Key Players in Professional Sports Visit Salve

By: Anne B. Falcetano
Posted In: Sports

On Thursday, April 28, the Salve Regina Business department is hosting a unique event for students and the Newport community. In O’Hare, students will get a chance to mingle with key players in the sports world. An agent representing Major League Baseball, as well as, representatives from the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins and NBC sports are among the participants in a panel discussion on a variety of issues.

Entitled, “It’s More Than a Game – Exploring Opportunities In The Business Of Sports”, this event will allow students to network and make connections with heavy hitters in various New England sports organizations.

Kristine Hendrickson, director of communications, participated in the planning of this event.

“When are students going to have another opportunity to get to talk to people in these positions in such a small environment?” said Hendrickson. “This is chance for students to make an impression. They are going to make a bigger impression in a smaller group than if they were competing against 500 people in another room.”

Before the panel discussion at noon, WEEI radio will provide pre-event entertainment including music donated giveaways, tickets and t-shirts. The panel discussion, beginning at noon, will be hosted by Mike Szostak, a sports writer for the Providence Journal.

Andrew Hayes, promotions and marketing director for WEEI Sports Radio, along with Dr. Ron Atkins and Dr. Nadia Abgrab, both professors in Salve’s Business Department, coordinated the event in hopes of giving students and faculty a chance to meet people in the region’s sports industry.

“We want our students to have personal contact with the panelists – an opportunity that is rarely provided,” Atkins said. “We hope to conduct this type of event on an annual basis to allow students to explore professional opportunities provided by the sports industry.”

Panel members will cover topics ranging from player management and team loyalty to the sports media’s power to make or break a sports star.

Students are also playing an active role in this “sports day”. Students from Dr. Abgrab’s and Dr. Atkins’ sports classes are providing presentations as well as brainstorming creative ways to market the event within the Salve Regina and Newport communities.

“This event is a ‘kick-off’ to the new Sports Management minor offered through the department of Business Studies and Economics,” said Dr. Abgrab. “We encourage students from all majors to attend this special event.”

Students are encouraged to bring a copy of their resume to the panel discussion on Thurs., April 28 as this may be a chance to get an interview or strike up a conversation with a representative in a field of interest.