TheRobertMorrisUniversity SportManagementNewsletter Summer 2009

FROM THE BENCHGreetings to all Robert Morris University Sport Management students, alumni andfriends. It’s been a busy year and below are a few highlights and thoughts aboutwhat has been going on at the university, with Sport Management, as well as thecurrent economic status in the industry.

• This past spring the RMU School of Business achieved initial accreditation byAACSB International– TheAssociation toAdvance Collegiate Schools of Business,joining only 5 percent of business schools worldwide to carry this prestigiousrecognition. AACSB International is an association of educational institutions,businesses, and other organizations recognized worldwide as the premieraccrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs. Thishighly coveted recognition represents the peak standard of achievement forbusiness schools; only 560 business schools in the world have achievedAACSBaccreditation, and only one-third of business schools in the United States. WithSport Management being housed in the School of Business, this accreditationestablishes greater credibility for the education and professional preparation of ourstudents.

• With the leadership of Harry Leckemby (SM BSBA1987), there is now a RMUSport ManagementAlumni group on Linkedin. Currently, approximately 100alumni, faculty and friends of the program have joined this group. This is agreat tool for networking, communicating as well as staying in touch with theuniversity. If you use Linkedin and would like to join the network contactHarry at hleckemby@bookmygroup.com or myself at synowka@rmu.edu.

• The economy has seriously impacted the sports and entertainment industrywith the loss of sponsorship dollars and a decline in ticket and suite renewalsales–resulting in drastic budget cutbacks along with the layoffs of outstandingsport industry professionals. Akey factor is the change of the activity andrelationships with local businesses as well as national and internationalcorporations. Although the economy is certain to rebound, do not count on thereturn of the corporate culture and spending practices of the 1990s and early 2000s.Advice from our alumni and leading industry professionals in managing andplanning for these tough times: focus on your sales and customer service skills aswell 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 alumninetwork and supporting the RMU Student Sport Management Conference as well asassisting students with career development and job placement. Remember to checkthe sport management website atwww.rmu.edu/sportmanagement.

Please feel free to contact me at synowka@rmu.edu or 412-397-3416 to learn how toget involved and find out howwemight be able to help you. Also, please let otherRMU Sport Management alumni know about us and have them contact us with theirupdates. Thank you for your support and we look forward to hearing from you.

David Synowka, Ph.D.Director of Sport Management

FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESSSchool of Business

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SPORT MANAGEMENT SCORE BOARDThe 6th annual RMU Student Sport Management Conference is scheduled forFriday, Nov. 6, 2009, in the Sewall Center on the Moon Township campus. If you areinterested in participating in or supporting the conference, please contact DavidSynowka at 412-397-3416 or synowka@rmu.edu.

The 4th annual Susan Hofacre 5 K walk/run will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009on the RMUMoon Township campus. The proceeds from this event support theSusan Hofacre Endowed Sport Management Fund. If you are interested inparticipating in or supporting the race, please contact John Clark at 412-397-3426or clarkj@rmu.edu.

Please send your nominations and supporting materials for the RMU SportManagement Hall of Fame before June 23, 2010. The Hall of Fame criteria andcategories are listed below:

1 Distinguished alumni

2 Sport management industry leader who has had a profound impacton sport management education at RMU

3 Professional external supporter who created a valued impact on the program

4 Faculty/University member contributor of note

The nominees are reviewed and voted on by the sport management advisoryboard. The inductees are presented a Sport Management Hall of Fame ring atthe RMU Sport Management Student Conference.

THE FRONT OFFICESport Management Advisory Board

Mark Acerni – General Manager and Chief OperatingOfficer, The Club at Spanish Peaks

George Babish M1985 – Consultant, YMCA of the USA

Murray Cohn 1988 – Member of RMU Sport ManagementHOF, Senior Director Team Ticket Sales, National BasketballAssociation

Kevin Colbert 1979 –Member of RMU Sport ManagementHOF, Director of Football Operations, Pittsburgh Steelers

Michael R. Doherty – Chair, RMU Sport ManagementAdvisory Board; Principal, Sherpa Resources, LLC

Vic Gregovits 1986 –Member of RMU Sport ManagementHOF; Senior VP for Marketing and Sales, Cleveland Indians

