February Facts & Figures343 Spring Semester Members - A 32 member increase from last semester - SBC in SBJ
Alumni Feature Spotlight
Q & A
Please describe your journey to Minute Media?
I began working for Minute Media in August 2018 toward the end of the summer after I graduated from Wisconsin. After an incredible experience interning for Horizon Media’s SCOUT Sports division in New York the summer before my senior year, I quickly decided that I wanted to pursue media opportunities back in the city after graduation. After meeting with various media agencies in NYC, I was actually contacted by Minute Media for a new partnership they were launching with FanDuel Sportsbook thanks to MM’s interest in some experience tied to a sports gambling research project I had worked on during my final semester in Madison interning for RotoWire. When I was an intern with Horizon, I really noticed the kind of opportunity the impending legalization of sports gambling would bring, so I knew I wanted to be involved with this industry in anyway I could. I thought their offer provided the most hands-on position for an entry-level recent grad like myself, and it’s proven to be much more than that with the kind of responsibilities and growth I’ve enjoyed working here. In my current role, I’m responsible for creating and editing FanDuel Sportsbook betting content designed to increase buzz around fantasy sports and drive deposits and wagers on gaming events. I also have a specialization in SEO analytics from organic standpoint, which includes building Excel reports to better target high-indexing targets around how certain content tailored for specific fanbases or angles have performed from a non-paid standpoint of content distribution. Past the typical suggestions of “networking and making connections” what is the best advice you can give to aspiring sports business professionals trying to break into the industry? 1. One genuine bond or connection with someone is worth 1,000 introductions. You might shake 100 hands at your typical sports networking event, but when you really need something or someone the most, those who you’ve built a bond with over hours of unpaid internship work together or enduring the grind of things that no one else wanted to do, these are the people that will deliver the most for you. Those sort of friends and connections are priceless. 2. Immerse yourself in the environment that gives you the best shot to achieve what you desire. After I figured out where I wanted to work post grad, the fact that my childhood home was back in Mobile, Alabama, wasn’t exactly ideal for making contacts or pursuing face-to-face interviews in NYC, so less than a week after taking all of my stuff back home from Madison, I drove straight to Connecticut where my girlfriend’s family very generously offered to have me move in with them so I could pursue more opportunities in the city. 3. Be relentless and distinguish yourself with personality. Between my final summer internship and my current job, I applied to more than 150 positions to the point at which I had to begin logging them all in a spreadsheet. More than 100 of those applications either returned with a rejection or never came back with a response at all. The sports industry is tough and highly competitive (or I’m one of the worst applicants of all time), and sometimes it’s quite literally just a numbers game. I’ve actually been told by one of my former employers that there were 20 more applicants that were equally as qualified, if not even more, to do my job, but their decision came down to which applicant had the most optimistic outlook as well as which one they’d most enjoy sharing a cubicle or a beer with. Being a recent grad, how has the transition to the professional world been and what advice would you give to our seniors who hope to move into full-time roles soon? Do not loathe the transition the way most people might think you’re supposed to. Going from an unpaid student with constant projects, papers and assignments that constantly hang over your head and follow you everywhere beyond the classroom to a paid employee with more options to silo work and professional involvement on a working schedule is fantastic. While your day-to-day availability certainly takes a hit, the ability to manage a work-life balance becomes much easier in my opinion. Can you point to one experience in undergrad that brought you down the path of content and digital? I was involved with The Badger Herald as the sports editor during my junior year, which is certainly where the content side came from, but I would honestly point to my experience with SBCUW as a driving force in opening the doors for the most impactful experiences here, such as my internship experiences with Horizon and RotoWire that ultimately led me to digital media in the sports space. While the industry demands a lot of hours, how do you keep a good work-life balance and what advice would you give to young professionals? I think this goes well beyond simply loving sports in that this is more about being able to come to terms with your work schedule will be almost entirely built around other sports fans’ time for leisure, especially from a content distribution and coverage standpoint. For example, since sports gambling was legalized in NJ and Delaware just months before I started working for Minute Media all four members of my initial team, myself included, worked a minimum of 10-hour days, 6 days a week through the NFL and college football season and into March Madness to get a leg up on our competitors in this space. Since NFL (+ fantasy football) and NCAAF are the biggest drivers in this industry, that meant working Saturdays and Sundays and buying groceries on my day off on Tuesdays most weeks. Alumni Weekend Recap
Panelists
Attendees
A HUGE thank you to everyone involved for making this the best Alumni Day yet to date, especially to our 17 alumni for coming back to share their journey's and incredibly valuable insights into their various career paths. Looking forward to this event next year!
