| SMWW Agency and NFL Draft Day |
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SMWW had a successful NFL Draft Day signing three Priority Free Agent clients to NFL contracts and securing four mini-camp workouts.
Tyrell Sales - Indianapolis Colts (PFA) - Agent Advisor, Al Thomas
Dion Gales - KC Chiefs (PFA) - Agent Advisor, Reggie Jackson
Shane Morales - Arizona Cardinals (PFA) - Agent Advisor, Joe Aloisi
Ricky Hope - Detroit Lions (Mini Camp Tryout)
- Agent Advisor, Mike Fischetti
Tyler Jangula - New Orleans Saints (Mini Camp Tryout) - Agent Advisor, Mike Ortega
Alonzo Phillips & Rashad Cummings - Buffalo Bills (Mini Camp Tryout) - Agent Advisor, Richard Vester
All Agent Advisors are graduates of SMWW's Athlete Management Program. |
| Sports Career Conference at the NHL Draft |
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Hear from experts in the industry and attend the NHL Draft!
Confirmed Speakers Include:
Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs GM
Harry Sinden, Boston Bruins Former GM
EJ Hradek, ESPN Hockey
Rick Olczyk,
Edmonton Oilers Asst. GM
Tom Lynn,
Minnesota Wild Asst. GM
...and more!
More info on the conference can be found on our website.
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| Sports Career Conference at the NBA Summer League |
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Gain valuable insight into a variety of careers from those working at the highest level in basketball! This day long career conference offers unique panel discussions and question-answer periods designed to start or advance your career on the business of basketball. The day will be split up into diverse speaker panels; including sports business, athlete representation, scouting, digital video editing, and sports career strategies.
More info on the NBA Summer League Conference is available on our website. |
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From SMWW to the NBA Playoffs |
SMWW Grad, John Ross, was a part of the NBA Playoffs for the first time in his career. Below John explains how SMWW helped him get there.
Since being a kid, I had always dreamed of working in the NBA but was not sure how to turn those dreams into a reality. Upon graduating college, I was working a regular 8 -5 job when I decided to get serious about finding work in the NBA. I found out about SMWW and signed up for the Basketball GM and Scouting Course and the Digital Video Editing Course. These courses not only taught me some principles of Scouting and of Front Office work in the NBA but gave me connections to people who were doing what I wanted to do. The teachers were of great help and assisted me in getting connected to local coaches where I was at. Eventually, I received a call from a former SMWW student who was working with the Boston Celtics and this chain of events eventually led to me getting an internship with the Portland Trail Blazers as an Assistant Video Coordinator. After completing my internship, I was hired on to a paid position where I continued on as an Assistant Video Coordinator and Scouting Assistant while being able to play a role in the Trail Blazers return to the Playoffs! I would have never dreamed I would have been able to get my foot in the door this quickly and feel very blessed for the opportunities I have been given. I recently had a friend from NY come to visit me out here and within a week of visiting, he was signed up for SMWW's Digital Video and Editing Course. I am very grateful towards SMWW and would recommend any of their courses to anyone looking to get involved in professional sports. |
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Mark Warkentien Named Executive of the Year |
C ongratulations to friend of SMWW, Mark Warkentien, who was named NBA 2008-2009 Executive of the Year. Warkentien orchestrated one of the biggest deals in the NBA this season, trading Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups. The move sparked Denver's franchise-tying 54-win regular season and the Nuggets' first playoff series win in 15 years.
Mark Warkentien will be speaking at SMWW's Career Conference at the NBA Summer League this July in Las Vagas. |
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SMWW Hockey Grad Interns for the Tampa Bay Lightning
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Marcus Hirsch completed the Hockey GM and Scouting course in the summer of 2008. Armed with the knowledge he learned in that course, Marcus pursued every opportunity and landed an internship with the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning. This is his story...
After completing the SMWW Hockey GM and Scouting Course, I attended a sports career fair. There, I met the Human Resources Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Lightning. We discussed the changes that the team had under gone during the off-season, and she mentioned that new General Manager Brian Lawton had hired two Hockey Operations interns upon his arrival. I immediately began discussing the training I'd received from SMWW and my strong interest in entering into Hockey Operations.
I sent a copy of my final course paper to Tampa. Within a few days, the Hockey Operations Coordinator contacted me and learned about my background, including the scouting techniques and Collective Bargaining Agreement analysis that comprises the GM and Scouting Course. He was impressed, and I began a half-season internship in January 2009. Completing projects to assist the team in future preparations, as well as observing the GM, Assistant GM, and Hockey Staff every day, allowed me to gain phenomenal insight into the day-to-day operations of an NHL Front Office. I even got to assist the major decision-makers during the days leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline!
The knowledge I've gained from my time with the Lightning will undoubtedly assist me in my future pursuit of a Front Office position in sports. Without SMWW's excellent training, though, I would never have been able to land my internship and take the first steps towards my goal. |
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Motor Sports Student Rising to the Top |
Motor Sports Management Graduate, Ed Williams, proves that a winning attitiude combined with the right skill set and connections within the industry leads to success.
I wouldn't be where I am without my time with SMWW. Tom Blattler is one of the biggest reasons for my success in motorsports. I have to admit, I was concerned. I was skeptical of online coursework and I would have to struggle to pay for the course. After meeting Tom Blattler in person, my fears were gone and I knew that I had to sign up.Tom does PR for Acura Motorsports so he's a giant in the industry.
As a requirement for course completion, a "shadow" experience had to be done. You were required to shadow someone in the industry preferably someone who works in your area of interest. When it came time for me to do my "shadow," Tom introduced me to Michael Crawford who owned an Indy Lights team. I learned a great deal but there was no budget for them to bring me aboard. I was disappointed but remained steadfast and found an opportunity with the Penske Racing organization who also owned a subsidiary, the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. I interviewed with a man who knows Tom very well, so that connection paid dividends right away. I was named Communications Associate at the Detroit Grand Prix.
Things were going very well until the economy crash which Michigan had been feeling long before the rest of the country. The race was canceled and I looked to Tom for guidance. After sitting in on several of the weekly chats and getting some advice, I found an opening at the Homestead Miami Speedway and landed the job.
One of the things, which I directly attribute to Tom Blattler and the SMWW faculty, is the necessity for developing the ability to remove yourself as a race fan. There were several people who thought that we would talk only about NASCAR and their favorite driver. I maintain that to get the most out of the course, you have to be open to other forms of motorsport besides your favorite because at the end of the day it is a business. Whether its NASCAR, IndyCar Series or the American Le Mans Series, racing is a business and you have to be conversant with trends and technologies that affect the sport as a whole. I love my job and Tom has been with me every step of the way and I cannot thank him or the SMWW enough.
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