Winter 2023
As the seasons change, it’s time to say goodbye to our largest-ever intern class. This winter, we hosted five interns from across the country in both undergraduate and graduate programs. They have been a tremendous asset these last few months, and while we are sad to see them go, we are eager and excited to see what’s in store for them next. Here’s what they had to say about their time here at FanCompass:
Alex Chillemi - Syracuse University:
“When I first interviewed with FanCompass in December, I had never heard of the company and had little knowledge of the type of SAAS technology being used by sports teams and leagues. This internship has developed my understanding of the future of the sports industry and how technology will play a major part in the sports industry moving forward. Moreover, this internship has been great as I have helped with projects across multiple different functional areas, allowing me to get a better idea of my career direction and interests moving forward while honing my skills in multiple different areas. Everyone on the team has been nothing but welcoming and helpful, always offering advice and taking time to explain not just how to do things, but why they do certain things. Overall, my time with FanCompass has been a great way to end my college career and prepare me to enter the workforce.”
Kayla Shannon - University of South Carolina
“My internship at FanCompass was an amazing experience during my last semester at the University of South Carolina. It has been a pleasure to get to know the FanCompass team and work with each of the super talented individuals. I’ve learned so much over my time with FanCompass, and I am so glad that I have had an experience that has fostered an open and collaborative environment. There is no doubt that my time with FanCompass will be crucial to my success as I begin my career with Fox Sports following graduation from USC.”
Ryan Fong - University of San Francisco Sport Management M.S. program
“My internship with FanCompass has been rewarding, to say the least! I’ve learned a tremendous amount from everyone in the company while getting exposure to a growing sector of the sport industry. I want to give a special shoutout to Aaron Mendle and Ellie Westcott. As the account management intern, I witnessed both Aaron and Ellie successfully cultivate relationships and provide excellent service for their clients. Both of them have been incredible resources for me as I begin a career in the industry. In just three months as an intern for FanCompass, I’ve grown both professionally and personally while having plenty of fun along the way!”
Agustí Fresquet - University of San Francisco Sport Management M.S. program
“One of my priorities at a professional level is to work in the world of professional soccer, and through the internship at FanCompass, I have been able to have my first contact with it. During this period, I have had the opportunity to devise, design and publicly launch campaigns for teams from Liga MX, Liga Expansión MX, MiLB, and USL Championship. This can give future interns a vision of how the company is growing in every one of the sectors within the world of sports, making it a space to develop professionally and personally. I am grateful to the FanCompass team, who have helped me and given me this opportunity, for all the value they have contributed to me to keep moving forward into the future. I would recommend this opportunity to all those who want to start their professional career in sports.”
Greg Khammar - University of South Carolina
“Hello, my name is Greg Khammar and I have spent the past four months interning for FanCompass. I am graduating from the University of South Carolina this May with a degree in Sports and Entertainment Management. My time at FanCompass this semester has been incredible. I will be honest, at first I was uncertain about the work I had signed up for. As I progressed throughout my internship, I came to realize how innovative my work actually was. FanCompass opened my eyes to a brand new sector within the sports and entertainment industry. First-party data collection is complicated; the work FanCompass puts in is diligent and precise. The company manages data for all kinds of athletic organizations such as teams, universities, and racetracks. Sticking to my honesty policy, I did not expect the workload this internship brought. I will say that I am thankful for it. This internship has made me proficient in platforms such as Google Sheets, Keynote, Google Analytics, and Canva. I also believe that the work I completed was meaningful. Our platform truly makes a difference for teams. I learned very quickly that the revenue FanCompass generates for its clients is game-changing.
Continuing from the thought above, I believe that is why many new teams joined FanCompass in ‘22 and ’23. Teams are realizing how valuable their fans are to their success both athletically and financially. What I’ve come to understand about FanCompass is that FanCompass serves as the bridge between the two. The FC platform allows teams to engage with their fans and local communities in ways that haven’t been done before. It was exciting for me as an intern to work with a few of these teams. During my internship, I worked with both the Lansing Lugnuts and the University of Cincinnati. Throughout my time with these teams, it was easy to see the FanCompass platform make an impact. On bi-monthly calls with representatives from both teams, I noticed how engaged the teams were on the FanCompass platform. The data collected from these campaigns allows each respective team to better understand who their fans are and what they want. It seems straightforward, and it really is. If teams know who their fans are and what they want, then the team will actively set themselves up for future success. At the end of the day, sports are a business and we all want to make money.
In conclusion, my time at FanCompass has been well spent developing my skills for future success within the sports and entertainment industry. I am grateful for the advice and knowledge my senior co-workers have shared with me. I look forward to staying in touch with the company regardless of where I go. Although I have not made a decision yet, I am deciding between attending law school in Houston or working for a few years in Charlotte. Thank you to the FanCompass team for taking a chance on me back in December and best of luck to the next group of interns!”