Program Continues to Solidify Its Presence in the Sport Industry

After accepting a paid internship with the University of Alabama Athletic Department last month, Allison Bradley was offered a full time opportunity with Vanderbilt University that she simply could not refuse. Bradley, MTSM 2010, has accepted a position with the Commodores as an Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing.

The full-time position is responsible in assisting with revenue generation and in-venue marketing and promotions for Vanderbilt Athletics. It includes the creation of comprehensive marketing and advertising plans, developing and implementing crowd interactive promotions, and communicating with group and corporate sales offices to maximize revenue and improving game environment.

"When students become intentional about their success it is apparent to those who they work with and through," said Dr. Colby Jubenville. "Allison became intentional when she entered the program and has never looked back. Success did not find her - she sought it out and made it her own." 

Steven Schoenhut, MTSM 2008, has accepted a position with the University of Central Arkansas Athletic Department. Schoenhut will be in charge of all ticket operations and will also be involved with marketing.

"I am definitely humbled and honored to have this opportunity to join an organization at the start of their ascendancy into Division I athletics," said Schoenhut. "The success they've had and the effort they've made in the last few years with renovations and hirings shows their dedication to athletics and the university. I look forward to the opportunity to do my part to drive sales, interact with student athletes and increase the presence of UCA in the community."

He will leave the University of Florida after serving as a customer service representative with the University Athletic Association. In his previous role, Schoenhut worked with both the Student and Athletic Ticket Offices handling daily and game day customer service and sales role for all ticketed sports.

Accepts Position as Inside Sales Rep

The Nashville Predators have hired Megan Carter, MTSM 2010, as the Inside Sales Representative in ticketing. Carter will be responsible for generating sales revenue through full, partial, mini-game ticket plans and group sales to businesses and individual customers.

Carter will begin her full-time duties with the Predators on August 4 and will report directly to Brad Gillispie, the Inside Sales Manager.

"Megan represents the speed and integration that we expect now from those students who become vested partners. She will do well because she became intentional about her own success. This is the beginning of a great journey for Megan."

Former MTSU Quarterback Now Calling Signals in Athletic Department 

When Clint Marks arrived on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University eight years ago his main focus was football. Marks went on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in MTSU history as a three year starter leading the team to the Motor City Bowl in 2006.

Once Marks finished his athletic career he shifted his focus and decided that he wanted to continue to be a part of MT athletics looking to find a place where he could learn more about the management of college athletics. After following the advice of Dr. Jubenville, Marks was offered and accepted an opportunity to be a Graduate Assistant for the Blue Raider Athletic Association while continuing to pursue a M.S. in Sport Management.

"I was very thankful that Alan Farley, Associate Athletic Director, gave me the opportunity to work as his Graduate Assistant," said Marks, a Fort Meyers, Fla., native. "He took a chance on me and I will always be thankful for that."

Marks' duties consisted of helping the BRAA raise money, manage the donor database, and donor fulfillment. On top of the practical experience, Marks was being mentored by Dr. Jubenville both in and out of the classroom. Jubenville taught Marks how to articulate his value proposition and become an asset to the organization.

Current Middle Tennessee Sport Management student, Brittany Evans, is blogging about her experience with the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders and this year's swimsuit shoot in Destin, Fla. You can follow Evans' blogs throughout the week by clicking here! Below is the first of Evans' blogs.

Cheerleaders Arrive at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

By Brittany Evans, Titans Online 

DESTIN, Fla. -- The Tennessee Titans cheerleaders departed Baptist Sports Park Monday morning, heading south to the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort for their 3rd annual swimsuit calendar shoot.

Nineteen veterans and seven rookie cheerleaders were anxious to arrive in Florida for their first team event of the 2010 season. The three-day event will also serve as a great bonding time for the 2010 Titans Cheerleading squad.

Defines Core Values, Execution, and Leadership

Sport Management Program Board Member, Coach Micheal Burt defines the term execution as closing the gap between thinking and doing. He insists that in that gap is the most powerful human freedom - the freedom to choose. That freedom is guaranteed in the Constitution and enforced through many agencies. Today, the program reached a new first with graduate Alex McDuffie becoming a commissioned officer, finding his voice and a leader by helping others find their unique voice. These core values continue to be the force that drives the collective passion of the program. While this leadership position is not in the sport industry it is in the social fabric that defines this country. Without a military we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today. The freedom to play, to compete, and to win.

Well done. If you haven't noticed this program is making a shift.- Dr. Colby Jubenville

McDuffie is a National Accounts Manager  at Petra Industries (since 2008) which is a consumer electronics wholesale distributor. He works closely with Amazon and Costco and lives in Oklahoma City and frequently travels to Seattle for business. McDuffie has successfully completed contract negotiations with Costco, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Toys"R"Us, Electronics Express, and JC Whitney to allow products to be sourced from Petra. McDuffie will also be featured in the July Issue of Dealerscope Magazine www.dealerscope.com as one of the Top Forty under 40 in consumer electronics.

Transitions into Full-Time Role in Ticketing

The journey of Middle Tennessee Sport Management graduate Steven Schoenhut has been anything but typical.

Schoenhut has served  in several capacities in the sport industry in all over the country including the Ohio Valley Conference, the Nashville Sounds, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando, and the University of Florida.

He has served in different roles with all these organizations, but his passion has always been working in ticketing.

Core Values Drive Success of Program and Graduates

Recently Allison Bradley, Middle Tennessee Sport Management (MTSM) '10, found a marketing position at the University of Alabama through the NCAA Career Center website. Using the resume format that MTSM director Dr. Colby Jubenville developed with her, she decided to advance confidently toward the direction of her own dream and applied for the opportunity. She was one of 280 applicants in a very competitive field. During the process, candidates were narrowed and ultimately a group of nine was left to complete phone interviews.

Once Allison was in the position of competing with nine others, she knew it was time to get to work and turned to her network and reached out  for support for Bryant Carter, Assistant Commissioner at SBC. Jim McGuire, MTSU Assistant Baseball Coach, and Ginger Freeman, Director of Alumni Relations at MTSU.  Each connected with the points of contact for the position, Assistant Marketing Directors Allison West and Rick Burleson.