October 31, 2023 • 34 mins
In this episode of “Inside the Oval” presented by Dignity Health, Hillary Wallach spoke about her favorite memories at Candlestick Park and Levi’s® Stadium, her experience as a board member of the 49ers Women Connect employee resource group, the craziest food options available for suite partners and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome to the forty nine Ers inside the Ovil podcast
presented by Dignity Health. I'm Hailey Jones and I'm Patti Kwan,
and today we are joined by Senior manager of Sweet Activation,
Hillary Wallack. Hillary, thank you so much for joining the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Thanks for having me to start.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
What is Sweet Activation at the forty nine ers and
what does your role as a senior manager entail?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yeah? Great question.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
So Sweet Activation basically we manage all things related to
our current Sweet partners. So after a sale is made
by our wonderful Sweet sales team on a long term basis,
so multi year term, we work with our Sweet partners
to make sure that they have the best experience here
(00:59):
at Levice Stadium. So whether it's a forty nine Ers game, concert,
soccer match, whatever is included in their suitet partnership, we
help them with so assisting with activating anything that is
included with their suites so on event day and answering
all their questions. Basically everything from a customer service standpoint.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
We were just at I don't know why I said
we you weren't there, Patty. I was just sad a
Warriors game and we got a tour around Chase Center
and they showed us all of the different suites and
areas and it was funny because I was with someone
who works in Sweet activation and she goes, if I could,
(01:43):
this is the Sweet area I would want to be
like a member of Do you have that here? Like
which suite you would want?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (01:51):
And I'm definitely biased because these are my clients.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
So we have what are.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Called Citrix Owners suites, so there are highestier of Sweet partnerships.
So they have everything included, so they either paid upfront
or annually, and they receive all forty nine ers games,
all events at Leave Stadium. Their food and beverage is included,
including alcohol, so wine, cocktails, all that fun stuff. That
(02:22):
is definitely the suite that I would want, the cream
of the crop. And also awesome views because they're between
the twenty yard lines on the visitors side, so really
good view of the game.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
That's really cool.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, what was your path to the forty nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, it's a great question.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
It's actually kind of a lengthy story that doesn't really
start related to football. But when I was in college,
I was interning at a nonprofit that was connected to
a bank that my mom works for. In Oakland, and
I started assisting this woman, Trina Barton, who was managing
(03:03):
events for the nonprofit with the bank, and happened to
be working on an event and she introduced me to
her boyfriend at the time, Dustin Albertson, our VP of
sales Ticketing in Service. So that that kind of led
me to my path here with the forty nine ers.
You know. He asked me what I was looking to do,
(03:25):
and I said I wanted to be in sports, so
whatever that meant, just getting in the door. That fortunately
lined up perfectly with a program that they were starting
at Candlestick Park the second to last season that Candlestick
was open. It was called the Fan Ambassador Program, so
we would basically it's like a guest services role, so
(03:49):
you're answering any questions that someone has once they walk
into the stadium, so whether it's just greeting them, telling
them where the bathroom is, telling them where they can
go to concessions. Candlestick had really really tight concourses, so
it was very packed and just a very unique experience
(04:10):
night and day compared to here at Levice Stadium, where
we have two separate concourses, so.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
That is not lost on me.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
But I did that while I was still in college.
I went to college in La actually, so I would
fly back and forth every other weekend when we had
a home game and do the role for every home game.
So that was definitely a very cool, unique thing to
(04:38):
do during my college experience. Instead of studying abroad, that
was kind of my version of studying abroad was working
NFL games and did that for the last two seasons
at Candlestick and then when we opened Levice Stadium in
twenty fourteen, worked part time in ticketing as an inside
(04:58):
member services representative of working with our season ticket members
answering phone calls, emails for anything regarding opening Levice Stadium
and what it meant to be a season ticket member.
So I did that for the first season at Levice
Stadium and then moved over to our Membership Service team full.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Time to work with season ticket members.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Did that for five seasons, I think four or five seasons,
and then in December of twenty eighteen, moved over to
Sweet Activation. So I've been on the Sweet Activation team
ever since.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
How was it balancing flying back and forth for this
program while you were still in school?
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Yeah, you know it definitely worked out that. I was
able to kind of make my schedule my own, so
I only had classes Tuesday through Thursday.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Yeah, so that was the beauty of being a communication
studies major.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yep, yeah too.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah, it's a good life, so very flexible schedule with that.
So I'd leave either Thursday night or Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
My parents live in the East.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Bay and that's where I grew up, so i'd stay
with them, so I had a place to stay fortunately,
and then yeah, i'd go work the game, which was awesome.
And you know, my family, it's three generations of Niners
fans born and raised in San Francisco. So sometimes i'd
carpool with my dad to games and he'd watch the
game and I'd be working the game. So it all
(06:25):
worked out luckily. It wasn't too stressful. I did, you know,
miss out on a couple of college experiences because of it,
but I think in the long run, you know, it's
led me to Hear, which has just been an amazing journey.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So it all worked out.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I think that's a college experience in itself, Like how
many people can say they did that while in school?
