High Point, N.C., Nov. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, High Point University hosted a Sports Entertainment Industry All-Star Panel in Congdon Hall’s Callicutt Auditorium.
The HPU All-Star Panel featured several of HPU’s In-Residence faculty, including Cynt Marshall, CEO of Mark Cuban’s NBA team the Dallas Mavericks and HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence; Joe Michaels, associate professor in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, former director of the NBC’s “TODAY” show and HPU’s Broadcaster in Residence; and Bob Ryan, retired sports columnist for The Boston Globe and HPU’s Sports Reporter in Residence.
Logan Carter, an HPU senior majoring in sport communication and minoring in sport management from Kernersville, North Carolina, moderated the All-Star Panel.
“Having the In-Residence faculty is one of the best parts of being at High Point University,” said Carter. “Thanks to the education, opportunities and access High Point University provides, I am excelling in the sports industry. I give all the credit to the amazing faculty and mentors who have played a key role in growing me into the professional I strive to be.”
The panel covered the evolution of the sports industry, including how sporting events have become an entertainment experience and what that means from a business, organizational and journalistic perspective.
“For me, we are not simply playing 82 games this season,” said Marshall. “We are throwing 41 parties. During all of our home games, we need to make sure everyone is entertained. We want to create a positive entertainment experience and leave a lasting impression on all attendees.”
The panel also discussed where they see the industry heading and trending topics like paying college athletes, mental health and gender disparities in pay and coverage across the sports industry.
“Someday we will have the ability to watch sports from the view we want,” said Michaels. “We will be in the driver’s seat, literally, if referring to auto racing, and enjoy sporting events based on personal preference.”
Throughout the day, Bob Ryan and Cynt Marshall engaged with students during classes and over lunch.
“Having someone like Bob Ryan share tips that prepare me for my future career is a wonderful experience,” said Kayli Tolleson, HPU junior majoring in sport communication and minoring in sport management from Monroe, North Carolina.
The Access to Innovators program offers students ongoing mentorship opportunities from industry leaders and change agents.
“It’s been exciting to collaborate with someone who is such a pinnacle in her industry,” said Grace George, a junior majoring in sport management from Wheeling, West Virginia. “Cynt places an emphasis on teamwork, and we all feel connected to her because she really wants everyone to be part of the team. Every time I sit down and talk to her, I learn something new. She has become a true mentor to us.”
About the all-star panelists
Marshall has been CEO of the Dallas Mavericks since May 2018. Before joining the professional basketball team, Marshall served in leadership roles at AT&T. She started in 1981 and held a variety of line and staff positions in the operator services, network engineering, operations, external and legislative affairs departments. Marshall served as the president of AT&T North Carolina for more than six years before becoming senior vice president and chief diversity officer for AT&T nationally. In the spring, Marshall participated in a growth mindset forum with HPU students, as well as other workshops across campus. Currently, a group of HPU students are shadowing Marshall in Dallas, Texas, during an externship with the Dallas Mavericks.
Michaels has been a close mentor to HPU students within the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication since joining HPU in 2015. He brings more than 30 years of experience to HPU, including 22 of those years as director of NBC’s “TODAY” show. He began his career in television as an associate director and director for NBC Sports. His work includes The World Series, The Super Bowl, Wimbledon Tennis, Olympics, NBC Game of the Week, the Orange Bowl, Hula Bowl and NBC SportsWorld. He has also directed commercials, stage productions and special events. Michaels mentors HPU students every day in the classroom and in the state-of-the-art television studio in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication.
Ryan wrote for The Boston Globe since 1968, covering all of Boston’s sports teams. Ryan’s work still appears in the Globe semi-regularly. He is a regular panelist on ESPN’s Sunday morning roundtable, “The Sports Reporters,” and has been described as the “quintessential American sportswriter” and a basketball guru. Ryan is well-known for his coverage of basketball and for his stories covering the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. Ryan regularly mentors students in sports reporting classes in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication.
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