ATLANTA, Ga. — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) was well represented at the 2nd annual NFL Careers in Football Forum on Friday, Dec.15, at the Omni Hotel.
Student-athletes from several MEAC institutions and graduate interns from the conference office attended the event along with undergraduate and graduate students from the CIAA, SWAC and SIAC athletic conferences.
“It was a very eye opening experience,” shared Norfolk State University football player Kyle Archie. “A lot of things they said gave me confidence to keep persevering. Even though the pay may be low to start out, but as long as you’re doing something you love it will work itself out.”
The event kicked off Friday morning with a headshot session and lunch followed by a welcome from the emcee of the day in NFL Legend Freddie Scott II.
Keynote speaker Adrienne Lofton, Senior Vice President of Global Brand Management for Under Armour, started the afternoon sessions with a brief synopsis of her journey and a wealth of information encouraging those in attendance to be their authentic self and strategically make decisions that will lead to a career that’s not only financially fulfilling, but also a good fit.
After the keynote, Scott led the NFL Club Career Panel featuring Corry Rush, Vice President of Communications for the New York Jets, Zena Lewis, Media Services Coordinator for the Washington Redskins, Brandon Harrell, Legal Counsel for the Seattle Seahawks and Jacqueline Davidson, Director of Football Administration for the New York Jets. The panel discussion covered a plethora of topics ranging from the do’s and don’ts of networking, branding, being resourceful and resilient, and ultimately addressing how to climb the ladder of success without tarnishing your personal and professional brands.
“You need a mentor, sponsor and connector,” emphasized Rush.
Following the first panel session, Scott led a breakout session focused on brand management. During the session, Scott shared a template to assist attendees with drafting a personal position statement and also challenged students to always reflect on the question, “can your brand be eternal?”
The second panel discussion of the evening featured NFL League Office professionals NaNa-Yaw Asamoah, Vice President of Business Development, Michael Leach, Manager of Labor Operations, and CiCi James, Manager of Fan Development. During the discussion, the panelists addressed the need to establish transferrable skills and build pipelines that will assist them and their employer to fulfill their visions.
“Everyone communicates, but few connect,” shared Leach. “Don’t compete with people you were meant to collaborate with, because if you’re too big to serve than you’re too small to lead.”
The event also included a mock interview breakout session where Human Resources professionals from the 11 NFL clubs on site facilitated small groups of attendees showcasing themselves in the interviewer and interviewee roles.
“The NFL Careers in Football Forum is a great opportunity for the Jaguars and other NFL clubs to recruit diverse talent for jobs across our entire organization,” said Jessica Jones Director of People Development and Administration of the Jacksonville Jaguars. “It’s a win-win situation in that I get the opportunity to connect with future leaders and, in turn, can offer career advice to students just starting out and looking to build lasting success in the NFL.”
NFL Director of Talent Acquisition John Quinones also addressed the room and shared how attendees can further access opportunities with the league and its clubs through the NFL Diverse Talent Database.
Following the event, attendees were able to connect with panelists, staff, and their peers during the networking reception to wrap up the day.
“My biggest takeaway was the quote from Zena Lewis, which is “be an intellectual thief” and always learn something and be willing to pick others brain,” said Coppin State baseball student-athlete Devin Rivera.
Overall, two messages that were recurrent throughout the forum conveyed through every panelist, speaker, and session was for attendees to align themselves with people that will be advantageous and to be intentional in building relationships, building their brands, and pursuing your goals.
On Saturday, the MEAC welcomed all NFL Careers in Football Forum attendees to attend the 2017 Celebration Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to cap off the eventful weekend in Atlanta.
“The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is very enthusiastic about partnering with the National Football League (NFL).The MEAC student-athletes and interns were given the opportunity to network and develop relationships with league officials and club representatives. The NFL has created an event for our young professionals to advance professionally and personally,” said MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas. “I commend Troy Vincent, Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Austin Moss, Senior Manager of Football Administration and Development, Damani Leach, Vice President of Football Strategy and Business Development, and other NFL personnel for providing a unique experience for our students.”