated advisor who commits themselves to helping students through their academic journeys. For our program, that person is Dr. Mark DiDonato.

Dr. DiDonato began his collegiate academic journey at Towson University, a school in Maryland with around half the student population of Florida State.

There, he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while gaining valuable experience in event operations and management. After leaving Towson, Dr. DiDonato went on to further his education, earning his Ph.D. from Florida State in 2016. For the next four years, he taught a wide variety of sport management focused classes at McKendree University.

The importance of networking is often a large focus in our program, and Dr. DiDonato’s path from student to working the Super Bowl highlights this.

Near the end of his time at Towson, Dr. DiDonato was hired by Capstone Property Management after making a connection within the Towson Program.

Through Capstone, he was connected to S.A.F.E Management, the security detail for the Super Bowl.

Dr. DiDonato was a part of the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa, and the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas. Through tasks such as overseeing a gate that admitted over 30,000 people into the stadium, putting on an ESPN players party, and setting up media events, Dr. DiDonato was able to hone his managerial skills and develop through valuable professional experience.

After his time away, Dr. DiDonato decided it was time to come home to FSU. He credits the great faculty and organizational culture as a major pull back Tallahassee, along with the desire to better the academic

lives of our students and his fond memories of university SMSA trips. In addition, his wife working for FSU’s Campus Rec completed the perfect storm of reasons to return, and Dr. DiDonato rejoined our department this past summer.

Despite just returning to the university, Dr. DiDonato has taken multiple roles within the department, all of which are tailored towards our students. His main task is serving as the academic advisor to the hundreds of undergraduate students we have in our program. This is an incredibly demanding role, as his daily duties include helping students build their schedules, providing information about the benefits of the Combined Pathway Program, creating guides to show students which courses are available, and working with our students in their pursuit of individual future goals. In addition, Dr. DiDonato teaches two courses, HRM in Sport and Facility/Event Management, in which he connects his past experiences working in security and management to the curriculum to prepare students for the future. He also stresses to his students the importance of experience, internships, and part time jobs as ways to get ahead in the increasingly competitive job market.

When looking towards the future, Dr. DiDonato has two distinct aims. First, he wants to develop the student-alumni connection within the program. He believes that the experiences and networking opportunities of former students could be of great use to our current students. Additionally, he hopes to improve professionally and to strengthen the program as a whole. With Dr. DiDonato back at Florida State, one thing is for certain – this program will only continue to grow.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT WILMA PROCTOR (PH.D. ‘18)

By Monyae Williamson-Gourley

Dr. Wilma Proctor has always been captivated by sport and its inner workings: mentorship and instruction; the advancement of youth through sport participation in developing countries; and the social, economic, and political barriers that limit participation and entry into the field. The Florida State University alumna lists quite an impressive resume as the Lifetime Sports Area Coordinator at the United States Air Force Academy (2018 - present), the Director of Sports and Wellness in Anguilla (2008 - 2013), and a track and field coach at the youth, collegiate, and international levels (1999 - 2018). She is also a typical mom, beaming with pride as she discusses her daughters, Shara and Shinelle, both World Athletics Track & Field Championship qualifiers. Shara is a two-time Olympian, World silver medalist, and the British outdoor national record holder.

Shinelle is an accomplished sprinter and jumper, while she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in human resources. Proctor coached both until the start of their collegiate journeys. While it was the start of a blossoming career, her interest in the sport began with the coaching of her eldest daughter.

“When I began coaching [Shara], I did not have the expertise,” she said. “I just had basic fundamental knowledge, acquired through my participation in sports, and I realized that I had to become more knowledgeable. I had to be retrained, and so I began my journey in academic studies in the field of sport and coaching to acquire the knowledge necessary to coach her and other athletes.”

answer is quite simple - an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

“I always was passionate about sports, but there were no opportunities on a small island to have a career or even go beyond just playing recreational sports. [Agriculture, gardening] were not areas that I was passionate about; they were just opportunities and positions that were available. I took them until I could go off, study, and pursue my passion.”

Proctor completed her doctoral studies in 2018 with an emphasis in gender equity and equality in sports. “I entered the Sport Management Ph.D. program for the same reason that made me want to achieve the highest level in coaching. It’s the same drive that motivated me, a combination of me wanting to pursue the highest level that there is and also accumulating information, knowledge, having as much information that I can in order for me to be able to pursue areas within the sport area.”

Proctor is currently employed by the U.S. Air Force Academy, where her responsibilities include managing and instructing all facets of the intercollegiate Lifetime Sports Area program. The institution is a suitable environment for someone admittedly “fascinated by the military.” She enjoys the structure, engaging with cadets -- more specifically, being a part of their development from freshmen to graduating officers -- and of course, imparting wisdom through sport.

