In the presence of a PRO

As strange as it sounds, I was a little star struck during my meeting with Kalen Qually, a Communications Coordinator for the Winnipeg Jets. He’s not a celebrity by any means; but he does regularly communicate with NHL celebrities, the players themselves. Needless to say, I was intrigued by him and I engaged in conversation with this young man, whose been working with the Jets since they’ve come back to Winnipeg.  Prior to that, he worked with the Manitoba Moose, so his experience in professional hockey communications was something to talk about.

My direct contact with him came about when a friend mentioned his name. Contacting him via email was quite easy; he responded quickly and was eager to help.

He was very humble, stating that he is hardly the type of person a student should interview for an assignment. Nevertheless, he was very cooperative and provided the best possible answers and advice.

Unsurprisingly, as a communications coordinator for the newest reinstated NHL team in the league, Kalen’s weeks, even days for that matter, are unpredictable. Organizational skills are not his forte; however, when the Jets are home, he must juggle his time with caution. He makes sure that every player who needs media consulting has ample time with him for interview preparation. He can finally take a breath when the boys are on the road; his efforts aren’t required as frequently or as urgently.

So how is a guy like Kalen fortunate enough to work for an NHL team you ask? Well, after completing the Communications program at Red River College, he did an internship with True North Sports which in turn landed him this full time position.

Though he currently works directly with one team, his dream was to become a sports writer and his decision to concentrate on the Jets came about when he started his internship. He wanted to write about one team, not shift directions around multiple teams, players, and leagues.

The transition from being a full time student to working a corporate office job was particularly difficult for Kalen, this is what he wished he would have been prepared to handle. He stressed that the internship was a great transition and it gave him a taste of what everyday life was going to be.

So, how does one become a successful communications coordinator? He states that writing, writing, writing! Exercise this skill as much as you can, it is an important strength in the field. Another thing to keep in mind is to be a connoisseur of organization and planning – make it a part of yourself as much as the colour of your skin – it will help you manage your schedule better.

Towards the end of our conversation, still not quite ready to wrap it up, I had to ask if there was anything else he wanted to add or advice he wanted to give me... He did mention the importance of job shadowing and volunteering in this field. Contacts are important, so get out there.

I was reassured that my current efforts are leading me in the right direction. I have been exercising my networking skills, volunteering, and gaining all the knowledge of the industry as the human brain can handle. There is nowhere to go but up – and the adventures are going to be rewarding.