In the news

• Here’s How Much Olympic Figure Skating Star Nathan Chen Is Making From Endorsements: Forbes (feat. John Grady)
• Beijing Winter Olympics: CGTN America (feat. Mark Nagel. Prof. Nagel made several appearances on CGTN during the Olympics, providing expert analysis of the business / management side of the games).
• Olympics by the numbers: WalletHub (feat. Stephen Shapiro)
• As Dollywood workers get free tuition, Orlando theme parks largely lag in offering same benefit: Orlando Sentinel (feat. Scott Smith)
• After humble beginnings, Columbia food trucks find success in making the jump: Post and Courier (feat. Chris Knezevich)
• Ask the Experts: Best Credit Cards For International Travel: WalletHub (feat. Lori Pennington-Gray)
• ‘Ghost kitchens’ appear in Columbia area. Your dinner might be from Hooters: The State (feat. George Hendry)
• 2022 WalletHub Economic Index: WalletHub (feat. Donna Watts)
• IBU? Aged beer? What does it all mean? Here’s a Free Times guide to craft beer lingo: Post and Courier (feat. Robby Lybrand)
• Will Myrtle Beach ever get a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods? Experts say maybe: Myrtle Beach Sun News (feat. Jeff Campbell)
• SC Gov. joins the Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism for awards ceremony: WPDE (feat. student Meghan Keeler, similar stories appeared in many outlets statewide)
• “It is unique”: Graduate student diver Brooke Schultz finds lifetime mentor in coach, father: Daily Gamecock (feat. student Brooke Schultz)

Faculty, staff and student notes

• Marketa Kubickova was named one of the Global 25 Most Influential Educators in Hospitality for 2021 by the International Hospitality Institute.
• Richard Southall and Mark Nagel published the article, “NIL ‘Reform’ Fails to Address the NCAA’s Biggest Issue,” in the Journal of Applied Sport Management.
• Sam Todd co-authored the article, “Leading for multidimensional sport employee well-being: the role of servant leadership and teamwork,” published in Sport Management Review.
• Richard Southall published the article, “The ESPNification of Football Bowl Subdivision College Football: The Adoption of an Integrated Marketing Communication Televisuality in Football Bowl Subdivision Bowl Game Broadcasts,” in the International Journal of Sport Communication. Southall collaborated on the article with his daughter Crystal Southall, Ph.D., and with HRSM alumnus Chris Corr (Ph.D. Sport and Entertainment Management, ’21).
• Simon Hudson’s new book, “Customer Service for Hospitality and Tourism,” co-authored with Louise Hudson, was published by Goodfellow Publishers.
• Mike Watson is now a faculty fellow with the UofSC Center for Integrated and Experiential Learning.
• Armen Shaomian has been selected as the new faculty principal for Preston Residential College.
• Student Kathryn Kotecha was named Outstanding Council Leader for 2021 by UofSC Fraternity and Sorority Life.
• Student Audrey Reding accepted a position as tournament services trainee for the Rocket Mortgage Classic PGA Tour event in Detroit. Audrey will graduate in May with her M.S. in Sport and Entertainment Management.
• Student Nicole Monninger accepted a position in the Marriott International Voyage Global Leadership Development Program. Nicole will graduate in May with her B.S. in Hospitality Management, then begin her role as a front desk voyager at Marriott’s Gaylord Hotels National Resort & Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Alumni news

Job Changes / Promotions:

2021

• Justin Blackley (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position as community relations coordinator with MLS franchise FC Cincinnati.
• Nicholas DeCirce (M.S. Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position as events coordinator for the football and basketball programs at IMG Academy in Sarasota, Florida.
• Jennifer Skinner (Retailing - Retail Management) started a new position as military human resource specialist at Quality Innovation.
• Katie Ladin (Retailing - Retail Management) was promoted to merchant trainee with Bealls, Inc.
• Matthew Beaven (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position as assistant equipment manager for Olympic sports and football at Stetson University.
• Anthony Saunders (Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to senior account manager at Nolan Transportation Group.
• Gordon Thompson (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as logistics executive with JEAR Logistics.
• Sam Hopler (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position with Oak View Group as premium services and event manager at the Ryan Center, the University of Rhode Island Arena.
• Harrison Cordell Fant (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as assistant tour manager for the Atlanta Braves World Series Trophy Tour, a joint venture between the Braves and marketing agency 160over90.
• Devon Rindone (Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to music touring assistant with Creative Artists Agency in Nashville.
• Lauren Hayes (Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to event operations coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles.

