(March 15, 2012) When your post-college career plans don’t quite work out as planned, don’t give up. STAA client Chris Aliano, didn’t give up – he adjusted the plan, and the adjustments have paid off. Aliano is joining the North Adams SteepleCats as Play-by-Play Broadcaster and Media Relations Assistant.
The SteepleCats are members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
A 2011 graduate of Boston University, Aliano is currently employed as Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I.
Aliano gained valuable experience as the sports director of Boston University’s student radio station, but was unable to secure a broadcasting job after graduation. “I was hoping to get back to broadcasting this summer and swung and missed at a couple of minor league/independent league positions due to the fact that a) my demo just isn’t that good and b) I lacked the professional experience they were looking for,” Aliano says.
“When I saw the North Adams opening, I figured it would be a great chance to get back to my roots, go back to the drawing board and get another full summer’s worth of baseball broadcasting experience even if I already spent a summer broadcasting on the Cape after my junior year.”
The opportunity to interview with the SteepleCats came after Aliano spotted the opening on the STAA job board. During the interview, SteepleCat’s GM Sean McGrath happened to mention Rick Zmudzien – a friend of Aliano’s and a fellow Boston alum. Zmudzien had previously served as the SteepleCats broadcaster.
“I spoke with Rick and he answered all of my questions about the team and the NECBL experience, and that further cemented my eagerness to apply for the job,” says Aliano. “So, a couple of interviews later, I wound up landing the gig and I couldn’t be more honored, humbled and excited to get going.”
Aliano is hoping this job will give him the necessary experience and reps to move ahead in his next broadcasting career move.
“I’ll have the chance to really fine-tune my broadcasting while working toward establishing a style that I’ll be able to use to market myself from here on out. That, and the organization is obviously one of the classiest and best run in the league, so it will be my responsibility to convey that over the airwaves.”
Aliano’s first New England based summer baseball play-by-play gig was back in 2010, when he was the broadcaster for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League. Now, Aliano is looking forward to applying all the knowledge he’s acquired since 2010 to his new team.
“I know so much more in the year-and-a-half or so since my time in the CCBL so this summer I’ll know exactly what I’ll need to do as far as preparation, presentation and post-production goes to better the broadcasts.”
As for what the future will come fall after the NECBL season concludes, that remains an unknown for Aliano.
“As far as Bryant goes, I’ll still be here ’til May and have the option of coming back for another year since this is an internship-type position, but I’m not sure what I’ll be doing as far as next year goes quite yet. I’m still exploring some options and would like to find a more broadcasting-oriented position for next year, but we’ll see what happens.”
(Visit Chris’ STAA Talent Page).