SCAN highlights School of Communications alumni who recently landed jobs in their field. Assistant Professor Gary Ford recently interviewed Corey Stephens (BA, Public Relations, 2005), director of promotions for the Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget, Ill.



SCAN: How did you land your job?
Corey Stephens: I did my internship with the Grizzlies in 2004 and was in the right place at the right time. My boss resigned in June that year and I was given the opportunity to show what I could do. At the end of the season, I was approached to take-over the position full time while I was completing my last year at Webster. The rest is history!

SCAN: How many hours a week do you work?
CS: Interesting question. It completely depends on the day! If it is during the baseball season and we have a game, I come to the stadium at 8:30 in the morning and leave some time after the game…usually around 11 p.m.. If it rains and we have a game, I arrive at 7:00 a.m. to pull the tarp over the field and then work through the day. When the team is away or during the off-season, we work regular business hours. I can sum it up by saying, I LIVE at the stadium during the summer!

SCAN: Favorite fringe benefit of your job?
CS: I get to meet a lot of really cool people. I have met Whitey Herzog, Bing Divine, Bob Forsch, Ed Maculey and of course Danny Cox! For a sports fanatic like me, that is awesome!

SCAN: Is your current salary more or less than you expected to be making at this point?
CS: It is enough for now, but you don’t work in minor league sports to make money. You make sacrifices to get the experience you need to make it to the BIG TIME. Nowhere else would I be Director of Promotions at 21 and running the entire show.

SCAN: Best way to fuel your creativity?
CS: We do a lot of “think tanks.” Our entire staff sits in a room for an hour or so coming up with possible ideas to make things interesting. I take notes down and research the ideas to make them happen. I also do a lot of research about what other teams across the country have done—we play off of each other a lot.

SCAN: Company you’d kill to work for?
CS: I would LOVE to make it to the majors. Of course I would ultimately like to work for the St. Louis Cardinals, but the possibilities are endless!



SCAN: Any advice for those looking for a job?
CS: It takes time, just always be ready to seize any opportunities that come your way. I am a great example of being at the right place at the right time to make something happen.

SCAN: Which Web site is your home away from “Home”?
CS: Huh! These days, it’s www.gatewaygrizzlies.com ;-) Other than that, I like www.sportsbusinessdaily.com

SCAN: Any bumper stickers on your car?
CS: No bumper stickers—but a Grizzlies’ cling on the window! Notice a pattern?

SCAN: Best on-the-job experience so far?
CS: Really, it’s been getting the hands-on experience of planning the entire entertainment aspect of a baseball game. I DO EVERYTHING. Other than an intern, I am the Promotions Department— I am responsible for a lot of any given day.

SCAN: Worst?
CS: I don’t have a lot of complaints other than everyone thinking that they know how to do your job.

SCAN: Person you most admire in your field?
CS: Not really sure, I learn a great deal from a lot of different people, but not anyone in particular.

SCAN: What's on your iPod?
CS: iPod? I wish I could afford an iPOD!!!

SCAN: Last movie you saw?
CS: Movies, NO TIME FOR THOSE UNTIL OCTOBER!!!

SCAN: Thing you miss most about Webster?
CS: I don’t think it has hit me that I am done with school, so I don’t really miss Webster yet. I am still on summer vacation! When my friends go back to school in August, I think it will hit me like a ton of bricks that I am not JUST a student anymore. I know I will miss the many people I saw on a daily basis and the professors that were, for the most part, very informative and helpful! I guess I am all grown up and will miss college eventually!

Did you just land a job in your field?
E-mail scan@webster.edu and tell us about it.

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• Spencer Keimon ’93
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• Kara Gibson ’05
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• Andrew Scherer ’03
  Broadcast Journalism
• Corey Stephens ’05
  Public Relations

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