Speaker 5 (06:47):
Yeah, let alone, like in different parts of the state.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Yeah, no, I know, it was definitely fun to talk
about when I would come back after a game and
I remember, you know, being in the gym that we
had at my high school and when they'd show like
highlights of a game, and especially if we lost a game,
I'd be on the elliptical just pissed off, like getting
my fuel from being fired up from that loss. So yeah,
(07:11):
it was always fun to come back to and talk
to my friends about what the game was like.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
Fun.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yeah, so you've been with the forty nine ers for
over ten years.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Yes, congratulations.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Thank you makes me feel very old established. That's a
great way of putting it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Can you just tell us like how different like Members'
Services was from like sweet Activation or just things you
learned along the way to get to the current role
you're in.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Yeah, definitely. You know, it's been really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Just how much it's grown.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
When I was on the Membership service team, there were
four of us managing our season ticket member accounts and
I'm trying to think off the top of my head,
but we have, you know, tens of thousands of season
ticket member accounts, so a lot to break up between
all of us, and the team has definitely grown, which
has been amazing to see. And same for sweet activation
(08:07):
and all the things that we handle. You know, we've
added more people to our team, and you know, it's.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Just really helped me grow in.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Problem solving, I think is really important in both roles
that I've had at the forty nine Ers is just
kind of, you know, figuring out how to have difficult conversations,
finding solutions for people to make sure that you know,
they're getting the most out of their experience, because let's
be honest, they're paying a lot of money to have
a really great time here. And you know, the other
(08:40):
aspect of it is just watching team performance evolve. You know,
when I was first on the Membership Service team, our
records were certainly not like they have been recently, and
so just seeing the different kinds of conversations that come
up when you're a team that's you know, struggling versus
(09:00):
you know, a team that's been to NFC Championships, you know,
three out of the last five seasons. So it's it's
really cool to just see the evolution of you know,
a stadium, a team, and all sides of dealing with
season ticket members and Sweet Partners.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Speaking of that evolution, what was it like for you
as an employee to go from Candlestick to Levi's.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Yeah, you know, I'm gonna be honest. I had never
been to Santa Clara in my life until they opened
Levice Stadium, So it definitely was eye opening just to
get familiar with the area. But you know, obviously there's
a lot of nostalgia with Candlestick and you know, being
(09:46):
the San Francisco forty nine ers, but to have such
a larger stadium is you know, the way that I
think of it, and being able to just navigate where
you need to go so much easier compared to Candlestick,
like it's.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Just night and day.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
I don't even know if there really was a service
tunnel to be able to walk through at Candlestick. I'm
sure there was, but I maybe just didn't have access
to it. So it just definitely helps getting from place
to place where you need to be. And you know,
just the different technology I mean there, I don't even
(10:29):
know if they had flat screen TVs at Candlestick Park,
so and the and the suites there too, the carpet
there was a site to be seen and it's just
a huge contrast to be able to see that.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
But they just announced some of the suites were getting renovated.
How much of that process did you have a say
in because you are a touch point with so many
suite owners.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Yeah, so that's actually a really big part of what
we're currently working looking on is letting our sweet partners
know about these renovations and what that means for their
current sweet partnership and what the future you know, holds.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
We're kind of calling it the next.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Era of Levi Stadium or Levice Stadium two point zero,
So we're really excited about it. Our team has definitely
had a hand and you know, everything from the fixtures
that are going to be updated in the suites to
you know, what's really important to our sweet partners. Something
that might seem you know, very very basic is like
(11:31):
we currently have locks on sweet cabinets for our sweet
partners with a key, and we're like, we need to
turn those into like actual codes so that it's easier
instead of losing a key not being able to get
into your cabinet where whatever personal belongings you have in there.
So even the small details like that, just figuring out
what is going to make a better experience for our
(11:53):
sweet partners when we renovate these suites.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Do you have a favorite memory since joining the forty
nine ers.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Yes, I have a lot, but I'll give a Candlestick
memory and I'll give a Levi Stadium memory. I think
Candlestick was the pick at the stick with Navarro Bowman.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
It was incredible.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I had a perfect view of that play and just
so vividly remember everyone in the crowd going crazy and
that being what carried us to the playoffs that year.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
It was just so amazing.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I get goosebumps thinking about it or anytime that you know,
I see it on TV and then Levis Stadium. I
think that this is probably common for a lot of
us who were here in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
But you know, the first time that we were able
to host.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Playoffs at Levi Stadium and going to the super Bowl
after winning the NFC Championship against the Packers, that game
was so awesome and just a feeling like I couldn't describe,
you know, all of us singing, don't stop believing after
the game ended and the confetti. I have so many
(12:57):
photos of doing like snow angels and cant and it's
just a moment that I'll never forget. And being able
to share all the hard work, you know, with my
coworkers and especially the ones that were here for the
ups and the downs, it was there's nothing like it.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
You are, I was gonna say were, But our friends
are good, really good friends. With Meg Williams. How many
photos do you have of you just like around so
you said, like, I have photos of me with confetti
and all I could picture was her just like taking
a lot of photos. Do you have more photos than
probably you would have taken if you weren't roommates with
a photographer?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I mean definitely.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
She finds a great way to find the moments, the
small moments that you don't really think about capturing in photos,
but just being really spontaneous and catching those, and you know,
it's been really awesome. When she was working here, she
would join us on our VIP road trips where we'd
go to away games too, and she'd capture some really
cool moments in away stadiums too for those games, and.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
You know, I'm so grateful that.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
But you know, she's such a near and dear friend
and she thinks of those little things to be able
to capture. So I have some really amazing photos that
she's taken over the over the years.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Do you have a favorite VIP trip like Sweetholder's trip
that you've been on.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna say that the Raiders game
in Vegas this year was our VIP road trip, and
that's pretty tough to beat.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
New Year's Day.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
That was quite the logistical feat for us to kind
of navigate through because New Year's in Vegas is already
its own monster. But bringing you know, one hundred sweet
partners to Vegas and going to a new stadium that
we haven't been to before, and you know, experiencing such
an amazing game too real nail Bier down to the
(14:46):
wire and that was that was really awesome.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
So it's it's tough to top that.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Going back to college, you said you were a communications major.
