When most people stop by the baseball stadium over the summer, they find their seats, grab a hot dog, watch the game, and hope a foul ball flies their way. But when Justin Leigh ’20 goes to the stadium, he means business. Specifically, sales business.
This summer, Leigh is interning for the Hudson Valley Renegades as a sales and box office intern. Based in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., the Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team that competes in the New York-Penn League. The team is affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays and was founded in 1983. Through working for the Hudson Valley Renegades, Leigh, who plays on the football team at Hamilton, has the opportunity to combine his interest in business and sports.
Major: Public Policy
Hometown: Poughquag, NY
High School: Arlington High School
“I sell tickets, help with ticket operations, help with client service, and help manage our luxury suites,” Leigh said, describing his responsibilities. His internship helps expose him to both the organizational and hands-on sides of sales. Leigh highlighted gaining sales experience as the “most rewarding thing” about his internship and he hopes that this experience will introduce him to working professionally in the sports industry.
While Leigh enjoys his time with the Hudson Valley Renegades, working for a sports team presents its challenges. He stated that the most difficult thing “is working 12-plus hour days on game days.” Though the baseball games themselves present a day of excitement and activity for Leigh, Leigh also has to accommodate his schedule to the team, working as late as the games go. The internship and scheduling demands of the sports team have helped Leigh develop his workplace flexibility and demonstrate his commitment to the internship.
Leigh plans to begin a career in real estate next year. Having advanced his interpersonal and sales skills with his experience with the Hudson Valley Renegades, he overall feels that he is now better positioned to pursue his goals.
