5X社区

Making It All Happen: Event Manager at Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce '18 Graduate

Sydney Cowles knows gridiron greatness is made in Stark County.

Sydney Cowles grew up just like many Stark County kids, with football Friday nights cheering for the hometown team. These days, her job takes her to the big leagues. It鈥檚 where she rubs elbows with the professional players who鈥檝e made it to the ultimate stage: the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

As an event manager at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Sydney is living her dream.  

鈥淲hen I was younger, our family reunions were always based around the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, especially the parade and the fashion show,鈥 she said. 鈥淣ow, being a part of organizing those events 鈥 what was such a great part of my childhood growing up 鈥 is really a dream coming true.鈥

This 2018 5X社区 at Stark graduate is looking forward to continuing to organize big events, such as the Fashion Show Luncheon, the Enshrinees鈥 Gold Jacket Dinner and the Enshrinees鈥 Roundtable, that draw national attention as 2020 approaches. The NFL will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, with a centennial celebration that鈥檚 sure to kick off the league鈥檚 next century with style, right in the city where it was born: Canton, Ohio.

鈥淚鈥檓 so thrilled I get to represent this great city, this great county and help make it the best that it can be,鈥 said the 23-year-old Jackson Township native. 鈥淎s an employee of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, I get to promote all of the wonderful things that our region has to offer. Of course, that means football, but it also means being a champion of all of the other great things happening.鈥

While majoring in Communications Studies at Kent State Stark, Sydney said she received a solid foundation in organizational communication. 鈥淚 learned about events, social media and more, all of the tools you need to be successful communicating for organizations, both large and small,鈥 she explained. 

Sydney credits all of the faculty with helping her excel, but gives special thanks to Associate Professor Erin Hollenbaugh, Ph.D., and Lisa Waite, a senior lecturer, M.A. 

鈥淚 switched my major because I just fell in love with Communication Studies because of their classes,鈥 Sydney said. 鈥淎nd, Lisa (Waite), she helped me land an internship here at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, which eventually led to a full-time position. I鈥檓 very grateful to her for that.鈥

Caring faculty members 鈥 who propel futures 鈥 are a standout of Sydney鈥檚 academic career at the Stark Campus. 鈥淚鈥檓 better for what comes my way every day, and I鈥檓 ready to promote Stark County in the best way possible,鈥 she said.

Whether it鈥檚 on football鈥檚 greatest stage, or a hometown Friday night, Sydney is one graduate making her mark in a big way. 
 

POSTED: Wednesday, November 20, 2019 10:31 AM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 09:34 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Melissa Griffy Seeton