FALL 2021 | 19 ALMUNI SPOTLIGHT HANNAHMARTIN Hannah Martin is a 2014 Kutztown University alumna. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in leisure and sports studies, a major now known as sport management. From a young age, Hannah played many sports, so her choice of major was no surprise. During her time at KU, she was one of the first members of Kutztown University Sport Business Institute (KUSBI). She recalls her time at KUSBI as a moment that helped her grow and learn. Hannah stated, “KUSBI set the tone for my work ethic.” Apart from KUSBI, she was also involved in sports. Finding the right balance between academics and sports was challenging, but she did it. Through holding herself accountable for her own success, she pushed herself to graduate in three years instead of four. After graduating from KU, Hannah went on to pursue a master's in sport management from West Virginia University. Through the program, she interned with the Asheville Tourists and was offered a position. From intern to sales associate, and then director of ticket operations, Hannah spent the last six years moving up in this company. She was promoted to Assistant General Manager in October. In her current position, her days vary depending on the seasons. During in-season, she oversees the box office and guest services, but during the off-season, she is creating seat maps and utilizing the skills she learned from her sales associate position. For students looking for job opportunities in the sport management field, Hannah suggested pursuing sales positions. Students interested in the field become comfortable with not only selling items, but also with marketing themselves to future employers. When asked what advice she would give to students, Hannah said “students should push themselves out of their comfort zone.” Doing this is an investment in professional growth since it opens doors for different opportunities. Originally, Hannah was not interested in sales; however, she took on this role when becoming a Sales Associate with Asheville Tourists. While there are dream jobs out there, sometimes taking on a different role offers an opportunity for growth. If Hannah had turned away the opportunity with Asheville Tourists, she would not have gained the experiences she has today.
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