Written by Kelley Johnson '17
I will always remember the phone call I received from Jim Kahler informing me that I had been accepted into Ohio University’s MBA/MSA program. What I had not anticipated during our call was the offer to complete a fellowship with him in the Center for Sports Administration prior to beginning my courses for the dual-degree. Little did I know my fellowship would be one of the most practical and beneficial experiences I’ve had thus far in my young career.
Thinking back to August, I still remember the first day of my fellowship. As I walked into Copeland Hall, out came Jim and Teresa (Tedrow) who were on their way to talk with the new class of 2016. Naturally, I switched directions and headed with them.
From there, I jumped into my duties as the Manager of Engagement for the Center, which included acting as the liaison for students, staff, faculty, and alumni of the Sports Administration Program, planning events for the Center, and assisting Jim with various Center projects. While these areas outline my general day-to-day responsibilities, the broad nature of these tasks allowed me to get involved with many initiatives that made my time in the Center nothing shy of exciting.
On campus, one of my first big projects was to assist with our undergraduate student focused event, the Darren Butler Sports Business Forum (SBF). Throughout the planning stages I corresponded with recruiters from professional sports teams and organizations to attend our Forum in hopes that they would find top talent. During the fall I also had the privilege of helping sell Bobcat Blackout shirts for our Sports Ad program with fellow “Fellow” Courtney Ksiazek. (We were rather thrilled that we sold 250 shirts among the two of us!)
Come springtime, I was able to play a significant role in our program’s recruitment efforts and interview weekend, our Green Fever fundraising initiative, and our 44th Symposium. All of these events struck a cord with me as I saw the impact they have on our program. I truly enjoyed contributing to these annual events that help make our program so special, and I am thankful these initiatives allowed me to enhance my communication, selling, and event-planning skills.
In between bigger events, I would find myself assisting Jim with Research projects, such as in his Revenue Generation course, planning receptions for our alums and students throughout the states, and assisting individuals who would stop by the Center. Let me tell you… figuring out things in the office would have been much harder had it not been for Teresa. She was my go-to for all things “center-related,” and for those that know her, she was (and is) someone you want to be around. Simply put, Teresa rocks.
In addition to my experiences in the Center, there was an open door for me to participate in a number of professional development opportunities outside of Athens such as attending the NACWAA (National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators) Convention, the 2015 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, and the National Sports Forum.
Jim also emphasized the importance of me gaining hands-on industry experience, so through our alumni network, I was fortunate enough to shadow the Fan Experience department at Ohio State Football games, to work as a Marketing and Sales intern for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and to intern for the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships. These events were extremely insightful and fun learning experiences, and they would not have been possible without alums Diana Sabau, Tony Petrello, and Bronwyn Greer. Working these events exposed me to various avenues in sport that I had not yet considered as career options, but they may be areas that I want to dabble in after my time is done at Ohio University
In all, my fellowship reminded me that it is the people you meet and connect with that make life special. I can honestly say that the individuals I met this year, whether on campus or off, played integral roles in my growth both personally and professionally. I also know that working alongside Jim enhanced my knowledge of the sports industry and opened my eyes to the many occupational opportunities in athletics.
I am grateful for the mentorship I received from him, Teresa, our alumni, and other COB faculty and staff who helped make this past year an exceptional one. They helped me build a solid foundation for entering this program, and I could not have imagined a better fellowship. For that, I say “Thank you.”
My time as a fellow in Athens was rewarding and being on-campus allowed me to make lasting friendships with those who’ve come before me in the program—especially those from the classes of 2015 and 2016. As I dive into year one of my curriculum, I am looking forward to continuously learning and creating memories with my own MBA and MSA classmates!
You can contact Kelley on Twitter and/or by email.
Class of 2016 Fellowship Summmaries
Courtney Ksiazek, Ohio University PMSA Program Fellow