Trevor Edwards – Director of BusinessDevelopment and Sales, SmartButton

Jim Lachima – President, JFL Resources

Tom Smith 1995 – Vice President, Director of Sales,Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

John Somsky – Member of RMU Sport Management HOF,Independent Management Consulting Professional,

William Sutton, Ed.D. – Member of RMU SportManagement HOF; Bill Sutton & Associates,Strategic Marketing and Revenue Enhancement

Sport Management Alumni Group

Lyle Abbot (MBA, 1998) – Manger-Wendy Kane andAssociates,

Harry Leckemby Jr. 1987 – Director, Sports and AthleticSales at Bookmygroup.

Bill Levy 1994 – Assistant General Manager,Odessa Jackalopes

Brian Panucci ’05 – Client Retention and Services, LSI,

David Perricone 1990 – Senior Director ofMerchandise,,New Jersey Devils

Daniel Philipp 1995 – Global Marketing Manager, TKOSports Group USA Limited

Bryan Ross M’04 – Director of Ticket Sales,New Orleans Hornets

Jaima Schiffer ’05 – New Stadium Sales Consultant,Dallas Cowboys

Steve Swetoha ’86 – Executive Director ACC FootballChampionship

Keith Weldon ’03 – Corporate Sales Account Executive,Baltimore Ravens

Sport Management Faculty

Dave Synowka, Ph.D.Director and Professor of Sport Managementsynowka@rmu.edu • 412-397-3416

Artemisia Apostolopoulou, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Sport Managementapostolopoulou@rmu.edu • 412-397-4264

Scott Branvold, Ed.D.Professor of Sport Managementbranvold@rmu.edu • 412-397-2218

John Clark, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Sport Managementclarkj@rmu.edu • 412-397-3426

RMU SPORT MANAGEMENT HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM

Nominee Information

Name RMUGrad Year

Title, Employer

Address

City State ZIP

Phone E-mail

Nominated by

Phone E-mail

Reason for Nomination

Please return this form and supporting materials before June 23, 2010 toDavid Synowka, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA, 15108

Mark Acerni

ALUMNI CORNER Chris King (BSBA Sport Management-1994)

Chris King is the associate athletic director for sports administration at the University of Alabama. Hisprimary duties include the overall leadership, administration and assessment of the men's andwomen'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 fourfull-time administrative support staff with a combined budget of more than $1.5 million for thesesports. Chris started his UA career in 2002 as the associate director of athletics for compliance. In 2008he was named to the National Center for Responsible Gaming Task Force on College Gamblingcoordinated through the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, anaffiliate of Harvard Medical School. His passion for working in athletics is creating a qualityexperience for the student athletes along with the professional development of his staff and coaches.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 CentralFlorida and was responsible for the administration of the athletics compliance program and the student wellness programswithin the Department of Athletics. In starting out his career, he was a graduate assistant in the Department of Athletics atCampbell University and earned his master’s degree in educational leadership and supervision in 1997. Chris and his wife Aliciaare expecting their first child in October.

Chris got his introduction to the world of intercollegiate athletics by doing an internship with the Robert Morris UniversityDepartment of Athletics under the mentorship of Mr. Tom Olson, the director of compliance at that time. He credits hisprofessional success to the advisement and encouragement of the RMU Sport Management faculty and athletic staff thatincluded 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 asbuilding and maintaining relationships. Finally, one should always maintain a strong sense of ethics and values in your personaland professional affairs.

Chris King

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Kathy Guy, Steve Sweotha, Dave Synowka, Vic Gregovits, Harry Leckemby, Murray Cohn

PHOTO ALBUM 5th Sport Management Student Conference

Susan Hofacre

John Somsky

Back to the ‘80s2008 Sport Management Hall of Fame

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For years now, faculty from Robert Morris University have particpated in one of the best industry conferences in North America,the National Sports Forum (NSF). Top sports team and property marketing, advertising, sales and sponsorship executives frommore than 100 professional and collegiate teams, auto racing and horse racing organizations meet each year in late January andearly February to discuss current and relevant issues. Next year's meeting is scheduled forBaltimore, Feb. 1-3, 2010. (For more information on the conference, stop by their web site at:www.sports-forum.com.)

