The Department of Sport Management, in collaboration with the Elon in Charlotte program, Sport Management Society, and Women Influencers in Sport (WINS), hosted a Sept. 29 professional development event at the university’s Charlotte National Campus.
It’s no surprise that Elon University and its students are attracted to Charlotte, where career opportunities are plentiful – particularly for individuals pursuing roles in business, marketing and sport. The Queen City and its surrounding region offer nearly 220 days of live sporting events each year, boasting NFL, NBA and MLS franchises, as well as the headquarters for NASCAR and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Department of Sport Management took full advantage of Elon’s Charlotte National Campus last week, hosting a dynamic professional development event, titled “Beyond the Field: A Sport Management Workshop.” In collaboration with the Elon in Charlotte program, Sport Management Society, and Women Influencers in Sport (WINS), the department and organizers hosted two panel discussions and a reception, and coordinated a get-together at the Carolina Panthers’ home game.
Following check-in and refreshments, the Sept. 29 program kicked off with a professional panel featuring Catherine Beebe Jones ’03, vice president of global events and hospitality lead at Octagon; Jessica Rippey, senior associate commissioner and senior woman administrator at the Atlantic Coast Conference; and Ellie Whittington ’18, a social media freelancer for On Her Turf, an NBC Sports program.
The three panelists dove into their experiences in the sport industry, sharing career advice, examining the industry’s challenges, and explaining how new professionals can stand apart. One helpful tip: Giving full effort to all tasks, even small ones, can make an important impression.
After a brief reception, the workshop hosted a second panel featuring current and past participants in the Elon in Charlotte program. This included Anthony Bamford ’25 and Sarah Dawkins ’25, who both interned with the Atlantic Coast Conference in fall 2023, and Abigail Selikoff ’26, a current Elon in Charlotte student serving as a digital products intern with NASCAR and a football game day operations center intern with the ACC.
The students discussed their Elon in Charlotte Study USA experiences and the academic, professional and personal benefits they enjoyed studying in the Queen City.
Selikoff played an instrumental role in planning and organizing the workshop, which included recruiting panelists, crafting timelines, creating event materials, and moderating the professional panel discussion.
“I’m thrilled with how the event came together,” Selikoff said. “It was amazing to connect students with these inspiring professionals and share our collective journeys. My goal was to create a meaningful experience for everyone, and I believe we accomplished that.”
The workshop was funded by the university’s Student Government Association.