Front Office U

Front Office U welcomes Jillian Nelson.Jillian is a Game Presentation Assistant for the Minnesota Lynx, where she helps execute the in-arena entertainment experience that fans see on game day. From preparing halftime activations and coordinating promotions to following detailed game scripts, Jillian plays a key role in ensuring every Lynx game delivers an engaging and memorable experience for fans.A multi-sport athlete growing up, Jillian played basketball, soccer, and softball before discovering her passion for sports communications. While in high school, she gained hands-on experience creating and running video board content for school events and football games, giving her an early introduction to the behind-the-scenes side of sports production.In this conversation, Jillian shares what game days are really like in professional sports, including the preparation that begins hours before tip-off, the importance of being adaptable in a fast-paced environment, and how a willingness to say "yes" to opportunities helped launch her career. She also discusses the lessons she learned working across multiple sports and why soccer was originally her first choice before finding her place in the world of game presentation.Connect with Jillian on LinkedIn.

Front Office U welcomes Eric Weissman.Eric is a Pro Scout for the Los Angeles Kings, where he evaluates AHL players, NHL prospects, and reserve list talent as part of the organization's player assessment and development process. Working on the professional scouting side, Eric helps identify players who could impact the Kings' future while providing insight on talent throughout North America.Originally from Buffalo, New York, Eric grew up playing hockey, baseball, lacrosse, and roller hockey while developing a passion for the game that would eventually turn into a career. After studying Sport Management at SUNY Cortland, he took an unconventional path into hockey operations, working in roles ranging from broadcast runner and help desk technician with the Buffalo Sabres to production work and event staging during the offseason. Along the way, Eric built a reputation for making himself useful, solving problems, and finding ways to contribute beyond his job description.In this conversation, Eric shares what life as an NHL pro scout is really like, including how organizations evaluate players beyond the stat sheet, the importance of character and projection when assessing talent, and the realities of building a career in hockey operations. He also discusses the inspiration behind his Hockey Operations educational platform, Pipeline Hockey, where he has transformed years of industry experience into practical learning modules designed to help aspiring hockey professionals better understand the business and operational side of the game.Connect with Eric on LinkedIn.Pipeline Hockey

Front Office U welcomes Jude Scibelli.Jude is the Equipment Manager for the Boston Fleet, where he oversees the day-to-day operations that keep a professional hockey team running behind the scenes. Originally from Springfield, Jude began his journey in hockey as a locker room attendant with the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016 before balancing responsibilities with both the Thunderbirds and College of the Holy Cross hockey program.In this conversation, Jude shares what life is really like in an equipment room — from early mornings and skate sharpening to managing jerseys, organizing road trips, and preparing the locker room for a professional team every single day. The episode also explores Jude’s path through the hockey world, the challenges of breaking into the industry, and the persistence it took to keep pursuing a career in the game when he was close to walking away from it entirely.⁠Connect with Jude on LinkedIn⁠

Front Office U welcomes Mike Lorenz.Mike is the CEO of NGU Sports Lighting and has played a pivotal role in transforming the sports lighting industry twice. He first made his mark as President of Ephesus Lighting, where he helped scale groundbreaking LED technology into a dominant force across professional and collegiate sports. Under his leadership, Ephesus reached a defining milestone in 2015 when its system powered the first ever LED lit Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium, signaling a major shift in how stadiums and arenas approach lighting.After Ephesus was acquired by Eaton, Mike launched NGU Sports Lighting, built around his personal mantra, Never Give Up. Through NGU, he is pioneering an innovative Performance Lighting Delivered model to make advanced sports infrastructure more accessible and scalable than ever before.This conversation explores the evolution of sports lighting and the leadership mindset required to navigate risk, failure, and growth. Mike also shares lessons on confidence, relationship building, and why surrounding yourself with optimistic, resilient people matters.Connect with Mike on LinkedIn https://ngusportslighting.com/

Front Office U welcomes Jeremiah Wait.Jeremiah is the Director of Defensive Personnel for SMU Football, where he plays a key role in scouting, evaluation, and information gathering, as well as coordinating Pro Day coverage and official visits. He’s built his path in football through hands-on learning and initiative, including experiences with the Scouting Academy and as a student in the New York Jets scouting school, while consistently leveraging tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, and email to build connections and opportunities in the industry.This conversation dives into the details behind recruiting operations, the importance of organization and communication at the highest levels, and how aspiring scouts can break into the industry through persistence and relationship-building.Connect with Jeremiah on LinkedInFollow Jeremiah on Twitter: @mrfootballwaitJeremiah's Email: jwait@smu.edu