In addition, the NSF also offers up a great one-page free e-zine. Called "Selling It...", it'spublished bi-weekly with each issue featuring an existing sales, sponsorship, advertisingand/or fan entertainment idea currently underway in the sports industry. You can accessthe latest issue at sports-forum.com/sellingit/currentissue. (And if you want toautomatically receive upcoming issues delivered straight to your in-box you haveonly to click on the "Subscribe" button and enter your contact information.)

FROM THE INDUSTRY

Melanie Boulanger (BSBA 2009) - Marketing andGroup Sales Intern SMG, Mellon Arena

Ashley Ehrenberg (BSBA 2009) - Inside SalesExecutive TKO Sports Group, Houston, TX

Jillian Howley, (BSBA2009) Graduate Assistant -Lacrosse Coach, Mercyhurst College, Erie PA

Michael Jandrasits (BSBA 2009) Special ProjectsIntern, (AD & Executive Associate Executive AD)Department of Athletics, University of Pittsburgh

Jarrod Ranone (BSBA 2009) Sales Associate,Columbus Blue Jackets

Matthew Hastings (BSBA 2009) Sales Associate,Seattle Storm

Jason Vrable (MS EdL SM 2009) Offensive TeamQuality Control Assistant Coach, Syracuse , N.Y.

Heather Mulvaney (BSBA 2008) Account Executive,Ticket Services, San Francisco 49ers

Haley Volzer (BSBA 2008) promoted toCoordinator, Advertising, Pittsburgh Pirates

Peter J. Patsilevas Jr. (BSBA 2008) Inside SalesRepresentative, Pittsburgh Pirates

Merrett Ballou (BSBA 2007) PLB Sports, Pittsburgh

Dan Bauer (BSBA 2007) Account Executive, ISPSports, Pittsburgh

Cori Bingham, (BSBA 2007)Marketing and PR atSports Legends Group LLC, Pittsburgh

Alyssa Blumling (BSBA 2006) - promoted toAssistant Marketing Manager, SMG Mellon Arena

Armand Buzzelli (MBA 2006), Assistant Director ofStudent Activities-Robert Morris University

Christine Koester (MS 2006) Assistant Director ofCompliance, Department of Athletics University ofJacksonville, FL

Stephen Toutis (BSBA 2007) Sales AccountExecutive, ESPN Radio

Michael Bomasuto (BSBA 2006) Teen ProgramDirector, Boys and Girls Clubs, Syracuse, N.Y.

Andrew Dushenksky (BSBA 2006) Sales Associate,DC Sports, Washington D.C.

Jacqui Gray (BA 2005)Marketing & Promotions,MLB Network, New York City

Lauren (Delahanty) Zemcik (BSBA 2005) Student LifeSpecialist at Community College of Allegheny County

Robert Zemicik (BSBA 2005) Supply ChainManagement, Dick’s Sporting Goods

Donato Bucci (BSBA 2004) Student, University ofMiami Law School (Fla.)

Liz Smith (MS 2004) Assistant Sports InformationDirector, Department of Athletics, GonzagaUniversity, Oregon

Michael Apple (BSBA 2003) Professional SoccerPlayer, Detroit Ignition

Mike Donnadio (MBA 2003) Database Specialist,Panther Club Department of Athletics, University ofPittsburgh

Ed Bujalski (BSBA 2002) Individual TicketCoordinator, Pittsburgh Pirates

Scott Koskoski (MS 2001) Associate AthleticsDirector for Development, Temple University,Philadelphia, Pa.

Jeff Yukevich (MS 2001) Owner, Athletic ResearchConsultants, Pittsburgh

Jen Giorno (BSBA 2000), Basketball Director,Bladium Sports and Fitness Club, Alameda, Calif.

Diana Vitantonio (BSBA 2000) Co-owner-Zuda Yoga,Folsom, Calif.

Jeff Garner (BSBA 1999) Vice President, GreensburgSports Group, State College, Pa.

