Lansing Lugnuts

Supervisor of Warehouse Operations

May 2019 • Lansing, MI

What I liked

I've been working in minor league baseball now for seven years. This was by far the most rewarding job that I have ever had in my lifetime but was also definitely the most high-pressure and stressful job I have ever have. I learned a lot of very valuable lessons and grew a lot as an employee and as a manager over the course of my first year in this role. I loved how much responsibility I had and how I could look at my success by simply seeing how well the entire Food & Beverage Department operated each and every night.

What I wish was different

I wish that I would have been able to have had someone to advise me on a lot of the things I struggled with when I was first hired, but I think, in the end, it was much more rewarding to only have had myself to rely on.

Advice

I think an experience like this that gives you your first true managing experience and a great deal of responsibility may seem intimidating at first but I truly believe that if you fully embrace every aspect of your new role, it will allow you to be rewarded with levels of success and pride in your work that you have never experienced before.

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assistant operations manager

April - August 2019 • Lansing, MI

What I liked

always had something to do, people were cool, outside, worked for a sports organization.

What I wish was different

be able to try out different jobs

Advice

get a job in the field that you are thinking about going into for college and it's better than an internship because you get paid.

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Markeing and Entertainment intern

March - September 2019 • Lansing, MI

What I liked

It was such a fun and educational experience that enhanced my career in sports

What I wish was different

N/a

Advice

Take every opportunity that opens itself, and don’t be afraid to make your own opportunities. All the staff members there are so willing to help you learn!

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Concession Stand Attendant

April - October 2019 • Lansing, MI

What I liked

Being around baseball all summer

What I wish was different

nothing

Advice

just enjoy the summer

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Warehouse associates

April - August 2019 • Lansing, MI

What I liked

I loved the team-like atmosphere and everything that I learned.

What I wish was different

I wish I lived closer.

Advice

Don’t be scared off by long hours.

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Promotions Intern

March - September 2018 • Lansing, MI

What I liked

The atmosphere in the stadium was entrancing every night. Every time I walked into the ballpark, it felt like I was entering another world, one that I fit perfectly in. I grew up playing softball and watching all kinds of sports, so I decided recently that I wanted to make a career out of working in professional baseball. Interning in the minor leagues allowed me to get my foot in the door of the industry much more than I would have working for an independent team or in a college athletics department. Now I can work my way up to the majors just like a player would.

What I wish was different

The overall planning done by the front office was not well done. Although they created 69 game themes this season (a staggering number even by MiLB standards), the actual event planning that went along with it was very last minute. Aside from the giveaway items, the other in-game entertainment was not finalized until just a week before the game. The budget was very weak as well. When my group came up with ideas to better engage fans on theme nights, the front office would not accept most of them because it was "too much of a strain on the budget". There was one situation when we ask for a trash can to be placed in our storage room so we could dispose of giveaway boxes and firework shrapnel. The front office said that purchasing one wasn't in the budget. However, a few days later, an arcade-style basketball hoop supposedly purchased by someone in the front office was placed just outside our storage room. This caused numerous problems when people would come down to play around during our busiest times of the game. Not only that, but it tested our trust with the executives. We couldn't understand why they could purchase an arcade game and place it in our area but couldn't purchase us a trash can.

Advice

Networking is key in professional farm systems. With turnover being so high in the lower leagues of professional sports, you never know who you will see again with another organization. Everyone knows everyone in athletics, so make sure people remember you as a hard worker and a passionate fan of sports.

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