THIS WEEK: SMTSU Networking Night

Drexel SMTSU is very excited to welcome 4 great panelists to campus this week. Below is information on our 4 speakers and why you should be at our Networking Night this Thursday.


This Thursday, Drexel SMTSU will host its first major event of 2014. This Networking night will include a brief introduction and presentation from our Moderator J.P. Lutz, adjunct Professor in the Drexel Sport Management department, about the importance of networking and relationship building in the sport industry not only for co-op potentials but for your career as a whole.

Next, the panel will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and talk about their sport industry path and how networking has aided them, or affected them, during their careers.

Our panelists include Ari Sliffman, Jill Axel, Jim Britt, and Matt Marino.

Ari Sliffman is the Manager of Sales and Services for Turnkey Sports and Entertainment, located in Haddonfield, NJ. Ari is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a degree in Sport Management and Marquette Law School in 2012 with a degree in Sport Law. Previous to joining Turnkey, Ari worked as in marketing, promotions, sponsorship sales, and media relations in the sport industry, as well as countless legal jobs, including working as a full-time attorney.  Turnkey is a national leader in market research, data and analytics, and executive recruiting for sport and entertainment entities.


Jill Axel is Drexel Athletics' Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations. Jill graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Journalism, followed by a masters degree in Sport Management from Temple University. After spending multiple years working in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, Axel joined the Drexel Athletic department in 1999 as Director of External Relations. At Drexel, Axel oversees marketing and promotions of Drexel Athletics, as well as special events, fundraising and the Drexel Athletic Club annual fund, alumni relations, corporate sales and sponsorships, ticketing, and licensing.

Jim Britt is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. Prior to being named the ESYHF's first employee back in 2005, Britt was the General Manager of the Polonia Bank Flyer's Skate Zone in Philadelphia. Britt is a retired U.S. Postal Inspector, but has always been involved in the sports industry as an athlete or as a coach. He is also involved with USA Hockey on local and national levels, and he is dedicated to growing the game of hockey in the United States. Britt earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice from La Salle University and his master's degree in Sport Management from Neumann University.

Matt Marino is the Director of Player Operations and Acquisitions at EBSA Sports. Marino graduated from Villanova University and received his masters degree in Sport Management from Neumann University. Matt has worked in player representation since 2007, coming to EBSA by way of GameBreakers Sports and TKO Agents, Inc. He has worked with NFL players drafted in 3 out of the last 4 drafts, as well as multiple undrafted free agents. At EBSA, Matt works as the liaison between all football clients and the agency, and helps prepare them for a career as a professional athlete, including combine and draft day, as well as contract negotiation and other client services.


Drexel SMTSU is very excited to welcome these 4 great panelists to campus on Thursday and hope to see you all there!

Also, we are hosting a fundraiser at Landmark Americana from 3:00pm until 6:30pm, where for every dollar you spend, Drexel SMTSU will receive $.30. We hope you all can help us reach our fundraising goal! Below is the flyer, you need to bring this with you in order for us to get the funds. You can also contact Kevin Murray at kjm344@drexel.edu for a file with the flyer in it. Hope to see you there.