By: Adam White, @FOSAdam
Front Office Sports is proud to have sat down with Adam Trick, Senior Operations Manager forProCamps Worldwide. ProCamps is a best-in-class event management and sports marketing company specializing in developing, managing, and operating sports camps, player appearances, brand activations, and related experiences with professional athletes and coaches. Adam is an alumnus of Indiana University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Marketing and Management. He was gracious enough to offer up his insight on how important operations are, how you must value your relationships with your network and why getting experience is the best way to network.
What were your previous positions, if any, before your current position? How did those positions help you get to where you are today?
I started at ProCamps as an intern. Before that, I was a student manager for the baseball team at IU and then did a couple other odd events jobs throughout college. I established a relationship during my time as the student manager with the head coach and having that relationship helped me establish a full time position at ProCamps.
All my previous positions where behind the scenes and they helped me find interest in the operations aspect of events. It’s stuff that no one wants to do, but needs to be done for success.
As the Senior Operations Manager for ProCamps Worldwide, what is a normal day like for you? What are some of your day-to-day challenges?
At an event, I oversee the entire event from set up to break down. My goal is to make sure everyone has a positive experience. Everything from setting up coolers to be iced to the bigger picture aspects, everything pretty much falls on my shoulders.
In the office, everyday is different because I oversee close to 50 events a year. When I’m in the office I’m focused on overseeing our internship program, making sure all our events have sponsors, operational hires to everything in between.
What drew you to being a part of the operations aspect of sports?
A lot of it just falls in line with my previous experiences. When I first started with ProCamps as an intern, we only had three events and I got to do everything from marketing to sales to operations. With those experiences, I found that I liked operations the best.
What’s the highlight of your career to this point?
What I’ve enjoyed the most is just meeting all the people I’ve had a chance to interact with at all the camps. When I’m onsite, I love being able to work with the college volunteers and then helping develop people through our internship program. It’s also great to be able to meet athletes you normally wouldn’t be able to and then root for their teams because of the relationship you have with them.
What are some tips you have for people who want to be successful in the sports industry specifically the operations aspect?
You must network, but use that network to get relevant experience. It’s amazing when I get seniors who have resumes with nothing on it but school.
You have to get out there and do things. Take pride in your job, you never know who is watching. You have to remember that most people started where you are and they can tell if you’re driven or just going through the motions.
What is the best career advice you have been given so far?
Our CEO’s father actually told me that if “you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll never work a day in your life.” I’ve kept this advice with me throughout my life and career so far.
What is your favorite camp that you run? Why?
My favorite camp was actually my first one and it was with Chris Paul. For some reason, I hit it off with him and respected him and I still follow him today.
Another one of my favorites is, one we run during the Final Four. All the coaches are players from the NABC and all the kids in the camp are from Special Olympics. The coaches are well known and all the kids are so great which makes the camp, from an operations standpoint, so easy to put on.
You can reach Adam at his email: atrick@procamps.com
You can view ProCamps Internship Program at: https://www.procamps.com/about/internships
