“When others in our industry see CSEE after your name, they know right away what that means.” Clay Partain, a recent grad from the Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE) program, knew from his first NASC Symposium that earning this credential would set him aside from his competition in the sports events and tourism industry.  As the current Director of Sports Market Sales for Visit Salt Lake, the CVB for the Salt Lake County, Partain knew that adding CSEE to the end of his title would show his stakeholders and employers that he means business. 

Beyond the career development, Partain will forever be grateful for the network built from this experience.  The program offered him a chance to talk first hand with his peers about their successes, challenges and struggles and a support group to get advice from.  With sports tourism being a relatively small market that is completely relationship driven, he knows the bonds he has created will last for a very long time.  “It’s amazing how many similarities there are between all of us.” Partain said.

Moving forward, Partain will take the knowledge he has learned from this experience and continue to apply it in his everyday life.  He recognizes that he is extremely lucky to be in the sports events and tourism industry and will never take a day at the office for granted.  With the industry changing everyday, Partain refuses to be someone who claims to have seen it all and will always continue to learn.

Learn more about the CSEE Program: https://www.sportscommissions.org/education/certification