Worth a LookSBC Alums at the National Sports Forum (Atlanta)
Quintin Lash ('18) - Attendee
Brett Baur ('14) - Panelist (See Below) 
Sports Business Badger Conor Caloia's Impact in the Madison Area
Congrats to Conor Caloia on his inclusion to the In Business Madison Class of 2020 40 under 40, an annual recognition of 40 of the most successful and civic-minded young professionals under the age of 40 in the Greater Madison area. Check out his role in the distinctive brand and innovative marketing of Forward Madison FC at the article below:
Some Thoughts from Peter Feigin's Trip to Madison Last Semester
Renovations at Camp Randall, Kohl Center, and UW Fieldhouse
Febraury Members of the Month
Hear about our Members of the Month for February, Madyson Voigt and Michael McCabe, and how their experiences with SBC have helped spur their interest in the sports industry. They have both been heavily involved at SBC events, as well as volunteering at UW Athletics events this year and we look forward to their further involvement within the club in the future!
What made you interested in SBC initially and what ultimately made you decide to join the club? It was one of the few clubs geared towards the sports world. What ended up making me want to join was just all of the cool people and opportunities that came with it. What is your favorite part about SBC and what keeps you coming back to events? It’s cool getting to learn about all of the different jobs and areas that are available in sports and get to hear from all aspects of the field. What are your short and long term goals related to SBC? Just staying involved and connected within the club. I’ve met so many awesome people and I want to continue to nurture and build those relationships. What is your favorite part of volunteering with UW Athletics and what keeps you coming back? My favorite part about volunteering with UW Athletics is easily the fast paced atmosphere and the opportunity to talk and communicate with so many different people and fans. What would be your dream sports job? My dream sports job would be doing something with the Brewers. I’m not sure what exactly but one of my goals is to eventually work for them.
What made you interested in SBC initially and what ultimately made you decide to join the club? I was initially interested because I have always loved sports. I decided to join because of the possibility of this being a stepping stone into the sports industry. What is your favorite part about SBC and what keeps you coming back to events? My favorite part about SBC is the wide variety of speakers and events. Nearly every aspect of working in the sports industry is touched on providing a better understanding of the endless possibilities. I keep coming back because of the incredible members and everyone’s willingness to help others succeed in the industry. What are your short and long-term goals related to SBC? Short-term I would like to continue attending events and possibly join a committee. Long term I want to continue building relationships throughout the sports industry and use these connections to further myself and my fellow members. What was your favorite part of going on the winter trip? The best part about the winter trip was the relationships and connections that I was able to begin building, both with the SBC members and with the teams and companies we sat down with. Also, repping my Packers tie in Ford Field and Soldier Field. What would be your dream sports job? Green Bay Packers General Manager or Director of Football Operations. February Events RecapFebruary 3rd - ESPN Madison 
February 6th to 8th - Minneapolis Trip (Minnesota Twins, T-Wolves/Lynx, & United FC)
February 12th - Nate Pokrass (American Family Insurance) 
February 17th - Tim De Lay (Kroenke Sports Enterprises) February 25th - Chad Brown (Trek Bicycles)
February 28th to 29th - 4th Annual Alumni Weekend
1 Comment
5/10/2022 05:11:33 am
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