Central Michigan University Athletics
Second Annual Chippewa Connections Conference Held
3/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Services
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Approximately 140 Central Michigan University student-athletes had the opportunity to interact with and receive career advice from more than a dozen former student-athletes Monday evening as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted the second annual Chippewa Connections Conference.
The event, geared toward junior and senior student-athletes, included an address from keynote speaker and 1990 CMU Hall of Fame inductee Marie Tuite, eight breakout sessions and a panel discussion, all aimed at providing future professionals with career advice from CMU alums.
“Our campus does a tremendous job with career fairs throughout the year, but this is a different type of opportunity,” said Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development Jason Holtman. “This is an opportunity for our former student-athletes to come back and talk about the experiences that helped transition them from the playing fields to the work force.”
Tuite’s keynote address was a top-10 list of qualities that make an effective leader - a list she has developed throughout an extremely successful career in intercollegiate athletics administration. After excelling at both field hockey and basketball at CMU in the 1970s, Tuite was a successful women’s basketball coach and athletic director at Alma College in the early 1980s. She has become one of the most highly respected administrators in the NCAA and will begin as Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer at San Jose State University June 1.
Thirteen different alumni led eight smaller breakout sessions focused on specific career fields including health professions, business, education and sport management. The presenters included:
- Ryan Cremeans - Business/Sport Administration (Baseball, 2001-04)
- Jenna D’Alie - The Next Step (Gymnastics, 2004-09)
- Ralph Darin - Educaton (Baseball, 1967-72)
- Dan Griesbaum - Sport Administration (Baseball, 2000-04)
- Neil Hufnagel - Education (Track & Field, 1981-84)
- Soi Jibowu - Business (Track & Field, 2001-05)
- Amber (Gaskill) Mayhew - Health Professions/The Next Step (Gymnastics, 1995-99)
- Troy Novak - Health Professions/The Next Step (Baseball, 1990-95)
- Jay Phillion - Transferable Skills/Business (Baseball, 1981-84)
- Dustin Preston - Entrepreneurship (Football, 1990-94)
- Paul Richards - Entrepreneurship (Swimming, 1971-75)
- Mark Skrocki - Business (Football, 1979-84)
- Marie Tuite - Sport Administration (Basketball, Field Hockey, 1971-75)
According to Holtman, “Student-athletes have specific, valuable skills that are transferable to a wide variety of career fields. It is important for them to interact with people who have been where they are and now are in those fields. That transition will happen soon for these juniors and seniors. It is our job to prepare them.”
A SAAC subcommittee comprised of Tara Schiltz (field hockey), Brendan Emmit (baseball), Amy Binder (field hockey) and Cara Dukes (track & field) orchestrated the event.
The event, geared toward junior and senior student-athletes, included an address from keynote speaker and 1990 CMU Hall of Fame inductee Marie Tuite, eight breakout sessions and a panel discussion, all aimed at providing future professionals with career advice from CMU alums.
“Our campus does a tremendous job with career fairs throughout the year, but this is a different type of opportunity,” said Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development Jason Holtman. “This is an opportunity for our former student-athletes to come back and talk about the experiences that helped transition them from the playing fields to the work force.”
Tuite’s keynote address was a top-10 list of qualities that make an effective leader - a list she has developed throughout an extremely successful career in intercollegiate athletics administration. After excelling at both field hockey and basketball at CMU in the 1970s, Tuite was a successful women’s basketball coach and athletic director at Alma College in the early 1980s. She has become one of the most highly respected administrators in the NCAA and will begin as Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer at San Jose State University June 1.
Thirteen different alumni led eight smaller breakout sessions focused on specific career fields including health professions, business, education and sport management. The presenters included:
- Ryan Cremeans - Business/Sport Administration (Baseball, 2001-04)
- Jenna D’Alie - The Next Step (Gymnastics, 2004-09)
- Ralph Darin - Educaton (Baseball, 1967-72)
- Dan Griesbaum - Sport Administration (Baseball, 2000-04)
- Neil Hufnagel - Education (Track & Field, 1981-84)
- Soi Jibowu - Business (Track & Field, 2001-05)
- Amber (Gaskill) Mayhew - Health Professions/The Next Step (Gymnastics, 1995-99)
- Troy Novak - Health Professions/The Next Step (Baseball, 1990-95)
- Jay Phillion - Transferable Skills/Business (Baseball, 1981-84)
- Dustin Preston - Entrepreneurship (Football, 1990-94)
- Paul Richards - Entrepreneurship (Swimming, 1971-75)
- Mark Skrocki - Business (Football, 1979-84)
- Marie Tuite - Sport Administration (Basketball, Field Hockey, 1971-75)
According to Holtman, “Student-athletes have specific, valuable skills that are transferable to a wide variety of career fields. It is important for them to interact with people who have been where they are and now are in those fields. That transition will happen soon for these juniors and seniors. It is our job to prepare them.”
A SAAC subcommittee comprised of Tara Schiltz (field hockey), Brendan Emmit (baseball), Amy Binder (field hockey) and Cara Dukes (track & field) orchestrated the event.
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