June 12, 2013) It is said that success is when preparation meets opportunity. That is certainly the case for John Peterson. An STAA client, Peterson has accepted a job as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Austin (MN) Bruins of the NAHL.

In addition to broadcasting all 60 of the Bruins’ regular season games, plus playoffs, Peterson will write game recaps and update the team’s social media. It was a stroke of good fortune that led him to the opportunity.

“The broadcaster who held the job for three years before me took a similar broadcasting/media relations position with an expansion team in the same league,” says Peterson. “He was in charge of finding his own replacement and a friend of mine – fellow STAA client Steve Pesek — informed me of the opening.”

The job is the next step towards Peterson’s goal of one day broadcasting in the NHL. “My passion is hockey, and with the Bruins, I’ll be able to call games in a talent-rich, growing league. Additionally, I’ll be working with great people in Austin who have said they’ll help me gain exposure within the hockey media community at the junior and college levels.”

Peterson suggests other sportscasting job seekers keep their eyes open and be prepared. “Last summer, there were seemingly more job openings, especially in hockey, than there have been so far this year. I made looking for the next opportunity almost a full-time job in itself last summer but struck out. This summer, the Austin Bruins job essentially fell into my lap, and I credit that to being prepared. I spent much of the spring updating my resume and demos so that if a potential employer saw it, they might be intrigued enough to give me a call, even if I hadn’t yet applied.”

Peterson’s preparation and attention to detail in creating a variety of demos paid off handsomely. “I directed both the former Bruins’ broadcaster and the team’s owner to my page and they had high praise. It was rewarding hearing that, given how hard I worked to make my STAA Talent Page as presentable as I could. What really made the application process easier was absorbing all the helpful hints from the monthly [STAA] eBlasts and simply asking for advice via email.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season in Austin, starting in September, and I’m grateful to have the support and resources to succeed that STAA provides.”

(Visit John’s STAA Talent Page).

(June 6, 2013) Will Grubb is walking off his college campus and into the sixth largest radio market in the country. An STAA client and recent University of Nebraska graduate, Grubb is joining Sports Radio 610 in Houston, TX as a sports update anchor/reporter.

Grubb is the fifth STAA client to join KILT since 2009 and the second this year. In March, Patrick Creighton joined the station as a sports talk show host and update anchor.

For Grubb, the new job is also a return home. “Having grown up in Houston, I’m very fortunate to get the chance to cover my hometown teams,” says Grubb. “Covering Houston sports fits the ‘dream come true’ cliche for me. Also, Sports Radio 610 has a great reputation when it comes to talent. They have consistently demonstrated themselves as the leader of the Houston sports radio market.”

While Grubb is a recent college graduate, he is by no means a sports radio rookie. He’s been co-hosting mornings at 93.7 The Ticket in Lincoln, NE since 2011. He learned of the Houston opportunity in an email from STAA.

“Never expecting a chance to return home so early in my career, I decided to apply,” says Grubb. “From there it involved a lot of networking. I had multiple contacts within the radio and television community in Houston who helped get me in touch with the program director at the time, Gavin Spittle. Over the next couple of months I continued to stay in touch. Gavin ended up leaving for another job in Dallas but a few months later I got a call offering me the job.”

Grubb encourages other sports broadcasting job seekers to work hard and network. “Contacts I made while interning in college ended up making a difference,” he says. “I woke up at 5:30 every morning throughout my senior year to prep for and host a morning show. It wasn’t always the easiest thing, but it helped differentiate me form my peers.”

(Visit Will’s STAA Talent Page).

(June 4, 2013) STAA client Kyle Cooper is joining the Missoula Osprey as play-by-play broadcaster and media relations assistant. The Osprey are the rookie affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Cooper will call every Osprey game, home and away this season on the O’s new radio nest, ESPN Montana 97.5 FM and online at MissoulaOsprey.com. He’ll also contribute to the Osprey’s official website and their blog, “Bird Droppings” as well as serving as a contact for the media.

The Osprey found Cooper after asking STAA for help in filling their vacancy. “The position came open relatively late in the off-season,” says STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik. “As they had with their last opening, the Osprey asked us to share the job with STAA clients so the team wouldn’t have to deal with a time-consuming public search.”

