I joined the Cleveland Gladiators March 8, 2015, ever since that day when I would enter The Quickens Loans Arena (The Q) solely as an athlete however, starting my mentorship with the Cleveland Operating Company LLC, puts me one step closer towards trading in my pads for office pens.
I met with my mentor Mike Ostrowski, VP Cavs Franchise Operations/COO, Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) & Cleveland Gladiators (AFL), at the security office where I was granted an employee ID badge and clearance to employee areas. I also had to be implemented into the system with a finger print machine that further identifies entrance/exits of restricted areas. There are more than one hundred employees working at The Q, and hundreds more contracted in when the arena is being rented for events.
My first day was a bit of a culture shock, and it was not just for me, but for the staff (team) members at the office. They told me animated stories about their initial perspective of me as an athlete, being that I am a defensive player on a football team, most assumed I'd be "mean" or not so kind. Meanwhile my head was spinning all day because I found myself trying to memorize what seemed to be like a thousand names and job titles. One can only imagine how many other "Mike's, Jeff's and Matt's" I was introduced to. Everyone was just as excited as I was to get started with my program.
I met with my mentor Mike Ostrowski, VP Cavs Franchise Operations/COO, Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) & Cleveland Gladiators (AFL), at the security office where I was granted an employee ID badge and clearance to employee areas. I also had to be implemented into the system with a finger print machine that further identifies entrance/exits of restricted areas. There are more than one hundred employees working at The Q, and hundreds more contracted in when the arena is being rented for events.
My first day was a bit of a culture shock, and it was not just for me, but for the staff (team) members at the office. They told me animated stories about their initial perspective of me as an athlete, being that I am a defensive player on a football team, most assumed I'd be "mean" or not so kind. Meanwhile my head was spinning all day because I found myself trying to memorize what seemed to be like a thousand names and job titles. One can only imagine how many other "Mike's, Jeff's and Matt's" I was introduced to. Everyone was just as excited as I was to get started with my program.