Internship Takes Student Behind Scenes of PA Pro Soccer Team
Thursday, March 2, 2017
This spring, a Pennsylvania College of Technology student is taking one more step toward a career dream to work in the sports industry.
Jared M. Dancho, of Catawissa, is studying business administration with a management concentration. With an internship in the Harrisburg City Islanders’ fan development department, he is gaining valuable real-world experience that will help him prepare for work in that field.
“I've always wanted to work in sports, and that's the reason I'm pursuing a management degree,” Dancho said. “I had heard about the City Islanders when I was younger and was always interested in working for a pro soccer team.”
The team is one of 30 in the United Soccer League, the world’s largest Division II professional soccer league and a partner of Major League Soccer.
As the team gears up for its March 25 season opener, Dancho is assisting with season-ticket sales and helping to build relationships with youth soccer programs.
“I spend much of my time here reaching out to people who might be interested in partnering with us and explaining the benefits of different ticket packages or youth partnership agreements,” he said.
Classes in marketing, taught by Steven J. Moff, professor of business administration: management and marketing, have proved valuable.
“In marketing classes, we’re taught that being able to develop relationships with clients is one of the most important factors in building trust with them and eventually closing sales.”
His internship work is already helping him to add new perspective to those lessons.
“So far, I've learned that to be successful in sales isn't just about being charismatic or likeable,” he said. “That's certainly a big part of it, but the most important things are knowing the product inside and out and having a structured plan of action before ever making contact with a prospect. My worst fear is getting someone on the phone to explain a ticket package to them and not knowing the answer to one of their questions.”
Dancho is a senior and a consistent Dean’s List student.
The business administration: management concentration is a bachelor’s degree that provides students with a solid business core that includes an extensive background in marketing, finance, accounting and management, along with an understanding of the economic, legal, behavioral and strategic aspects of business decisions. In addition, students gain skill in information systems, quantitative analysis, financial modeling and effective communication.
The college also offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration: banking and finance concentration, business administration: marketing concentration, and business administration: sport and event management concentration.
To learn more about management majors at Penn College, call 570-327-4505.
For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.