Asa S. Bushnell Intern Bryan Montgomery Profiled in "ECAC Spotlight: Getting to Know our Neighbors" #6

CENTERVILLE, Mass.-- The Eastern College Athletic Conference sits down with Asa S. Bushnell Intern for Communications Bryan Montgomery in the sixth edition of the "ECAC Spotlight: Getting to Know our Neighbors" segment.

The ECAC Spotlight is a Q&A format that examines the experiences and career paths of coaches, administrators, support staff and student-athletes within the ECAC footprint, and is published weekly. If you would like to highlight an individual from your institution, please email ECAC Director of Communications Patrick Stewart at pstewart@ecac.org with your suggestions.

Five Questions with Bryan Montgomery, ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Intern for Communications and 2011 College at Brockport Alumnus

1. Tell us about your background that led you to earning an internship with the ECAC.

Entering my final year as an undergraduate at The College at Brockport, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in media relations after picking up a double-major in broadcast communications during my sophomore year to complement my degree in history.  During my four years in Brockport, I worked at WBSU 89.1 “The Point”, our college radio station, as a sports reporter, talk show host and play-by-play announcer for basketball.  My position with WBSU took me all over New York where I covered sports on all levels, from High School Sectionals in Rochester to Syracuse University athletics and Buffalo Sabres Hockey. I experienced athletics from the perspective of a media member, and respected the way that media relations professionals facilitated games for other professionals and fans.  In my final semester at Brockport, I was offered and accepted a position in the Athletic Communications Department.

2. Describe your involvement with intercollegiate athletics as an undergraduate at The College at Brockport?

I started my position as an Athletic Communications Associate in January of 2011.  I worked with the day-to-day operations of the Athletic Communications Department as a public address announcer and writer for the website.  I also helped coordinate the evolution of Brockport’s social media presence along with the athlete of the week videos and updated the individual records for basketball, baseball, softball and lacrosse athletes.  The staff I worked with at Brockport – Kelly Vergin who is still the athletic communications director at Brockport and John Boccacino, who is now Sports Information Director at Keuka – taught me a great deal, allowing me to get my foot in the door by giving me first-hand experience and allowing me to write and publish my work to help build my portfolio and experience in the field.

3. What have you learned so far about your ECAC Internship? Where do you see yourself in five years??

This internship has given me so much in a short amount of time.  I came into this position knowing that having the title of a Bushnell Intern carries with it a high level of expectation and I saw that as a challenge that I wanted to take on. My position at the ECAC is my first job out of college, so it has been an adjustment, but one that has been extremely enjoyable and educational.  During my time here so far, I have improved my writing, editing and proficiency in the computer programs that will help me in the next stage of my professional career.  The Bushnell Center is a great place to work, as the people I work with are a tight-knit community that makes it easy to come to work every day.

I don’t see myself slowing down any time soon from the fast-paced environments that I enjoy being in.  In five years, I hope to have a graduate degree under my belt and continue working in the media relations field for a Division III institution.  I enjoy the daily interactions with student-athletes and the campus community, especially the relations that are developed at a Division III level.  Being able to work athletic events is always a blast; you’re essentially making a living from watching sports. My background in history also makes me a big stat junkie.  I always enjoy working with stats from a game and studying records or box scores – it’s always a rewarding experience when you can tell a great story through statistical information.
 
4. What hobbies or special interests do you have?

Outside of the ECAC, I have been playing bass guitar and traditional guitar for roughly nine years, and have been in Small Town Glory, a cover band originating out of Camden, N.Y., since 2005.  Music is a constantly evolving science that derives from the person putting their pen to paper, as a result writing my own original material always keeps me busy and keeps my creative side active.  The band has no plans in shutting down in the near future, so I’m hoping we get the chance to play some more shows whenever the three of us are back in upstate New York. 
I’m also a huge movie buff as I started a website with a few of my college friends last fall that we use to review movies, talk about the box office and preview upcoming films.  It is still a work in progress and a challenge in a rapidly evolving digital world, but being able to share your opinion to readers who share the same passions as you and enjoy reading your writing is a good driving force that keeps me posting on the site.

5. List your favorite professional sports teams and athletes. Why do you like them? Any colleges you follow??

That is one loaded question.  It actually has a great deal to do with where my father grew up and the allegiances that he developed.  He was born in Orlando, Florida, and then grew up in Michigan and Massachusetts before grounding his roots in New York.  As a result, I am a Detroit Lions and Boston Red Sox fan.  In regards to hockey, with four years in the Rochester/Buffalo area under my belt, I can’t stray from the Buffalo Sabres, much to the chagrin of my Bruins-oriented co-workers here at the ECAC.  I also follow Erik Cole, who plays for Montreal and is an Oswego, N.Y., native, which is where my mother was born and raised.  College-wise, I’m from the Syracuse area so I follow the Orange, but my sister is currently in her sophomore year at West Virginia, so I’ve followed the Mountaineers recently.  And, of course, I closely follow my alma mater as I will always root for the Green and Gold of the College at Brockport Golden Eagles.