You first got you stepped on campus for the first time.
What did you think he wanted to do?
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Well.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
I definitely wanted to be the next Aaron Andrews. She
is my role model. I just admire her so much.
I thought that I wanted to be a sports broadcaster.
We didn't have a sports broadcasting program at my school.
So I started looking into other aspects of how to
get involved in the sports world and realized I kind
(15:25):
of wanted to be behind the scenes instead of in
front of the camera. So that is originally what I
thought my path was going to be. And you know,
I still think even though our you know, jobs are
very different, I still look at her for inspiration. I
listened to her and CHRISA. Thompson's podcast every week that
they come out with a new episode. You know, she
(15:47):
has actually tweeted at me once before, which like completely
made my like year. It was during twenty twenty and
I was like, this is amazing.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
But yeah, I think we have very similar trajectories. I
also went into college, like majoring in communication, thinking I
wanted to do sports journalism sports broadcasting.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
UCSB didn't have a program, so like.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
You, I also was like, how else can I get
involved in sports? So it's just kind of funny like
where you start and then like where you end up.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
Yeah, and I think too, the interesting thing is, you know,
you see these jobs that are visible on TV and
that you know of by just watching football, so obviously coaching, broadcasting,
and I think when you're younger, you don't realize there
are so many other opportunities that are out there, you know,
(16:43):
in the front office, so there are so many different
departments that make all these things happen for teams in
professional sports. So definitely learning about that is really cool
and evolving in that sense.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Well, I think the other part too is like growing
up when you watch sports, Like obviously it is changing.
When you were watching sports, the only women you would
see were those broadcasters or the sideline reporters, and so
when you were going to school and be like, I
want to be involved in sports. That was the role
that you thought that you that was the only role
you thought you could take. There was a visibility issue,
(17:20):
but it was also seeing someone who looked like you.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
I think Austin was on the podcast where he was
like I can't be what I can't see or something
like that, and I think speaks to just like the
importance of representation and why it matters, and so it's
really cool, I think just to sit in a room
with all women in different aspects of sports, because there
are a lot of opportunities out there and kind of
(17:44):
the whole point of this podcast would shout out Haley
for starting it. To begin with, to provide visibility into
these roles that people don't otherwise see.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
So very important. Ah, thanks guys, very important work. Yeah,
and you're doing great.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Hopefully there's someone out there listening to this that's wanting
to get involved in sports that doesn't know where to
start and knows that there are all these different opportunities
out there.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
One percent. Absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Speaking of college, you had a lengthy list of extracurriculars
and volunteerism on LinkedIn, including your involvement in Greek life. Yes,
I'm curious, like, what would you say are the benefits
of joining your sorority and what did you learn from
that experience.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Yeah, I loved my experience as a member of Delta Gamma.
And I went to LMU Loyola Marymount in LA. And
I think what was unique for my particular situation is
I had a really big class of freshman class for
going to LMU, so we actually outgrew the freshman dorms,
(18:50):
so I was in a sophomore dorm, so I didn't
really get to know that many freshmen my first semester
because we did recruitment my second semester. So it was
a great opportunity just to get to know freshmen my age,
because I only knew like my three other suite mates
that I had and maybe a few other freshmen that
(19:10):
were in the building. So that in and of itself
was huge for me. Was just getting to know that,
you know, other than people in my classes and people in.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
My dorm, they were out there.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
I was just on the complete opposite side of campus.
But yeah, just getting involved in different volunteering opportunities and
just being a part of that community. I was in
leadership in high school, so volunteering was something that was
very important to me and having that carry over into college.
You know, we would have Greek games every year where
(19:43):
we would do flag football and we had what was
called lip sync and it was doing a dance routine
with our whole sorority in front of the entire school.
And as a dancer growing up, that was something that
was always fun to do in college and being able
to do.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
That, but just really like a well rounded.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Experience in college, being able to add that extracurricular side
of not just you know, going to class and doing
all the typical college things, but also tying in greek
life to it really made the experience for me.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
You talked about leadership throughout that and then you got
to the forty nine ers. I know you were involved
with Women Connect once you were here. What made you
want to be a part or lead that group?
