College of Business Roundup

Academic Roundup

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Grace Nower

Business administration major Nower is on the rise

In January, Grace Nower of Decatur, Indiana, passed the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) examination, a competency-based certification exam administered by SHRM. SHRM is considered the industry leader in HR professional development and is the world’s largest HR membership organization.

“I am so proud of myself for passing the exam,” Grace said. “I studied really hard for about six months, so it was so exciting to finally take and pass the exam.”

Grace, a business administration major concentrating in human resources, is currently completing an internship in the HR department at Fort Wayne’s Alconex Magnet Wire. She will graduate this summer, finishing her degree in just three years.

“In my time at Indiana Tech, I have had internship experience working for global corporations and family-run businesses, as well as working in unionized and non-unionized facilities,” Grace said. “These internships have provided me with experience that will help me further my career.”

PHOTOS: Indiana Tech sport management majors, P. Tyler Sinclair

(seen with headset) and CJ Hallam, perform Colony Crew duties during a 2022 Fort Wayne Mad Ants basketball game.

Sport management students take the ant by the antennae to gain real-work experience

Fort Wayne is 1,811 miles away from Calgary, Alberta, the hometown of Indiana Tech student P. Tyler Sinclair, so how is it that the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the G League developmental team for the National Basketball Association’s Indiana Pacers, has become one of his favorite teams?

Let’s connect the dots, shall we?

↘ Tyler is a pursuing a business administration degree concentrating in sport management with a goal of one day working in the NBA.

↘ In October 2021, Indiana Tech entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Mad Ants that created the Colony

Crew—a team comprised of sport management students that supports the Mad Ants’ game day operations while gaining relevant, hands-on learning experience in the sports industry.

↘ When these positions became available, Tyler—along with fellow Warriors CJ Hallam, Daunte O’Banion, Javon

Sanders and Michael Warner—jumped at the chance to reinforce their sport management coursework.

Members of the Colony Crew have a few assignments during each home game, like helping with in-game promotions and sponsored activities, finding fans to participate as contestants, greeting fans at the information tent and handing out group items.

“This experience with the Mad Ants has been simply incredible. I have learned so much about how game day operations work for professional sporting events,” said Tyler, who will graduate in May 2023. “Getting an opportunity to make connections with so many great people that have affiliation with the NBA through the G League has been my dream ever since I was a freshman at Indiana Tech and was also a big reason why I chose to become a Warrior.”

One could say Tyler has taken the ant by the antennae, if you will, in making the most of this opportunity. Allie Lane, director of business operations for the Mad Ants and an Indiana Tech alum, said that Tyler has become a key player on game nights. He comes in early to help set up all operations equipment, and he even wears a headset to listen in to all the chatter that goes on between the operations manager, the scorer’s table and the camera operators. “This partnership with “If there were an instance where our game operations manager was Indiana Tech and having out for a game, we’re confident that the Colony Crew in place Tyler has the skills and know-how to fill in for us,” she said. “Overall, makes a big difference this partnership with Indiana Tech, in the overall game and having the Colony Crew in place, experience...”makes a big difference in the overall game experience we’re able to provide ALLIE LANE, MAD ANTS DIRECTOR for fans attending our games.” OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND 2014 “I couldn’t be more pleased with INDIANA TECH GRADUATE these sport management students who rose to the challenge to be a part of the Colony Crew this season,” said professor Craig Dyer, sport management program lead. “We look forward to continuing a partnership with the Mad Ants to give our students valuable opportunities that will jump-start their career in sports.”

Assistant professor of sport management Shane Fudge added, “This was a great opportunity for our students to see a successful graduate of the sport management program navigate the sports industry and learn how to network with them. Having an alum associated with this partnership makes us all extremely proud.”