SUNY Fredonia graduate and Buffalo Sabres TV broadcaster Kevin Sylvester will be featured as the second speaker of the Spring 2010 Leadership Development Speaker Series in a talk entitled, “Establishing Credibility and Developing Youth Athletes.”
Sylvester’s lecture will take place Thursday, March 25, at 2 p.m. in S104 Williams Center. The event is free and all SUNY Fredonia students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.
Sylvester will speak about his post-graduation career path and how he established credibility as a young professional. He will also talk about his work as the Director of Amateur Athletics for HSBC Arena and how that positively impacts the Western New York region. Lastly, he will talk to the students about the skills and characteristics employers look for in young professionals.
“The Leadership Development Program is thrilled to welcome an accomplished SUNY Fredonia graduate to speak to students about the importance of making the most of opportunities and having a vision for your future,” explained series coordinator Mark Suida. “These keys to professional success, coming from someone of Sylvester's stature, will allow students to hear how he planned ahead, took risks, and differentiated himself in a competitive profession.”
The speaker series, organized by Assistant Director of Campus Life and Coordinator of the Leadership Development Program Mark Suida, aims to demonstrate how the students, faculty, and staff of SUNY Fredonia can facilitate positive change in the community. The speakers were chosen based upon their commitment to leadership, civic engagement, and diversity, as well as their work with youth to make a difference and create positive change in the Western New York community.
Sylvester is the television host for the Buffalo Sabres NHL broadcasts on the MSG Network. This includes “Sabres Gamenight,” the intermissions reports, and “The Shootout” post-game show, which he co-created in 2005. He has extensive background in radio, reporting, and talk shows and has worked at WBEN, WGR, and WBT in Charlotte, NC. During his tenure as Sports Director at WBT, the station won six broadcasting awards and he was named best sportscaster in 2001 by the Electronic News Association of the Carolinas (ENAC).
Sylvester is also the Director of Amateur Athletics for HSBC Arena. He works with the NCAA, local universities, the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission, and other entities to secure events in Western New York. Kevin served as the marketing and promotions director for the 2007 Men’s College Basketball 1st and 2nd rounds, and will perform the same duties for the 2010 event. He is the chairman of the Battistoni Golf Scholarship fund, and currently sits on the board of The First Tee of Western New York.
Sylvester graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication. For more information regarding the Leadership Development Speaker Series, contact Assistant Director of Campus Life Mark Suida at extension 3143.
