How to Build a Career in Sports Sales

Episode 143: Chad Estis - SVP For The Dallas Cowboys: Working For Jerry Jones

Chad Estis serves as Executive Vice President at Legends Hospitality Management, LLC and served as its President of Legends Sales & Marketing. He is responsible for the sales strategies and client acquisitions for the Legends Division focused on selling premium seating inventory for new and renovated facilities in Major League and Collegiate athletics. He served as the Chief Marketing Officer and an Executive Vice President of Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena from 2006 to 2007 overseeing all sales, marketing, community relations, communications, web-site and game operations. He served as Head of Sales and Marketing at Cleveland Cavaliers. He served as Vice President of Sales and Business Development for the Cavaliers from 2001 to 2005.

Chad was then recruited (heavily) by Jerry Jones and family to lead the sales organization for The Dallas Cowboys. He served as the lead for Cowboys Stadium Premium Sales project where he was responsible for a sales team of 60 people that set industry records for both PSL (Personal Seat Licenses) and Suite sales revenue. He is a 1993 graduate of Ohio University and a 1994 graduate of Ohio's Sports Administration Masters Program.

Episode 143: Chad Estis - SVP For The Dallas Cowboys: Working For Jerry Jones

Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio

The Learning Leader Show

"Keys To A Great Career: Be great at what you currently do. Be curious. Have a career vision. Plant seeds for the future."

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Passion, Optimism, and Likability leads to sustained excellence
• What it's like working for Jerry Jones
• The moment when the leaders of the Dallas Cowboys flew to Ohio to recruit Chad (WOW)
• Starting at an entry level role making $16,000/year after earning a Masters degree
• Learning to cold call (80-100 calls per day) and how they helped developed Chad's grit
• The process of hiring millennials and working with them
• Specific mentoring conversations - Hearing exactly what Chad says
• Being great at what you currently do... Cannot focus on the future too much
• The biggest mistake young managers/leaders make in their careers
• How to hire a sales leader
• The interview and hiring process -- Specifics on how to do it right
• How to successfully use your "gut feelings"
• The necessary ingredients for a happy and successful career
  • Work for people you enjoy being around
  • Be challenged everyday
  • Be compensated properly
• Learning Leaders need to be constantly searching for new information to continually learn

"Everybody kept telling me they were a protege of Chad Estis. I said, I need to meet this guy." - Jerry Jones Jr.

Continue Learning:

• Read: Chad Estis Named 2015 Recipient of the Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award
• Read: 40 Under 40: Chad Estis
• To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

You may also like these episodes:

Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon

Episode 080: Ryan Estis - From Rock Star Sales Professional To World Class Speaker & Entrepreneur

Episode 086: Seth Godin – How To Become Indispensable & Build Your Tribe

Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Did you enjoy the podcast?

If you enjoyed hearing Chad Estis on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me.

Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell

Bio From Sportsad.ohio.edu

Chad Estis serves as Executive Vice President at Legends Hospitality Management, LLC and served as its President of Legends Sales & Marketing. He is responsible for the sales strategies and client acquisitions for the Legends Division focused on selling premium seating inventory for new and renovated facilities in Major League and Collegiate athletics. He served as the Chief Marketing Officer and an Executive Vice President of Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena from 2006 to 2007 overseeing all sales, marketing, community relations, communications, web-site and game operations. He served as Head of Sales and Marketing at Cleveland Cavaliers. He served as Vice President of Sales and Business Development for the Cavaliers from 2001 to 2005.

Chad was then recruited (heavily) by Jerry Jones and family to lead the sales organization for The Dallas Cowboys. He served as the lead for Cowboys Stadium Premium Sales project where he was responsible for a sales team of 60 people that set industry records for both PSL (Personal Seat Licenses) and Suite sales revenue. He is a 1993 graduate of Ohio University and a 1994 graduate of Ohio's Sports Administration Masters Program.