Top executives from key segments of the sporting goods industry have joined forces to create a program designed to attract top college graduates as future employees.
The program, called “Get In The Game,” is the creation of a 15-member committee of leading sporting goods retailers, dealers, manufacturers, media and association executives who recognize the need for their companies to attract the brightest minds from Americas colleges and universities.
The committee is comprised of: Ken Caravati, Dixie Sporting Goods; Tom Cove, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association; Jim Faltinek, National Sporting Goods Association; James Hartford, The SportsOneSource Group; Jim Hoff, Asics Corp.; Shawn Neville, Stride Rite; Mickey Newsome, Hibbett Sports; Julie Nimmons, Schutt Sports; Kevin Plank, Under Armour; Tom Raynor, Fleet Feet, Inc.; Randy Ruch, Schuylkill Valley Sports; Mark Sullivan, Formula4Media; Todd Vore, Implus/Sof Sole; and Joe Wood, Famous Footwear. Rusty Saunders, Saunders & Associates, is serving as Chairman of this all-volunteer group.
The job market for top college graduates, especially those with MBAs, is very competitive, and the sporting goods industry has recognized it needs to reach out to these people. The committee hopes to begin seeing more superstar graduates choosing the sporting goods industry as a result of this effort.
As part of this outreach to college students, industry leaders will visit college campuses to tell the story of an industry that accounted for more than $50 billion in consumer purchases in 2006, according to NSGA research.
During these visits, sporting goods executives will describe the industry to students, including the global nature of the businesses, the makeup of the industry (footwear, apparel, equipment), factors driving the industry, and employment opportunities.
People know all about the products sold at sporting goods stores and specialty sport shops, but few know just how a product gets to a stores shelves and how many employees are involved in that process. From product management, design and marketing, to sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, wholesale sales, shipping & receiving at the distribution center and store levels, and the person selling the product at the store, thousands are involved, and it takes many different skill sets to do those jobs.
Those are the kinds of people the sporting goods industry is seeking. Many of todays CEOs and presidents turned their college degrees into successful careers by getting started with quick-growth companies like Under Armour, and others have chosen to build careers in larger corporations like Nike or Dicks Sporting Goods. Either way, there are plenty of opportunities for talented graduates.
Volunteers are still needed. Anyone interested in speaking to students at a career session or job fair at a local college or university, please indicate your willingness by contacting Saunders, RWS7234@aol.com, or Larry Weindruch at NSGA, lweindruch@nsga.org. Your name will be added to a growing list of industry executives who will begin visiting college campuses in 2008.
