Top Navigation

Side Navigation

Sean Moore 2009 Graduate

Sean Moore - Ticket executive for the Chicago Bulls NBA team

Featured in the Spring 2012 issue of Western News

Sean Moore ’09, of Oak Brook (IL), has a degree in marketing from Western Illinois University. He is currently working for the Chicago Bulls and sat down with WIU officials to answer some questions about his aftergraduation employment.

What is your current title/position?

Chicago Bulls ticket executive; my responsibilities include prospecting fans to purchase season/group tickets and luxury suite rentals to Bulls games. I am one of four account executives who manage 6,000+ season ticket holder accounts. I mentor three to four ticket reps in our annual internship program and also manage the Chicago Bulls All-Star balloting efforts (dates of promotions, coming up with incentives for fans to vote, creating unique fan experiences).

What positions did you have leading up to your current position?

I did several internships in minor league sports throughout college. The Bulls have an eight-month ticket sales internship available for recent college graduates, and I was lucky enough to be the sole candidate hired full-time upon completion of the program.

What interested you in your field and how did you decide to pursue it?

I have been incredibly passionate about sports since I was a kid. I knew that if I couldn’t actually play professional sports, a career could still be had in that industry. I arrived at WIU determined to work my hardest and get involved in anything and everything that had to do with sports marketing. Internships were essential!

What would you consider to be the highlights of your career up to this point?

Getting a phone call and interview for the Bulls internship was one of the more challenging parts. Once you get your foot in the door, the opportunities for growth are endless in the sports marketing world. I was one of 14 interns who worked countless hours for eight months.

That hard work eventually led to me becoming a fulltime employee. The ultimate highlight thus far has to be working for a first-class organization in one of the largest cities in the world.

Tell us about some challenges in your position?

Challenges have to be the hours that employees who work in sports encounter. It’s a blessing to have a dream job, but it certainly takes away a lot of leisure time. Also, sometimes the quickest way to grow professionally is moving from one organization to another, typically in other cities nationwide.

To what do you attribute your success as a young professional?

My upbringing has a lot to do with who I am today. I am not sure I would be where I am today as young professional without the enthusiasm and encouragement of my parents to follow my dream of working in sports. Playing sports growing up formed me into someone who loves to compete. I am incredibly passionate about maximizing my potential in any endeavor I pursue. I have tried to carry that attitude into the working world.

What advice would you give to students graduating from Western in the near future?

Take classes seriously and get involved. Each day I went to class I tried to learn as much as possible. How you approach classes should reflect how you would approach your first job.