Alex Guthrie '17, Director of Events at Topnotch Management, credits his 黑料大事 education and experiences with shaping his successful career in sports event management.
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After graduating from JCU鈥檚 Boler College of Business with a degree in Business Logistics, Guthrie took his passion for tennis鈥攆ueled by his own successful tenure as a Blue Streak tennis player with three OAC titles鈥攖o Topnotch Management, a global sports agency based in Cleveland. As Director of Events, Guthrie now oversees a portfolio of high-profile events, notably , Cleveland鈥檚 largest annual women鈥檚 professional sporting event, held each August at Nautica.
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Reflecting on his journey, Guthrie noted the lasting influence of professors in JCU鈥檚 logistics department, particularly Dr. Bradley Hull and Dr. Watts, whose courses deepened his interest in analytics and logistics. After reflecting on his passions for tennis and bringing people together, 听Guthrie landed a career in sports events management.
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Partnering with his Alma-Mater to Provide JCU Students with Practical Internships
In 2021, Guthrie proactively reached out to John Carroll, looking for ways he could partner with the institution in his new role. Since then, he has provided 20 John Carroll students with internships at Topnotch Management where they gain valuable experience in sports event operations, media, and photography.
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鈥淔or me, I like to hire JCU students because if I can in any way help further their experience at JCU, it is a win,鈥 Guthrie said. 鈥淚 trust the caliber of candidate coming from John Carroll and know at one point, I was in their shoes trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Even if they don鈥檛 ultimately choose sports management, the experience can shape their interests and become a great talking point on a resume.鈥
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Communications major and recent Topnotch Management intern, Samuel Herr 鈥26, has had the opportunity to work under Guthrie and hone his skills in a variety of areas.听
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鈥淭opnotch Management has given me countless opportunities to further both my professional and personal skills in the field of creative content, photography, and various social media aspects,鈥 said Herr. 鈥淲orking with the team has been a great privilege and has allowed me to experience countless professional environments that would previously not have been available to me. Working for them has been instrumental in developing me into the person I am today.鈥
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How JCU Prepared Guthrie for Global Event Leadership
Guthrie emphasized how his comprehensive education at JCU and the Boler College of Business prepared him to handle the multifaceted responsibilities of managing global sporting events.
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鈥淛CU creates a well-rounded business individual. I learned numerous disciplines like accounting, marketing, logistics, and HR, all of which empowered me to confidently lead global sporting events,鈥 Guthrie explained. 鈥淓vents touch on so many different disciplines every day, and JCU really set me up for success in this role.鈥
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Guthrie encourages students interested in sports or event management to embrace opportunities and build meaningful connections.
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鈥淚mmerse yourself in as many opportunities as possible and always say yes,鈥 Guthrie advised. 鈥淭he sports industry thrives on connections, and the broader your experiences, the better positioned you鈥檒l be for the future.鈥
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Beyond professional success, Guthrie takes pride in Topnotch Management鈥檚 continued investment in Cleveland and its partnership with John Carroll, underscoring the importance of supporting local talent and career growth in the city of Cleveland.听
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