Assist Banquet and Events Manager in setup, execution, and breakdown of events. Provide customer service to patrons at event. Handle any problems and situations that arise in managers absence.

On game days, I acted as liaison to former Cardinal players, who were brought in to sign autographs for fans. My responsibilities included meeting the players upon arrival, taking them to the autograph-signing location, showing them to their seats and then retrieving them for another session with the fans during halftime. Additionally, before each game I assisted other guest relations representatives in setting up party lofts and suites. I then helped take care of the guests in those party lofts and suites during the game. This was a service oriented position which required excellent interpersonal skills, tact and sometimes considerable ingenuity to provide what the guests requested. I also helped in the organization, setup, and execution of team events, which gave me the opportunity to interact directly with Cardinal fans. My success in this area resulted in my being selected to work at the NFL’s highest profile event of the year - Super Bowl XLII. During this game, I assisted in providing hospitality service to celebrity clients, who for personal and security reasons required that their attendance and location inside the stadium remain unknown.

This was a direct business-to-business sales position. I was given a specific area to market and sell products and services directly to businesses or persons at these locations. I sold things ranging from sporting event tickets and ticket packages to car care services. I developed relationships with local businesses as well as individuals who lived in these areas. I had to keep track of what accounts I was selling on any particular day as well as what accounts I would be selling in the near future. Every morning before going into the field I took part in training sessions to help in the marketing and sales of each account. I also participated in training others during these sessions. The purpose of these training sessions was to give a better understanding of the account, what it provided, and learn how to sell the products or services in the account.

During my junior and senior years at High Point University, I participated in the Sports Marketing Department’s internship program. I was given the rare opportunity in the first year of the internship to direct a large promotion for the basketball team, sponsored by the New Balance and Gatorade companies. The project involved individual segments during each home game culminating in the finale during the last home game of the season. To successfully accomplish the project I formed a team and delegated responsibilities. In addition to managing the season-long project, I also assisted with the other promotional events conducted by the Sports Marketing Department during the timeouts and halftimes of these games. Time management and thinking on one’s feet were critical during all of these events as we endeavored to do the promotions without interfering with the game.

As a Sports Marketing major at High Point University, I chose this internship to acquire valuable real world experience through actively promoting the Dynamo soccer club. One method was to directly market the team to local businesses through the solicitation of monetary contributions and by leaving promotional flyers with them advertising the team and its upcoming season, its Summer youth camps and Fall recreational leagues. We also conducted research on apartment complexes and housing developments targeting child-populated areas where advertising for the club’s camps and leagues would have the greatest impact. I was also directly involved in the promotional activities sponsored by the Dynamo. For example, I helped organize the summer camp program by examining all the applications and then using that information to establish groups based upon age, position and individual skill level for each week of the camp. I also assisted in marketing the Dynamo’s new Fall recreational soccer league for the greater Greensboro area by phoning local teams, managers, and coaches to gain their support for and participation in the program.