It’s the second consecutive time the Osprey have hired an STAA client as their radio voice. In 2007 they hired Ben Catley who remained as the voice of the team before leaving this spring to pursue other opportunities.

Cooper comes to the Osprey after five seasons with the Princeton (W.V.) Rays of the Appalachian League, the Rookie-level affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. During his time with the Rays, “Coop”, as he is known to his listeners, simultaneously served as the Sports Information Director at Concord University (W.V.) and was the Mountain Lions’ play-by-play voice for football, basketball and baseball. Cooper was also a member of the West Virginia Tournament Network’s coverage of the conference’s basketball and baseball playoffs.

“We are excited to have a broadcaster with the professional pedigree of Kyle Cooper to call Osprey baseball,” said Osprey Vice President/General Manager Jeff Griffin. “While Ben will be missed, Kyle is a quality individual and I look forward to him bringing his own flare to Osprey baseball this summer.”

(Visit Kyle’s STAA Talent Page).

(May 31, 2013) Mason Robinson contacted more than 100 employers in his search for a baseball play-by-play job. Finally, his efforts paid off. An STAA client, Robinson has been hired as the Communications Coordinator, No. 2 Broadcaster and pre and post game host for the Walla Walla Sweets baseball club.

The Sweets play in the summer collegiate West Coast League. Robinson will be working alongside market radio veteran Howard Hoffman.

“This position provides a fantastic opportunity for getting my feet wet and learning the day-to-day operations of the minor league baseball world,” says Robinson. “I have plenty of experience on the college level, but the amount of responsibility that comes with this position will build me up toward reaching the next level in my career.”

The opportunity came about for Robinson through good old-fashioned effort. “Plain and simple — I emailed and/or called every single ‘A’ level and independent league team for which I could find an email address or phone number. I sent my demo and resume in more than 100 emails to see what would stick.”

Robinson spoke with more than 88 teams across the country before landing an interview with the Sweets. “It ended up being what I consider the perfect gig for me.”

In addition to the play-by-play, Robinson is especially excited to host an interview segment called the Sweet Scoop. “It’s a pre- and post-game interview video to post online, and team executives have encouraged and allowed me the freedom to make this and any multimedia projects uniquely my own. It will be challenging, but I have a chance to make it something great and truly notable.”

A 2012 graduate of Texas State University, Robinson has been an STAA client since January.

“The [STAA] job bank clearly provides a great understanding of where available jobs are,” says Robinson. “Once I mastered that process, I came to appreciate the tutorials and advice from STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik. Being able to contact him directly for advice and input was valuable toward understanding the job search. Online chats about ‘how to win the job’ with good interview techniques helped tremendously. In fact the same strategies I learned through Jon’s chats were more helpful than anything I learned in college, and certainly applying those skills to my interview with the Walla Walla Sweets ultimately aided in landing the job.”

(Visit Mason’s STAA Talent Page).

(May 29, 2013) Brad Barnes was looking for three things in his first job out of college. Not only has he found them, but he doesn’t even have to leave his home state. An STAA client, Barnes is joining High Plains Radio in Oberlin, KS as an announcer, play-by-play broadcaster and account executive.

“My responsibilities will include a daily music show in the morning, then I will be out handling advertising in the afternoon,” says Barnes. “Once school gets going I will be calling the football and basketball games for Decatur County High School. One of my goals is to eventually have a weekly coach’s show for the football and basketball teams.”

A 2013 graduate of Baker University in Kansas, Barnes picked up a variety of sports broadcasting experience while on the Baldwin City campus. As the student manager of the campus radio station he hosted air shifts and sports shows, and broadcast play-by-play for Baker’s women’s basketball team and local high school sports.

Barnes is eager to hit the ground running in Oberlin. “I wanted something where I could have a show, call play by play and sell ads. This position will allow me to do all three of those things.

“I also enjoy the small town feel of Oberlin. I was always told that starting off in a small town was the best way to go, but I never thought I would be this happy with my decision. This is going to be a great opportunity to get out there and do a ton of games.”

