For seasonal employment (gameday positions), please contact Staffing Inc. at (616) 784-1182.
2009 WHITECAPS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The West Michigan Whitecaps offer an excellent internship program where college students or recent college graduates can gain valuable experience in the sports industry. All of the internship programs are a full-time commitment and begin no later than April 1(Refer to the specific internship information below for the start date of each program). Applicants who cannot begin the program full-time by April 1 will be considered only if other applicants are not available.
The purpose of the Whitecaps internship program is to provide an extensive hands-on career development program that assists young adults with the selection of appropriate careers. We provide work positions that are meaningful and compatible with their education and aspirations. We also offer guidance in the job search process, from resume writing, to utilizing our network of peers in the industry to assist qualified individuals in seeking out available positions at the completion of their internships.
Many former interns have gone on to secure positions in the industry. Whitecaps internship alumni have worked for such organizations as the Detroit Tigers, Ballpark Digest, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Cavaliers, Daytona International Speedway, Detroit Red Wings, ESPN, Fort Wayne Wizards, Kane County Cougars, Lansing Lugnuts, Minnesota Wild, Norfolk Tides, Palace Sports and Entertainment, The Sprint Center, Tampa Bay Rays, Tennessee Smokies, Traverse City Beach Bums and, of course, with the Whitecaps and Berlin Raceway.
Below are the internship job descriptions:
TICKET SALES INTERNS (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: January 5, 2009
Duties: Duties include developing ticket plan and group sales opportunities for the West Michigan Whitecaps. Prospect for new sales accounts through inside and outside sales. Effectively prospect, present and follow through with customers to ensure fan satisfaction. Develop and enhance relationship with current clients. Assist other departments with special projects as requested or needed. Project a positive image to all at all times. Exposure to all areas of ticketing.
Other Duties: Assist other departments with player appearances, covering phones, etc.
Qualifications: Must be outgoing, tactful, courteous, friendly, and professional in an atmosphere of many demands and frequent interruptions. Team player, excellent interpersonal skills, phone skills, and organizational skills. Ability to perceive problems, suggest, and trouble-shoot solutions proactively. Excellent customer relations skills a must. ticketing system knowledge, knowledge of baseball industry and computer skills a plus.
Stipend: $650 per month plus commission on tickets sold.
Contact: Chad Sayen, Director of Ticket Sales
TICKET ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAMS INTERN (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: January 5, 2009
Duties: Duties include developing ticket plan and group sales opportunities for the West Michigan Whitecaps for new sales accounts through inside and outside sales. Major focus of internship will be on managing Reading Club program, including development of correspondence, follow-through of program, and updates of progress. Responsible for overall success of program. Effectively prospect, present, and follow through with customers to ensure fan satisfaction. Develop and enhance relationships with current clients. Assist other departments with special projects as requested or needed. Project a positive image to all at all times. Exposure to all areas of ticketing.
Other Duties: Assist other departments with player appearances, covering phones, etc.
Qualifications: Must be outgoing, tactful, courteous, friendly, and professional in an atmosphere of many demands and frequent interruptions. Team player, excellent interpersonal skills, phone skills, and organizational skills. Ability to perceive problems, suggest, and trouble-shoot solutions proactively. Excellent customer relations skills a must. ticketing system knowledge, knowledge of baseball industry and computer skills a plus.
Stipend: $650 per month plus commission on tickets sold.
Contact: Chad Sayen, Director of Ticket Sales
TICKET OPERATIONS INTERN (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: February 15, 2009
Duties: Duties include developing ticket plan and group sales opportunities for the West Michigan Whitecaps for new sales accounts through inside and outside sales. Assist in sale, printing, accounting, and distribution of individual tickets. Process ticket orders at ticket window, as well as phone, fax, and mail orders. Work closely with Fifth Third Ballpark Ticket Operations Manager in all ticket office functions. Effectively prospect, present, and follow through with customers to ensure fan satisfaction. Develop and enhance relationships with current clients. Assist other departments with special projects as requested or needed. Position covers the box office on non-event Saturdays. Project a positive image to all at all times. Exposure to all areas of ticketing.
