Blue Jackets celebrate International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, BlueJackets.com is spotlighting three women who have contributed greatly to the organization's front office.
Included are Becky Coffey, vice president for partner activation and premium service; Andee Boiman, director of fan development and community programs; and Leah Cover, corporate partner development manager.
The first two have worked more than four decades combined in the sports world, with Coffey spending more than 15 years with the Chicago Bears before coming to the Blue Jackets in December 2015, and Boiman starting as youth hockey coordinator with the Florida Panthers in 2003 before working with the Nashville Predators and now the Blue Jackets.
Cover, meanwhile, has spent seven years with the organization, rising from inside sales representative in the team's ticket office to a role in the traditionally male dominated field of corporate partnerships.
Each opened up about their path to working in sports, how the world has changed over the years, and the advice they'd give women trying to break into the business today.

Becky Coffey

Coffey has been in her current position for two and a half years after starting with the Blue Jackets as senior director of corporate development services. She oversees two areas of the team's business side -- partnership activation executes all of the promotional assets related to the team's 100-plus sponsorship partners, while the premium experience team manages Nationwide Arena's suite, loge and terrace table lease owners.
What was your journey in sports to get the current job you have?
A majority of opportunities in sports start in ticket sales. I did exactly that by selling tickets for the Detroit Pistons. I certainly learned to grow tough skin and develop the tenacity I needed to remain in sports. Shortly after that I had the opportunity to take a position with the Chicago Bears, where I spent over 15 years developing several critical skills to my current role: the art of customer service, solid communication skills, a solution-oriented mindset, proactive management of relationships, strategic thinking and leadership.
Was working in sports always a goal of yours?
It was. In pursuing my marketing degree at Butler University, I was required for course credit/grade to satisfy two internships. My first internship was with the Lafayette Leopards, a baseball team in an independent league. There I did pretty much everything from selling tickets/sponsorship, promoting the team within the local community, running all the promotions within the game and even picking-up trash after the game. I was hooked after that summer, though, when we successfully elevated the average attendance from 300 to 800 fans per game. My second internship was with the Indiana Pacers in their game operations department.
Looking for a job I probably sent out over 200 resumes and only interviewed with three teams -- the Pacers, New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Pistons. I took the only job that was offered me and headed to Detroit the summer after I graduated Butler.
What's the best or most rewarding part about the job?
There are a couple of things I find rewarding. The personal relationships I have with our partners and the Columbus community -- getting to know them, understanding their business and their impact within the community. It's really rewarding when through the Jackets relationship we can deliver and amplify their business objectives and then see that come to life.
The talented people I work with. During these times especially, I have never been so proud to see everyone come together, remain focused on what's important -- our fans, our partners and our community, and roll-up our sleeves with a "can do" attitude. I feel so very grateful to be a Columbus Blue Jacket.
Have you seen the sports world change in your time in it when it comes to the opportunities available to women?
When I started in sports over 20 years ago, I didn't see many women in management and/or leadership roles. As a leader now, I take great responsibility in creating opportunities to develop women -- empowering them to lead (a project, a relationship, etc.), developing their confidence, and encouraging their opinion and creating their own voice. Women bring a perspective to the table that any organization will benefit from and with that understanding I'm hopeful more organizations will embrace women in management and leadership roles.
What message would you give the next generation of young women who want to work in sports?
It's a competitive landscape. You may have to take opportunities that push you out of your comfort zone (i.e., selling tickets for me) that will allow you to gain the experience, make the connections, etc. Once in sports, continue to push yourself by taking on risks, responsibilities and opportunities that you can build on and that develops your personal brand more positively with others.