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, you know, it was very It was in the
very early stages when I first started here at the
forty nine ers, and we didn't even have an official
board at that point. So Jess Mayberry, who used to
work here, she had founded Women Connect with a few
other women who worked here at the niners and just
going to the events, I was like, this is really cool,
and I want to be a part of actually, you know,
(20:56):
planning these events, bringing women together in the organization that
you might not typically work with on.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
The day to day.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
And so I was a founding member of a member
of the Women Connect board and that was.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Really cool to be able to see it grow.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
And like I mentioned earlier, I think what's really cool
is just getting to work with people that you wouldn't
typically work with, so whether it's finance, legal, you know,
and people that you do work with on a different
level than just like the day to day work aspects,
and just having that sense of camaraderie and going through
(21:34):
similar experiences of women working in the sports industry. I
think that's something that is really awesome that we have
here at the Niners, that we have that avenue to
be able to, you know, get to know each other
on a different level.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Do you have a favorite women Connect event or memory.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Yeah, I would say we do this Speak Easy event
that is very fun where we get to know executives
male and female at the forty nine ers, and it's
having you know, icebreakers and just getting to know each
other on a different level and having fun conversations and
you know, understanding more about our roles here within the
(22:14):
organization while also having some fun cocktails.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I think it's a great way to.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Hang out and take some of the pressure off of
getting to know that executive level, because you know, it
can be intimidating. But I think that's always been my
favorite event that's been hosted by Women Connect.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Transitioning to your game day, I'm really curious because, like
I see Patty every game day, and so I know what,
like our routines are we've built, how early we get here,
where we go, the first place we go once we park.
What is your game day?
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Like, Yeah, I get here around eight or eight thirty
just to get everything set up in the suite, so
we'll drop off field passes, sweet passes in the suites.
Sometimes we have to set up gifts for our guests,
and then pregame, it's a lot of being at our
desks and just troubleshooting any emails or phone calls that
(23:13):
we get with issues that might come up with parking
or getting into the stadium with mobile ticketing, and then
once kickoff happens, we're doing visits throughout the entire game.
So we're visiting our clients watching some of the game
with them, which is really fun, especially when you have
some really exciting moments that are happening in the game
(23:34):
to be able to share that with them and you know,
a bonding experience and you know, bonding over the game
of football and just getting to know each other better
through the reason that we're all here to watch forty
nine ers football. So yeah, we're doing visits throughout the
entire game. And then sometimes we do have sweet partners
who go on the field post game when NBC Sports
(23:56):
Bay Area does their show down there, and so it's
fun to kind of watch behind the scenes there too.
And then usually leave about an hour after the game,
so it's a it's a full day. And then of
course when I get in my car, I listen to
the K and BR broadcast and I can't get enough
of Niners football, just recapping everything.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
So that's what my day looks like.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
And then do you attend all Lewai Stadium events as well?
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Yeah, for the most part, so I'll be here for,
you know, all concerts that we have, most soccer matches.
You know, sometimes life comes up and we have, you know,
personal things like weddings to go to, so there's sometimes
where I'm not here for those events. But I try
not to miss a concert because I'm a huge music fan.
(24:48):
So it's really awesome because we visit with our clients
before those start, and then we really can just enjoy
them during the concert because you don't really want to
have to talk, you know, when you're guest at the
stadium to your representative, so we just let everyone enjoy
the music and we get to enjoy the music too,
and we get such amazing talents here.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
So it's really fun to be able to be a
part of that.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Did you have a service industry job before you got
to the Ford nine Ers because I feel like everything
that you've had at the Ford nine Ers has been
so client in person focused. Is that a skill you
honed once you got here or did you have that
experience beforehand?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Yeah, I actually had no experience working in the service
industry at all. The internship that I did when I
had met Dustin was completely unrelated, a little bit more
just on the event planning side, and it really has
just grown from the different roles that I've had here
at the Niners. And you know, growing up, I think
(25:50):
I was actually pretty shy and it wasn't until I
got into college and you know, working this job at
the Niners game day that I really just started to
realize I love interacting with people, I love talking, and
you know, combining that with you know, sports is just
an awesome thing to be able to call a job.
So yeah, no no service background up until coming here.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
You have a favorite non NFL event at Levi Stadium.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
That's a good question. I'm sure I have a few.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
I remember one Direction came here, so I know rip,
but that was really awesome. There were a lot of
screams and I was probably one of them, but that
was really cool. I'm trying to think there's just been
We've been so fortunate to host so many really you know,
(26:45):
cool events here that I'm trying to think of what else. Oh,
I can't forget my favorite band, Rolling Stones. They're my
absolute favorite. I remember trying to see them a few
years prior to them coming here and they sold out
of tickets like immediately, and I It's like, I'm never
going to be able to see them, and then being
able to work and see them live was just amazing.
