ON CAMPUS: Student scores with Sens
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Die-hard sports fan Melinda Mousseau chose Loyalist College’s Sports and Entertainment Sales and Marketing (SESM) program with one goal in mind – to work for the Ottawa Senators.
After completing a two-year Business diploma at Loyalist, Mousseau decided to take her diploma to the next level by specializing in the dynamic field of sports. She did her research, scoured the Internet for reputable sports programs and weighed her options. That’s when she decided to enroll in Loyalist’s SESM eight-month post-graduate program.
“Even though I’ve been a huge sports fan for as long as I can remember, I didn’t know what it meant to work in the business sector of the sports industry,” said Mousseau. “That changed the moment I stepped into the classroom.”
Originally from Ottawa, where Senators pride rocks Canada’s capitol, Mousseau has always dreamed of working for the Sens. She shared her aspirations with her professors and colleagues, and was encouraged to apply for a work placement. Today, she’s the corporate sales work placement student for her beloved hockey team at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
Mousseau works with the team’s corporate partners, maintains rink board advertising and facilitates contests that have been created to promote the company’s partners.
“By working with contests, I get a lot of interactions with fans,” she said. “I love being able to interact with people I normally would never have met, who share the same passion for hockey that I do.”
So far, Mousseau’s placement has exceeded her expectations.
“Not only am I part of behind-the-scenes activities, I also get to go to every game,” she said. “It’s awesome to see how much goes into putting together just one game, and to do it so many times throughout the year really blows my mind. It’s great to be in a career where you can see your hard work come to life at every game.”
SESM students have a diploma or a degree. They learn through role-play scenarios and get an insider’s perspective with teams such as the Ottawa Senators (NHL), the Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) and the Detroit Red Wings (NHL). They also learn from faculty members who are active within the industry and are invested in the success of their students. The faculty use their vast network of professional sports contacts to help students develop their own personal network. The program includes a four-month placement where students gain hands-on experience in their field. Recent placements include the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Maple Leaf Sports (NHL/NBA/MLS/AHL) and Entertainment and the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL).
Graduates work with sporting organizations, entertainment complexes and the non-profit sector. The program prepares graduates for a variety of careers, such as: sales and marketing manager, account representative, sponsorship liaison, sponsorship sales manager, marketing executive, licensing brand manager, game night coordinator, community events coordinator, social media coordinator, group sales or ticketing manager, and corporate services coordinator. In 2014, 100 percent of Loyalist SESM grads were working within six months of graduation.
For more information about Loyalist College’s Sports and Entertainment Sales and Marketing program, visit loyalistcollege.com.
- Rebeka Hall, post-graduate Public Relations student at Loyalist College