Other Duties: Assist other departments with player appearances, covering phones, etc.
Qualifications: Must be outgoing, tactful, courteous, friendly, and professional in an atmosphere of many demands and frequent interruptions. Team player, excellent interpersonal skills, phone skills, and organizational skills. Ability to perceive problems, suggest, and trouble-shoot solutions proactively. Excellent customer relations skills a must. ticketing system knowledge, knowledge of baseball industry and computer skills a plus.
Stipend: $650 per month plus commission on tickets sold.
Contact: Meghan Brennan, Box Office Manager
PROMOTIONS / MARKETING INTERN (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: February 1, 2009
Duties: Assist with coordination of marketing and promotions. Assist Marketing Manager in planning, developing, implementing and overseeing promotions including purchasing, generating correspondence and execution on-site during the games/races, as well as other special projects.
Qualifications: Familiarity with word processing and spreadsheet programs (Macintosh Quark and Photoshop presently in use), familiarity with Mac and Window-based operating systems. Bachelors degree in business with emphasis in marketing or sales preferred. Project a positive image to all with whom there is contact at all times. Well organized and creative, excellent follow-through and attention to detail. Strong analytical and reasoning abilities; comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with other routine activities; willingness to follow and knowledge of accepted business procedures and practices, professional and proficient in both written and verbal communication; team player, good inter-personal skills. Ability to perceive problems, suggest and trouble-shoot solutions proactively.
Stipend: $650 per month.
Contact: Brian Oropallo, Promotions and Multi-Media Manager
OPERATIONS INTERNS (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: March 1 to April 1, 2009
Duties: Assist with all aspects of facility operations of Fifth Third Ballpark, primarily with Whitecaps baseball games but also with supervising outside events such as high school and college baseball games, private parties, and trade shows. General operational duties include maintenance, facility cleaning, set up / breakdown, stocking, etc. Assist with management of gameday event staff such as parking attendants, ticket takers, ushers, security, and first aid.
Gameday Duties: During games, rotate between 1) managing Customer Service Center (work closely with first aid staff and security; contestant check-in and prize redemption; relay announcements to P.A. booth, answer customer questions), 2) accounting (preparing registers, making change for cashiers, counting cash at the direction of Director of Accounting), and 3) facility management/troubleshooting.
Other Duties: Interns may also gain experience in community relations, promotions and concessions.
Qualifications: Successful applicants should have a strong interest in gaining experience in the sports industry, be highly motivated and hard working. Operations internships are generally for students who wish to gain broad experience in the sports/event management industry.
Stipend: $700 per month.
Contact: Matt Spitzley, Operations Coordinator
FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS INTERNS (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: March 1, 2009
Duties: Assist with all aspects of the food and beverage (concessions) operation of Fifth Third Ballpark and Berlin Raceway, including ordering, inventory, stocking, sales reports, monitoring sales percentages and per caps, and vendor relations; assisting with managing a work force of 150-plus gameday employees.
Other Duties: The Whitecaps also operate the Food and Beverage (concessions) business at Berlin Raceway. Duties may be include assisting on special races. Interns may also gain experience in community relations, promotions, concessions, and other special projects.
Qualifications: Successful applicants should have a genuine interest in the business of venue concessions, be highly motivated and hard-working.
Stipend: $700 per month.
Contact: Matt Timon, Director of Food and Beverage
HOSPITALITY EVENT INTERN (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: March 1, 2009
Duties: Assists Director of Food & Beverage and Food & Beverage Assistant with the organization and operations of the Concession area. Works closely with the Director of Ticket Sales and the Director of Food & Beverage in overseeing hospitality events.
Other Duties: The Whitecaps also operate the Food and Beverage (concessions) business at Berlin Raceway. Duties will include assisting on several races. Interns may also gain experience in community relations, promotions, concessions, and other special projects.