(27:06):
So also listening to The Stones, it's a big contrast
between One Direction and the Rolling Stones. But the boy
band yes, yeah, going on yeah in the.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
UK, so yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Do you have any advice to anyone who wants to
get into the sports industry, You know, I think.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
It's something that I'll definitely take from my personal experiences,
any experience that is presented to you working in the
sports industry. So like for me working game day only,
just go for it. Just getting your foot in the
door is something that you never know where it's going
to take you. I never knew that was going to
(27:46):
be the path for me just working you know, ten
games out of the year, that it would grow into this,
so when the opportunity presents itself, I know, easier said
than done, but just saying yes and figuring out how
you're going to make it work afterwards it can pay
off for you. You know. It's so many people I
(28:08):
feel like want to work in the sports industry, so
when those few opportunities come your way, just go for it.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
In a job posting, there's always a really scary, scary
bullet point at the bottom. Have you done something in
your current role or I guess in any of your
roles with the forty nine ers that would be classified
as other duties as side.
Speaker 5 (28:32):
I knew you were going to say that you're a
regular listener, though.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
I have done so many I'm trying to think. I'm
trying to think of some off the top of my head,
but I know there are plenty. At this point, I
just kind of assume anything that we do assisting our
sweet partners is a part of my job, So anything
that entails I'll do. But I think maybe like giving
(28:59):
you know, stadium tours or museum tours, that's not something
that I really have like experience informally doing. But you know,
being here day in and day out, you're so acquainted
with the building that you are actually equipped to be
able to do that. There are some things that I
(29:20):
do that I'm like, I can't believe, like this is
so cool that this is a part of my job
that it doesn't really like feel like a job. So,
you know, visiting guests on the sidelines that have field
passes like that is always such a cool, unique opportunity.
You know, I've put together gift bags for you know,
(29:43):
Elton John for that concert, just smaller things like that.
But I know there are endless examples. It's just not
coming to me very easily.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
I almost wanted to ask you earlier, like is there
when you check in on your your sweet clients and
things like that, like do they ever have weird requests
or like like you said, like someone loses a key
and we're all just scrambling to find this key for
the lock on the cabinets, Like yes, anything like that.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
Yes, Actually, something just popped in my head that counts
for both of these questions.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
So there was.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
A chef that worked at a Michelin Star restaurant that
was a guest of one of our sweet partners, and
he had brought some Parker House roles and a huge
tin of caviar that needed to be brought into the stadium.
So I remember having to meet him out at a
(30:46):
tailgate because he was also doing a fancy tailgate setup,
you know, got the tin of caviar, got the roles
to serve the caviare on, and set that up.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
In the suite.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
So that was very unique, a unique request that I
received to set that up. It's, you know, very bougie,
but also cool to see a tin of caviar that's
that big, because you can only imagine how much that costs.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
So are you nervous, like, yeah, don't drop it?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (31:17):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely a couple of things where
were like a security gonna let me through with this,
But am I setting this upright? Because I'm not really
a caviar connoisseur so and you know, chefs can be
very particular, So definitely nervous to that degree, But it
all worked out. I took some pictures for my own
personal keeping, just to remember that moment and be like,
(31:38):
this is really cool. So that was definitely a unique
request that I've fulfilled.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
Did you get to try it?
Speaker 2 (31:45):
I didn't get to try it.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Unfortunately, but well, I don't know if it's unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
I'm not sure caviar is my thing.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
But you mentioned like sweet food earlier. Do you get
to try it like so that you can tell your
partners you know, what's I mean. I'm sure it's all great,
but just like what you recommend if they have questions.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Yeah. An event that we.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Have put on previously is our Sweet Tasting event where
we sample all kinds of items that are on the
menu that we're going to be offering in preparation for
the season. So we've definitely tried out items there. I
think something that is really popular and a classic is
mac and cheese, and we have a pulled pork mac
(32:32):
and cheese, so I've had a lot of that, so
that's really good. And yeah, just your traditional stadium food,
I would say is the most popular thing in the suite.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Even though you would think about it.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Being an elevated experience, I think those are still tried
and true. And the fanciest thing I think I've ever
seen is like a tomahawk.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Steak flatter in a suite.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
You don't see it often, but it's always eye catching
when you see that in someone's sweet.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Yeah, as someone who grew up a four or from
a forty nine ers fan family, did you have a
favorite player growing up?
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Jerry Rice for sure. Also Steve Young.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
And the funny thing about that is, I remember having
a poster of Steve Young in my room growing up,
and it was on this sliding door that I have
in my bedroom that connects to my bathroom, and somehow
it became untaped and it is in the like pocket
of where the door goes into so when I slide it,
(33:31):
when I go back home, I.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Can still hear the poster. I'm like, I need to.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Get this thing out of there and see what it
looks like, what kind of state it's in. But yeah,
I just think he is such a great personality and
a great ambassador of the forty nine ers too. I
love listening to him on K and BR and you know,
I've been fortunate enough to have a handful of interactions
with him too, and he's so friendly, really funny. So yeah,
(33:56):
the two of them, and they're a great duo together too.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
So I feel like you should get that framed at
this point. That feels like predetermination or something, I.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Know, And I'm trying to think of like it's probably
faded into like a pink color at this point because
it was back when we had like the maroon jerseys.
I'm pretty sure, so it's it's definitely not the look
that we're used to now of the forty nine ers uniforms.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
Hillary, thank you so much for joining the podcast.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Yeah, thank you both. This is a lot of fun.
