In this episode we welcome Chad Estis, EVP, Business Operations with the Dallas Cowboys. Chad discusses the beginning of his career as a telemarketer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. We dive into, "getting your foot in the door through sales." We walk through what Chad and his team look for in resumes with entry level, mid-level and senior level positi…

We welcome Brian Gainor, VP of Innovation of Legends. Brian is a great example of there are more options to work in sports other than the four major professional leagues. He talks about getting his start by volunteering at the University of Florida. We discuss how he decided to get his Masters at Ohio University. Many of you are asking the question…

Buenos noches amigos! Chris recaps his hell week at his house that included the stomach bug and a flooded basement. Rob may. be jet setting off to Barcelona for his 15th wedding anniversary. We dive into the World Baseball Classic and discuss the momentum Baseball can capitalize on from the epic showdown of Ohtani vs Trout. Amazingly, the WBC Final…

Jake Hirshman, Manager of Business Solutions for the Arizona Diamondbacks and host of Life in the Front Office podcast, joins Rob on the show. Jake is an interesting cat. He has two masters degrees, is a two-time author plus a STICK on the golf course. Rob can't wrap his brain around how he spends time with his family, important job, done everythin…

It's school vacation week and Chris and his family headed up to New Hampshire for the Weekend where they partook in some of Rob's nightmare activities that involve the cold. The guys agree that anything that requires being outside in cold weather is not for them. Also, Rob has a bone to pick with a local department chain. Chris recaps his yearly Su…

We welcome another guest to the show from the Boston Celtics who is hiring! Kate Sullivan who is the Celtics Inside Sales Manager is looking to hire you! Kate tells her very relatable story about how she started her career in the Inside Sales Department with the Boston Red Sox and the steps she took to make that a reality. Kate and Rob hit on Front…

We have a guest! Rob's friend and Celtics colleague, Max McGonigle joins the show. We discuss, Max's background, networking internally and externally, what Max does on a day to day basis and Max is currently hiring. The job opening Max is looking to fill has more than 1,000 applicants - 1,000!! How do you separate yourself from over 1,000 people? M…

We start off by diving into Chris's recent promotion to Vice President at Fenway Sports Management. Chris shares his appreciation for all those who have helped get him here including his parents, colleagues, and this podcast. Rob shares the LinkedIn note from Alex Littlejohn that helps us keep going with this podcast. Appreciation and gratitude mak…

Happy New Year! We are back and of course better than ever. A lot has happened in the world of sports and Rob and Chris's world since we last did a Podcast. Rob had his best day ever with his daughter at a Celtics game and Chris ran the gauntlet of events with the Bowl Game, Winter Classic and now Frozen Fenway. Rob also had his best New Years Eve …

Chris has a beef to pick with one colleague and is calling for a promotion of another. The World Cup is off to a roaring start and the US found their way into the next round. Rob gives the most half assed apology based on our last podcast when he went in on the kid who wrote an article on him. We debate if this is really an apology or just Rob tryi…

Rob made a trip to his alma mater, Springfield College to enlighten tomorrow's sports executives. He was also interviewed for the school newspaper that sent him into a tizzy. A long overdue "Rob Rant" was brought out by the ass-end of the spectrum of kids. We dive into how it's OK to be vulnerable and admit you don't have all the answers. Coming wi…

This could be dubbed the Adam Sandler podcast as we somehow kept finding our way back to the Sandman as Chris saw him live at the new MGM Music Hall last night. Chris recaps his trip up to Montreal as he and Rob discuss how crazy it is that he is now colleagues with Jack Tipton. Highly recommend seeing an NHL: game in Montreal if you ever have the …

Happy 3 Year Anniversary! FoF turns 3 and we have our most special guests to date as the wives of Front Office Features join the guys to celebrate the milestone. Prior to Amy and Rachel jumping on, we discuss 2 quick topics around surrounding yourself with smarter people and Rob's fear of social posting. We take a trip down memory lane and hear the…

After a long hiatus Rob and Chris get back at it and pick up like we never left. We recap all that has happened over the past 2 months; spoiler alert, it's a lot. Rob had the golf trip of a lifetime as he hit up Pinehurst for a few days and played 7 rounds, including a few barefoot. Also, we learn Rob actually found a show he enjoys as he's hooked …

We recap the month that has been since our last episode that kept Chris and Rob busier than ever. Chris turned 40 and had Paul McCartney sing Happy Birthday to him, Rob went to the NBA Finals, and the US Open came to Boston which netted Chris a new driver from Rory McIlroy. Throughout his NBA Playoff experience, Rob reflected on how far he has come…

We are finally back! The Crain and Valente households went through Covid hell as everyone came down with it in their family causing a bit of a delayed return. Plus Rob has also been a little busy with the NBA Playoffs and Chris has made a return to more games at Fenway Park. We dive into Rob's assessment of the key differences between working in th…

