A job for which Charles Ryan unsuccessfully applied has led to an opportunity with a different employer. Ryan is the new Media Relations/Communications Specialist for the Blue Ridge Bobcats, an FPHL expansion team in Wytheville, VA.
“I originally saw the job posting in an STAA Job Leads+ email but did not apply because they were asking for someone local to the area, Ryan recalls. “But then I was referred to them by the [FPHL expansion] team in Baton Rouge after applying there. So I reached out and was able to snag the job.”
In addition to broadcasting the Bobcats’ games, Ryan will handle media relations and social media for the team. That includes video content and graphics.
“I am able to continue calling hockey and making feature sports stories like I had been doing in college. But now I get to build on my skill set and add social media skills to it, which will help me down the road,” Ryan enthuses.
Ryan is a 2023 graduate of Bowling Green University. He joined STAA in June on the advice of fellow BGSU alumnus and STAA member Brandon Loe. Shortly after, Ryan interviewed with the Baton Rouge franchise.
“After my interview, they told me they had decided to go a different way,” he recalls. “But they had sent my information to this new team in Wytheville. They gave me the email of the person they forwarded my info to, so I decided to reach out and introduce myself. I think that really helped me land the job — taking that extra initiative.”