Welcome to the forty nine Ers inside the Ovil podcast
presented by Dignity Health. I'm Hailey Jones and I'm Patti Kwan,
and today we are joined by Senior manager of Sweet Activation,
Hillary Wallack. Hillary, thank you so much for joining the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Thanks for having me to start.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
What is Sweet Activation at the forty nine ers and
what does your role as a senior manager entail?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yeah? Great question.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
So Sweet Activation basically we manage all things related to
our current Sweet partners. So after a sale is made
by our wonderful Sweet sales team on a long term basis,
so multi year term, we work with our Sweet partners
to make sure that they have the best experience here
(00:59):
at Levice Stadium. So whether it's a forty nine Ers game, concert,
soccer match, whatever is included in their suitet partnership, we
help them with so assisting with activating anything that is
included with their suites so on event day and answering
all their questions. Basically everything from a customer service standpoint.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
We were just at I don't know why I said
we you weren't there, Patty. I was just sad a
Warriors game and we got a tour around Chase Center
and they showed us all of the different suites and
areas and it was funny because I was with someone
who works in Sweet activation and she goes, if I could,
(01:43):
this is the Sweet area I would want to be
like a member of Do you have that here? Like
which suite you would want?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (01:51):
And I'm definitely biased because these are my clients.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
So we have what are.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Called Citrix Owners suites, so there are highestier of Sweet partnerships.
So they have everything included, so they either paid upfront
or annually, and they receive all forty nine ers games,
all events at Leave Stadium. Their food and beverage is included,
including alcohol, so wine, cocktails, all that fun stuff. That
(02:22):
is definitely the suite that I would want, the cream
of the crop. And also awesome views because they're between
the twenty yard lines on the visitors side, so really
good view of the game.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
That's really cool.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, what was your path to the forty nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, it's a great question.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
It's actually kind of a lengthy story that doesn't really
start related to football. But when I was in college,
I was interning at a nonprofit that was connected to
a bank that my mom works for. In Oakland, and
I started assisting this woman, Trina Barton, who was managing
(03:03):
events for the nonprofit with the bank, and happened to
be working on an event and she introduced me to
her boyfriend at the time, Dustin Albertson, our VP of
sales Ticketing in Service. So that that kind of led
me to my path here with the forty nine ers.
You know. He asked me what I was looking to do,
(03:25):
and I said I wanted to be in sports, so
whatever that meant, just getting in the door. That fortunately
lined up perfectly with a program that they were starting
at Candlestick Park the second to last season that Candlestick
was open. It was called the Fan Ambassador Program, so
we would basically it's like a guest services role, so
(03:49):
you're answering any questions that someone has once they walk
into the stadium, so whether it's just greeting them, telling
them where the bathroom is, telling them where they can
go to concessions. Candlestick had really really tight concourses, so
it was very packed and just a very unique experience
(04:10):
night and day compared to here at Levice Stadium, where
we have two separate concourses, so.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
That is not lost on me.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
But I did that while I was still in college.
I went to college in La actually, so I would
fly back and forth every other weekend when we had
a home game and do the role for every home game.
So that was definitely a very cool, unique thing to
(04:38):
do during my college experience. Instead of studying abroad, that
was kind of my version of studying abroad was working
NFL games and did that for the last two seasons
at Candlestick and then when we opened Levice Stadium in
twenty fourteen, worked part time in ticketing as an inside
(04:58):
member services representative of working with our season ticket members
answering phone calls, emails for anything regarding opening Levice Stadium
and what it meant to be a season ticket member.
So I did that for the first season at Levice
Stadium and then moved over to our Membership Service team full.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Time to work with season ticket members.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Did that for five seasons, I think four or five seasons,
and then in December of twenty eighteen, moved over to
Sweet Activation. So I've been on the Sweet Activation team
ever since.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
How was it balancing flying back and forth for this
program while you were still in school?
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Yeah, you know it definitely worked out that. I was
able to kind of make my schedule my own, so
I only had classes Tuesday through Thursday.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Yeah, so that was the beauty of being a communication
studies major.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yep, yeah too.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah, it's a good life, so very flexible schedule with that.
So I'd leave either Thursday night or Friday morning.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
My parents live in the East.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Bay and that's where I grew up, so i'd stay
with them, so I had a place to stay fortunately,
and then yeah, i'd go work the game, which was awesome.
And you know, my family, it's three generations of Niners
fans born and raised in San Francisco. So sometimes i'd
carpool with my dad to games and he'd watch the
game and I'd be working the game. So it all
(06:25):
worked out luckily. It wasn't too stressful. I did, you know,
miss out on a couple of college experiences because of it,
but I think in the long run, you know, it's
led me to Hear, which has just been an amazing journey.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So it all worked out.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I think that's a college experience in itself, Like how
many people can say they did that while in school?
