Kate Boyer ('10) was awarded a non-traditional graduate assistantship (GA) with Brand Marketing Works. This virtual GA was generously provided by a member of the OHIO SAFM alumni family, Mike Levine ('09).
There are common ways to give back to Ohio University’s Center of Sports Administration and then there are uncommon ways. This year, Brand Marketing Works (BMW) decided to do something different. The Class of 2009 left a gift of $16,000 in the form of two full graduate assistantships for two Class of 2010 members. Mike Levine ('09), following in his fellow classmates footsteps, has too, offered a full graduate assistantship (GA) to a current OHIO MBA/MSA student, Kate Boyer ('10).
Levine is the owner of BMW, a low profile promotional products company for high profile clients. Having seen the success of the alumni of the MSA program, Levine spent the last year in Athens earning his Masters while simultaneously running his business.
The biggest difference of BMW’s GA position from the other traditional positions is the fact that BMW is not located in Athens, Ohio. Instead, they continue to run operations from their head office in Las Vegas, Nevada while having Boyer doing work remotely from OHIO’s campus. Boyer will be in charge of research for new prospects and compiling information to help build relationships with these new partners. BMW strives to build relationships instead of customers to ensure a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership. Brand Marketing Works currently works with well known brands such as Patron Tequila and Verizon Wireless.
Boyer wants to work in international events once she graduates and is excited to have this opportunity to work with Levine and BMW. “One of the biggest things we learn in this program is networking. I am thrilled to work for a company that has similar beliefs about the power of building relationships,” Boyer said.
She hopes to set a positive example for other companies and alumni to offer a similar deal in years to come. “BMW is investing in me and helping fund my graduate assistantship. I want to give back to them as much as they have helped me. I am very grateful,” Boyer said.
Some of the benefits Boyer is looking forward to is not having to be set in a weekly office schedule, that she is flexible to work whenever she has free time, while still maintaining her required 20 hours per week. This flexibility enables her to schedule meetings, take a variety of classes, and participate in volunteering and working opportunities outside of the curriculum, such as attending the TEAMS conference and the New York City Marathon.
Not being able to meet regularly in person, may pose some challenges, but both Levine and Boyer are prepared to work through them and make this “virtual” GA idea a success. Levine and Boyer are in constant communication through phone calls, text messages, and e-mails in order to compensate for not being in the same physical location.
“Throughout the year, the MSA students work with multiple people and organizations for independent study, revenue generation, and special problems projects, so why couldn’t a GA work?” Levine said.
“We are hoping this type of GA will spark other alumni to give back in the same manner. Not only do we get to give back to the family we love so dearly, but also provide an opportunity and experience to someone to get their tuition covered and learn a different type of business in the sport industry," Levine said.
The SAFM Annual Fund received a record amount of donations this past year, in large part due to participation in the Honor Roll. This new giving system allows donations to be pledged not only for the current year, but also in the years to come. This past year, 111 dedicated alumni participated. For more information or to sign up for the Honor Roll, please contact Taylor Wood, Graduate Assistant for Development, at [email protected] or (740) 593-4666.
