UMass Men's Soccer 2024 Alumni Mentoring Night Event Program

UMASS Men's Soccer Alumni Mentoring Night

April 26, 2024

Welcome to Alumni Mentoring Night

Dear Fellow Minutemen,

On behalf of our assembled alumni mentors, thank you all very much for sharing your time and attention with us tonight, and for allowing us to share our perspective with you.

We are all so proud to support you on the field, and we are truly honored to be with you here to hopefully help each and every one of you along in your path to personal success. It is our hope that by passing along the lessons learned throughout our own respective journeys, you will find a more positive way forward on your road ahead.

Not too long ago, each of us sat where you are sitting today. Many of us had the same hopes and dreams that you have, and most of us had the same questions that you do. This is our chance to share something with you that we wish someone had shared with us while we were at UMass, in hopes that our advice and perspective makes a positive difference in each of your lives.

Similar to the game of soccer, our event will last for approximately 90 minutes...and also similar to the game of soccer, it’s not just about passing those ninety minutes - it’s about what happens in those ninety minutes, and what we are all willing to contribute that makes each minute count. Together, we all have a role to play in making this event a success, so let’s all make a collective commitment to participate fully, and to make the most of this opportunity.

Here’s looking forward to a positive, productive and impactful evening, and to a bright future for us all.

Many thanks, and as always...GO UMASS!

Shawn Green ‘02

Alumni Biographies

Bret Blanton

Year of Graduation: 1989

Major: Finance

Minor: Economics

Additional Education: Several courses to develop and expand my market knowledge/capabilities and managerial skill set

Current Title(s): Co-Founder, President; Prior to starting Financial Spouts, I worked in capital markets for 30+ years with Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered Bank, and Bank of Montreal.

Current Employer: Financial Sprouts, LLC

Current Industry: Financial Literacy Education

Mike Gibbons (Moderator)

Year of Graduation: 1984

Major: Political Science

Additional Education: JD, Suffolk University Law School; MS, Sport Management, UMass

Current Title: Attorney

Current Employer: Apostle Immigration Services

Current Industry: Immigration Law

Ted Priestly

Year of Graduation: 1994

Major: Political Science

Additional Education: NSCAA Advanced National (Coaching) Diploma, various graduate classes

Current Title(s): Founder/CEO

Current Employer: Fundraise4U.net, LLC

Current Industry: Fundraising/Marketing/Business of Sports

Graham Brenner

Year of Graduation: 2022

Major: Business Management

Minor: Economics

Current Title: Sales Development Executive

Current Employer: SAP

Current Industry: Software

Meet our Alumni Mentors

Bret Blanton ‘89

Mike Gibbons ‘84

Ted Priestly ‘94

Graham Brenner ‘22

Questions for the Alumni...

What do you wish you had known as a first-year student-athlete at UMass?

BB: We would love to know what we know today when we were younger, but that's not life. Looking back to my freshman year in 1984, I was young and immature for my age(perfect candidate for a PG year). I wish I had reached out and taken advantage of the mentors who were there to help me map my experience as a student-athlete at UMass.

GB: What I wish I knew when I was a firstyear student-athlete was the importance of networking and how impactful it can be to jump start your career. I also wish I took advantage of more clubs and groups outside of athletics that Isenberg had to offer. But I would also tell myself to not feel rushed into the workforce (whether that's a first time job or internship) and enjoy your time as a student-athlete- play soccer in the summer, work that part time job, it's all fun stuff.

MG: I wish I knew how quickly the time and opportunities would pass. I also wish I had known the value of internships, volunteer experiences and study abroad opportunities. While it may not be practical for a studentathlete to leave campus for a semester, I suggest taking advantage of windows of time (winter break, spring break, and summers) to explore careers through internships and volunteer experiences. This can be challenging, but it can be done if you plan ahead.

TP:

1 What PREPARATION actually looked actually looked like. Specifically: Communication with coaches/actually being recruited/invited prior to my arrival at UMass vs. ‘just showing up’ as a walk-on Fitness – ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’

2. I wasn’t actually ‘majoring in soccer’ but in reality, I kind of was. Had I known that at the time, I would have approached things differently.

3 How much I could actually do with a Political Science degree.

GB: The things that helped me succeed as a student-athlete was to take classes with teammates, get my work done ASAP and don't feel discouraged if you do not do well on an exam or a quiz- there's always room to bounce back.

Taking classes with my teammates were some of the best classes we took because we all had the same schedule and kept each other accountable for assignments and when they were due. For me that was always a struggle, balancing practice/travel/games with the due date of assignments and when I was a freshman I always felt like I was missing deadlines or doing work last minute. When it comes to assignments- I'd always recommend getting them done ASAP because the life of a student-athlete adds up quickly and the assignments can get easily forgotten

MG: I found that I did the best job of managing my time when I stayed busy. One semester, I took both introductory economics (micro and macro) courses While it was my most challenging semester, it was also my most successful. In a similar way, I did better managing my time in season (fall semester) than during the off-season (spring semester) because of the increased time commitment required during the season. Staying busy helped me to be more organized and focused. Getting out of the dorm and going to the library each night to study was another effective strategy that kept me organized and productive. While there was the occasional night where I fell asleep while studying, it still proved to be an effective habit.

