Lindenwood - Your Alumni Connection - Fall 2017

SPORT MANAGEMENT GRADS SCORE WITH MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS by SCOTT WUERZ Even though most can’t hit a 450-foot home run, score a three-point shot over a 7-foot-tall defender, or outrun a world-class sprinter to the end zone, Lindenwood University graduates regularly place in the big leagues. Students with diplomas from the university’s Sport Management program have landed positions with major league franchises in baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. Here are a few notable examples. Tim Schmidt (’14) works as a ticket representative in the ticket office for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. It’s his second job with a pro club. “I’ve always wanted to work for a professional sports team, so I was extremely fortunate that I graduated on a Saturday and went to work for the St. Louis Rams on Monday morning,” said Schmidt. “I had an internship with the Rams while I was still in school, but it was still surprising how things came together to make my dream of a career in professional sports a reality.” Schmidt said he was concerned that dream would be short-lived when the Rams announced that they’d move to Los Angeles following the 2015 season. Fortunately, he was able to land his second job nearly as quickly as the first. “I was hired by the Bengals about a week after the Rams announced they’d move,” Schmidt said. A native of Arnold, Adam Ure (’14, ’15) grew up playing youth hockey in the area while rooting on the NHL St. Louis Blues. Now with his bachelor’s in sport management and an MBA from Lindenwood as well, he works for his favorite team as a client retention specialist. “This is a picture-perfect career for me,” said Ure. “It’s the next-best thing to being on the ice. I hope to stay with the organization and continue to grow into a position in the business office.” Tom Heimrich (’15) got a job in the ticket office of the St. Louis Cardinals right after graduation, but he couldn’t pass on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a new sports franchise being created from scratch. “I was hired by the NHL expansion team the Las Vegas Golden Knights,” Heimrich said. “I was one of their first 10 employees to sign on after the team was created, so that’s a pretty unique experience.” Heimrich said one of his first responsibilities as an account executive with the fledgling team was to convert the thousands of deposits the team received into season ticket accounts. “It’s been a long process to get the team up and running,” said Heimrich. “But I’m excited to be a part of it and I can’t wait until the games start to be played.” Lindsay Sorenson (’15) already had her bachelor’s degree when she arrived at Lindenwood. She planned to get a master’s in sport management, but she decided to pursue an MBA instead to broaden her marketability. That didn’t stop her from pursing her dream of working in professional sports. Sorenson also started her career as a ticket sales representative with the Cardinals, but after moving on to work on the Orange Bowl Committee, she settled into a job as a group sales account executive with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. “I work with a lot of church, high school, and scouting groups,” said Sorenson. “It’s a lot of fun, and it’s always interesting. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had because of my Lindenwood education, including my first job in sports working as a graduate assistant in the Athletics Department. I wouldn’t change a thing.” Lindenwood University ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT It’s a lot of fun, and it’s always interesting. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had because of my Lindenwood education.” Lindsay Sorenson “ Adam Ure (’14, ’15) Lindsay Sorenson (’15) Tim Schmidt (’14) Tom Heimrich (’15) 10