Barnes says his new opportunity was the result of perfect timing. “I was about to accept an offer for a part time position at [another station] when my professor and broadcast partner Tom Hedrick told me about a lead up in Oberlin. I contacted Kent Cornish, the Kansas Association of Broadcasters President, and it was all smooth sailing from there. I emailed my resume and demo early in the week, had a call by Friday and was in Oberlin the next Monday for the interview.

“Things could not have worked out any better than they did.”

(Visit Brad’s STAA Talent Page).

CSN Mid-Atlantic has a new voice of on-air and online Ravens coverage. STAA client and longtime sports reporter Clifton Brown is joining the CSN staff to cover the reigning Super Bowl champions.

“Clifton is an extremely experienced, successful and respected sportswriter that has more than a decade of NFL coverage to his credit,” Comcast SportsNet Vice President of Digital Media Mark Lapidus said in a statement. “His addition demonstrates our commitment to acquiring the most talented reporters to cover the region’s teams.”

Brown comes to CSN from The Sporting News, where he worked for more than five years as a national NFL reporter. That makes up just part of his 30-year career as a sportswriter. That career also includes 19 years at the New York Times and stops at the Detroit Free Press and Boca Raton News.

Brown starts his new job as the Ravens begin OTAs, which will lead into training camp and Baltimore’s quest to win its second straight Super Bowl title. In addition to providing written coverage and feature stories for an online audience, Brown will provide insight on Ravens Kickoff, Ravens Postgame Live and other Ravens programming.

Press release courtesy of CNS Mid-Atlantic

(Visit Clifton’s STAA Talent Page).

(May 22, 2013) The month of May is turning into one of Jason Guerette’s favorites. Last year, Guerette accepted his first baseball play-by-play job with the East Texas Pump Jacks. May 2013 brings another opportunity to Guerette — Director of Broadcast and Sports Operations for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen.

The Oilmen play in the Midwest Collegiate League.

A 2012 graduate of Seton Hall University, Guerette is eager to build upon the skills he picked-up last year in Texas. “After gaining media relations experience last summer with the Pump Jacks — an opportunity that, coincidentally, also came about around this time last year — this opportunity represents an important step for me towards my professional goals, especially my goal to work in baseball. I’ll be sharpening my media relations skills even more, but I’ll also be the primary broadcaster for the team, something that I have not been able to do in the past.”

Guerette learned about the position with the Oilmen through an email from STAA.

“I did some preliminary research on the team and quickly realized they were in need of someone right away, since their season starts at the end of May. So, I sent my materials over as soon as I could and that same day, I got an email back from the owner, Don Popravak, requesting an interview. From there the process was rapid. The job description of what they needed fit my experience almost perfectly.”

The chance to be the lead voice of a team is something Guerette is especially looking forward to. “I have broadcasted on a freelance basis since I graduated from Seton Hall a year ago, but I am really looking forward to being on the air on a more regular basis. There’s just no substitute for the kind of experience you gain from being a baseball play-by-play broadcaster.”

Guerette has been an STAA client since October. “STAA has been an incredible resource, not only because of the job leads and the helpful workshops it provides on how to improve your work, but also because it includes a way to present your demo in a clean, professional way to employers.

“I knew when I signed up that it would be a great resource, but STAA has exceeded my expectations.”

(Visit Jason’s STAA Talent Page).

(May 21, 2013) Scott Montesano is returning to a league with which he is very familiar. An STAA client since 2007, Montesano will be spending the summer broadcasting baseball for the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League.

Montesano was the Director of Broadcasting for the NWL’s Eau Claire Express from November of 2005 through April of 2010.

“I’m very excited to be returning to the Northwoods League and to be joining one of the league’s foundation franchises in the Waterloo Bucks,” said Montesano. “Riverfront Stadium was always one of my favorite ballparks to visit and it will be great to call it my home office. I look forward to becoming a part of the team and creating memories this summer.”