Matt Monroe (BSBA, 1999) Assistant AthleticDirector of Ticketing, Department of Athletics,University of Maryland

Greg McBride (BSBA 1999), Account Executive,Cleveland Indians

Lyle Abbot (MBA 1998)Manager, Wendy Kane &Associates (Event Operations & Logistics for CTV2010 Olympic Celebrations)

Peter Kullman (MBA- MS-SM) 1998) Senior VicePresident, Business Development, Oktane Media,New York

Mike Clough, (BSBA 1997) Director of Ticket Salesand Service, Minnesota Twins

Garth Ericson (BSBA 1997) Director of Recreation,York, Pa.

Jeff Lundberg (MBA-MS 1997) Communications,EDS media and entertainment consulting practice,Atlanta

Heath Senour, (BSBA 1996) Associate Director ofAthletics for Compliance, University of Minnesota

Daniel Philip (BSBA 1995), Global MarketingManager for TKO Sports Group, Houston

Jim Popovich, (BSBA 1995) promoted to Manager,New Business Development, Pittsburgh Pirates

Rebecca Regrut (BSBA 1995) Account Executive,New Country 105.1FM KNCI, Sacramento, Calif.

Tom Smith (BSBA 1995) promoted to Vice Presidentand Director of Sales, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort,Farmington, Pa.

Bill Levy (BSBA, 1994) –promoted to assistantGeneral Manager, Odessa Jackalopes,Odessa, Texas

Shannon (Eggleston) Gorbatoff (BSBA 1992)Account Executive with Corporate Health Partners,Nashville

Israel Negron (BSBA 1992) Director of CommunityRelations, Washington Nationals Baseball Club

Rob Ondo (BSBA 1991) Director of BusinessDevelopment and Marketing, Shorewalk VacationVillas Sarasota, Fla.

Linda (Wiesen) Trocano (BSBA 1991, MBA 1998)promoted to Vice President Account Services, NextMarketing, Atlanta

Jim Ballweg (BSBA 1987), promoted to VicePresident of Sales, San Diego Padres

Harry Leckemby Jr. (BSBA 1987) Director of Sportsand Athletic Sales, Bookmygroup

ON THE MOVE

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In Oct. 2008,Vic Gregovits, senior vice presidentof marketing and sales, Cleveland Indians,served as the conference keynote speaker for thefifth annual Student Sport ManagementConference. Ahighlight was the induction in theSport Management Hall of Fame of the lateSusan Hofacre, the former RMU departmenthead for Sport Management and Director ofAthletics, along with MarkAcerni, and JohnSomsky. Over 150 faculty and studentsrepresenting 10 colleges and universitiesattended the conference, with more than 25 sportmanagement professionals and RMU sportmanagement alumni represented. The purposeof the conference is to provide students theopportunity to learn about sport managementcareers and to network with industryprofessionals.

In November 2008, John Clark and ScottBranvold led a group of sport managementstudents in organizing, selling and implementingthe third annual Susan Hofacre 5K Run/Walk.The students increased race registrations morethan 125 percent from the previous year andincreased sponsorship support by more than 130percent. The proceeds from this event supportthe Susan Hofacre Endowed Sport ManagementFund.

InMarch 2009, John Clark (FacultyAdvisor) andthe following Sport Management students andalumni served as Committee Chairs/Directorsfor the 2009Western Pennsylvania SpecialOlympics Bowling Competition. This is theseventh consecutive year that Robert MorrisUniversity Sport Management Students havecoordinated this event that features over 350athletes at three venues (Mount Lebanon BowlingLanes, Noble Manor Lanes and Canevin HighSchool.) The following RMU students and alumniparticipated:

Jessica Thompson, Event DirectorMichael Jandrasit, Competition DirectorCaleb Shreve, Volunteer ChairpersonJosh Keil, Ceremonies ChairpersonJaime Baker, Olympic Village ChairpersonAmandaMusser, Public Relations ChairpersonJenn Phillips, Awards ChairpersonMeghan Flick, Olympic Village ChairpersonJenna Baldigowski, Registration ChairpersonAlex DiMichele, Food ChairpersonDanielle White (Alum ‘06), AlumniAssistantJustin Powers (Alum ‘08), Competition Director