Questions for the Alumni...

What strategies helped you to succeed as a student-athlete?

TP: Walking onto the team, we (walk-ons) had to prove ourselves every day in training just to be invited back for the next day. I learned a lot about myself, and about perseverance I had (have) a chip on my shoulder that (has) served as a blessing, and sometimes a curse. Having something to prove, and a healthy 'Us Against the World' mentality can often be a very powerful thing in college, and in life. I was always early for team activities, usually the last one to leave and I worked my ass off. Coaches and employers tend to like that. I worked as hard as possible, because I always believed that I had to. I still use this philosophy in work Nobody owes you a living You need to earn your place every day.

BB: I loved the student-athlete life at UMass! I was able to compartmentalize my college life between my time as a student, a member of the soccer team, and the time spent creating and developing relationships/friendships. So, to answer your question, my strategy was my "discipline" to focus on each part of my student-athlete life, stay present, and give 100% to each area when you are there

Questions for the Alumni...

If you could go back and change anything, what would you change?

MG: I have wonderful memories of UMass, and my time was filled with challenging and enriching academic and athletic experiences. Being part of the soccer team and sharing the bond that comes from working together toward a common goal is one of my most cherished life experiences Indeed, I remain friends with many of my teammates some 30+ years later. While I had an enriching academic and athletic experience, the one thing I might do differently is try to find time to explore areas (e g , theater, arts, etc ) apart from the team. This would not be easily accomplished given the time commitment required of a student-athlete, but I think I would have enjoyed exploring other areas of university life.

GB: I would have gone back to UMASS for a fifth year, I missed it so much when I left and it is always one thing I regretted after I left. I would have also gone to more networking events and put myself out there more. It's difficult to find a career you would be passionate about in the future if you do not put yourself out there

TP: Once I achieved the initial goals that I had set, I would have aimed even higher and set new goals. I would have been humbler, channeled my emotions better and understood that my actions on the field had corresponding consequences for our team: that chip on my shoulder was both a blessing and a curse. I would have studied the game more and refined my approach to it. I absolutely would have minored in Spanish.

BB: Good question, looking back, I would have been more proactive to network and develop relationships/mentorship with the people who were doing what I strived to do. I would have had more conversations and informational interviews to see how others achieved success in their lives. I would take advantage of the resources the university offers - your resources and opportunities change after you graduate.

‘The Basics’ of Personal Branding:

Be on time - this takes zero talent

Be polite - smile, say ‘thank you’

Call people back - don’t be ‘that guy’ Attitude and Effort will always matter

Follow through - make it a habit

Define what ‘success’ means to you, and act accordingly. ‘Association breeds assimilation’, so surround yourself with good people.

Do research/homework for interviews and meetings - this is always appreciated. Read as much as you can: this allows you to steal the ideas of more experienced people and offers you an accelerated understanding of the world.

Understand the basics of networking and develop corresponding habits.

If you’re going through hell, KEEP GOING! Things will get better. Be there for people in tough times, not just good ones. Failing is sometimes part of reaching. Believe in Karma: do good things in the world, expecting nothing in return. You are a UMass Soccer player: you have made a habit of outperforming expectations in spite of limited funding. THAT is a Point of Differentiation that should always follow you, and in some ways, define you. YOU can do MORE with less, not less with more. Always remember that, and never underestimate your value.

GB: I would say the greatest advice I could give to the graduating seniors is to find something that your passionate about and engulf yourself in the field because I know for me when I played soccer it was all that I loved and was obsessed, when I graduated I was so unsure what I wanted to do because soccer is all that was on my mind Then when I found myself working in software I became obsessed with that and learning all about it.

Questions for the Alumni...

What advice would you give to our graduating seniors as they embark on the next steps of life?

BB: Enjoy the ride, know that it’s not going to be easy Similar to being a student-athlete at UMass, you will be juggling several parts of you life at once (work/career, family, friends). Reach for the stars, don’t settle for the easy road! Try to celebrate your successes and don’t get too low when things don’t go your way. Remain humble and respectful to everyone, and help others that are in need. A line that one of my best friends, former UMass Soccer player(star) – Andrew Bing ’88, have used since we graduated from UMass is “good things happen to good people”. In fact, our ‘saying’ is engraved on the annual golf trophy we have been competing for since 1994, The Blanton/Bing.

MG: Rest assured, your UMass experiences have prepared you well for the next several years. If you apply the same disciplined, goal-oriented approach that you’ve applied to your education and athletic experience, Continue to challenge yourself – as you know, the most rewarding experiences can come from making the most of opportunities where you are not expected to do well

Notes

Notes

Thank You to our Mentors

We cannot thank you enough for your willingness to share your time, perspective and advice with us here tonight. We are humbled by your selflessness and inspired by your example, and we look forward to hopefully staying connected with you, and perhaps following your lead by participating in this event someday as mentors. For now, we thank you and look forward to honoring the legacy that you have all built.

Go UMass. Always!