Montesano recently finished up his fourth season as the Director of Communications & Radio Broadcaster for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League. Originally from Utica, New York, Montesano graduated from Marist College. Montesano has a wealth of broadcasting experience in both baseball and minor league hockey with positions in Maine, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

“The Bucks are happy to bring Scott into the fold as the Bucks new radio announcer,” said Bucks general manager Dan Corbin. “I remember Scott as being one of the hardest working announcers in the NWL when he was with Eau Claire and really respected his work. With Opening Day just a couple of weeks away, we look forward to Scott bringing Bucks baseball over the airwaves this summer.”

Scott, his wife Angela, and son Derek reside in Urbandale, Iowa.

“This new job gets me back to baseball while allowing me to continue my hockey position with the Des Moines Buccaneers. Thankfully both employers are happy with this and (more so) my wife and son have green lighted the project. Its the best of both worlds.”

(Visit Scott’s STAA Talent Page).

(May 17, 2013) Rhett Anderson’s play-by-play experience has all been in radio, until now. An STAA client, Anderson recently joined CPTV Sports (Connecticut Public Television) as a play-by-play broadcaster for local college and high school teams.

CPTV covers several Connecticut colleges, including Hartford, Yale, Central, and Post, in addition to many high schools. The station also broadcasts the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, New Britain Rock Cats baseball, and the Connecticut Soccer League.

A 2012 graduate of Yale, Anderson says the CPTV opportunity offers multiple benefits. “A) I will be able to continue to get reps calling games, and experience is something I consider to be one of the most important factors. B) I will get to do something new – be on TV. My previous experience has all been in radio. TV experience will enhance my resume and expand my skill set.”

The CPTV opportunity came to Anderson as the result of a cold call. “When I called CPTV, the station director picked up the phone. We spoke for a couple minutes and I emailed them my tape and resume; they liked my stuff and wanted to meet me. In the interview we talked about their needs and my goals, and we decided it’s a good fit.”

Anderson’s advice to other sports broadcasting job seekers is to be professional at all times. “How you present yourself speaks volumes about the character you will bring to an organization – how you speak, how you address others, your punctuality, your work ethic, how you prepare for games, your dress, how you work with colleagues, etc. This doesn’t mean don’t enjoy yourself — but do it in a professional way.”

Another important thing Anderson has learned is to stay in touch with industry contacts. “Not only reach out and make initial contact, but then follow up periodically — ask good questions, ask for advice, update them on your progress, ask for referrals. Use your best judgment in deciding when and how to follow up (you can have too much of a good thing!) but always follow up consistently.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity [at CPTV] and I’m fortunate that things have lined up the way they have.”

(Visit Rhett’s STAA Talent Page).

(May 15, 2013) The month of May has turned out to be a big one for Nick Gryniewicz. He is graduating from the University of South Florida, he has earned STAA All-America honors as the fourth-ranked collegiate sportscaster in the country, and he has landed a new job. An STAA client, Gryniewicz is joining ESPN 580 in Orlando, FL as a sports update anchor and weekend morning show host.

Gryniewicz chose Orlando over a job opportunity in another state. “I get to stay home near family in Orlando, work in a top-35 market and get that difficult to find first on-air job out of college,” he says. “It is a great opportunity that will allow me to continue to sharpen my skills and get involved in a large market with many opportunities.”

The ESPN 580 opportunity came about when the staff at Cox Media, which owns the station, came across Gryniewicz’s resume. “They contacted me for an interview because they liked what they saw,” he says. “The interview went well and they contacted me to discuss what was available for me.”

While in college at USF, Gryniewicz worked hard to build his sportscasting resume. His experience includes play-by-play for six sports on the campus radio station, Internet broadcaster PlayOn! Sports and summer collegiate and minor league baseball teams. He also co-hosted a weekend sports talk show on a local Orlando radio station.

When asked what advice he would share with other sportscasters who are in the job market, Gryniewicz says one thing. “Network. Talk to anyone and everyone you can because you never know what opportunities are out there. It may seem obvious to say, but just being kind to others you meet goes a long way. Making connections is the best way to be successful, especially in this industry.

“I am very glad to be getting ready to start in a large market right out of college.”

(Visit Nick’s STAA Talent Page).