Also special thanks and kudos are extended toArtemisia Apostolopoulou; Scott Branvold;David Synowka as well as John Tucci, RMUMaintenance Department, who has opened thegames since 2003 by singing the National

Anthem;Mike Rice, RMUmen's head basketballcoach, who provided the opening andwelcoming remarks for the competition;broadcaster Chris Shovlin, the voice of theColonials, who was the master of ceremonies;and the RMUWomen's Ice Hockey Team, whichassisted in the medals ceremony along withRMU Sport Management alumnusKathy Guy(1986) from the Pennsylvania Special Olympics.Also a special thanks to all of the other studentsfrom the School of Business, the School ofEducation and Social Sciences and the School ofNursing and Health Sciences who also assistedas volunteers with this event.

The 2009Western Pennsylvania SpecialOlympics Bowling Competition was featuredprominently in the Sunday edition of thePittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review as well as on several television newscasts. Robert Morris University and the SportManagement students were mentionedprominently in that coverage.

World Championships For the first time in 30years Pittsburgh can again be called the City ofChampions with the Steelers’ thrilling victoryagainst theArizona Cardinals in Super BowlXLIII as well as the Penguins winning theStanley Cup in an exciting best of seven seriesagainst the Detroit RedWings. Congratulationsto SM RMU alumsKevin Colbert (director offootball operations) andMikeMarchinsky(youth football/marketing manager), PittsburghSteelers, andNicole Kyslinger, sales associate,Pittsburgh Penguins. Also kudos to Rob Brakel,video coordinator for theArizona Cardinals.

SMAlum named to RMUBoard of Trustees VicGregovits (BSBA1986), senior vice president formarketing and sales, Cleveland Indians, RMUSport ManagementAdvisory Board member andRMU Sport Management Hall of Fame wasnamed to the RMU Board of Trustees thisspring.

SM Student Recognition Spring 2009- Thefollowing SMmajors and minors have beenrecognized by being named toWho’s Who inAmerican Colleges and Universities for 2009:Melanie Boulanger, Thomas Brown,Ashley Ehrenberg, Michael Jandrasits,John Kalichuk, Michael Moore, Jarrod Ranoneand Daniel Russell.

April 2009-Adam Bowman, a junior fromExport, Pa., was recognized as the 2008–09Outstanding Sport Management Student. Thisscholarship award is based on academicachievements as well as involvement in theuniversity and industry.

April 2009 - The inaugural David Synowka SportManagement Endowed Scholarship wasawarded to LukeMohamed, a junior fromTarentum, Pa., who is a dual sport managementand accounting major. Sport ManagementalumniDavid Perricone (New Jersey Devils)Dan Philipp (TKO Sports Group USALimited)and Steve Swetoha (ACC FootballChampionship) served on the organizingcommittee to establish the scholarship criteriaas well as the selection for this year’s winner.

May 2009-Michael Jandrasits, a senior fromVirginia, was recognized for his academicachievements as well as his involvement tothe university and industry by being selectedas one of the 2008-09 RMU PresidentialAward Recipients.

Faculty Updates John Clark and wifeKirstenwelcomed their son, Torben, to the world inJanuary 2009. Congratulations to the Clarks onthe new addition to their family!

In December 2008,David Synowka and theRMUClub Baseball Teammade an appearanceon the History Channel show “ModernMarvels”with the episode, “Night.” With the RMU clubbaseball team playing in the background at PNCPark, Synowka provided commentary about therole of lighting in baseball and how it expandedthe marketing and revenue opportunities.

Scott Branvold and wife Lynda Davidson(Dean, RMU School of Nursing and HealthSciences) became grandparents for the first timewhen son Christopher (BSBA2005) and wifeKristin (BS/MS 2006) welcomed their daughterMazie Elizabeth in July 2009.

Congratulations toArtemisia Apostolopoulou,for her promotion toAssociate Professor ofSport Management. AdditionallyArtemisia hasserved the NorthAmerican Society for SportManagement (NASSM) as the NASSM archivistsince the fall of 2005 and for 2008-2009 served asthe chair of the NASSMNominating Committee.

RMU SPORT MANAGEMENT UPDATE

Scott Branvold; Sport Management senior Michael Jandrasits;Dave Synowka