University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
My NACMA Experience: Kassi Butcher, Director of Athletics Marketing
06.22.2023 | General
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the 2023 National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention in Orlando, Florida, at the World Center Marriott Resort. I participated in the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) convention sessions and was asked to participate as a panelist during the College Sports Communicators' Divisional Day. I was honored to be one of the 25 recipients to receive a NACMA convention stipend to attend this year's convention.
This was my second time attending the convention, but my first time attending as a member of NACMA. In my experience, I take away three aspects from conventions: networking, educational opportunities, and tools to use once back on campus. I felt like this year's convention gave me a healthy dose of each aspect as I walked away with new connections, more knowledge of collegiate sports marketing, and promotional material to incorporate during the 2023-24 athletic season.
Connecting with individuals in this industry is such a vital aspect of any convention and in the college sports world in general. Having individuals who you can reach out to regarding work-related subjects and who believe in and support you and your work is essential to growth. Burnout and complacency can be combated by having colleagues in your corner who encourage you in your role. I am thankful that NACMA provided networking opportunities at the convention to allow me and others in this field to grow our circles.
The educational events that I attended focused on game day and fan experiences and social media marketing. In the ever-changing world of social media, staying ahead of the game in athletics matters when it comes to our student-athletes and fans. Having attractive graphics, interactive and engaging videos, and growing our presence are essential to strengthening the athletic department. Along with continuing to expand on social media, creating events that people want to attend is a key part of the student-athlete experience. Having fans in the stands and showing their support is a memorable experience for student-athletes. I'm excited to begin using what I gained from these sessions, and implementing strategies to get more students and members of the community to attend our athletic events.
One of my favorite parts of the convention was hearing from the inspiring keynote speakers. The first session I attended featured Nicole Lynn, the president of football operations for Klutch Sports Group. Most recently, she has made headlines for being Jalen Hurts' agent. Lynn's story of breaking into the industry and what she has gone through to get to where she is now was truly inspiring. The next session featured Beth Paretta, the first female director of a performance brand and motorsports for an automotive company (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). Paretta talked about her journey to creating the first nearly all-female Indy 500 team. She launched Paretta Autosport in 2021 and has been a trailblazer for women and girls in the automotive industry. I sat with our very own Director of Athletics, Janet Cone during Paretta's talk and we both agreed that Paretta's story will definitely be a movie one day.
The last keynote speaker that left me completely in awe was Inky Johnson. Johnson's life story, and the trials and tribulations that he has endured to get where he is today was so powerful. I left that session motivated to do more in every aspect of my life. Johnson's ability to overcome all of the hardships that he has faced and the individuals who supported him brought me to tears. One of Johnson's well-known quotes that he used during the talk was "I am not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions." Johnson has risen above expectations and continues to make monumental strides in the athletic world, and I walked out of that session feeling inspired.
Moving into the 2023-24 season, my goals are to enhance the student-athlete experience, aligning it with our Dream Bigger. Achieve More. strategic plan and create lasting memories and experiences for our wonderful Bulldog fans. I am thankful to NACDA for creating an opportunity to bring people together and allowing us to go back to our home campus re-energized for the season to come.
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This was my second time attending the convention, but my first time attending as a member of NACMA. In my experience, I take away three aspects from conventions: networking, educational opportunities, and tools to use once back on campus. I felt like this year's convention gave me a healthy dose of each aspect as I walked away with new connections, more knowledge of collegiate sports marketing, and promotional material to incorporate during the 2023-24 athletic season.
Connecting with individuals in this industry is such a vital aspect of any convention and in the college sports world in general. Having individuals who you can reach out to regarding work-related subjects and who believe in and support you and your work is essential to growth. Burnout and complacency can be combated by having colleagues in your corner who encourage you in your role. I am thankful that NACMA provided networking opportunities at the convention to allow me and others in this field to grow our circles.
The educational events that I attended focused on game day and fan experiences and social media marketing. In the ever-changing world of social media, staying ahead of the game in athletics matters when it comes to our student-athletes and fans. Having attractive graphics, interactive and engaging videos, and growing our presence are essential to strengthening the athletic department. Along with continuing to expand on social media, creating events that people want to attend is a key part of the student-athlete experience. Having fans in the stands and showing their support is a memorable experience for student-athletes. I'm excited to begin using what I gained from these sessions, and implementing strategies to get more students and members of the community to attend our athletic events.
One of my favorite parts of the convention was hearing from the inspiring keynote speakers. The first session I attended featured Nicole Lynn, the president of football operations for Klutch Sports Group. Most recently, she has made headlines for being Jalen Hurts' agent. Lynn's story of breaking into the industry and what she has gone through to get to where she is now was truly inspiring. The next session featured Beth Paretta, the first female director of a performance brand and motorsports for an automotive company (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). Paretta talked about her journey to creating the first nearly all-female Indy 500 team. She launched Paretta Autosport in 2021 and has been a trailblazer for women and girls in the automotive industry. I sat with our very own Director of Athletics, Janet Cone during Paretta's talk and we both agreed that Paretta's story will definitely be a movie one day.
The last keynote speaker that left me completely in awe was Inky Johnson. Johnson's life story, and the trials and tribulations that he has endured to get where he is today was so powerful. I left that session motivated to do more in every aspect of my life. Johnson's ability to overcome all of the hardships that he has faced and the individuals who supported him brought me to tears. One of Johnson's well-known quotes that he used during the talk was "I am not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions." Johnson has risen above expectations and continues to make monumental strides in the athletic world, and I walked out of that session feeling inspired.
Moving into the 2023-24 season, my goals are to enhance the student-athlete experience, aligning it with our Dream Bigger. Achieve More. strategic plan and create lasting memories and experiences for our wonderful Bulldog fans. I am thankful to NACDA for creating an opportunity to bring people together and allowing us to go back to our home campus re-energized for the season to come.
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Thursday, June 18
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, March 11
Friday, February 06