News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Dan Catalano, 607-753-2232

College's Sport Management Interns Experience Career Opportunities

CORTLAND, NY (03/25/2008; 1514)(readMedia)-- SUNY Cortland’s sport management majors routinely use their required internships as opportunities to learn from some of the biggest and best names in the sporting world.

During the spring 2008 semester, four seniors are gaining valuable knowledge and skill to take with them after graduation by working with Major League Soccer (MLS), Company 20, Inc., and the Professional Golf Association.

J. Sebastian Romero of Elmont, N.Y., who is interning with the MLS and Soccer United Marketing at its front office in New York City, works with international media. Romero, born in Bogota, Columbia, relays Spanish language media on behalf of the MLS. He communicates with the official governing body of soccer in Mexico, the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol; the Superliga soccer tournament including club teams from America, Mexico, and Canada; and Futbol Mundial magazine.

Sarah Zipp, visiting instructor of sport management, credits Romero’s other experiences in landing this internship. Romero studied abroad in Cologne, Germany in 2006 and completed a five-country tour in Northern Europe last summer that encompassed stadium visits, lectures from European sport executives and game attendance.

“These experiences and his dual language skills were key to landing this top level internship,” Zipp said. “He is happy to report that they were very impressed with his extensive study abroad experience at his interview.”

The Sport Management Department, part of the College’s School of Professional Studies, currently enrolls 400 undergraduate and 50 graduate students. The department places between 35 and 40 full-time, sport management interns each semester.

Katie Boyes of Tonawanda, N.Y., is completing her degree in sport management with an internship at Company 20, Inc., an event management, marketing, and hospitality firm in New York City. Boyes, the former Student Government Association (SGA) president, helps with event planning and hospitality for sponsors of major sporting events including the Super Bowl, NBA All Star Weekend and the Pro Bowl. She attended this year’s NBA All Star Weekend in New Orleans and will travel to the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Tampa Bay, Fla., on behalf of the company.

“She is absolutely thrilled with her experience and getting a lot of responsibility for handling major events,” Zipp stated. “The executive staff at Company 20, which includes a SUNY Cortland alumna, Karen Carcesse ‘99, joked that soon Boyes will be running the show.”

Steve DePersis of Johnson City, N.Y., and Eric Reinhardt of Baldwinsville, N.Y., are both interning with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) tour in Hilton Head Island, S.C. As PGA interns, DePersis and Reinhardt work and run the Junior Classic tournament, Pro-Am tournament, and help manage the Media Day before the main event, Verizon’s Heritage Classic. Both also work in ticket and merchandise sales during the events. SUNY Cortland alumnus Andy McMillen ‘07 assisted the sport management department in helping DePersis and Reinhardt land these internships.

“The most important thing that I have learned so far, as simple as it seems, is to never take anything for granted,” said DePersis. “When I say this, I am referring to everything from sport management courses to simple internship tasks, like stuffing an envelope or doing some grunt work. You'd be surprised how much the classes at SUNY Cortland actually prepared me for some of the work being done here.”

“They are getting a lot of outstanding experience in event management, marketing, promotions, sales and golf operations,” said Zipp. “Both Steve and Eric were great students here on campus and have proven to be exceptional interns for their organization.”

For more information, contact Sarah Zipp at zipps@cortland.edu.

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