Master’s Degree: Master of Human Kinetics, Sport Management (Windsor ’14)
“My biggest recommendation for students wanting to start a career in professional sports would be to volunteer with as many sports teams, events and organizations in your targeted discipline as is humanly possible. The biggest factor I can attribute to my own career path and success is networking and connecting with as many people working within the professional hockey industry as I could. Being from Windsor, students in the HK program are extremely lucky to be located so close to the professional sporting teams within the Detroit area and to also have the opportunity to volunteer with a number of local organizations within the city of Windsor itself (Windsor Spitfires, Windsor Express, Windsor Clippers, Windsor TFC, Lancers Varsity Athletics, etc.). Don’t be shy, get out there and connect with people in the industry so that they know your name and who you are when you start applying to jobs post-graduation. Connections, connections, connections!”
“The most practical skills I gained from the MHK program can be attributed to both the Strategic Planning of Sport Events and Sport Communication courses. Looking back now I feel as though that these courses best prepared me to understand just how much time, effort and planning goes into the successful execution of an event and/or promotion; while also being able to effectively communicate and interact in-person, over the phone or in an email with my clients, sponsors and fans which is extremely important to the success of both our organization and me personally in my current role. Outside of the classroom I was able to apply and work on these skills in a more practical setting by volunteering to organize and plan both the Inside the World of Sport Management Speaker Series and the University of Windsor Sports Conference, as well as working as a Brand Ambassador for MLSE through the Toronto FC Dream Job Contest.”
“Moving forward I have three specific goals that I’m striving for in my career: (1) Work in a Hockey Operations related role working more directly with the Flames players, staff and management as either the team’s Director of Communications or Director of Hockey Operations/Team Services Manager; (2) Attain an Executive MBA degree and/or related studies in order to better prepare myself for a role in management; and, (3) Become the CEO/President and/or COO for Calgary Sports & Entertainment.”