Professor Diane Crossey’s Leading with Service class (SMGT 266) invited 10 employees from four different Houston sports organizations to Rice University’s campus on April 3, 2018. During their visit, these industry professionals conducted mock interviews of the students enrolled in SMGT 266.
Leading with Service can be described as a course that examines the vital role that customer service plays in the success of an organization. Students are expected to observe industry-leading organizations, while discovering the ‘service culture’ unique to each. This includes the employee engagement process, which is why the mock interviews were included as a part of the students’ individual grades.
“In this particular instance, the chance to mock interview with an industry executive provides invaluable insight to our students while fostering networking among our students,” Crossey said. “Not only do the students receive valuable career advice but the executives get a first-hand look at the caliber of students at Rice University.”
These mock interviews are an excellent opportunity for the students in SMGT 266 to network within the sports industry. Below are the professional sports organizations, along with their particular employees, who appeared on Rice University’s campus to interview these undergraduates.
Houston Texans
- Shari Rainey, Director of Luxury Suite Service
- Kathryn Iribarren, Ticket Service and Operations Coordinator
- Jessica Schneider, Senior Manager, Premium Services
- Karissa Hudik, Event Services Coordinator
NRG Park
- Michael McCall, Director of Event Services
- Sarah Minnick, Guest Services Manager
- Derek Michelson, Event Coordinator
BBVA Compass Stadium
- Lana Ramirez, Director, Event Services
- Brian Siffermann, Director of Security
Houston Dynamo
- Zac Emmons, Sr. Director of Communications
“The Department of Sport Management at Rice University has incredibly strong connections with our local professional sports teams,” Crossey said. “This is a great benefit to our students in many ways.”
The students in SMGT 266, along with all Sport Management majors, have the ability to take advantage of the strong connections the department possesses within the sports industry. This results in current majors such as Samantha Quen ’20, to gain significant experience in regard to networking throughout the sports industry.
“I had already had five interviews for internships in the past few weeks,” Quen said. “It was really cool talking to executives from the Texans and it was great to hear about their experience and how they got there.”
Along with this, the interviews allowed for Sport Management majors such as Madison Buzzard ’20, to gain vital insight about customer service from the organizations in attendance.
“It was the first time I have ever answered questions about customer service, and it was a great way to reinforce the principles we have learned in class,” Buzzard said. “Additionally, the interview was a great networking opportunity because I met Jessica Schneider, director of premium services for the Houston Texans.”
Crossey’s Leading with Service class is just one of many courses in the Sport Management Department that presents students with these types of opportunities.
Ford Proctor, a junior from Beaumont, Texas, is double majoring in Sport Management and Managerial Studies along with a minor in Business.