NY Liberty - Coordinator of Team Operations


		Abbe at Work
		Ticket

While the Liberty are an exciting team to watch, they are also a busy organization. The team office is a very busy place behind the scenes. A database is maintained here, with information about players and agents, along with college scouting reports, contracts and all the paperwork necessary to maintain a professional sports team. The business of sports is an ever-growing field and the Coordinator of Team Operations has a major role in making sure that everything runs smoothly.

A management position, the Coordinator of Team Operations has to organize all the team operations issues as they relate to the Sr.Vice President/General Manager, coaching staff, players and the overall staff. The job also often entails planning and travel arrangements for the team, ticket distribution for players, VIPs and guests, and overseeing the daily functions of the Liberty office.

Melissa Abbe spent two years interning with the United States Department of Commerce, then four years in the international trade field. She brought her international business experience to the offices of the NBA, joining a project called the Women's National Team, which later became the United States' gold medal-winning Olympic Team in 1996. She then joined the brand new WNBA. She works hard maintaining a wealth of team information, keeping up with travel budgets, making hotel arrangements and managing the Liberty internship programs. "On game day I coordinate all ticket requests and make sure they are handled properly by the Madison Garden staff" says Abbe. While she enjoys seeing the fans enjoy a Liberty game and appreciates working with the staff on so many levels, she also acknowledges that there is pressure as so many people rely on her to handle so many different responsibilities.

To do this type of job successfully, Abbe suggests that "you be well organized, have strong communications skills, be proficient in computer applications and have a knowledge of sports at the professional and college level and the desire to continually learn and expand this knowledge." She also believes that creativity, initiative, a sense of teamwork and a can-do attitude make a good impression when applying for a position.