(January 8, 2014) Losing a sports broadcasting job often leads to something better. That is certainly the case for Brendan Gulick. Just one month after learning his job in Oklahoma had been eliminated, Gulick is joining the Dayton Dragons as a Broadcasting/Media Relations Assistant.
The Dragons are the Class-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
The Dayton job is an especially good fit for Gulick. He is an Ohio native and has a deep-seeded passion for broadcasting baseball. “This is a great opportunity for me,” he says. “I am humbled by the chance to work in broadcasting and media relations with one of the most well-respected organizations in the minor leagues. Dayton has an unmatched tradition of drawing fans to Fifth Third Field and their progressive approach to running the organization is unparalleled. I am eager to learn from Director of Broadcasting Tom Nichols as I take an exciting step in my career.”
Click here to read about the remarkable success of former Dragons broadcasting assistants.
When the Dayton position opened in December, Nichols decided against conducting a public search. Instead, he consulted the STAA website.
“I found Brendan’s [STAA Talent Page] during a search of the broadcaster database on the STAA website,” Nichols says. “I felt his experience level and profile would be a good fit for this position and I liked his audio sample. [STAA CEO] Jon Chelesnik immediately put me in touch with Brendan.”
Gulick has spent the past two summers assisting in broadcasting and media relations with the Lorain County Ironmen and the Rockford Aviators.
“We had several very strong candidates,” says Nichols.”But as we completed the evaluation process, Brendan stood out as the best person for our organization. Thanks to Jon and his company for the resources that STAA provided in our broadcaster search and Jon’s willingness to talk with me at length about Brendan’s skill set. STAA has been a help to us in the past and, I am sure, will be again in the future.”
Gulick relocates to Ohio after having spent the fall in Durant, OK. He had been hired there in July to work in an administrative role with Texoma Broadcasting and KLBC Radio and to serve as the play-by-play voice for Southeastern Oklahoma State football and basketball. However, when the administrative portion of the position was dissolved in November, Gulick was left looking for work.
“I appreciated the opportunity to work at KLBC and broadcast Southeastern Oklahoma State athletics for a few months,” Gulick says. “I learned a lot about how small-market radio/television contracts operate from a business perspective and I enjoyed broadcasting for the Savage Storm this fall. While it was frustrating that the radio station downsized its staff, Brad Sham’s words from the 2013 STAA ODT Seminar were omnipresent to me: ‘The only two things you can control in your life, 100% of the time, are your work ethic and your attitude.’”
Gulick relied on his personal and professional contacts to help him through the sudden challenge of being back in the job market after just four months.
“I always joke that my full-time job is networking, but I’m also a broadcaster. I really value the relationships I have built with other people in this industry and I appreciate the support I received when I found myself back in the job market. There were times that looking for another job so soon was emotionally challenging, but I tried to feed any negativity with something positive and proactive. While it may seem strange, I believe that I’m better off for having learned how to go through this.
“It’s such a blessing for my family that things have worked out for me in Dayton. Not only am I closer to my home in Cleveland, but my brother and sister-in-law just welcomed my first niece into our family at Christmas time. They live very close to Dayton and I’m thrilled to spend some time with them this summer, too.
“I wouldn’t have landed this opportunity without STAA’s services,” says Gulick.
(Visit Brendan’s STAA Talent Page).