Front Office Features

Casey Katofsky, the Executive Director of Future Legends, joins Chris this week to discuss an amazing project he and his family have undertaken in Colorado. They are building a child's sports heaven that will be host to major tournaments for numerous sports throughout the year. Casey also touches on his time at Under Armour on the marketing side of the business. He shares how he approaches looking for new team members and the qualities that he finds appealing. Good news for our listeners...they are hiring. Chris and Casey discuss the importance of diversity and women in our sports industry. The interview is a great example of how there are other ways to work in sports and have a major impact on people's lives.

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The countdown is officially on for the start of the Major League Baseball season with one week before First Pitch. Rob is locked out of McCoy to ensure he doesn't bring down the Red Sox taxi squad. Chris and Rob tackle the Washington Football Team's unfortunate story today in the Washington Post and the toxic culture that existed there for women. Chris shares his story on how he was put in a similar situation earlier in his career and provides advice and guidance on how to handle these situations as a young sports professional. Rob got an e-mail from someone looking for a job that went about it all sorts of wrong. Rob was having NONE of it. The guys also received an email asking for guidance on how to follow up after a networking call. 

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Happy Birthday to Amy and Maddie Crain! The second most expensive day of the year for Rob but he still found time to break away to spit sports business advice. Rob and Chris bring the listeners into the boardroom and dissect a partnership they have been working on together for over two years. They share the highs, lows, pitfalls, and rollercoaster ride that is Sports Corporate Partnerships. Here's hoping that deal finally closes! Rob wants to know the answer to Chris and Christie's advice on never saying "I just want to get my foot in the door". They tackle a better way to position this statement... spoiler alert; just never say it! Plus, the announcement of VaynerMedia's Baseball division is an opportunity to get involved at the early stages of a sure to be rocket ship. DO SOMETHING and find a way to get to Gary and AJ! 

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Chris goes back to where it all started in this week’s interview with Christie Landi of the New York Giants. Christie shares her amazing story of focusing in on her desired career path and the steps she took it to make it happen. Hear how selling NHL Hockey in So. Florida prepared her for transitioning into significant roles with the New York Jets and Giants that has led to a lot of her successes. Christie provides great advice on how to achieve your goals by staying true to who you are as a person and chasing what ultimately makes you happy.  We dive into the culture she likes to establish for her teams and how she has navigated that during Covid. Chris and Christie align on one major issue… ‘getting your foot in the door” is the worst thing we can hear as a hiring manager. Plus, we tackle the challenges females could face in the sports industry and the role we all need to play in the betterment of our society.

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Chris starts us off with a bizarre story that may have launched a new pandemic when he "Randy Jonhsoned" a bird on his run. Rob gets raw and shares his insights and feelings on the announcement regarding the cancelation of the Minor League Baseball season. In a true peak behind the curtain, Rob goes into detail on how this will affect his colleagues, his friends, and the fans of the game. Also, how you can put yourself in the best situation to capitalize on the eventual return of games in 2021. In keeping with the seriousness of the discussion, Rob and Chris tackle the previous interview with Jonathan White and the topic of race. A true sports business behind the scenes podcast of learning what it means to all of us to work in sports. 

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Jonathan White, Director of Group Sales with the San Jose Sharks sits down with Rob and gives you the blue print on how to earn a job in sports. He even wrote a great article not he topic! Rob and Jonathan walk through his career. Why did he leave the NFL to go to the Minors? What makes a great boss? How do you find your why?

Jonathan and Rob also jump into a conversation around race and sports business. How do we start the conversation? What should the conversation sound like? This might be the most important conversation have had on Front Office Features.

 

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Rob is alive and well following his car accident this past week. The guys touch on the return of Major League Baseball and how it seems all is forgiven by the fans. This leads to the discussion on how you should approach reaching out to the connections you made during the pandemic to jumpstart your career. If you waited till now, it's too late! Rob also shares his vocal range as an A Capella singer.. maybe? Rob thinks Chris is 70 for having a garden; which is ridiculous on numerous levels. Chris had a great informational interview with someone in Israel who is doing whatever it takes to land his dream job in baseball. Starburst make another appearance. The guys close out with discussing the Bubba Wallace incident and how the act of unity was an amazing show of support. 

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Rob Crain, the man who doesn't watch movies, went on a Sports Movie Podcast and lived to tell about it. The guys dive into an always hard topic for hopeful sports executives; the interview process and how to set yourself up for success post-interview. Plus ALWAYS ask for referrals at the end of an informational interview. In typical Rob fashion, he makes Chris almost fall out of his chair tonight with an ALL TIME Robism. Let's just say yellow Starburst have never been described better. Chris made a list of topics for tonight; the most prepared they've ever been. Chris and Rob stress don't play the "What If" game when accessing sports job opportunities. HUGE shoutout to Sarah Kendall and the Ft. Wayne Tincaps. An all-timer!  

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A special 2 for 1 interview this week as Chris has a great in depth discussion with two of his former employees from the Albany Devils, Adam Banko and Lyle Hoffman. Adam is currently the Director of Ticketing and Digital Communications for the PGA Tour Event, the 3M Open in Minneapolis while Lyle is now the Territory Sales Manager for the Mavich Branding Group. The three of them recount some amazing Minor League Sports stories from their time in Albany and discuss the path each of them has taken over the last 10 years. Adam spent more time in the AHL as Vice President in Utica and Arizona before joining the 3M Open this past year. Lyle saw his career land him with the Dallas Stars and Detroit Lions prior to finding a new way to work in sports at Mavich Branding. Both guests share great insight on the sacrifices they made early in their career and how working in the minors has shaped who they have become. It is a true Good Ol Days podcast that shows how true it is that we all become family. 

  *Disclaimer* Adam currently lives in Minneapolis but this was recorded prior to the George Floyd incident.

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Rob goes behind the scenes and provides a great example of how Minor League Organizations are the best problem solvers in the game. The PawSox have found a way to generate revenue with their innovative Dining on the Diamond. Rob even waited tables showing no job is too big or small for an SVP in the Minors. MLB had positive movement today with the Commissioner announcing a guaranteed return to play. MLS set a return date as well. Chris and Rob give huge kudos to NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag; Rob goes a step further in a must listen rant. Plus the guys answer an email on starting your sports business career. 

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