Speaker 5 (06:47):
Yeah, let alone, like in different parts of the state.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Yeah, no, I know, it was definitely fun to talk
about when I would come back after a game and
I remember, you know, being in the gym that we
had at my high school and when they'd show like
highlights of a game, and especially if we lost a game,
I'd be on the elliptical just pissed off, like getting
my fuel from being fired up from that loss. So yeah,
(07:11):
it was always fun to come back to and talk
to my friends about what the game was like.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
Fun.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yeah, so you've been with the forty nine ers for
over ten years.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Yes, congratulations.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Thank you makes me feel very old established. That's a
great way of putting it.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Can you just tell us like how different like Members'
Services was from like sweet Activation or just things you
learned along the way to get to the current role
you're in.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Yeah, definitely. You know, it's been really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Just how much it's grown.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
When I was on the Membership service team, there were
four of us managing our season ticket member accounts and
I'm trying to think off the top of my head,
but we have, you know, tens of thousands of season
ticket member accounts, so a lot to break up between
all of us, and the team has definitely grown, which
has been amazing to see. And same for sweet activation
(08:07):
and all the things that we handle. You know, we've
added more people to our team, and you know, it's.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Just really helped me grow in.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Problem solving, I think is really important in both roles
that I've had at the forty nine Ers is just
kind of, you know, figuring out how to have difficult conversations,
finding solutions for people to make sure that you know,
they're getting the most out of their experience, because let's
be honest, they're paying a lot of money to have
a really great time here. And you know, the other
(08:40):
aspect of it is just watching team performance evolve. You know,
when I was first on the Membership Service team, our
records were certainly not like they have been recently, and
so just seeing the different kinds of conversations that come
up when you're a team that's you know, struggling versus
(09:00):
you know, a team that's been to NFC Championships, you know,
three out of the last five seasons. So it's it's
really cool to just see the evolution of you know,
a stadium, a team, and all sides of dealing with
season ticket members and Sweet Partners.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Speaking of that evolution, what was it like for you
as an employee to go from Candlestick to Levi's.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Yeah, you know, I'm gonna be honest. I had never
been to Santa Clara in my life until they opened
Levice Stadium, So it definitely was eye opening just to
get familiar with the area. But you know, obviously there's
a lot of nostalgia with Candlestick and you know, being
(09:46):
the San Francisco forty nine ers, but to have such
a larger stadium is you know, the way that I
think of it, and being able to just navigate where
you need to go so much easier compared to Candlestick,
like it's.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Just night and day.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
I don't even know if there really was a service
tunnel to be able to walk through at Candlestick. I'm
sure there was, but I maybe just didn't have access
to it. So it just definitely helps getting from place
to place where you need to be. And you know,
just the different technology I mean there, I don't even
(10:29):
know if they had flat screen TVs at Candlestick Park,
so and the and the suites there too, the carpet
there was a site to be seen and it's just
a huge contrast to be able to see that.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
But they just announced some of the suites were getting renovated.
How much of that process did you have a say
in because you are a touch point with so many
suite owners.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Yeah, so that's actually a really big part of what
we're currently working looking on is letting our sweet partners
know about these renovations and what that means for their
current sweet partnership and what the future you know, holds.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
We're kind of calling it the next.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Era of Levi Stadium or Levice Stadium two point zero,
So we're really excited about it. Our team has definitely
had a hand and you know, everything from the fixtures
that are going to be updated in the suites to
you know, what's really important to our sweet partners. Something
that might seem you know, very very basic is like
(11:31):
we currently have locks on sweet cabinets for our sweet
partners with a key, and we're like, we need to
turn those into like actual codes so that it's easier
instead of losing a key not being able to get
into your cabinet where whatever personal belongings you have in there.
So even the small details like that, just figuring out
what is going to make a better experience for our
(11:53):
sweet partners when we renovate these suites.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Do you have a favorite memory since joining the forty
nine ers.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Yes, I have a lot, but I'll give a Candlestick
memory and I'll give a Levi Stadium memory. I think
Candlestick was the pick at the stick with Navarro Bowman.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
It was incredible.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I had a perfect view of that play and just
so vividly remember everyone in the crowd going crazy and
that being what carried us to the playoffs that year.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
It was just so amazing.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I get goosebumps thinking about it or anytime that you know,
I see it on TV and then Levis Stadium. I
think that this is probably common for a lot of
us who were here in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
But you know, the first time that we were able
to host.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Playoffs at Levi Stadium and going to the super Bowl
after winning the NFC Championship against the Packers, that game
was so awesome and just a feeling like I couldn't describe,
you know, all of us singing, don't stop believing after
the game ended and the confetti. I have so many
(12:57):
photos of doing like snow angels and cant and it's
just a moment that I'll never forget. And being able
to share all the hard work, you know, with my
coworkers and especially the ones that were here for the
ups and the downs, it was there's nothing like it.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
You are, I was gonna say were, But our friends
are good, really good friends. With Meg Williams. How many
photos do you have of you just like around so
you said, like, I have photos of me with confetti
and all I could picture was her just like taking
a lot of photos. Do you have more photos than
probably you would have taken if you weren't roommates with
a photographer?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I mean definitely.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
She finds a great way to find the moments, the
small moments that you don't really think about capturing in photos,
but just being really spontaneous and catching those, and you know,
it's been really awesome. When she was working here, she
would join us on our VIP road trips where we'd
go to away games too, and she'd capture some really
cool moments in away stadiums too for those games, and.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
You know, I'm so grateful that.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
But you know, she's such a near and dear friend
and she thinks of those little things to be able
to capture. So I have some really amazing photos that
she's taken over the over the years.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Do you have a favorite VIP trip like Sweetholder's trip
that you've been on.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna say that the Raiders game
in Vegas this year was our VIP road trip, and
that's pretty tough to beat.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
New Year's Day.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
That was quite the logistical feat for us to kind
of navigate through because New Year's in Vegas is already
its own monster. But bringing you know, one hundred sweet
partners to Vegas and going to a new stadium that
we haven't been to before, and you know, experiencing such
an amazing game too real nail Bier down to the
(14:46):
wire and that was that was really awesome.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
So it's it's tough to top that.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Going back to college, you said you were a communications major.
