Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The 2018 GNAC Working In Sports seminar will take place on Saturday, March 3 at the Alaska Airlines Center on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Now in its fourth year, the Working In Sports seminar provides high school and college-aged students with an interest in a career in athletics a chance to hear from, and network with, professionals from all aspects of the athletics industry.

The seminar is limited to the first 100 registrants. To reserve your spot, visit GNACTickets.com.

This Working In Sports Spotlight profiles one of this year’s featured panelists.

Name: Billy Strickland
Current Position: Executive Director, Alaska School Activities Association
Years In Current Position: 4

Colleges Attended & Degrees: Ouachita Baptist University, Henderson State University (Undergraduate, Accounting)

Primary Job Responsibilities: Oversight of ASAA’s overall operations, personnel management, strategic and budget planning and corporate sponsor relations. Responsible for student eligibility and waiver determination. Alaska’s representative on the National Federation Council. Monitor directives from the board of directors and prepare the agenda for each board meeting. Main contact for the Alaska High School Hall of Fame and the Alaska Endowment for Youth Activities Program as well as the Play for Keeps Program.

Things You Enjoy Most About Your Job: The knowledge that participation in educational based activities benefits students positively for the rest of their lives, watching students seeing hard work paying off and watching students find out that failure can happen but doesn't have to be permanent.

Why You Pursued A Professional Career In The Athletics Industry: Knowing how much athletics meant to me, I wanted to help others benefits as I had.

First Job Your The Sports Industry: Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Coach, Kipnuk High School, Kipnuk Alaska.

A Key Mentor Who Helped Me On Your Career Path: Gale Power, my former high school coach.

Most Influential Person You Your Early Professional Development (And Why): Bob Morris, the long-time Bethel Regional High School activities director. Bob's style was to always treat the other person with respect but to disagree if need be. He demonstrated the need to be able to do any job, even the small ones. He was never "above" doing things like sweeping the gym floor or taking gate at events.

Biggest Hurdle You Overcame Breaking Into The Sports Industry: Being involved at the high school level takes a lot of time. I had to learn to balance the time at work, with time with family and other parts of my job.

Key Attributes That Have Helped Me To Be Successful: Vast experience dealing with violations of policies, which required consequence to be imposed. Skilled at building productive relationships to further the organization’s goals. Persuasive skills, both written and verbal. Familiarity with the ASAA Staff and issues facing the organization.

Looking Back, What Is One Thing YouI Would Do In College Or Early On To Help You Along Your Career Path: I would have gotten my master degree.

Best Advice You Would Give To A Young Adult Wanting To Work In Sports: To realize that you have to be willing to pay your dues.

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Celtics

Favorite Athlete: Larry Bird

Most Memorable Sports-Related Moment: Winning conference championships as a player and a coach.