But how does a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and an associate degree in animal husbandry transition into a 20-year career in sport? The 9

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT ALLY SHORTT (B.S. ‘16, M.S. ‘18)

By Amanda Cover

After selecting Florida State University for its location in the capital city with political science intentions, twotime alumna Ally Shortt quickly realized the possibilities available to her in the Department of Sport Management. Soon after she arrived on campus, a friend encouraged Ally to attend a Sport Management Student Association (SMSA) meeting, which ignited a new passion.

She went on to serve as Secretary on the SMSA Executive Board before graduating in 2016 with bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sport Management. Ally returned to the Executive Board as the Graduate Student Liaison prior to graduating in 2018 with her master’s in Sport Management.

While at FSU, Ally learned to embrace any opportunities to develop new skills. She completed internships with the ticket office, Seminole Boosters, and Coaches Club, worked for Student Business Services, and taught in the Lifetime Activities Program. These positions were tremendously helpful in her growth. As she recounted, “I felt like I had some of those first-time job issues out of the way because it was so realistic.”

Upon graduation with her master’s degree, Ally earned a one-year internship at the University of Tennessee as a development assistant with the Tennessee Fund, the development office of the athletic department. As this position was ending, a job opened as a Gift Records Specialist, and Ally jumped at the opportunity. This forced her to learn a whole new job, but her coworkers in the office supported her through the transition. One of Ally’s favorite parts of her job is learning something new

every day, which allowed her to build on her existing knowledge and grow into her new role.

Recently, Ally assumed a new title as Assistant Director of Internal Operations. For the Tennessee Fund, Ally inputs donor gifts into the management system, ensures that the donors get recognized, and responds to any questions about the system.

This position utilizes many of the skills Ally learned in the FSU ticket office. She explained, “Having the experience from before made it easier to know I could talk to someone and gave me the confidence to know that I can work through any problems that come.” Serving as the main point of contact in the Tennessee Fund office, fielding questions can be challenging; but Ally learned how to balance all the requests. “The hardest thing is making people understand the priority of certain situations. I am trying to put more quality in the work and set realistic expectations for the timeline.”

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged many in the sport industry, and through this, Ally expressed that the most important lessons she learned through working in sports is to stay patient and stay connected. Her recent promotion was delayed due to the pandemic, but she remembered to “enjoy the moment you have and the work you’re doing at the present.” Ally advises future sport managers to be ready to work hard and be willing to move anywhere. Because the sport industry holds time-consuming jobs, it is vital that you enjoy your work. The experiences Ally had at FSU taught her to be open to change and prepared her for the many responsibilities she assumes at the University of Tennessee.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT THE POWER OF A CONNECTION: ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS OF SHELBY AND JOSH PETERSEN

By Ellen Matthews

It is often heard in the sport industry that networking is one of the most important parts of making a career. Sometimes it is about who you know, not always what you know, and Shelby and Josh Petersen are prime examples of that.

Shelby, originally from South Florida, began her journey in Tallahassee, studying at Tallahassee Community College. During her time at TCC, she took a class that required community service hours. She found a job assisting in the equipment room for the men’s and women’s track and field programs. This position led to her graduate assistantship with the women’s basketball team, and a once-in-a-lifetime internship at Nike. She was under the leadership of John Lata, John Neiser, Lynn Merritt, and Monk Bonasorte throughout her tenure at Florida State.

Josh, a Texas native, grew up around the game of basketball. Lance White, whom Josh met early on in his basketball career, quickly became a mentor to him. White was an assistant under the Texas Tech Women’s Basketball head coach, Marsha Sharp, and he later moved to Tallahassee to coach at FSU. Shortly after, Josh came to study at FSU while he engaged in the basketball program and worked as a graduate assistant during his studies.

as a family, Josh wanted to make sure Shelby would have a stable position in the small town of Ashville, NC. He reached out to his fellow coaches, who in turn reached out to their contacts and referred Shelby to a job at an accounting firm in the area. Josh was successful in Ashville, winning two championships and playing for a third all by his fourth year of coaching. This success caught the attention of old friend, Lance White, who had recently accepted his current position as the head women’s basketball coach at Pittsburgh. As Josh puts it, “Lance called me on a Monday, offered me the job, and I was up there on Tuesday.”

Once in Pennsylvania, Shelby applied to a marketing position with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shelby connected with a fellow FSU graduate, Ryan Pensy, who was connected with the Steelers. Ultimately, Shelby was hired in an administrative marketing position.

She has since moved to a coordinating role, having her hand in multiple different departments throughout the organization.

Shelby emphasized the importance of “playing the long game” and not rushing through those all-important entry level jobs. “Your entry level job is your most important because it sets up the steppingstones for the rest of your career. Be where you’re at and grow where you’re planted because loyalty and trustworthiness are so important in this industry.”

Josh and Shelby met while working together for the basketball team at FSU. The two hit it off quickly, dating on and off throughout their time in school. By the end of their time at Florida State, Josh proposed and was offered a coaching job at the University of North Carolina – Ashville. He accepted the position, and the two moved to North Carolina. Shelby took a hiatus from sports as Josh pursued his dreams of coaching. When the couple made their first big move 11

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