Alumnus credits MARS Apprentice with current success

McMaster alumnus Brad Wurthman is a rising star in the sports management industry,
and he credits his participation in the DeGroote School of Business' intensive, five-week
MARS Apprentice competition with his success.

A graduate of McMaster's commerce program, Wurthman participated in the first-ever
MARS Apprentice, in which teams of six students compete week-to-week developing
solutions to challenges that are presented to them by industry professionals.

“MARS Apprentice was hands down the best part of my undergraduate experience,”
said Wurthman, who competed in 2005. “Without the MARS Apprentice experience I
would not have the job that I have today.”

That job – director for marketing and fan development with the University of
Cincinnati
Bearcats – is the type that Wurthman dreamed of getting when he was at McMaster. As
a leader for the athletics-marketing and ticket sales team at the university, Wurthman
has steered the program to unprecedented heights in terms of revenue generation,
market penetration, and off-the-field success. According to him, the skills he needed to
be successful in his career were initially developed at the McMaster competition.

“It's life-changing and the best way to test yourself,” he said.

After MARS Apprentice teams present their plans, they compete in a question period,
after which a winning team is announced. Each week the score is tallied and the team
with the most wins sees its members advance to interviews for internships with
sponsoring companies.

For Wurthman, each boardroom-like experience was more challenging than the last
and
with companies such as Maple Leaf Foods, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Frito Lay and Jan
Kelley Marketing presenting weekly challenges, the experience was invaluable. Winning
three out of four challenges, Wurthman's team came away winning the annual MARS
Apprentice competition.

After the win, Wurthman was offered an internship with the Tiger-Cats. During his two
years with the team, Wurthman had the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest
minds in the sports marketing business.

In July 2007, Wurthman accepted a new opportunity as manager for ticket sales and
special events with the Bearcats, a member of the Big East Conference and the NCAA.
Three years later, Wurthman is in his current role, overseeing all game day activities,
marketing and media for the department of athletics, revenue creation ideas and
advertising initiatives.

Since his arrival, the department has been awarded multiple industry awards for
innovative marketing tactics and fan experiences and ticket sales have nearly doubled
for three consecutive seasons.

Wurthman has a word of advice for anyone considering the MARS Apprentice
competition: “Don't miss the opportunity to set yourself apart.”

MARS Apprentice is open to all undergraduate commerce and engineering &
management students at the DeGroote School of Business.