Knightly News Media Club students represent Central Penn College at Philadelphia Phillies #CollegeSeries event
Story and Photos by Paul Miller
Knightly News Co-Adviser
Four members of the Knightly News Media Club represented Central Penn College in the Philadelphia Phillies annual #CollegeSeries event last Monday for their “Sport Management & Hospitality Night” at Citizens Bank Park.
According to the Phillies website, “College students, recent graduates and professors are invited to go behind the scenes with leaders in sport management, hospitality and supply chain management at this exclusive College Series pregame event in the Media Room at Citizens Bank Park. ”
The event, which took place on April 13, offered students the opportunity to “Learn from the sport management, hospitality and supply chain management leaders of the Phillies during a question-and-answer session moderated by the club’s Director of Human Resources Lisa Knechtel. Panelists will provide excellent insight into their areas of business, as well as share their career experiences, including from the team’s preparations for the 2026 All-Star Game.”
Keynote Speaker
Phillies Wall of Famer and former general manager Ed Wade opened the event by reflecting on his own path into professional baseball, reminding students that careers in sports often begin with a willingness to simply get started.
Wade said he originally wanted to become a sports writer, but his career took a different turn when he began a public relations internship in 1977. That opportunity eventually helped launch a long career in Major League Baseball, including front office positions with the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates. Over the years, Wade said he worked in salary arbitration, spent nine years as an assistant general manager and later served eight years as a general manager.
His message to students focused on persistence and practical experience. Wade encouraged attendees to get their foot in the door however they can, take every opportunity to build experience and find ways to separate themselves from others trying to enter the industry. He stressed the importance of a can-do attitude and told students to always say yes when opportunities arise.
Wade also spoke honestly about the realities of working in professional sports. He noted that baseball teams play 162 games in 183 days and said those pursuing careers in the industry need to develop thick skin. He encouraged students to share credit with others and accept responsibility when things go wrong. Wade ended by saying his World Series ring represents the work of hundreds of people behind the scenes, adding that in baseball, there is always another day and another game.
The panel event
A professional panel that followed gave students a broader look at the many moving parts involved in operating Citizens Bank Park. Panelists included Leila Graham-Willis, director of special events for the Phillies; Scott Jenkins, general manager of ABM at Citizens Bank Park; Andrew Roach, director of capital projects for the Phillies; Kevin Tedesco, general manager of Aramark at Citizens Bank Park; and Kristin Zeller, director of retail marketing for the Phillies.
Several panelists said their careers developed by being open to unexpected opportunities. Graham-Willis said she “just said yes” early in her career, beginning with an internship in the Princeton University athletics department before moving into marketing and non-game day events. Jenkins said he left a traditional 40-hour-per-week job because he wanted something more challenging, later building a career that included stops with the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles before arriving in Philadelphia. Tedesco said he moved into leadership after beginning in a supervisor role at Veterans Stadium, while Zeller said her experience in ticket sales and events helped prepare her for her current role.
The panel also highlighted the scale and complexity of preparing a ballpark for a season. Graham-Willis said the busiest stretch for her department runs from November through March, when maintenance and planning fill the offseason. Jenkins said off days are rarely true days off because the stadium remains busy with events, upkeep and coordination among multiple groups. Roach noted that large construction projects often must be completed within a five-month window, adding that one offseason snowstorm forced some employees to work around the clock.
Technology and forecasting also emerged as major themes during the discussion. Tedesco said supply chain planning now requires departments to forecast needs long before the season begins, while retail and concessions staffs closely monitor fan behavior through tracking and heat maps to understand when fans enter the ballpark, which gates they use and where they spend money throughout the game. Zeller said retail planning can become even more challenging because merchandise decisions sometimes have to be made around players who may not even remain on the roster.
Throughout the discussion, panelists returned to the importance of communication and leadership. Tedesco told students that anyone hoping to move into leadership should be prepared to communicate clearly and understand budgeting, while Jenkins said every problem should be seen as an opportunity. Tedesco added that students should chase responsibility wherever they can because new opportunities often come from showing they are ready for more.
Each of the members of the Knightly News had the opportunity to reflect on the event and the important gains they made as a result.
Noah Lopez – Knightly News President
Not only did I get to meet some legendary players, but I also got to network with professionals in the sports management/sales field. I would say, walking away from this event, that I have not only learned more about the culture of the sports field but also the workings of it. It’s like a looking glass into a whole new world I have never experienced. I also appreciated the story of the keynote speaker (Wade), who talked about his journey from just a journalist to becoming the vice president and general manager! It inspired me with some hope that I can achieve things just as great.
Alex Foley – Knightly News Co-Vice President
I think this event was a fantastic opportunity for students to meet and learn from career professionals. I really enjoyed getting to hear about what goes on behind the scenes of organizing major league sports games. This experience was eye-opening, as I never considered the kinds of careers I could potentially find within the sports world. I think it is so beneficial for students to take as many opportunities as possible to put themselves out there, learn networking skills and discover different professions.
Arsenio Humphrey – Knightly News Reporter
The Philadelphia Phillies #CollegeSeries was an amazing experience. Getting the chance to hear Wade speak, a Phillies Wall of Famer, was really inspiring. He talked about how he got started and his journey into the sports world, which was interesting to hear. I was also really interested in Kate Morris, who is the director of risk management for the club. The Philadelphia Phillies are such a big organization, and seeing how they manage risks at that level is something you can learn a lot from. I would recommend this experience to any student, especially those interested in marketing, business, communication or entrepreneurship. It’s a great opportunity to see how these fields work in real life.
Brandon Drumheller – Knightly News Reporter
I thought the #CollegeSeries was very beneficial and am glad that I went. I was very excited about this event because we got to meet important individuals with valuable insight while catching a great game. When having our conversations, I thought it was surprising that most of the managers and people running the team didn’t even want to work in the sports field initially. One piece of advice that stuck with me is that showing up is the most vital part. Just showing up means that you want to be there and gain access to so many more opportunities. Then, after speaking with some inspiring people, the Phillies were victorious against the Cubs in a very entertaining game.
Phillies vs. Cubs
After the #CollegeSeries event concluded, the Phillies hosted the attendees for a game, where the Phillies took on the Chicago Cubs.
On a warm April evening at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies jumped on the Cubs early and built a lead that proved to be more than enough. Kyle Schwarber set the tone right away with a solo home run to center in the first inning, and J.T. Realmuto added an RBI single in the second to make it 2-0.
The Phillies created more separation in the third when Schwarber launched his second home run of the game, this time a two-run shot to center that also scored Trea Turner and pushed the lead to 4-0. The Cubs answered in the fourth with a two-run home run from Dansby Swanson, cutting the deficit to 4-2, but Philadelphia quickly regained control.
In the fifth, Brandon Marsh doubled to center to score Schwarber and Bryce Harper, then Alec Bohm added a sacrifice fly to bring home Adolis García. Bryson Stott followed with an RBI single, and Realmuto added another run-scoring hit to cap a five-run inning and extend the Phillies’ lead to 9-2.
Philadelphia kept rolling in the sixth. García doubled to left to score Schwarber, Bohm grounded out to bring home Harper, and Realmuto collected his third RBI of the game with a single to right, giving the Phillies a 12-2 advantage. In the seventh, Marsh reached on an infield single that allowed Edmundo Sosa to score, making it 13-2.
The Cubs made things interesting in the eighth, scoring five runs with the help of several Phillies miscues in the field, but the early offensive outburst was too much to overcome. The Phillies went on to defeat the Cubs 13-7.
You can see the box score here.
