Photo by Christina VanHorn,
UNH Human Resources
(Amber is holding a "UNH t-shirt cannon")

After listening to Amber Radzevich describe her extensive list of responsibilities as the UNH Athletics Marketing Coordinator, there becomes little doubt that UNH is lucky to have such a talent.

Amber grew up in Hampstead (NH) and attended the University of Hartford as a freshman before transferring to UNH in the year 2000, in what she says was "one of the best decisions I have made in my life."

She chose Hartford as a freshman due to her love for soccer and the opportunity available to her in Connecticut. While a player there she was a member of a team that was nationally ranked in the top 10 throughout the year and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight at the end of the season.

"It was a great learning experience for me as a soccer player and my skills developed tremendously as a result of my year of training there," she said.

However, after realizing she wanted to be closer to her family and finding that the programs of study at Hartford were not what she was looking for, Amber transferred to UNH and went on to play four years of soccer with the Wildcats. She later became the captain her senior year, and graduated with a degree in English with a concentration in journalism and minors in both psychology and sports studies.

After graduation, Radzevich was accepted to the Master's program in education at UNH. However, when the opportunity to become the Marketing Coordinator for UNH Athletics arose, she decided she could not pass it up. Thanks to the connections she had made as a student-athlete paired with her involvement in the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and her work with facilities manager Jean Mitchell, Amber landed the job and deferred her entrance into graduate school.

As the current Marketing Coordinator, Amber's duties are abundant. Some of her many responsibilities include: overseeing 10 student-interns throughout the year; developing the student-intern program; implementing marketing plans for seven Division I revenue-producing teams; executing over 80 corporate sponsorship contracts; overseeing marketing, promotions, and game-day operations for those ticketed programs; and scheduling/managing everything from staff to mascots to music and lights and virtually anything contributing to an athletic event's presentation to the general public.

Although her days are busy and often hectic, Amber says she loves what she does. "I truly enjoy coming to work everyday because I am surrounded by great people. I have wonderful mentors and co-workers who inspire me and challenge me on a daily basis," Amber said. "I feel as though I am an integral member of this team and my efforts really do contribute to the bigger picture."

One aspect of Amber's job that she is most proud of is her work in the development and management of the student internship program.

"The students we work with have accomplished such great things and have moved on from this program with a great deal of confidence," she explained. "It's nice knowing you've played a role in helping them take that next step in their careers upon graduation."

The 'Cat Crew' marketing internship program is not the stereotypical internship in which students fetch coffee and newspapers for their supervisors on a daily basis. Instead, interns are given titles, such as "Director of Sports Marketing for Football." The students work within these roles to develop marketing plans for the seven ticketed sports the marketing office is responsible for. The program gives students "real world" opportunities to get involved in the daily operations of a division I athletic department.

"There is no way we could run this department without our student-interns. They're efforts are absolutely invaluable to the success of this office and their perspectives really energize the promotions we create around our athletic teams," she said.

Amber attributes her own success to many of the people she has met here at the University. "If I had to create a 'Hall of Fame' for those who have made vast contributions to my personal and professional growth, some of the names would include Dot Sheehan, Mike Jackson, Marty Scarano, Kelly Martin, Jean Mitchell, Tim Churchard, and Heather Barber. These individuals have challenged me, not only in the classroom, or on the soccer field; but, in my life by leading through example and by consistently being there for me," she said.

While she hopes to soon pursue her Master's in the UNH Sports Studies program, she has other ambitions for the future that may take a little longer. She hopes to one day become a judge for The International Cat Association (TICA). She has been participating in these shows with her mom since the age of nine; her specialty breed is the Himalayan. She said the shows have taught her a great deal about people and life in general.

"It was an incredible learning experience (as a child) because it taught me how to speak in public and in front of large audiences," she said. "As a judge I would get to travel all over the world and get paid for doing something I love."

She is also heavily involved in the TICA Junior Achievers' Program as a mentor and instructor of young children aspiring to become exhibitors and judges themselves.

It might be experiences like these that prepare Amber for some of the peculiar details of her job, such as filling in for national anthem singers that do not show up on game day. Just recently, while in Minnesota for the Women's Frozen Four, Amber was rushed on the ice to perform when the scheduled singer failed to show. She said this has happened on a number of occasions at events like a Men's Hockey game at the Verizon Wireless Arena and the Women's Frozen Four when UNH hosted the championship last year.

The title that comes to mind, if there were such an award for marketing coordinators is "Best In Show." But for now, Amber will settle for the enjoyment she gets from coming to work every day. She said she truly enjoys the challenges each day brings and she thrives on the excitement of never knowing what will happen next.

"When you work in sports, you never know which way the ball is going to bounce. You could lose today and then win the national championship tomorrow. The important thing is to continue to improve upon what you are doing with every opportunity you have and always strive to do your best," Amber said, "That is what UNH is all about."