Alumni Profile: Dustin Vicari

Game On!

Dustin Vicari is responsible for generating new business ticket revenue for the Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Sting, and Jobing.com arena. As inside telemarketing supervisor and senior sales representative, he also manages a part-time sales staff of college students. Dustin received his Bachelor of Science in Leisure Studies with a concentration in Sport Management from the University of Illinois in May 2005. He completed an internship as an assistant to the athletic director at Springfield College in Illinois where he was involved with coaching baseball and assisting in the administrative offices. Following an internship and graduation, Dustin moved to Phoenix for his current position. Below, Dustin’s reveals about his work experience and gives advice to students planning on entering the sports management field.

Q&A

• Q. What is your favorite part of your position?
• A. I enjoy the new challenges I face each day working in sales. My goal is to be a trendsetter and set myself apart from co-workers.
• Q. Why are you passionate about the sport industry?
• A. I have been involved in sports since I was a young child. I played baseball and golf at the collegiate level and have always wanted to be a part of a sports organization in some capacity.
• Q. What do you consider your greatest contribution to the organization for which you work?
• A. Walking into a sold-out hockey arena for a Coyotes game gives me a great feeling of accomplishment.
• Q. Have you observed any changing or developing trends currently occurring in the professional sport industry—what do you see as the future of the industry?
• A. Internships—I interview students for entry-level positions in sports who often have not had any sports-related work experience. I cannot stress enough to current students to get a foot in the door in the sports industry as early as possible in order to build their resumes—it is vital!
• Q. Given your current career path, where do you see yourself in ten years?
• A. I see myself becoming a manager of a full-time staff of 20–30 sales representatives.
• Q. Would you recommend any resources for graduating seniors, currently looking for their first position in sport?
• A. www.teamworkonline.com and Sports Business Journal