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Finlandia Success: Reece Anderson ’13

August 31, 2016

Finlandia Success Reece Anderson

ALUM Reece Anderson (’13)

What was your career path to get to where you are now?

Reece Anderson: My first experience working in sports was an internship with Assistant Professor of Sports Management Steve Nordstrom. After graduating from Finlandia University’s Sports Management program, I worked part-time in Michigan Tech’s hockey development camp where I met Chris Tok, a former assistant coach at Michigan Tech, who at the time was the General Manager for the Austin Bruins in the North American Hockey League. I was able to build a great relationship with Tok, and he later offered me a front office position with the Bruins. I spent a year in Austin and was then accepted into the University of South Florida’s Sport and Entertainment Management MBA/MS Program, where I had the opportunity to intern with the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning in partnership development. After the year-long internship, I was offered and accepted a full-time position.

What do you consider to be key elements to the success you’ve been able to have?

RA: I would say having a strong work ethic and building relationships with people who’ve cared about my career path. I’ve been fortunate to have had multiple mentors, and people willing to help provide me with the right opportunities. At Finlandia, for example, Nordstrom and former Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Salani were instrumental in helping me gain industry experience and finding the right graduate program.

What key pieces of advice would you offer a student currently interested in sports management at Finlandia?

RA: Find a way to get involved in sports. It could be at the collegiate or even youth level, but it is important to gain some experience to add to your resume. A degree is great, but internships, or any sort of involvement, can really separate someone from other candidates competing for similar positions.

What are some of your favorite parts of your current role with the Lightning?

RA: Being a part of deep playoff runs the past two seasons has been an amazing experience. The planning, excitement, and unknown surrounding each game is intense. Secondly, I enjoy the people I work with. They understand the business, and always take a strategic approach to every decision. I learn something new every day.

What do you miss most from your time at Finlandia?

RA: I built some great relationships with my professors in the business school. I still stay in touch with a few of them, but it was great learning from them on a consistent basis during my time at Finlandia.

This article is part of a regularly produced series titled Finlandia Success. E-mail alumni@finlandia.eduto suggest alumni who might make a great feature in the next Finlandia Success story.

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