By: Neil Desmond
Cleveland rocks! (Ohioooooooo).
This past week, I was among six sports-management majors who traveled to Cleveland for the 2009 Sport Marketing Association Conference, hosted by Mount Union College in the downtown Renaissance Hotel.
Loras had two teams that competed in a student case-study competition, which involved a case study of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. One of the teams that competed for Loras placed second nationally in the competition. Congratulations to Kristine Mason, Chad Monahan, Jacob Hanselman and Brittany Malatt for once again putting Loras on the map.
There also were some “networking opportunities” at the conference. Who can say they got to talk to Annika Sorenson’s husband and get his business card? Mike McGee, a Mount Union alum, is married to the world-famous golfer and now is the brand manager for her product line, called Annika, which includes wine, perfume, clothes and golf courses.
Along with meeting Mike, I had the opportunity to talk with Brent Stehlik, the director of business development for the Dallas Cowboys, and Buffy Filippell, the president of Team Work online consulting, which is one of the biggest databases for job opportunities in sports. They all wanted to know where I go to school.
“I go to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa,” I’d say.
“Oh really, I never heard of that school,” they’d say.
“Let me tell you a little bit about it …” I’d say.
Great publicity for the college, right? Each student had to bear the cost, about $600 alone for the cost of registration, hotel and food. The Student Senate did not approve two applications seeking help with fundraising of this trip, citing a low budget. I guess Halloween dances to which 10 people show up to is a little more important in terms of financing.
Trips like these are what not only continue to keep the sports-management program growing, one of the most popular majors on campus, but it also gets the Loras name out there. Students and professionals from all over now know a little about Loras College, the only school west of the Mississippi that was in attendance at the conference.
Other universities see this great opportunity and embrace it, helping students bear the cost of a trip like this. I think it is time for the Student Senate and the college to take an active approach in helping students attend events like these. Oh, by the way, did I mention all of Loras also had a chance to meet some Loras alums who now live in Cleveland?
I’d like to thank Dr. Matt Garrett, coordinator of the sports-management program for making this trip happen. Thank you, Dr. Garrett, for taking the time out of your schedule to accompany us to Cleveland. Because of him, the sports-management program continues to compete as one of the best programs in the nation.
