Connect with Cassie on KU Mentoring+.
We’re highlighting Jayhawks who serve as mentors to fellow alumni and students to celebrate National Mentoring Month.
Cassie Enriquez is an account manager of member services for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Originally from Olathe, Kansas, she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sport management from KU. She now lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
What do you do at your job? And how did you end up in your current career?
I am an account manager for 200+ full season ticket members for the Oklahoma City Thunder. My role is to figure out what each person values out of their membership and make it happen, so they return year after year as a member. For example, if a member values their interaction with me, then I will treat them to lunch and get to know them on a personal level. The goal is to then carry on that friendship by visiting them in their seats on game nights or calling/texting them to catch up. The ultimate goal of my role is to build the relationship I have with each season ticket member — be their right-hand person by guiding them when needed (ticket help, special requests, etc.) and renewing them for the following season. We want to keep our fans loyal and excited for our team year after year, through the highs and lows.
I found a passion for being an account manager when I was employed with the Dallas Mavericks’ sales team. I discovered this position while working on the sales team and seeing that the retention-side of ticketing was more fitting to my outgoing personality. I have always enjoyed getting to know different types of people, their backgrounds and simply knowing their story. After a year in sales, I knew I was ready to transition to the retention side and have loved it ever since. Being an account manager for the Oklahoma City Thunder has been the greatest privilege I have ever received; coming to work doesn’t feel like “work,” it’s more like spending time with your best friends each day — I’m referring to the accounts I manage and my amazing colleagues. We’re all one big Thunder family!
Who is a mentor for you, and how did they help you?
My mom has been the best mentor I have ever had. She has guided me through her sales experience and life experiences. Being a Jayhawk, she taught me everything I needed to know about our beloved university and basketball program at a young age. From then on, my love for basketball and sports grew. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today employed within this industry (sports), and in general, I certainly wouldn’t know what I’d even do without her in my day-to-day life.
What advice do you have for current college students or young alumni?
Experience and connections are huge in the sports industry; you can’t have one without the other if you want to make it. Don’t be afraid to work game day jobs scanning tickets or cleaning toilets — what matters is that you took the time to be present and learn about the industry. Use your tools (LinkedIn, KU Mentoring+, professors, or guest speakers) to build those connections, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want!
What is your favorite KU memory?
I will never forget the KU vs. OU basketball game in 2016 that went into triple overtime while each team was ranked No. 1 (KU) and No. 2 (OU) in the nation. Each overtime, the student section got more hyped up, sweat dripping down each of our faces and yelling as if it were the National Championship game. The best part of it all was ending the game with the WIN! My ears were ringing for days after that game and my adrenaline was pumping through the roof! It made me realize how grateful I was to be a Jayhawk experiencing that game in person, inside Allen Fieldhouse. It was truly unforgettable, and I enjoy sharing that story with my current co-workers, as most of them attended OU.
Need a mentor? Want to serve as a mentor? KU Mentoring+ is open to students, alumni, faculty and staff, and friends of the University of Kansas. Professionals who are looking for opportunities to connect with KU and provide assistance to Jayhawks are also welcome. Learn more about KU Mentoring+.
