College of Education and Human Development

Caps, Wizards Internships Inspire Sport Management Major

Senior Katie Naylor looks back on two rewarding internships with the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards. More »

(This story originally appeared on Mason News, written by Catherine Probst Ferraro.)

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For the past two years, Katie Naylor has probably spent more time in the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., than she has in her own apartment. As an intern with the Washington Capitals, she is involved in all of the activities and events before and after each of the team's nearly 50 home games.

Naylor has always had a passion for the National Hockey League and the excitement of the game, but never imagined she might be making a career of it. This spring, she'll graduate with a BS in Health, Fitness and Recreation Resources, with a concentration in sport management and hopes to make a name for herself right here in the Washington, D.C., region.

One of the most rewarding aspects of her internship experience has been interacting with the fans and taking part in the Caps' many initiatives that support the local community. One of these initiatives is Mites On Ice, a game for youth hockey players that takes place during intermission at Caps games.

Naylor's time with the Caps gave her the confidence to branch out to a new sport and led to her most recent internship with the Washington Wizards. During her five months with the Wizards, Naylor was involved in marketing, ticket sales, event management and community outreach.

“One of the aspects of sport management that I'm most passionate about is the team's relationship with the community,” says Naylor. “Working with nonprofit groups and children's organizations and participating in fundraising initiatives shows that the sport is not just about revenue, but about bringing the community together.”

Naylor credits Mason with helping prepare her to successfully operate a sports organization. She notes that her courses and especially the sport management faculty had a profound impact on sharpening her communication, leadership and managerial skills—all important tools of a sport management specialist.

After she graduates, Naylor plans to stay in the Washington, D.C., area. She would like to continue working with the Caps. But she hasn't ruled out the possibility of traveling somewhere new.

“I've made so many great connections and relationships through my work with the Caps and Wizards and would love to move up within their franchises,” says Naylor. “But I'm also interested in learning about the differences in how each sport operates and will definitely consider spreading my wings.”

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For additional information:

• Media contact: Catherine Probst Ferraro, cferraro@gmu.edu
• College of Education & Human Development: cehd.gmu.edu
• School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism: rht.gmu.edu
• Sport Management program: rht.gmu.edu/programs/spmt

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