As a high school junior, Howard Ticker combined his passion for sports with an interest in business to guide his college selection process. Growing up, he had followed Mountaineer football, paying special attention to the Pat White Era, (former WVU quarterback who played all four seasons, 2005-2008, with the Mountaineers, becoming the first QB to finish 4-0 in bowl games, including two BCS wins in the 2006 Sugar and 2008 Fiesta Bowls).
Meanwhile, he liked the proximity from his home in Maryland to Morgantown. It was then that Ticker decided to attend West Virginia University to study sport management.
“I always enjoyed the business side of sports growing up and I knew this was a way I could be as close to it as possible to the industry. Choosing this major would help me learn about the different branches in sport business and which route I'd want to go,” said Ticker, 2013 Sport Management graduate.
Ticker, director of ticket sales and service at The Aspire Group, a global sports and entertainment firm, oversees new business ticket and group sales and events for the University of Maryland Athletic Department. While he is responsible for working with clients, Ticker finds his day-to-day relationships with staff rewarding.
“I enjoy the opportunity to help my staff grow professionally and reach their career goals. I've been fortunate enough to learn from some great leaders and I love to give back to my team every day. There isn't a better day than when we get to celebrate an internal promotion,” said Ticker.
Ticker advises CPASS students to be like a sponge and absorb all that professors offer to students.
“Pick some career paths you may want to explore and reach out to as many people as you possibly can. Find out what it took for them to get there,” said Ticker.