(June 26, 2013) Spring of 2013 will always be memorable for Ross Lippman. First, he graduated from Emerson College in Boston. Then he was presented the Jim Nantz Award as the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sports broadcaster, and now he has landed his first job. An STAA client, Lippman has been hired as a sports anchor/reporter at Fox 44 in Colchester, VT.
“Like any first job, it gets my foot in the door,” says Lippman. “But I find the opportunities at Fox44 to be especially great for me given my background having grown up in New England. It’s a part of New England I’ve yet to fully explore.” Lippman then adds with a smile, “And if you know anything about Burlington, you’ll know there’s plenty of exploring to do.
“I had seen the listing through STAA. I applied just like I had to countless other jobs, but I knew this was a special opportunity and one that I really wanted.”
The Fox 44 job wasn’t the first one Lippman was offered. Just one week earlier, he had turned down an opportunity in another part of the country.
“It’s hard to negotiate and weigh the options if you’re fortunate enough to have multiple offers,” says Lippman. “For me, there is a level of intrinsic value that cannot be replaced with this opportunity in Burlington. I’m just a few (five) hours away from home in a really great market that will challenge me.”
In making his decision, Lippman also applied some advice he received at a recent STAA event. “At the One Day Ticket to Sportscasting Success seminar I was fortunate enough to meet some great sportscasters and sportswriters. One of them was Dick Vitale. And he said something that stuck with me. He said, ‘Don’t mess with happy.’ It reminded me that no matter what you do, you have to be happy to do it. FOX44 in Burlington won’t mess with my happy.
“I wanted to thank [STAA] for all of your help and guidance throughout this entire process. You have no idea how much your advice helped lead me to the best decision for both my career, but more importantly, my personal well-being.”
(Visit Ross’s STAA Talent Page).