Alumni Profile: Amy Kress

Q&A

• Q. Where are you employed? What is your Title?
• Graduated from Illinois 1990 - 1997 - Houston Astros Baseball Club (various positions in Marketing Department)
  1997 - 2007 - Chicago White Sox Baseball Club (Director of Mass Communications)
  2008 - Two By Four Ad Agency (Account Supervisor, Chicago Bears Account)
  2006 - present - Terra Garden Design (Owner)
• Q. What is your favorite part of your job?
• I worked in baseball for nearly 20 years and I loved the excitement of game day, and the variety of bizarre responsibilities that went with it. One day I directed the pregame ceremony that included presenting a live calf (on-field) to Nolan Ryan!
• Q. What do you consider to be your most valuable contribution to your organization for which you work?
• I've 'retired' from baseball and now run my own landscape design company.
• Q. Given your career path, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
• n/a
• Q. Do you have any words of advice/recommendations? a. for undergrads still searching for a major-would you recommend RST and why?, b. for the undergrads currently in the program c. for the senior currently looking for his/her first position.
• a. It's the 'fun' major...don't go this route if you want to work in a corporate environment, climb the ladder and make a lot of money. But, get into it if you want to have a job that is fun...that your friends will be jealous of!
  b. Keep going and find a job you can really enjoy...you will probably start out having to work some long hours, so it is best to find a field you really love.
• Q. Please add anything else that might be helpful.
• If you want to get into professional sports marketing, so many more people are looking to get into this field, it is much harder to break into than when I got started. Most entry level jobs are in ticket sales, which is a great place to start, but a tough area to move out of. Take some classes, or get a minor, in another area that could help you move up in the organization...marketing, legal, finance, etc. Good Luck!