On a February night, a group of more than two dozen University of South Carolina students gathered at a local restaurant. They came to celebrate their common bond: landing fantastic postgraduate jobs thanks in part to the SEVT Conference.
The Sport Entertainment & Venues Tomorrow (SEVT) Conference hosted annually by USC’s David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management ignites new ideas, expands networks and shares cutting-edge insights from a diverse cross-section of industry leaders, educators, researchers and students. It attracts keynote speakers including major conference commissioners, team owners and presidents and industry legends.
Two SEVT traditions brought this group together: the annual Career and Internship Fair and (a more recent addition) the annual career launch workshop led by David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management Executive in Residence Murray Cohn and friends. Cohn also offers career planning consultation sessions for students in the department year round and has assisted 138 students (so far) this academic year with full-time or internship placements.
The 2025 Career and Internship Fair attracted more than 500 USC students and more than 80 teams and organizations. Those that celebrated in February along with Cohn and Department Chair Stephen Shapiro, were among those who landed dream jobs and internships at the fair or afterward thanks to a process begun there.
“This is the best collection of talent I’ve ever seen at any school,” Cohn says. “What an incredible It’s a Wonderful Life moment to know I helped play a small part in helping them launch their careers!”
Many of the students on hand for the celebration took time to share the good news about the positions they accepted and their stories.
Charlotte Waxvik, inside sales representative, Charlotte Hornets
“I’ve been told my whole life I should go into sales, and then I met Murray and he was like, ‘If you don't go into sales, I'm quitting.’ I met some awesome teams at SEVT, and then Murray reached out to me over winter break and said, ‘These are people you need to talk to,’ which is how I ended up meeting [Hornets Inside Sales Manager] Kevin Wilson,” she recalls.
Waxvik is one of five David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management students hired by the Hornets to start after graduation in May.
Jessie Kopacz, account executive, New Mexico Goatheads
“My college journey has been a little bit of a rocky one. I started in 2019, took a break, and moved from California to Charlotte. I was working full-time in Charlotte, driving down here to do full-time school twice a week. I wasn't yet in sport and entertainment management. From there, I figured out I love the business side of sports, and that kickstarted it. I've only been in the major for about a year. I did SEVT. I met with several teams. I was a finalist for a role with an NBA team but turned that down for a position on a brand new ECHL team in New Mexico.”
Ally Loss, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, inside sales representative, Charlotte Hornets
"I really came here to get my master's because I didn't know what I wanted to do. Then I met with Murray early last semester and talked about my personality and my strengths, and I actually turned to him and said, ‘I want to do sales.’ And then we talked about how that would happen. When we were preparing for SEVT, he asked which teams I wanted to talk to, and number one on my list was the Charlotte Hornets. I talked to them at SEVT, and then went to Charlotte and had a final in-person interview and I loved it there. Twelve hours later, they called and offered the position."
Marshall Gada, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, account executive, Atlanta Gladiators
Marshall, knowing Murray Cohn’s ‘On time is late’ philosophy, signed up for an 8 a.m. career planning session. He showed up at 7:40 with doughnuts, making a lasting impression. At SEVT, he received multiple job offers including several from “big four” (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) league teams.
“Dr. Shapiro was the gateway to me getting in here and it's one of the greatest decisions I've ever made in my life. Not only SEVT, but this program has given me the opportunity to be able to showcase myself to a variety of people that I never would have gotten the opportunity to, and to meet a bunch of people I'll work with in this industry throughout the rest of my life. It really has changed my life for the better and I haven't looked back since.”
Sean Fulton, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, inside sales consultant, New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints
“I am from Cork in Ireland. Moved over here for grad school, loved every minute of it so far. Hit it off with Murray, somehow, like this crazy Irish guy that came in shouting in his office one time. So Murray set me up, he sent me a bunch of emails to talk to for all these different organizations. It was pretty much a bit of a whirlwind for me. Then me and Murray were bonding over Waffle House and I just check my phone real quick and I say, ‘Holy [expletive], Murray! I've just got an email from an NBA team and NFL team and they want to meet with me.' I spoke with the Pelicans/Saints a bit more in depth at SEVT, and on the final day, they offered me a job."
