National Association of Athletic Ticket Sales and Operations 9/22/2025 3:30:00 PM

NAATSO Launches Inaugural 2025-26 Leadership Academy Presented by Elevate

CLEVELAND - The National Association of Athletic Ticket Sales & Operations (NAATSO) is excited to launch the inaugural 2025-26 Leadership Academy presented by Elevate.

To be considered for the NAATSO 2025-26 Leadership Academy presented by Elevate, applications must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 17.

Click HERE to access the 2025-26 Mentee application.
Click HERE to access the 2025-26 Mentor application.

New this year, the NAATSO Leadership Academy presented by Elevate will expand on our traditional mentorship program to bring added value to all participants in the program. Participants will gain experience from the traditional mentor-mentee pairings, as well as from conversations with their cohort peers across a wide range of topics designed to build leadership skills and help you grow your career.

Goals of the Leadership Academy:

To help develop industry leaders who will be equipped to shape the future of college athletics
Network with both your peer cohort and your individual pairing, to help develop new skills and learn how others are utilizing these skills at their institutions.
Participants will gain knowledge of NAATSO and the positive impact it can make with the connections that are cultivated by giving back to the ticketing community
Develop long-term friendships and expand networking opportunities

Leadership Academy Participants Must:

Be a current 2025-26 paid member of NAATSO and show a commitment to a career in the collegiate athletics ticketing industry
Attend the annual NAATSO Convention June 7-10, 2025
- Cost of convention registration will be covered by NAATSO for all program participants. Program participants will also receive a stipend of up to $1,500 to reimburse the cost of lodging, airfare, and/or travel expenses.
Agree to actively participate in the Association throughout the year and support its initiatives.
Be willing to participate in the program requirements, including attending monthly calls with speakers, and collaborating with other program participants both remotely and at convention.

Selection Criteria for Mentees:

Mentees must have five (5) years or less of full-time experience
Interns and graduate assistants ARE eligible for the program
Only one (1) member per institution will be permitted to participate annually

Selection Criteria for Mentors:

Mentors must be able to meet with their mentee, or group of mentees, at least one hour per month.
Mentors will be approved by current Board of Directors members and will be NAATSO members who have established themselves as industry leaders
Mentors must have 4+ years of sport ticket sales or operations experience.

Program Participants Will Receive:

A certificate of completion from the Leadership Academy.
A graduation reception at convention.
The cost of registration for the 2026 NAATSO Convention covered by NAATSO
Up to $1,500 to be used to offset the cost of lodging (room and tax only), airfare and/or other travel expenses to be reimbursed by the Association after the Convention
- Stipend recipients are responsible for securing their own hotel room & travel accommodations

Networking and professional development are two foundational pillars for growth in intercollegiate athletics. The NAATSO Board aims to develop our membership into the future leaders in college athletic departments across the country. It is NAATSO's hope that its Mentorship Program will serve as an important resource to accomplish this goal.

Questions regarding the NAATSO Leadership Academy presented by Elevate can be directed to Chair Andrew Schoepfer or NAATSO Association Manager Nick Strah.

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