Success is in the details for recent Centenary University grad planning a career in operations and event planning
Somerville resident David Espino’s hands-on experience as an undergraduate included a presentation to the USGA and planning a major sports symposium.
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (Warren County) — Details matter to David Espino, a Somerville resident who earned his bachelor’s degree from Centenary University in December.
A business administration major with a concentration in sports and entertainment management, Espino is pursuing a career in operations or event planning—and he already has lots of practical experience under his belt.
Last year, Espino helped to plan the University’s annual Sports and Entertainment Management Conference, which brings professionals from major sports organizations to the David and Carol Lackland Center for panel discussions, networking, and a keynote address. His role: Recruiting speakers and coordinating the details for a panel discussion on event operations.
“It was so helpful for my career because I want to work in operations or event planning,” Espino said. “So I worked behind the scenes planning and setting up—exactly what I want to do. Sports and entertainment management is a broad field that prepares you to work in many fields, like hospitality and corporate event planning, as well as in healthcare or for sports organizations.”
At a previous Sports and Entertainment Management Conference, networking resulted in Espino being hired as an operations and logistics intern with USA Sports Group, a firm that offers athletic coaching and training in a variety of sports in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. The position encompasses everything he loves about the field: Going to watch coaches and provide feedback on their work, making sure everything runs smoothly, and handling other essential details.
While at Centenary, Espino also participated with a team of Centenary students who pitched merchandising ideas for the U.S. Open to representatives of the United States Golf Association (USGA). On campus, Espino put his organizational skills to work as the chapter president of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc., a national service organization.
Now, Espino is planning his own career, and is grateful for the practical experience he’s gained: “At Centenary, they really push you to your limits. It’s not just theoretical classes where you attend lectures and take quizzes. You have to put in real world work, that you can then put on your resume. Centenary really took me out of my comfort zone, and now, I feel ready for the next phase of my life.”
