In celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, learn more about four integral members of the Springfield Thunderbirds’ front office and what inspired them to make sports the focal point of their careers.

(Pictured from left to right above: Lauren Blanchard - Account Executive, Ticket Sales; Caitlin Kirrane - Partnership Activation & Events Coordinator; Jessica Hansen - Director of Finance & Human Resources; Shae Koharski - Coordinator, Social Media & Digital Marketing)

What got you interested in getting involved professionally in the world of sports?

JH: Growing up I played several sports, including dance, softball, track & field and gymnastics. My family and I are also huge sports fans. We found it to be a fun stress reliever. I played most sports through high school. I continued gymnastics into adult competition and also began coaching.

SK: My family’s background* played a huge part in getting involved in sports. I always knew it was a path for me, but I wanted to find it myself, and my family was always super supportive of that. The hockey world has been my world since as early as I can remember. It's always felt second nature to me - the game, the players, the fans, and the atmosphere. It has always felt like home. It's been nice to combine my personal knowledge and my professional knowledge to create a career for myself. 

*Four members of Koharski’s family have worked in professional hockey before her, including:

• Her father, Terry: 20+ years as an AHL referee, 11 consecutive Calder Cup Finals worked, and the AHL Michael Condon Memorial Award winner in the 2007-08 season
• Her uncle, Don:  28+ years as an NHL referee, who worked 11 Stanley Cup Finals
• Her cousin, Jamie: Currently an official in the AHL and NCAA 
• Her cousin's wife, Liz: Director of Hockey Administration with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who has been part of the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and the 17th woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup

LB: My father was a big influence on my interest in getting involved and exposed to sports. Bowling has always been a big part of my life. My dad was a certified bowling coach, and I started 10 pin bowling when I was 5 years old - it grew to be a passion of mine. 

As I grew older, I found another passion of mine to be tennis. I played both singles and doubles in High School for Agawam High and was recruited to play for the women’s tennis team for Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. I had many friends who played sports in college who I would support.

I’ve always loved supporting my colleagues and being a member of a team. I ended up being a captain for the women’s tennis team during both my junior and senior years.

CK: I was an athlete growing up, so it was a big part of my life, as well as an outlet. I completed some internships in minor league baseball and fell in love with the atmosphere and every part of the day-to-day aspect of working in the sports industry. I loved getting ready and preparing for game day. 

What’s your favorite/most rewarding part of working for a pro sports franchise?

JH: The most rewarding thing is that we get to be a part of something that people are taking time to come to see and enjoy themselves, and we are what makes that happen.

SK: The most rewarding part is definitely seeing the fans enjoy the team and the things we do. Everything we do is for the fans, and it's a really amazing feeling to have them truly enjoy the things we put out. I've had many people come up to me outside of the arena and tell us our content is amazing and that it's something they look forward to seeing. Creating relationships with the fans and players is always a super rewarding part as well. You start to understand each other and become close-knit. Everyone is here for the same reason - why not make it fun?

LB: Building new relationships each and every day and helping make enjoyable and fun experiences for fans! I love meeting new people and working with a variety of organizations, such as dance studios, performance groups and schools, as well as planning an outing and seeing it happen. Knowing I was a part of it is such an amazing feeling!

CK: For me, it’s being able to get creative and have my work displayed around the arena or stadium for fans to see. I love getting to know the fans, season ticket holders, and families. The network and friends that you build is so awesome. It's really neat to meet people with the same interest and passions as you. The most rewarding part is making someone's day at a game. It could be their first time there or their last, and I had a part in helping make it something memorable.

What makes your particular area of the T-Birds’ business so vital to the team’s goals as a whole unit?

JH: I think my role connects the dots to bring all other departments together.

SK: Social media has really been a lifeline to sports and fans for the past several years. Social media in sports is a way to get information out, see what or how the team is doing, see a different side of the players and connect with fans. On the flip side, it's also a big part of how you grow the game and reach different people who may not know who you are. It's a way for fans to have a connection with the team on a day-to-day basis, rather than just on game days.

LB: Our job on the ticket sales team is to build and maintain relationships and create experiences for fans of all ages to enjoy. We work to help generate revenue in various ways through group outings and experiences, which in turn helps us get to our ultimate overall revenue goal as a team. 

CK: On the corporate team, our primary focuses are on revenue generation and exposure in the marketplace, as well as building strategic alliances in the local market to identify opportunities to expand our brand. We assist local and national companies by creating brand awareness through the Thunderbirds platform. It’s important for the organization to carry out its mission to be a pillar in the community.

What advice would you give to young women and girls who aspire to dive into the sports business?

JH: Keep going. There are going to be roles people won't look to a woman to do, but new bridges are being burned and new opportunities are created every day. Keep pushing until you get there.

SK: Don't be afraid to ask questions. Dive into anything you can. Introduce yourself to everyone. Find your people you can lean on. Stay true to yourself, no matter what. 

LB: Always believe in yourself and follow your dreams and aspirations - anything is possible! One of the most important skills to keep in mind is networking! Take advantage of any and all networking opportunities that you can.

CK: Always hustle and always be open to learning new things. Don’t be afraid to pitch a fun and creative idea because “one idea is worth the price of admission.” Join women and sports groups and attend sporting seminars. You can really learn a lot and build that network.