2020

• Paris Williford (Interdisciplinary Studies) started a new position as complaint and appeal analyst with Aetna.
• Claire Emmert (Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to growth account executive at G2.
• Hanna Marie Hix (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a new position as a luxury fashion stylist and sales lead with 120% Lino in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Sarah Morgan Randolph (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) was part of the team behind the successful grand opening of Savannah’s new Enmarket Arena. Sarah is the arena’s coordinator of partnership activation and premium services.
• Lauren Skipper (Hospitality Management) started a new position as sales development representative at Celonis.

2019

• Samantha Conner (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as coordinator, ticketing for Major League Baseball.
• Madison Kuchar (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) was promoted to senior analyst, brand advocate interconnected merchandising at Home Depot.
• Turner Anderson (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as business development representative at Stats Perform.
• Clark Benassi (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, also B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management, ’18 ) started a new position as deal originator at Benchmark International.
• Nia Grissett (Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to human resources manager at Levy Restaurants in Nashville.
• Ryan Daniels (Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management, also B.S. Hospitality Management, ’17) started a new position as operations manager at Kaleidoscope Adventures.
• Grace Engle (Hospitality Management), a travel experience specialist at Aya Healthcare, won the Rising Star award from her employer.
• Matthew Schwartz (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to manager, premium club sales with the Atlanta Hawks.
• Gianna Messina (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as branded events coordinator for the Metropolitan Golf Association.
• Kyler Glover (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as director of on-campus recruiting with Georgia Tech football.

2018

• Sarah Anne Cox (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) started a new position as talent acquisition manager at ModWash.
• Madeline Dagenhart (Sport and Entertainment Management) was promoted to customer success and renewal manager at Pixellot - AI-Automated Sports Production.
• Anna Grace Averett (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) was promoted to professional channel merchandising - collegiate, ecommerce at Under Armour.

2017

• Tripp Harmon (Hospitality Management) started a new position as project coordinator with SouthWood Corporation.
• Thomas Brooks (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position as account executive with Gamecock Athletics.
• Caitlyn Rudman (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) started a new position as junior performance marketing manager with 6H Agency.

2016

• Ethan Ramsey (Hospitality Management) started a new position as executive steward at the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia.

2015

• Will Prystowsky (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as manager, new product commercialization at INW Group Phoenix.
• Diego Bufquin (Ph.D., Hospitality Management) was promoted to International Development program director at the University of Central Florida.

2014

• Kyle Headley (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as assistant vice president, external operations at REVELxp.
• Emily Sapier (Tourism Management) passed the Introductory Examination of the Court of Master Sommeliers.

2012

• Dominique Gray (Hospitality Management) started a new position as director of business development with Troon.
• Shannon Schoultz (Sport and Entertainment Management) led a panel on “Privacy and Borderless Data — Global Risk and Compliance” at the National Bar Association Commercial Law Section's Corporate Counsel Conference in Miami.

2010

• Justin Drum (Sport and Entertainment Management) started a new position as director of match presentation for Austin FC in MLS.

2008

• Brian Rosen (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position as assistant volleyball coach at Creighton University.

1999

• Gene Willis (Sport and Entertainment Management) was named to the Kansas City Independent’s 2022 Class of Rising Stars.

1993

• Carolee Moore (Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration) was promoted to senior vice president of revenue strategy with Crestline Hotels and Resorts.