Jake Berkowitz ’13 is an event manager at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. The center, which opened in the Fall of 2013, is a Global Spectrum-managed venue and home to the University of Maine basketball teams.
Berkowitz is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing all aspects of an event at the multi-purpose facility, which features an arena and a convention center under one roof. With college and high school basketball games, concerts, Broadway-type shows, expositions, trade shows, and more, every day and every event provides a new challenge.
Berkowitz said his professional success, up to this point, can be directly traced back to his four years in the Sport Management program at Syracuse University. He stressed the importance of networking, from the first day he arrived at SU until graduation day and said he gained as much experience as possible, following the advice of professors and advisors in the Sport Management Department.
“Although, sometimes hearing the same thing over and over again could get frustrating, I made sure to listen to their advice and take advantage of the opportunities that were made available to me, Berkowitz said.
Networking and experience led him to the Cross Insurance Center. During his time at Syracuse, Jake worked at the Carrier Dome in event operations, in the Athletic Department, and volunteered for the SU football team.
“Working with the SPM Club Charity Auction was a valuable learning experience and sparked my interest in event management,” he said. “Having a vital role in the 2010 and 2011 auctions, as the inventory committee chair, I learned what it takes to put on an event from start to finish. That firsthand experience has helped me out tremendously in my current event manager role.”
“Sports has been a passion of mine forever, but working in sports became my professional career goal throughout my four years at Syracuse University,” he continued. “This goal became more realistic with my Senior Capstone, when I was the event management intern at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, also a Global Spectrum management facility. That internship opened all sorts of possibilities. I was hired, in part, at the Cross Insurance Center because my supervisor knew I had the skill set for this position and put in a good word on my behalf. This is a perfect example of who you know and what you know being important, but also about who knows you and will support you.”
