Dennis Rogers
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Transcript of Dennis Rogers
Dennis RogersDirector of Basketball Communications
New Orleans Hornets
Quick BackgroundPlayed sports growing upWent to college at SMU in DallasMajored in PR, minored in ReligionDecided to get involved in basketball
coaching and spent a year at Mississippi State as the graduate volunteer coach.
Quick BackgroundAfter State, decided to get back to PR and
interned for the Dallas Cowboys for a season.Moved to San Antonio to work as a basketball
operations assistant for a sports agency called Momentum Sports Group.
From Momentum, I got an internship with the Hornets.
Hornets CareerThis is my 10th season with the Hornets.Was an intern for 2 seasons before becoming
a full-time coordinator.Served as a coordinator for 1 season before
being promoted to managerAfter 2 years as manager, was promoted to
director. When I started as director, I became the
youngest PR Director in the NBA, this is my fifth season as director.
NBA Summer LeagueStarted as an intern for the Vegas Summer
League in Las Vegas in 2004. Originally it was a six-team NBA league that lasted one week in July.
I moved up all the way to PR Director and currently handle all social media for the league (now called the NBA Summer League).
It is held each July for two weeks and hosts 26 NBA teams with media and respected basketball people from all over the world.
Volunteering
Tips for starting outIdentify the field you wantBe active (e-mail, follow your people on
twitter, instagram, linkedin, internet)Volunteer, intern, job shadow
Tips for Working in PRNever assume anyone you are dealing with
(co-worker, media, etc) knows what’s going on. Always over communicate.
Be a good writer. I am very thankful that I wrote for my high school and college paper. You may not always think writing is a huge factor in PR, but it is. You deal with press releases, features, etc. I always strive to be a better writer.
Tips for Working in PRAlways stay on top of current events. For me,
I am constantly up to date on everything sports. Sometimes too much, but I love it and I am always aware of every news happening in the sports world.
Keep up with the times. In today’s world, social media is HUGE! Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc
Always think of creative messages when it comes to the times.
Over 3,000 likes on facebook
Tips for Working in PRPR is all about building relationships. Always keep in touch with people you have
dealt withBe nice to everyone and try to learn people’s
namesBuild trust with everyone, show them you can
be counted onNetwork, network, network
Tips for Working in PRNever ever see them sweatPeople always ask me why I don’t get
stressed or meltdown. Problem is I have an 82 game schedule, so I can never take anything too heavy or get stressed over a game.
If I get mentally unstable, then it is a bad look in front of my staff, players, media, etc.
So, as hard as it can be sometimes, I always keep my composure.
Have funI often look back to where I came from and
what almost happened to where I am now.In just the last six months, I have gotten to do
some of the coolest, most amazing things in my life.
I don’t know how long I will be in my job, but in the meantime I am enjoying it to the fullest/