HUGE NEWS!!! Rob is joining the Boston Celtics as their new Sr. Director of Corporate Partnerships. Rob shares insight into his decision and how this came to be after a long road of networking and relationship building with the folks at the Celtics over the course of 3 years. In what has been a long journey throughout his career, he has landed with…

Chris and Rob break down the important stuff to kick off this week in regards to whether or not chimichangas are overrated or not. Rob also then shares his workout regime and breaks down the difference between Pilates and Yoga. We also learn Rob was on time "that guy" at a craps table breaking his own rule. Chris is relieved that the MLB and MLBPA …

Chris and Rob are back at it. After discussing some of their favorite meals and Chris complaining about how many steaks he's been eating they dive into what it's like to be an employee going through a lockout. Chris shares how invested emotionally you can be as it directly ties to your livelihood. But then also sheds some light on the perspective t…

Gene DeFilippo joins Front Office Features to discuss his long career in College Athletics. Gene was the long time Athletic Director for Boston College. Gene walks us through what it takes to work in College Athletics and how to navigate career pitfalls. Gene takes us deep into the inner workings of BC's Athletic Department when they moved from the…

Chris has escaped his 10 day quarantine and survived the Super Bowl trip to LA. Chris recaps his Covid experience that consisted of old school video games, dropped off meals at the backdoor, and lots of binge watching. After escaping his porch, he headed out to LA for the Super Bowl to rub elbows with the industry and kiss some babies. From seeing …

Rob is on his own tonight as Chris is out with COVID and relegated to the porch (GREAT Pearl Jam song) in case de Valente. Good news is he is feeling good, and better news is we have a great guest! Bob Lynch started this career in media which lead to the Miami Dolphins, Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment and now running SponsorUnited which is the go…

We go OFF the rails early and often in this episode. Chris sends us down a crazy path after Rob brings up his recent promotion that you need to hear to believe. Let's just say Chris sings a song about a Nun that leaves Rob in tears. After going down multiple rabbit holes from Twitter vs Instagram to other random thoughts, we get somewhat back on tr…

True to our word we have someone on the podcast this week who knows what the hell they are talking about in the world of social media and sports. Will Walsh, Fighting Irish alum, joins us to give us amazing insight into the realities of working in Digital and Content for a sports organization. Will shares a great anecdote on his first day on the jo…

Happy New Year! Rob and Chris are back at it and feeling better than ever. We hear about Rob's Italian feast that he made on Christmas day where Chris makes him an honorary Ginzo. We hear the backstory on why the Wasabi Fenway Bowl was canceled and the ripple effects it has on the people involved. We discuss the AMAZING story of Michael Gartner, th…

Happy 40th Birthday to our Founder, Rob! The FoF crew went out and celebrated the big event this past weekend at Night Shift Brewing with Rob's friends and family while his wife Amy surprised him with a tribute video. We announced 2 weeks ago that we had the biggest news of Front Office Features yet. In the spirit of full transparency, we walk the …

Chris and Rob are back after a hiatus and a Thanksgiving break. Big news out of Fenway Sports Group as they announced they purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins. A huge move by the organization as it adds an NHL team to an already impressive portfolio. Chris dives into some behind the scenes processes and thoughts on how this all came together and what…

The Crain and Valente household made their way into Boston this past Saturday for an Italian dinner in the North End followed by Topgolf Live at Fenway Park. It was Chris's first experience playing Top Golf and quite possibly Rachel and Amy's first time swinging a golf club. The crew had a blast that was capped with more fun at the Cask N Flagon. R…

Happy Halloween! Rob has a hilarious story as someone stole his table that his family put out to distribute trick or treating. Rob also shares a fun fact on meteorology that he learned today. We have an update on a listener who had received the worst advice we had ever heard in regards to landing a coaching gig. Great news is he is on the right tra…

Chris's wild MLB Playoff run came to an end this past week as the Red Sox fell to the Houston Astros. We touch on how Fenway has never been more electric and was all made possible by a much younger audience. Rob gets HUGE news that his basketball games are coming back and Chris starts the countdown to Rob's inevitable ACL tear. We take a deep dive …

Chris is at Fenway Park all week with the Red Sox in the ALCS. Go Sox! And Rob is headed out of town to Philly for Topgolf meetings. With all that, we figured we'd try something new. WE are reaching into the Front Office Features Vault and re-sharing our discussion with Sam Kennedy, the President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox. Sam gave phenomenal a…

The Boston Red Sox are in the ALCS again. Chris and Rob played a HUGE role in making that happen by cheering them on and putting the $ in the organization's pocket. :) We dissect what quite possibly be the worst sports job advice we've ever heard. A prospective sports job seeker looking to work as an Assistant Basketball Coach was told the famous "…

Sox vs Yankees. Does it get any better? The MLB Playoffs are here as the regular season has concluded and now the fun begins. We go behind the scenes and discuss the economics and inner workings of the difference between the regular season and playoffs. We learn how the crown jewel events become MLB run with the majority of revenue going towards re…