Qualifications: Successful applicants should have a genuine interest in the business of venue events, be highly motivated and hard-working.
Stipend: $700 per month.
Contact: Matt Timon, Director of Food and Beverage
CULINARY/CATERING INTERN (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: March 1, 2009
Duties: Assists Suite Level Food & Beverage Manager with the organization and operations of the Suite Level areas. Works closely with same manager and suite level staff. Also assists with catered functions located within the ballpark, such as the Pepsi Stadium Club.
Other Duties: The Whitecaps also operate the Food and Beverage (concessions) business at Berlin Raceway. Duties may be include assisting with catered events on special races. Interns may also gain experience in community relations, promotions, concessions, and other special projects. Qualifications: Successful applicants should have a genuine interest in the business of culinary endeavors, be highly motivated and hard-working.
Stipend: $1,000 per month.
Contact: Todd Guyer, Suite Level Food and Beverage Manager
GROUNDSKEEPING INTERNS (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: Must be available from April until August, 2009; however, applicants available from March until September are preferred.
Duties: Assist in set-up for games and all on-field events, as well as outside events, mowing, edging, tarping, compaction prevention and management, pest identification and management, infield and mound repair, field renovation projects, budgeting, scheduling seasonal employees, control and monitoring of irrigation system and optional fertilizer and pesticide applications.
Qualifications: Successful applicants should have an excellent work ethic, strong sports interest, and should be enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year turf management or related program. Current pesticide certification preferred.
Stipend: Base rate of $700 plus: $100 per month if intern has completed 1 full year of turf education. $100 per month if intern has pesticide applicator certification and $100 per month if intern has prior groundskeeping experience.
Contact: Greg Salyer, Head Groundskeeper
MEDIA RELATIONS INTERN (Filled for 2009)
Start Date: Jan. 5, 2009
Duties: Be the liaison between the Whitecaps and media. Oversees the Press Box during games and other Fifth Third Ballpark events. Works with Director of Marketing and Media to develop relationships with members of the media to gain exposure with all types of media.
Other Duties: Assist other departments with player appearances, covering phones, etc.
Qualifications: Excellent writing and computer skills, strong baseball knowledge. Familiarity with word processing and spreadsheet programs (Macintosh Quark and Photoshop presently in use), familiarity with Mac and Window-based operating systems. Well organized and creative, excellent follow-through and attention to detail. Strong analytical and reasoning abilities; comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with other routine activities; willingness to follow and knowledge of accepted business procedures and practices, professional and proficient in both written and verbal communication; team player, good inter-personal skills.
Stipend: $650 per month.
Contact: Mickey Graham, Director Marketing and Media
General Internship Information: In addition to the above duties, all interns are expected to assist with various stadium duties such as receiving shipments, pulling tarp, inventory, outside events, and limited phone coverage. All interns should be highly motivated, interested in the sports industry, possess excellent inter-personal skills, a good attitude, willingness to learn and willingness to work long hours and weekends. Internships end September 30.
Stipend and Benefits
Housing provided, including all utilities except phone. Interns also receive company perks such as free golf and free health club membership. Benefits (insurance, vacation, etc.) are not included.
Time Commitment
Interns must be available to work full-time, including evenings, weekends and holidays. On non-event days the work day generally is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (plus possible evenings, weekends and holiday for player/driver/mascot appearances, outside events and other special circumstances). On event days, the work day generally begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends after the event (sometimes as late as or later than 11 p.m.).
How and When To Apply
If you are interested in an internship with the Whitecaps, please send a resume and cover letter to the attention of Human Resources, (please include title of internship being applied for), West Michigan Whitecaps, P.O. Box 428, Comstock Park, MI 49321. The best time to send resumes is in the fall, as hiring is an ongoing process beginning in the fall. Closing date for receiving resumes is February 28, 2009 (some internships are expected to start earlier as noted above).
Whitecaps Professional Baseball Corp. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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