Brian DeAngelis has had an extensive career in minor league baseball ticket sales, spanning 6 years and working in organizations such as Ripken Baseball, The State College Spikes, and now as Vice President of Ticket Sales at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. DeAngelis talks about what separates the IronPigs from other minor league baseball franchises, specifically the focus on customer experience, including weird, outlandish marketing and stadium renovations. DeAngelis ventures into the areas of training his staff, showcasing priority on getting them to engage with their contacts, and get those face-to-face sales. Twitter: @AngeloDeAngelo
After 6 years as the associate athletic director for external affairs at Nicholls State, Brandon Ruttley has left the college sports space for private industry. Ruttley talks about the intense coming to terms with his decision to leave athletics, with the door still cracked open to return upon the right opportunity, but is at peace either way. Ruttley shares what he believes the private sector can learn from college athletics organizations, and in turn, what private industry can help those on college campus sports achieve. Twitter: @ColonelRuttley
Over the past 8 years, Gary Olson has been moving tickets for various minor league baseball teams. Olson discusses that one period of selling for a third party vendor of Arizona State athletics, and what the differences were. Olson talks about how to engage, as well as training his core group of employees, along with whether the phone call is actually dying out and if season tickets still matter. Olson mentions that his wife was formerly working in sports, and how that helped them make decisions for new employment opportunities across the country. Twitter: @GaryOlson26
Jim Sarosy has been with the Syracuse Crunch for so long, that even he's flabbergasted at his legacy with the team. A product of the 1990s sports sales staff, Sarosy talks about rising through the ranks, but not letting his ambition get the better of him, while constantly staying on his toes in minor league hockey. Sarosy discusses why the Crunch are the crazies of American Hockey League promotions, including the famous Gordie Howe tryout for his fifth straight decade on the ice (didn't get on the ice, but still...). Sarosy talks about what he's learned, and what he keeps mind of, every time he peels a sticker or sells a ticket to the game he loves. Twitter: @JimSarosy
For every sports sales professional managing a staff, listening to account rep phone calls can be a nightmare of storage and selection. Steve Richard of ExecVision thinks he can help, offering a digital organization training tool that fosters overall account rep growth, through a coaching interaction mechanism. Richard talks about some of the issues surrounding phone coaching, whether he feels the phone call is dying or dead, and how to engage in sales conversations. Twitter: @srichardv
Dedan Brozino represents how truly community development can continue the legacy of a rich college football tradition. As executive director of Pasadena's Rose Bowl, Brozino focuses on stadium upgrades within the historical confines, including ways to build support through various civic and philanthropic initiatives. Brozino talks about his past roles at CSU Long Beach as a Sr. Associate Athletic Director, and the differences between serving on a college campus to now selling a college football venue. Twitter: @DedanBrozino
Donnie Marbut has transitioned from a rising star Division I head baseball coach to the world of leadership as Commissioner of the West Coast League. Marbut discusses how the West Coast League has developed a unique brand against the collegiate summer baseball league marketplace, and how it continues to strive for consistent, solid fan development with an eye on future expansion. Marbut talks about his time leading the Washington State Cougars baseball program, and what sports supervision means to him. @WCLBaseball
With the young history of digital media unfolding, Brian Srabian presents a strong argument about why sports is generally at the forefront of delivery of social media technology. Srabian discusses the early days of living on the edge in sports social media, where trying new things and jumping to different platforms shook up the system with differing results. Srabian discusses navigating the waters of fan engagement, avoiding outrage issues by going too far, and how to show that digital media is the most effective branding available to a sports team. Srabian discusses the Bat Kid phenomena in San Francisco after the 2013 baseball season, and the San Francisco Giants' part of the day-long celebration. Twitter: @Srabe
Deep in Canada's technology sector, Tim Burke has been examining ways to learn more about customers for the past 15 years. Burke discusses his passion for Affinio, a company founded on the belief that there is more to learn beyond the social noise. Burke talks about the mega trendsetters in the marketplace, as well as the misconceptions about what data matters and what should be disregarded. Twitter: @t1mburke
While the historical namesake of Thomas Phelps is widely known as an 1880s Rear Admiral for the U.S. Navy, the current version of Thomas Phelps is doing his best to ensure that the traditions of the Naval Athletic Association stay alive through his multiple group sales and donation efforts. Phelps, serving in a capacity of Executive Sales Associate for External Relations and Group Sales, talks at length about his role with the military institution, and some of the misconceptions that the public have about the facility's athletic budget sources. Phelps discusses his role in minor league sports, as Chief Marketing Officer of three collegiate wooden bat league teams at once, then transforms the conversation toward an oral history of the NBADL's start during his tenure as that organization's first ticket manager. Twitter: @Phelpsgs