Rob and Chris make their triumphant return as Champions of the World in Golf's most important tournament to happen this past month, the Larry Tanker Invitational. The Ryder Cup can't hold a candle to this tan jacket. Rob and Chris rundown a crazy few weeks of sports before diving into reminding people why they are actually in college. Make sure to …

We are back after a short hiatus with Rob returning from Texas for his first week on the job with TopGolf. We learn Rob's approach to starting a new job and what he deems to be a successful approach. He encourages listeners to ask questions and advice from those around you. In typical Rob fashion, we learn some interesting "sayings" that only Rob w…

The Rob Crain farewell tour continues on. Rob joined the WooSox Golf Tournament as a guest today and realized for the first time the team will be just fine without him. We then surprise Rob with a special guest to take it all back to Battlecreek. Martie Cordaro, Rob's mentor, father figure, and the person he credits the most for his success, joined…

We breakdown Rob's farewell tour that had nothing but amazing moments over the past week. Rob was fortunate to have a former employee make the journey to Worcester to bid adieu to Rob and showcase his appreciation for the impact he had on him and his family. In the truest display of the power of sports we all possess to impact people's lives for th…

OUR BIGGEST PODCAST NEWS EVER IS HERE. Rob is leaving Minor League Baseball after 17 years with one of the most impressive resumes you can find. 3 Ballpark Builds, Team President of the Yankees AAA team, CRO of the Red Sox AAA team, and countless lives impacted. We walk you through the whole process on how he decided to leave MilB to join Topgolf a…

Chris and Rob are back at it after Chris's week of concerts at Fenway Park that left him feeling old and tired. Chris insists Rob watches the Woodstock 99 documentary to take him back to the 90's. Rob wants to get something off his chest about hiring managers over selling you on what your job responsibilities will be when applying for a minor leagu…

Aloha! Chris is back from vacation and the guys hit the ground running. While Chris was swimming with the turtles, Rob was busy with his 5 year old Daughter's birthday party which also entailed flooding in his basement. The Olympics are underway but no one is watching... The guys think it is the same issue as the bubble last year as taking away fan…

Rob and Chris are back together for the first time in a while..., and A LOT has changed in the sports world since they last spoke. Rob shares the life of a SVP in the Minor Leagues after a week of rain, cold, and fireworks. Rob ranked it as the top 3 worst moments of his life. We take a deep drive into the ever changing world of the NCAA and how NI…

In this episode Rob is flying solo. He discusses a great article written by his colleague about finding your passion in sports business. Then Rob Googles "How do I get a job in sports?" Rob, shouting to himself, disagrees with many of the first articles that pop up on the Google machine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad…

You've graduated with a sports management degree and now what? We always get asked where do I look for jobs. Well Matt Morrison, CEO and Founder of Openly HQ is changing the game and has created a Glassdoor type site for sports job seekers. We dive into where the idea stemmed from and how he differentiates himself from the other traditional job boa…

Rob is headed in early to Polar Park to open the doors to 5,000 police officers to honor a fallen Worcester officer this past week. We dive into how important a role sports plays in healing communities during times of need and how much our society has missed this aspect over the past year. Rob asks Chris about his former boss, Lou Lamoriello, the c…

Chris tried to take his family to a Red Sox game and it turned into a picnic in the suite due to the rain all Memorial Day Weekend. Zach got a ball thrown up to him by the Marlins and immediately tried to throw it back in true 5 year old fashion. Rob and his wife headed out on the town for their first date night in over a year leading to Rob drinki…

Rob is back on the same day Massachusetts announces the return of fans to 100% capacity at the end of the month. Chris gets a reprieve in this episode as Rob does an amazing job on bringing us truly behind the scenes on the weeks leading up to Opening Day at the WooSox. This is an absolute must listen for anyone looking to work in sports with a blo…

Chris rides solo again as Rob has Game 2 of his 12 game homestand. We hear a great story about the WooSox Opening Day ceremony that featured a 92 year old Bob Cousy quite literally stealing the show. As promised, we have Sam Marteka join us to take us behind the scenes on his current job search as he gets ready to graduate from Syracuse in a few we…

Chris rides solo for the first time ever as our good buddy Rob is ensuring the WooSox Ballpark is all set for Opening Day next week. If you have a moment, send him a message and let him know you are thinking of him with all the stress he is dealing with for the THIRD time. Chris speaks directly to the upcoming graduating class and congratulates the…

SPECIAL CO-HOST ALERT! Rob is off doing his day job and breaking the news to WooSox season ticket holders around Opening Day protocols. Returning guest, Brian Specia fills in admirably with Chris as the two old friends pick up where they left off. Chris quickly touches on the "Super League" that came and went in the blink of an eye while watching t…

Sports Jobs are back! Chris and Rob get back to the basics and provide you the answers to the test to help you nail your interview and land your dream job in sports. We touch on separating yourself from the pack by bringing the heat in your interview. Want to get yourself out of the dreaded pile? Listen to this episode and you'll immediately be in …