The Robert Morris University Sport Management Newsletter Summer 2009 FROM THE BENCH Greetings to all Robert Morris University Sport Management students, alumni and friends. It’s been a busy year and below are a few highlights and thoughts about what has been going on at the university, with Sport Management, as well as the current economic status in the industry. • This past spring the RMU School of Business achieved initial accreditation by AACSB International– The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, joining only 5 percent of business schools worldwide to carry this prestigious recognition. AACSB International is an association of educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations recognized worldwide as the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs. This highly coveted recognition represents the peak standard of achievement for business schools; only 560 business schools in the world have achieved AACSB accreditation, and only one-third of business schools in the United States. With Sport Management being housed in the School of Business, this accreditation establishes greater credibility for the education and professional preparation of our students. • With the leadership of Harry Leckemby (SM BSBA 1987), there is now a RMU Sport Management Alumni group on Linkedin. Currently, approximately 100 alumni, faculty and friends of the program have joined this group. This is a great tool for networking, communicating as well as staying in touch with the university. If you use Linkedin and would like to join the network contact Harry at [email protected] or myself at [email protected] . • The economy has seriously impacted the sports and entertainment industry with the loss of sponsorship dollars and a decline in ticket and suite renewal sales –resulting in drastic budget cutbacks along with the layoffs of outstanding sport industry professionals. A key factor is the change of the activity and relationships with local businesses as well as national and international corporations. Although the economy is certain to rebound, do not count on the return of the corporate culture and spending practices of the 1990s and early 2000s. Advice from our alumni and leading industry professionals in managing and planning for these tough times: focus on your sales and customer service skills as well as creating value and developing new business models and revenue streams. Last –but most important –relationships matter, with your fans/clients, sponsors, vendors, employees and colleagues. In closing, we need your help to write the newsletter, to continue building an alumni network and supporting the RMU Student Sport Management Conference as well as assisting students with career development and job placement. Remember to check the sport management website at www.rmu.edu/sportmanagement . Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 412-397-3416 to learn how to get involved and find out how we might be able to help you. Also, please let other RMU Sport Management alumni know about us and have them contact us with their updates. Thank you for your support and we look forward to hearing from you. David Synowka, Ph.D. School of Business Director of Sport Management FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY SPORT MANAGEMENT SCORE BOARD THE FRONT OFFICE Sport Management Advisory Board The 6th annual RMU Student Sport Management Conference is scheduled for Mark Acerni – General Manager and Chief Operating Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, in the Sewall Center on the Moon Township campus. If you are Officer, The Club at Spanish Peaks interested in participating in or supporting the conference, please contact David George Babish M1985 – Consultant, YMCA of the USA Synowka at 412-397-3416 or [email protected] . Murray Cohn 1988 – Member of RMU Sport Management HOF, Senior Director Team Ticket Sales, National Basketball Association Kevin Colbert 197 9 – Member of RMU Sport Management The 4th annual Susan Hofacre 5 K walk/run will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 HOF, Director of Football Operations, Pittsburgh Steelers on the RMU Moon Township campus. The proceeds from this event support the Michael R. Doherty – Chair , RMU Sport Management Susan Hofacre Endowed Sport Management Fund. If you are interested in Advisory Board; Principal , Sherpa Resources, LLC participating in or supporting the race, please contact John Clark at 412-397-3426 Vic Gregovits 1986 – Member of RMU Sport Management or [email protected] . HOF; Senior VP for Marketing and Sales , Cleveland Indians Trevor Edwards – Director of Business Please send your nominations and supporting materials for the RMU Sport Development and Sales, SmartButton Management Hall of Fame before June 23, 2010 . The Hall of Fame criteria and Jim Lachima – President, JFL Resources categories are listed below: Tom Smith 1995 – Vice President, Director of Sales, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort 1 Distinguished alumni John Somsky – Member of RMU Sport Management HOF, 2 Sport management industry leader who has had a profound impact Independent Management Consulting Professional, on sport management education at RMU William Sutton, Ed.D. – Member of RMU Sport Management HOF; Bill Sutton & Associates, 3 Professional external supporter who created a valued impact on the program Strategic Marketing and Revenue Enhancement 4 Faculty/University member contributor of note Sport Management Alumni Group Lyle Abbot (MBA, 1998) – Manger-Wendy Kane and The nominees are reviewed and voted on by the sport management advisory Associates, board. The inductees are presented a Sport Management Hall of Fame ring at Harry Leckemby Jr. 1987 – Director, Sports and Athletic the RMU Sport Management Student Conference. Sales at Bookmygroup. Bill Levy 1994 – Assistant General Manager, Odessa Jackalopes Brian Panucci ’05 – Client Retention and Services, LSI, RMU S PORT MANAGEMENT HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM David Perricone 1990 – Senior Director of Merchandise,,New Jersey Devils Nominee Information Daniel Philipp 1995 – Global Marketing Manager, TKO Sports Group USA Limited Name RMU Grad Year Bryan Ross M’04 – Director of Ticket Sales, New Orleans Hornets Title, Employer Jaima Schiffer ’05 – New Stadium Sales Consultant, Address Dallas Cowboys Steve Swetoha ’86 – Executive Director ACC Football City State ZIP Championship Phone E-mail Keith Weldon ’03 – Corporate Sales Account Executive, Baltimore Ravens Nominated by Sport Management Faculty Phone E-mail Dave Synowka, Ph.D. Director and Professor of Sport Management Reason for Nomination [email protected] • 412-397-3416 Artemisia Apostolopoulou, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sport Management [email protected] • 412-397-4264 Scott Branvold, Ed.D. Professor of Sport Management [email protected] • 412-397-2218 John Clark, Ph.D. Please return this form and supporting materials before June 23, 2010 to Associate Professor of Sport Management David Synowka, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA, 15108 [email protected] • 412-397-3426 2 ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY ALUMNI CORNER Chris King (BSBA Sport Management-1994) Chris King is the associate athletic director for sports administration at the University of Alabama. His primary duties include the overall leadership, administration and assessment of the men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track & field, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's rowing, and women's soccer programs. This includes the supervision of 18 coaches and four full-time administrative support staff with a combined budget of more than $1.5 million for these sports. Chris started his UA career in 2002 as the associate director of athletics for compliance. In 2008 he was named to the National Center for Responsible Gaming Task Force on College Gambling coordinated through the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. His passion for working in athletics is creating a quality experience for the student athletes along with the professional development of his staff and coaches. Chris King Chris’s recipe for success: pay attention to the details and create a positive environment Prior to his job with the Crimson Tide, Chris served as the assistant athletic director for compliance at University of Central Florida and was responsible for the administration of the athletics compliance program and the student wellness programs within the Department of Athletics. In starting out his career, he was a graduate assistant in the Department of Athletics at Campbell University and earned his master’s degree in educational leadership and supervision in 1997. Chris and his wife Alicia are expecting their first child in October. Chris got his introduction to the world of intercollegiate athletics by doing an internship with the Robert Morris University Department of Athletics under the mentorship of Mr. Tom Olson, the director of compliance at that time. He credits his professional success to the advisement and encouragement of the RMU Sport Management faculty and athletic staff that included Bob McBee, Susan Hofacre and David Synowka. His advice to RMU Sport Management students: the best way learn is to actually gaining hands-on experience as well as building and maintaining relationships. Finally, one should always maintain a strong sense of ethics and values in your personal and professional affairs. PHOTO ALBUM 5th Sport Management Student Conference 2008 Sport Management Hall of Fame Back to the ‘80s