NHL Comes to Monmouth Thanks to Internship
Project
Release Date: February 27, 2002
Don Capener, an
assistant professor of political economy and commerce at Monmouth College, is currently
leading students in a “real world” business experience.
| Pictured in accompanying
photo are all the students involved in the project except for Cristian Racolta.
Professor Capener is on the far right. Front row is Demissie, Escalante, Capener. Back
row is Marinescu, Murray, Mueller. |
Six students are
working with Capener and the National Hockey League in an internship project created, in
Capener’s words, “to add perspective and new ideas to the NHL Enterprise Group’s future plans
for fan development, licensing sales and involvement opportunities off the ice.”
Capener is currently
acting as a consultant for Blueline Apparel, Inc., an NHL merchandise licensee. He was
co-founder of the “Above The Rim” line of clothing (which was later purchased by Reebok), and
he said the NHL has taken interest in Blueline Apparel as a similar lifestyle franchise.
“The NHL is hoping that
Blueline will be the ‘Above The Rim’ for hockey that they have never had,” he explained.
The six interns
participating are Lucian Marinescu, a senior from Romania; Cristian Racolta, a
junior from Romania; Laura Esalante, a student from Costa Rica; Meron Demissie,
a senior from Arlington, Va.; John Mueller, a senior from Momence; and Justin Murray,
a junior from Palatine. They were hand-selected for the job by Monmouth faculty based on their
background and general understanding of business concepts. They also had to interview with
Capener.
“The students will use
their business marketing and finance skills to determine the viability of a number of NHL
initiatives,” said Capener. “One example is generating fan interest in areas 100 miles or more
from NHL franchises. Monmouth/Galesburg is an example of area that is underdeveloped from the
NHL perspective. What can be done in this area to generate more interest in the Blackhawks or
St. Louis Blues?”
Capener added that
Monmouth College is establishing a local chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). This
organization will help provide future students with internship opportunities similar to the
NHL project.
Released
by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330
|
