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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • Graphic stating March 2023 News & Notes with headshots of Rodrigo Feller, Aaron Henderson, Katlynn Motz and Carla Vaca Pinacho.

March 2023 HRSM student, faculty, staff and alumni notes

Posted on: March 8, 2023; Updated on: March 8, 2023
By Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu

In the News

Faculty/Staff Notes

Student Notes

  • Master of Sport and Entertainment Management students Henry Caver, Skylar Deichmann, Colleen Dibble and Hunter Forchetti, coached by Todd Koesters, took part in the Case Cup competition at The National Sports Forum in Los Angeles.
  • Saad Alshamari and Rodrigo Feller (both Sport and Entertainment Management Ph.D. students) presented their research on the impact of hosting a mega-event on women’s organized sport participation at the World Association for Sport Management Conference in Doha, Qatar.
  • Andy Anderson (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a position for summer 2023 as sports and aquatics program director with Camp Arrowhead for Boys.
  • Makayla Coats (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 internship with the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour.
  • Madison Cobb (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 marketing internship with the Charleston Battery.
  • Molly Corcoran (Hospitality Management) earned her introductory sommelier license from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
  • Carrington Dirks (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 communications internship with the Carolinas Golf Association.
  • Rodrigo Feller (Sport and Entertainment Management Ph.D.) was invited to be a panelist in the International Student-Athletes session at the NCAA Inclusion Forum April 21-23 in Indianapolis.
  • Kaileigh Hamilton (Tourism Management) accepted a summer 2023 internship with Graduate Hotels Columbia.
  • Sydney Herz (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 tournament operations internship with The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach.
  • Hunter Holson (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 internship with GSE Worldwide in their golf office in Charleston, SC.
  • Jack Jennings (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 golf operations rotational internship at Boca West Country Club.
  • Zepeng “Jake” Liu (Tourism Management) accepted a summer 2023 internship with Marriott Grande Ocean on Hilton Head Island.
  • Zachary Moore (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 security operations internship with the Washington Nationals.
  • Xavier Peguese (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 operations and marketing internship with The Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
  • Ashley Popour (Sport and Entertainment Management, '17) started a new position as promotional events coordinator with the Cincinnati Reds.
  • Kellie Taylor (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a new position as an inside sales representative with the Brooklyn Nets.
  • Ashley Thomas (Hospitality Management, ‘20) started a new position as internet marketing analyst at WebFX.
  • Jack Tucker (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 game day operations internship with the Charleston RiverDogs.
  • Julia Vineis (Hospitality Management) accepted a position for summer 2023 as event operations intern at Beach House Hilton Head Island.
  • Lauren Whooley (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations) accepted a summer 2023 fashion marketing internship with Lowie in London, England.
  • Marissa Womack (Sport and Entertainment Management) accepted a summer 2023 marketing and promotions internship with the Charleston RiverDogs.

Alumni Notes

  • Coleah Bellamy (Tourism Management, ‘17) accepted a new position as an Island Innovation ambassador representing Barbados.
  • Haissam Baityeh (Hospitality Management, ‘89), chief operating officer with the Country Club of Spartanburg, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Club Management Association of America.
  • Dakota Bierly (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘14) was named to the Security Industry Association Women in Security Forum 2023 Power 100 List. The list spotlights women who are role models, leaders, innovators and influencers in the global security industry.
  • Rachel Bush (Tourism Management, ‘21) was promoted to food and beverage manager at Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte.
  • Alex English (Interdisciplinary Studies, ‘91, current USC Board of Trustees member) was given a token of appreciation by the Columbia City Council for his keynote presentation at the city’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Ceremony in January.
  • Rex Galloway (Hospitality Management, ‘86) and Kary Galloway (Interdisciplinary Studies, ‘86) were named to the Christie’s International Real Estate 2023 Masters Circle. Introduced in 2019, the Masters Circle designation is awarded each year to a select group of top-performing agents within the Christie’s International Real Estate network. Rex has served on the HRSM Dean's Advisory Board and the HRSM Alumni Society Board, and was one of the first donors to the HRSM Alumni Society Fund.
  • Madeline Greenberg (Hospitality Management, ‘21) accepted a new position as meeting and special event manager at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey, California.
  • Kevin Hackenbrack (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘15) accepted a new position as director of security operations with the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Aaron Henderson (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘13) accepted a new position as an agent with Klutch Sports Group.
  • Jacob Hoffman (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘22) accepted a new position as sales associate with The Road Company in New York, New York.
  • Kate (Tkach) McCoyle (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘18) accepted a new position as general manager at The Broadberry concert and event venue in Richmond, Virginia.
  • Caeley McMillan (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘21) was promoted to senior coordinator, premium experiences and ticket services with the New York Yankees.
  • Katlynn Motz (Retailing - Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations, ‘22) accepted a new position as an assistant fashion buyer at It's Fashion, a division of Cato Corporation.
  • Emily Perrone (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘20) accepted a new position as production coordinator with NFL Network.
  • Carla Vaca Pinacho (Tourism Management, ‘22) accepted a new position as DEI project coordinator for Miles Partnership.
  • Logan Platt (Retailing, ‘22) accepted a new position as management trainee with Enterprise.
  • Brandon Ruth (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘11) started a new position as senior director of operations with the Atlanta Falcons.
  • Drew Schnee (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘22) accepted a new position as operations assistant for the 2023 PGA Championship and Women’s PGA Championship.
  • Catherine Simpson (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘07) started a new position as product manager with Front Gate Tickets.
  • Joe Sobieralski (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘01) started a new position as senior associate vice president for administration and finance and university treasurer at the University of South Carolina.
  • Carole (Burton) Sox (Ph.D. Hospitality Management) was promoted to professor and granted tenure at Columbia College.
  • Chad Staggs (Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management) accepted a new position as inside linebackers coach with Western Kentucky University football.
  • Trent Watson (Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘21) started a new position as business development manager at Addison Group.
  • Bailey White (Master of Sport and Entertainment Management, ‘22) accepted a new position as director of marketing and fan experience with Georgia Tech Athletics.

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