Front Office U

Hosted by Front Office U

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Episodes

230

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

A podcast meant to help college students and young professionals interested in the sports industry learn about networking in sports. Front Office U is hosted by 6 young professionals in the sports industry. Tune in as their experiences and advice will be shared to help navigate others toward their dream career in the sports industry.

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60 recent

June 12, 202628 min

Jillian Nelson | Game Presentation Assistant, Minnesota Lynx

Front Office U welcomes Jillian Nelson.Jillian is a Game Presentation Assistant for the Minnesota Lynx, where she helps execute the in-arena entertainment experience that fans see on game day. From preparing halftime activations and coordinating promotions to following detailed game scripts, Jillian plays a key role in ensuring every Lynx game delivers an engaging and memorable experience for fans.A multi-sport athlete growing up, Jillian played basketball, soccer, and softball before discovering her passion for sports communications. While in high school, she gained hands-on experience creating and running video board content for school events and football games, giving her an early introduction to the behind-the-scenes side of sports production.In this conversation, Jillian shares what game days are really like in professional sports, including the preparation that begins hours before tip-off, the importance of being adaptable in a fast-paced environment, and how a willingness to say "yes" to opportunities helped launch her career. She also discusses the lessons she learned working across multiple sports and why soccer was originally her first choice before finding her place in the world of game presentation.Connect with Jillian on LinkedIn.

June 11, 202638 min

Throwback Thursday | Jeremy Blumes

On this edition of Throwback Thursday on the Front Office U Show, we welcome back Jeremy Blumes, Head Coach and General Manager of the Ontario Jr. Reign.Since his last appearance in 2024, the Ontario Jr. Reign captured their second Pacific Division title in three seasons and advanced to nationals, while the organization also earned NCDC Tier II status. Blumes now oversees a growing development model that includes the Ontario Jr. Reign, the San Diego Sabers affiliate program, and, as of January 2026, the St. John Bosco Prep U18 AAA program.During the conversation, Blumes discusses building a player-first culture, setting expectations and accountability standards, creating pathways to college hockey, and managing the challenges of leading multiple programs. He also shares updates on upcoming tryouts and showcases:Ontario, California, USA Showcase June 19-21, 2026Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Showcase June 26-28, 2026Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn

June 5, 202647 min

Eric Weissman | Pro Scout, Los Angeles Kings

Front Office U welcomes Eric Weissman.Eric is a Pro Scout for the Los Angeles Kings, where he evaluates AHL players, NHL prospects, and reserve list talent as part of the organization's player assessment and development process. Working on the professional scouting side, Eric helps identify players who could impact the Kings' future while providing insight on talent throughout North America.Originally from Buffalo, New York, Eric grew up playing hockey, baseball, lacrosse, and roller hockey while developing a passion for the game that would eventually turn into a career. After studying Sport Management at SUNY Cortland, he took an unconventional path into hockey operations, working in roles ranging from broadcast runner and help desk technician with the Buffalo Sabres to production work and event staging during the offseason. Along the way, Eric built a reputation for making himself useful, solving problems, and finding ways to contribute beyond his job description.In this conversation, Eric shares what life as an NHL pro scout is really like, including how organizations evaluate players beyond the stat sheet, the importance of character and projection when assessing talent, and the realities of building a career in hockey operations. He also discusses the inspiration behind his Hockey Operations educational platform, Pipeline Hockey, where he has transformed years of industry experience into practical learning modules designed to help aspiring hockey professionals better understand the business and operational side of the game.Connect with Eric on LinkedIn.Pipeline Hockey

May 29, 202659 min

James Lipscomb | Hockey Operations Manager, New Jersey Devils

Front Office U welcomes James Lipscomb.James is the Hockey Operations Manager for the New Jersey Devils, where he helps oversee the countless day-to-day details that keep an NHL hockey operations department running smoothly. From coordinating with pro scouts and managing draft preparation to balancing year-end meetings and organizational priorities, James plays an important role behind the scenes.Originally from the Bronx, James grew up playing Little League baseball and rec basketball before first stepping into team operations as the manager of his high school varsity basketball team. That early experience sparked an interest in the behind-the-scenes side of sports that ultimately led him to a career in the NHL.In this conversation, James shares what life inside a professional hockey operations department is really like, including how game days become valuable networking opportunities with visiting team staff, the importance of flexibility in a fast-paced environment, and why simply being a dependable, good person matters so much in hockey operations. Connect with James on LinkedIn

May 22, 202625 min

Jude Scibelli | Equipment Manager, Boston Fleet

Front Office U welcomes Jude Scibelli.Jude is the Equipment Manager for the Boston Fleet, where he oversees the day-to-day operations that keep a professional hockey team running behind the scenes. Originally from Springfield, Jude began his journey in hockey as a locker room attendant with the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016 before balancing responsibilities with both the Thunderbirds and College of the Holy Cross hockey program.In this conversation, Jude shares what life is really like in an equipment room — from early mornings and skate sharpening to managing jerseys, organizing road trips, and preparing the locker room for a professional team every single day. The episode also explores Jude’s path through the hockey world, the challenges of breaking into the industry, and the persistence it took to keep pursuing a career in the game when he was close to walking away from it entirely.⁠Connect with Jude on LinkedIn⁠