Andee Boiman

Boiman has been with the Blue Jackets since 2016, and in her role, she is responsible for the creation and execution of initiatives that cultivate a strong youth hockey environment and enrich the central Ohio community through education programs, community partnerships and the activation of participatory, grassroots programming. Such programs as GOAL! (Get Out And Learn!) and the Blue Jackets Power Play Challenge help remove the barriers of entry by serving kids that otherwise would not have the means to play. To learn more, visit
www.bluejackets.com/communityreport
.
What was your journey in sports to get the current job you have?
I was raised in Las Vegas and broke into sports as a youth hockey player at the age of 12, then went on to play college hockey at the University of Denver. Prior to graduating from UNLV with a bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure services, I was required to do an internship. This led me to the industry I have been a part of for over a decade and a half.
I sent my resume in the mail to every NHL team not knowing what internship opportunities existed, if any. In 2003, the Nashville Predators offered me an internship in their amateur hockey department. I accepted, absolutely loved it and never knew a job like that existed! From that experience I knew that connecting with others to inspire them through hockey is what I wanted to do.
As I was ending my internship with Nashville, the resume I had used to apply for internships a few months ago landed on the desk of the Randy Moller, who would eventually offer me my first full-time paid job in the NHL with the Florida Panthers the summer of 2003.
My start in the NHL was cut short with the 2004-05 lockout and my position as the youth and amateur hockey coordinator with Florida was eliminated. When the NHL announced there would be a season in 2005-06, many teams were hiring, and ultimately, I interviewed with Nashville, accepted a position as the Youth Hockey Coordinator, and spent the next 11 years with the organization. My position continued to grow from youth hockey development to marketing to sales and eventually back into rink programming when the team opened its first community rink.
In 2016, I was in Columbus for work and met (Blue Jackets VP for operations and development) JD Kershaw for lunch. He shared with me a new department Columbus was creating led by an incredible woman that he said I should have chat with to see if I would be interested.
That initial phone conversation with (Blue Jackets senior VP/chief marketing officer) Kathryn Dobbs led me to where I am today. She laid out the vision of what she and the organization were trying to build with a new department to connect synergies between youth hockey and community development efforts to not only nurture the existing fan base, build the next generation of fans and emulate the vision the organization's founder, John H. McConnell.
For me, the community relations piece in addition to an established youth hockey market was the new challenge I was looking for, not to mention the opportunity to work for a female for first time in my career, and a Blue Jacket was where I saw myself for the next 10 years and hopefully many more to come.
What's the best or most rewarding part about the job?
The best part of my job is doing something I am passionate about and being able to give back. When I was a kid growing up in a non-traditional hockey market, someone gave me a chance to try hockey and that opportunity gave me everything I have today. The most rewarding part of my job is that I can provide that same inspiration to the community I live in -- whether it is exposure to our game, putting a stick in a kid's hand, or using our brand to make a difference in the city. It's about how sport can connect a community and help shape future individuals.
Have you seen the sports world change in your time in it when it comes to the opportunities available to women?
Absolutely! While I was playing college hockey, I saw the first women represented in the Olympics and win gold in 1998. Since then, I have seen women's college hockey and professional hockey gain more exposure, women in broadcast roles in sport, women in executive c-suite roles in the front office, women on the sidelines as coaches and trainers, and women in ownership and scouting positions. The sky's the limit for women in sports now.
Who are some of the mentors you had to help get you where you are?
My mentors have always been individuals that came to me through hockey, and not surprisingly they are mostly females -- teammates, coaches, peers.
What message would you give the next generation of young women who want to work in sports?
While we (females) are represented in many roles in sports, there still is more that needs to be done. Women (and men) need to be champions for other women coming up in their careers.
And, when you take that first job, ask questions like "Tell me about your organization's culture," and "How does the organization support female growth?"
Is there anything you might want to add about women in sports or the organization's role in welcoming in more women?
An organization's culture plays an important role in job performance and satisfaction. The Blue Jackets invest in their employees, both male and female; however, the organization strives to provide the women of CBJ with support such as leadership training, mentorship, professional female networking, volunteering, mom groups and more!
Lastly, I'd like to share something I have recently found to be helpful in this part of my career -- listening to podcasts that spotlight women in your industry, city, hometown, etc. I've found we all share similar stories of struggles and successes. It's comforting to know that what you are experiencing/have experienced professionally is a shared experience.

Leah Cover

Cover started with the Blue Jackets in 2014 after graduating from college and has held four different positions within the organization, rising from the team's ticketing department to her current role in corporate partnerships. Her responsibility is to develop relationships with the business community and team partners as well as drive revenue for the organization through sponsorships and premium seating. Her day-to-day consists of prospecting new business, setting and executing meetings with current and new clients and focusing on evolving and growing relationships with partners year over year.
What was your journey in sports to get the current job you have?
It's pretty wild for someone to say they've been with one team seven years. It's just hard to come by. I got really lucky. When I was in my senior year at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, I was looking for my first job in sports.
My ultimate goal was to work in the NHL. I grew up a Florida Panthers fan and love everything about the sport. I had the opportunity to intern for the Wilkes-Barre Penguins in the summer/fall of 2013 in public relations, worked under the Sports Information Director at my college for several years doing everything from writing lacrosse articles to stats at soccer games to sideline photos at football games to working the Jumbotron at basketball games, and I also shadowed a Bloomsburg alum at MetLife Stadium which then led to me being a stats runner at Super Bowl XLVIII.
I had signed up for a career fair the Pittsburgh Pirates were hosting and when I went the only NHL team present was the Columbus Blue Jackets. I made a beeline for that station and had a quick conversation with the Director of New Business at the time, and he wanted me to come to Ohio for an interview two days later. I had the interview and on my drive back to school was offered the position. I accepted, graduated college on a Saturday, moved to Columbus the next day and started work Monday.
Was working in sports always a goal of yours?
It wasn't always my goal. I've definitely had some interest in other professions as I feel like most college students do, but once I decided sports was a passion I could turn into a career, I did everything I could to make it happen.
What's the best or most rewarding part about the job?
I get to work with so many interesting, cool people, and I nerd out learning about different types of businesses and how they tick. I also have this unique opportunity to provide powerful moments. Being the reason a client and their daughter get to sit on the bench for warmups and get a tap on the helmet from Nick Foligno or a puck from one of our trainers is really special. It's the little things that go a long way.
As a young woman working in sports, especially in what is a traditionally male-dominated role, is it important to you to provide some representation there?
Definitely. I think it's even more important to set a good example and show what women are capable of contributing to a sports organization. As a woman I can provide unique perspectives and bring a different set of skills to the role that help enhance the overall team. It can be challenging to be the only woman in a room, but it can also be an advantage if you approach it the right way.
Who are some of the mentors you had to help get you where you are?
I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my parents and their support, encouragement and love. I've always developed great relationships with my bosses along the way. They allowed me to be open with my goals and helped guide me to my next steps. I am so grateful and still keep in touch with all of them, Tom McGuire, Mike O'Brien, Drew Ribarchak and (current CBJ director of group sales) Dani Nell.
At the Blue Jackets, we have a talented roster of female leaders. Nell, Coffey, Dobbs and (senior director of human resources) Becky Magaw have been incredible role models for me. Finally, I think sometimes we forget about peer mentors. I've always surrounded myself with powerful woman who are impressive in their own careers and they motivate me all the time to continue to be better in my own.
What message would you give the next generation of young women who want to work in sports?
Be ready to work and don't use your gender as an excuse, but a motivation to prove that we can do anything. There will be trying times and moments where you feel misjudged or not taken seriously, but if you're determined and keep pushing, your work will shine and you'll prove you deserve a seat at the table.