Spencer Berlepsch, first year Master of Sport and Entertainment Management student, inside sales representative, Memphis Grizzlies
“Going to SEVT, I was a little confused on what I wanted to do. I thought I was going to be here for the whole two years. So I went in, I told a bunch of employers I'm not graduating this year, but had really good conversations with Josten Boyer from the Grizzlies. I really didn't think I was going to be working this summer, but I set up an informational call that ended up turning into my first interview, and as we went forward I realized I really was interested in what they were doing in Memphis. SEVT really helped me find my path.”
Makenzi Bartlett, Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, inside sales representative, Memphis Grizzlies
"I did my undergrad in psychology. I thought I wanted to be a counselor, but I realized that was not for me. I emailed back and forth with Dr. Shapiro and told him I didn't think I could come to USC, didn’t know if I could do it. He encouraged me to just come out here and see it. And when I came to USC, it was the best decision of my life. It's really changed my life for the better. It's given me the confidence I needed. When I met Murray, he saw something in me and he believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. It gave me the motivation to really pursue my dream in sport.”
Finn Twomey, inside sales representative, Charlotte Hornets
“At USC so far, I've gotten the opportunity to do a lot of amazing things like work the Players Championship, the Masters, the Ryder Cup and the NBA All-Star game, really building relationships. I knew that sales was something that I was really passionate about. I got to build a connection with Murray, and he saw the fire in me and the passion and saw my potential, and really helped me develop my skills and gave me amazing opportunities.”
Jack Travis, inside sales representative, Charlotte Hornets
“I'm from Westchester, New York, but came here for the great sport management program. I've had the opportunity to work at events like the Masters, a couple of NASCAR races, and as a recruiting assistant for Gamecock football. Recruiting really helped hone my sales skills: selling school as a product, tailoring my pitch to different recruits, really focusing on what appeals to them the most to put together the best pitch possible. Talking about that at SEVT with multiple organizations, like the Hornets, the Hawks, NASCAR, helped me get a couple of job offers.”
Brynn Atlas (December ‘26 grad),summer sales associate, Arizona Diamondbacks
“At USC, I’ve worked as a student tutor for athletes at the Dodie. I also did an internship with the Lexington Blowfish and Gamecock Hockey, I’ll be working with the Diamondbacks this summer, and Murray and I are currently working on post-graduation plans to get me to Australia to work with the National Basketball League.”
Jaidyn Rancourt, account executive, Cleveland Cavaliers
“I transferred here because I realized I wanted to be a part of the sport management program here at South Carolina. And ever since then, I've been so thankful for all opportunities. I got to work the Masters. I had a great internship with the Worcester Railers in the ECHL, where I learned I wanted to do sales, which was what Murray recommended for me. I really didn't think that was going to be my path, but now I love it.”
Read more about Jaidyn’s journey.
Reid Grizzle, sales associate, Nashville Predators
“In October, I had already taken the LSATs and was fully planning on going to law school. When I told Murray I was going to law school, he laughed and said ‘No, you're going into sales.’ And I didn't want to talk to him anymore. But the more I thought about law school, the less I felt comfortable doing that. So the second time I went to Murray, I told him I wanted to do sales. He said ‘I know you want to. That's what I said the last time.’"
Reid was offered positions with two NBA teams as well as the role he accepted in Nashville.
Lilly Gilmore, free agent
"If you asked me before, literally the week before SEVT, what I wanted to do in life, I would have told you I would never do sales. Then I ended up talking to Murray at SEVT on Monday and then went into the career fair with a completely open mind and ended up meeting some absolutely incredible people, which fully convinced me to do sales. Lilly was offered a role with an NBA team and is still considering which to choose of the many paths open to her.”