May 15, 202653 min

Bryan Wilson | Publisher / Editor, The Hockey News

Front Office U welcomes Bryan Wilson.Bryan is a Publisher and Editor for The Hockey News, where he primarily covers the Calgary Flames while also contributing across the digital media landscape of hockey coverage. With experience spanning writing, video editing, broadcasting, and digital content production, Bryan has seen firsthand the evolution of sports media.In this conversation, Bryan shares insights into the changing world of hockey journalism, the realities of covering an NHL team on a daily basis, and the importance of adaptability in modern sports media. The episode also touches on content creation, relationship-building in the industry, and Bryan’s past mentors.⁠Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn⁠⁠Follow Bryan’s coverage on The Hockey News⁠

May 8, 202629 min

Mike Lorenz | CEO, NGU Sports Lighting

Front Office U welcomes Mike Lorenz.Mike is the CEO of NGU Sports Lighting and has played a pivotal role in transforming the sports lighting industry twice. He first made his mark as President of Ephesus Lighting, where he helped scale groundbreaking LED technology into a dominant force across professional and collegiate sports. Under his leadership, Ephesus reached a defining milestone in 2015 when its system powered the first ever LED lit Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium, signaling a major shift in how stadiums and arenas approach lighting.After Ephesus was acquired by Eaton, Mike launched NGU Sports Lighting, built around his personal mantra, Never Give Up. Through NGU, he is pioneering an innovative Performance Lighting Delivered model to make advanced sports infrastructure more accessible and scalable than ever before.This conversation explores the evolution of sports lighting and the leadership mindset required to navigate risk, failure, and growth. Mike also shares lessons on confidence, relationship building, and why surrounding yourself with optimistic, resilient people matters.Connect with Mike on LinkedIn https://ngusportslighting.com/

May 1, 202637 min

Chris Whalen | Hockey Player Development Expert

Front Office U welcomes Chris Whalen.Chris is a hockey player development expert and former OHL video coach with a background in scouting, roster evaluation, and front office operations. After spending several seasons on the management side with organizations in Hamilton and Brantford, Chris built a well-rounded foundation across video analysis, draft preparation, and player development before transitioning full-time into his own development business.Through his work, Chris trains a diverse group of players ranging from AAA to junior and pro levels, focusing on the often-overlooked side of the game: hockey sense. Using detailed video breakdowns, both from his clients and NHL footage, he teaches players how to read plays, recognize patterns, and make better decisions with and without the puck. His approach emphasizes puck touches, routes, deception, and situational awareness, while also incorporating a strong mentorship component.This conversation explores the gap in traditional player development, why hockey IQ and decision-making separate players at higher levels, and how Chris is helping the next generation think the game more effectively.Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

April 24, 20261 hr 5 min

Jeremiah Wait | Director Defensive Personnel, SMU

Front Office U welcomes Jeremiah Wait.Jeremiah is the Director of Defensive Personnel for SMU Football, where he plays a key role in scouting, evaluation, and information gathering, as well as coordinating Pro Day coverage and official visits. He’s built his path in football through hands-on learning and initiative, including experiences with the Scouting Academy and as a student in the New York Jets scouting school, while consistently leveraging tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, and email to build connections and opportunities in the industry.This conversation dives into the details behind recruiting operations, the importance of organization and communication at the highest levels, and how aspiring scouts can break into the industry through persistence and relationship-building.Connect with Jeremiah on LinkedInFollow Jeremiah on Twitter: @mrfootballwaitJeremiah's Email: jwait@smu.edu

April 17, 202642 min

Max Kagan | High School Varsity Hockey Coach

Front Office U welcomes Max Kagan.Max is the head coach of the Chenango Forks High School hockey program. As a former player, Max used that experience as motivation to stay connected to the game and pursue a path in coaching and sports.While attending Binghamton University, Max took a proactive approach by reaching out to local high school programs, getting his start as a goalie coach before quickly moving into an assistant role. When a head coaching opportunity opened after his first season, he stepped in and led Chenango Forks to a county championship, showcasing his leadership and ability to step into responsibility early. His experience also spans athletics communications, sports marketing, scouting, and game operations, and leadership as VP of Outreach and Alumni Relations with the Binghamton University Sports Management Group.Max is set to join the New York Islanders this summer in a corporate strategy internship. This conversation dives into overcoming adversity, taking initiative, and how gaining experience across multiple areas of the sports industry can help shape a well-rounded career.Connect with Max on LinkedIn Follow Max on Instagram @coachmaxkagan