Get to know about the ICLA membership through the monthly 20 Questions segment. This month the spotlight turns to Brent Jones, Deputy Athletics Director of External Operations at Troy University.

Name:  Brent Jones 
Position/Institution: Deputy Athletics Director of External Operations/Troy University 
Number of years in your position: almost two years
Alma Mater(s): Oglethorpe University BA, University of Mississippi MA
Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia

1. Why did you become involved in ICLA? I needed to quickly learn about licensing, trademarking, and merchandising considering I was thrown into the fire at Southern Miss and needed to become an expert in a short time. ICLA has helped me learn all of the ins and outs of  logo protection, trademarks, branding, merchandising and licensing.

2. How has your involvement with ICLA influenced your career? It has certainly allowed me to grow and have a 360 degree understanding of revenue generation as my background was in corporate sponsorships, tickets sales, development, marketing, and advertising. ICLA has provided me a network of professionals to lean on and gain important information.

3. If you could choose one (1) amenity to add to the workplace, what would it be? A cafeteria where everyone could eat and mingle together for free during the week. I think it would add a lot to the overall culture and morale of a department.

4. What is the biggest challenge to working in a university environment? The importance and need to keep all of your constituencies happy and informed whether that be university administration, coaches, staff, alumni, faculty, athletics administration, fans, donors, season ticket holders, parents of players, etc. Each group and person is a very important stakeholder and needs to be treated as such. 

5. What is the most important skill you have developed in your career? Patience and the ability to motivate others who maybe don't have the same amount of passion that you do. 

6. What hobby would you get into if time and money weren't an issue?  Golf, I live on a golf course and still have not played (its been two years). 

7. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with? Two things: Either for me to assist them with putting out a fire that is of immediate concern or for professional or personal advice. I greatly enjoy working with people and helping them become successful. 

8.Why/when did you decide to pursue a career in collegiate licensing? That decision was thrust upon me when I accept the associate AD of marketing and communications position at Southern Miss. I had to learn quickly about licensing, trademarks, distribution, branding, and merchandising. 

9. Who has been the most influential person in your career? My parents, they have always supported me from high school sports to playing baseball in college to working in this demanding industry. We are extremely close. 

10. If you didn't have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? Spend it with my family! My wife and I have a 5 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. 

11. Who's your role model? Extremely tough answer to put just one as I have so many from friends to mentors to bosses. Richard Giannini, Tommy McClelland, Jeremy McClain, my parents, my wife, Coach Jim Carter (my college coach) Why? Each one of them has had a profound impact on my life and career. They have had a hugely positive influence on my life. 

12. What's your favorite quote?  "Peace does not mean to be in place where there is no noise, hard work or trouble it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." 

13. What is your biggest pet peeve? Dress for success and bring it every day. There are no off days and if you are not moving the needle or getting better you are falling behind. Someone is always watching you. 

14. If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning a medal for? Grilling out. I am a champion and really enjoy it! 

15. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the field of collegiate licensing? If you desire to be a great leader you must be humble. To be a great leader you must be a great follower. Always be one step ahead of your boss. Always make your boss look good. Take work off your boss's work plate. Don't always think you are right. Don't gossip, don't second guess. Great leaders are not afraid of strengthening others. Great leaders are willing to accept feedback (many times feedback that they don't want to hear). Great leaders never let the fire go out (passion is contagious). I would say to work hard, learn, grow, network, ask for help, be different, embrace the process, be humble, be loyal... Great leaders control their emotions!! 

16. In your opinion, where is collegiate licensing headed in the future? Extremely tough question to answer however the distribution of merchandise is something that I have been studying for a while now and with the recently announced partnership between Oregon and Fanatics, I believe over the next 20 years schools will start to take back most of their outsourced contracts including licensing, multimedia rights, ticket sales, streaming rights, marketing automation, website hosting, etc. I firmly believe that a "Power 5" school such as a Texas or Ohio State will eventually become their own producer, retail, licensee, and seller of merchandise essentially cutting out all middle men companies to provide the best and most direct form of purchasing. 

17. What is your favorite family tradition? Being together for the holidays or grilling out every Sunday with my wife and two kids. 

18. What are you really good at, but kind of embarrassed that you are good at it? My wife's college degree is in fashion merchandising and she worked at Belk for six years so she always dresses me well and many times on the cutting edge. Often people comment on this and I always have to give credit to her! 
 
19. What percentage of your work-week is spent in your office? Probably 50% in my office and 75% on campus as I oversee our external operations which includes ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, marketing, advertising, promotions, communications, branding, licensing, trademarks, social media, etc. This has allowed our licensing program to grow as it is being supported by the entire external operation department in the athletics department. We have been able to do some pretty unique campaigns and promotions in regards to social media/tickets/marketing/corporate sponsorships. 

20. What are you most looking forward to at the next ICLA Convention or Winter Symposium? To continue learning about the ever-changing landscape of collegiate licensing, merchandising, branding and distribution. At the heart of licensing is consumer spending, which changes daily so in order for colleges and universities to keep up; we must continue to adapt and grow.