Leah Jackson, ticket sales intern, Columbia Fireflies
"Through this school, I've had so many great experiences. I worked three PGA championships, a NASCAR race, an SEC football championship, the Players Championship, and the NBA All-Star Game. About a year and a half ago, he texted me on LinkedIn and said ‘I want to help you.’ And I said ‘I'm in.’ We talked via Zoom and it was one of the best conversations I will remember for the rest of my life. I'm finishing my 495 with the Columbia Fireflies. I'll be doing that until September, hopefully when we make it to the playoffs.”
Rachel Kelley, director of new business development, Trenton Ironhawks
“I'm actually a Darla Moore School marketing major, and I added sport and entertainment management as my minor after working the Masters. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with sports, but I did have a sales internship and I sold commercial steel. I knew I didn't exactly love steel, but I love sports and I loved all the operations of the Masters. So I took Professor Hargrave’s sales in sport class, and I learned about corporate partnerships, ticket sales, and that's where I met Murray when he came to one of our classes. I stayed after, and I spoke with him, and he just was awesome. He told me all these people to reach out to right after class and he pushed me to go to SEVT, which I'd never heard of before. He and Kim Boone also helped me even to apply for the scholarship, which was amazing. At SEVT, I spoke with the Phillies and the Devils and the Saints and the 76ers. I was moving forward with the Devils, but then over winter break, Murray reached out to me with an opportunity to be a director of new business development for the new ECHL team in Trenton, New Jersey, and I accepted a week later.”
Laura Castrogiovanni, inside sales representative, Brooklyn Nets
“Up until October, I always thought I would do analytics, hopefully for sports. Randomly reached out to Murray on LinkedIn because I saw someone else who posted him, asked to set up a networking chat, met with him, and within 20 minutes, he said I was made for sales. He pushed me to go to SEVT. I talked to a bunch of teams from the Northeast because I knew I wanted to go back home: I ended up really liking the Brooklyn Nets and the Carolina Hurricanes and spoke a lot with both.”
Laura, also a Moore School student, left SEVT with two job offers.
Ali Schwartz, inside sales associate, Nashville Predators
“My freshman year, I was actually a psychology major at Coastal Carolina, and then I did a whole 180, transferred to South Carolina and became a sport entertainment management major. Had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with that. Junior year, I got connected with Murray, who then connected me with the Columbia Fireflies. If it weren't for that internship last summer, I definitely would not be here. That helped me learn that selling is a lot more than what you think of it and it's not all the negatives that would come with it.”
Ali had multiple job offers after SEVT, but chose Nashville: a place she visited often while growing up and home of her dad’s favorite NFL team.
Tiana Martinez, sales associate, Philadelphia 76ers
“When I was 12 years old, I went to an NBA game and absolutely fell in love with basketball. My grandparents flew out from Nevada to take me and my family to the March Madness game, Duke versus Carolina in 2019. So they were my first clients and that's when I decided I was absolutely in love with sport. Coming to the USC has given me so many incredible experiences. I've been able to meet so many amazing people like Kim Boone and like Murray. I went into SEVT knowing I wanted to work for an NBA team. So I spoke with several, but Cassidy at the 76ers just really made me feel like home.”
Anthony Perricone, freshman
“I'm so grateful to be a part of this program with people like Dr. Shapiro, and Murray. So far, I've worked for the Dream Bowl, a college football all-star game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. I've worked with Gamecock Hockey as well as NASCAR and I'll be doing the Masters, the Players Championship and the Battle of Bull Street. All as a freshman, yes. Here we go!”
Anthony was the youngest of the group that February night. His journey is just beginning. He was chosen this spring as an HRSM Leader.
Two other students were unable to attend the February celebration but are also SEVT/HRSM success stories. Alli Garner accepted an inside sales associate position with the Carolina Hurricanes. Ben Drago, having earned his bachelor’s degree in three years, will spend the summer as a ticket services intern with the Philadelphia Phillies before returning to USC in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in sport and entertainment.