By: Jeff Webster ('12)
With the conclusion of our MBA this past June came my highly anticipated return to the WEST COAST! As much as I loved last year’s grueling, humid, water-less summer in Athens; I was pretty excited to get back home to the Pacific Northwest and eventually begin my internship with Connexions Sports and Entertainment in southern California.
After spending my first month working remotely from Seattle, I finally began my trek down to San Diego. I arrived just in time to spend the Fourth of July weekend with some friends watching fireworks over the Pacific.
Though Connexions is primarily an action/motorsports agency, the company has recently decided to develop an NFL agency practice to supplement growth. My task from day one has been to help build a model/plan for us to succeed in this vertical. With over 800 agents licensed by the NFLPA, it quickly became apparent that we had our work cut out for us.
Beyond developing an in-depth guide to being a profitable NFL agency, I have also worked tirelessly to help our first client realize his dream of signing with an NFL franchise. It’s difficult to describe how exciting it has been to be so immersed in the NFL agency landscape during such a chaotic time in the league’s history.
While most of my internship responsibilities have revolved around the NFL, I have also been able to sink my teeth into one of my other passions: action sports. I was privileged enough to attend X Games 17 at the end of July in Los Angeles along with Matt DeLawder ('11) and the rest of our team in support of our athletes Brian Deegan and Jackson Strong.
When it was all said and done, Connexions athletes brought home 2 gold medals, and I had one of the best experiences of my life. Two weeks later, I’m still smiling.
As the summer wraps up, I will continue to pound the pavement in search of a roster spot for our client while offering support in any other area I can. While I’m not looking forward to parting ways with Connexions, a trip to visit classmate Mark Gildersleeve ('12) in Vegas followed by JT Musso’s ('12) wedding in Colorado should be just what I need to get excited for my return to Athens!