Front Office U welcomes Durham Welch!Durham is the Co-Special Teams Coordinator for football at Hamline University, bringing a unique and resilient perspective shaped by his multi-sport background and unconventional journey through athletics. A former college athlete who competed in both soccer and football, Durham’s path wasn’t defined by immediate success, but by perseverance and growth through adversity.Durham shares how those challenges helped shape his coaching philosophy, allowing him to better connect with athletes who may not always be in the spotlight. He emphasizes the value of communication as a transferable skill and how embracing failure played a key role in his development, both on and off the field. The conversation also dives into his transition into coaching, the importance of taking advantage of opportunities, and his long-term goal of becoming an Athletic Director while continuing to grow in the coaching space.⁠Connect with Durham on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes Shamus Sullivan!Shamus is the host of the Winded Pod, a podcast that started from a simple TikTok response and has since evolved into a platform highlighting unique stories across the sports world. What began with a gambling focus has grown into an interview-driven show with a strong emphasis on amplifying women in sports, as well as athletes, photographers, and content creators from around the globe.He shares his journey growing up as a multi-sport athlete, his early interest in sports media and storytelling, and how his passion for creative, editorial-style content shaped the direction of his podcast. Shamus also discusses the freedom of building something without a traditional boss or deadlines, the importance of connecting with peers, and lessons learned along the way as he continues to grow his platform.⁠Connect with Shamus on LinkedIn⁠InstagramTikTok

Front Office U welcomes Nick Zoroya!Nick shares about his career in sports, including working now at Wayne State University. Nick has degrees from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. His previous career experiences include Athletic Director at Canton Prep High School, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Concordia University Ann Arbor, General Manager / Content Strategist for Lacrosse All-Stars, and Broadcast team for the University of Michigan. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes Joey Goldstein!Joey joins Victor Anderson to discuss his role at Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. Joey also shares about some of his past experiences working in Professional Hockey with the Iowa Wild and the San Jose Sharks' AHL Affiliate. Connect with Joey on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes Justyn Carlson!Justyn joins the show to talk about carving out a career in sports sales by betting on yourself, building real relationships, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable. Now leading a team of eight Account Executives at Nashville Superspeedway, Justyn focuses on filling grandstands and driving B2B revenue at one of the premier venues in motorsports. He shares how hands-on experiences in summer leagues, athletics operations, and concessions helped open doors. Justyn also reflects on taking a leap by moving when opportunities near home didn’t pan out, the impact of mentors, and why staying connected with former clients and peers matters more than ever.Connect with Justyn on LinkedIn.

Front Office U welcomes Clayton Grandquist of the Iowa Cubs!Clayton joins us to talk about building a career in sports and why mindset matters just as much as skill set. Growing up in Des Moines surrounded by baseball, hockey, and family ties to the Iowa Cubs, his path into sports was shaped early.Today, Clayton oversees all aspects of ticketing for the Iowa Cubs—from systems and online purchasing to box office operations, reporting, and working closely with ownership, management, and the CFO. He also leads and develops the ticket sales staff through weekly 1-on-1s, coaching, and strategic sales campaigns in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.A must-listen for anyone interested in ticket sales, leadership, or breaking into the business side of sports.Connect with Clayton on LinkedInEmail: claytong@iowacubs.com

Front Office U welcomes Weston Johnson!Weston shares about his role as a Strength Coach for the women's basketball and volleyball teams at Stephen F Austin University. Tune in to hear about how Weston became interested in this career path, his mindset for networking, and some of his core values, including being honest and vulnerable. Connect with Weston on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes Sal Milliotto to the podcast to talk about his journey into the sports business and what it takes to succeed on the partnership side of the industry.Sal works with Learfield’s sports properties as part of a three-person team selling corporate partnerships across the Omaha and Lincoln markets. He shares insight into building new partnerships, managing renewals, upselling current accounts, and the importance of timing and work ethic, especially in year-one renewals.Originally from New York and a lifelong Vikings fan, Sal reflects on how his athletic background, mentors, and ability to embrace adversity have shaped his approach. He also discusses breaking into the industry through networking, including landing his role via a LinkedIn message, and offers perspective on job titles and growth opportunities within the USHL ecosystem.Connect with Sal on LinkedIn