You first got you stepped on campus for the first time.
What did you think he wanted to do?
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Well.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
I definitely wanted to be the next Aaron Andrews. She
is my role model. I just admire her so much.
I thought that I wanted to be a sports broadcaster.
We didn't have a sports broadcasting program at my school.
So I started looking into other aspects of how to
get involved in the sports world and realized I kind
(15:25):
of wanted to be behind the scenes instead of in
front of the camera. So that is originally what I
thought my path was going to be. And you know,
I still think even though our you know, jobs are
very different, I still look at her for inspiration. I
listened to her and CHRISA. Thompson's podcast every week that
they come out with a new episode. You know, she
(15:47):
has actually tweeted at me once before, which like completely
made my like year. It was during twenty twenty and
I was like, this is amazing.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
But yeah, I think we have very similar trajectories. I
also went into college, like majoring in communication, thinking I
wanted to do sports journalism sports broadcasting.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
UCSB didn't have a program, so like.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
You, I also was like, how else can I get
involved in sports? So it's just kind of funny like
where you start and then like where you end up.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
Yeah, and I think too, the interesting thing is, you know,
you see these jobs that are visible on TV and
that you know of by just watching football, so obviously coaching, broadcasting,
and I think when you're younger, you don't realize there
are so many other opportunities that are out there, you know,
(16:43):
in the front office, so there are so many different
departments that make all these things happen for teams in
professional sports. So definitely learning about that is really cool
and evolving in that sense.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Well, I think the other part too is like growing
up when you watch sports, Like obviously it is changing.
When you were watching sports, the only women you would
see were those broadcasters or the sideline reporters, and so
when you were going to school and be like, I
want to be involved in sports. That was the role
that you thought that you that was the only role
you thought you could take. There was a visibility issue,
(17:20):
but it was also seeing someone who looked like you.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
I think Austin was on the podcast where he was
like I can't be what I can't see or something
like that, and I think speaks to just like the
importance of representation and why it matters, and so it's
really cool, I think just to sit in a room
with all women in different aspects of sports, because there
are a lot of opportunities out there and kind of
(17:44):
the whole point of this podcast would shout out Haley
for starting it. To begin with, to provide visibility into
these roles that people don't otherwise see.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
So very important. Ah, thanks guys, very important work. Yeah,
and you're doing great.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Hopefully there's someone out there listening to this that's wanting
to get involved in sports that doesn't know where to
start and knows that there are all these different opportunities
out there.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
One percent. Absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Speaking of college, you had a lengthy list of extracurriculars
and volunteerism on LinkedIn, including your involvement in Greek life. Yes,
I'm curious, like, what would you say are the benefits
of joining your sorority and what did you learn from
that experience.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Yeah, I loved my experience as a member of Delta Gamma.
And I went to LMU Loyola Marymount in LA. And
I think what was unique for my particular situation is
I had a really big class of freshman class for
going to LMU, so we actually outgrew the freshman dorms,
(18:50):
so I was in a sophomore dorm, so I didn't
really get to know that many freshmen my first semester
because we did recruitment my second semester. So it was
a great opportunity just to get to know freshmen my age,
because I only knew like my three other suite mates
that I had and maybe a few other freshmen that
(19:10):
were in the building. So that in and of itself
was huge for me. Was just getting to know that,
you know, other than people in my classes and people in.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
My dorm, they were out there.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
I was just on the complete opposite side of campus.
But yeah, just getting involved in different volunteering opportunities and
just being a part of that community. I was in
leadership in high school, so volunteering was something that was
very important to me and having that carry over into college.
You know, we would have Greek games every year where
(19:43):
we would do flag football and we had what was
called lip sync and it was doing a dance routine
with our whole sorority in front of the entire school.
And as a dancer growing up, that was something that
was always fun to do in college and being able
to do.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
That, but just really like a well rounded.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Experience in college, being able to add that extracurricular side
of not just you know, going to class and doing
all the typical college things, but also tying in greek
life to it really made the experience for me.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
You talked about leadership throughout that and then you got
to the forty nine ers. I know you were involved
with Women Connect once you were here. What made you
want to be a part or lead that group?
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, you know, it was very It was in the
very early stages when I first started here at the
forty nine ers, and we didn't even have an official
board at that point. So Jess Mayberry, who used to
work here, she had founded Women Connect with a few
other women who worked here at the niners and just
going to the events, I was like, this is really cool,
and I want to be a part of actually, you know,
(20:56):
planning these events, bringing women together in the organization that
you might not typically work with on.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
The day to day.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
And so I was a founding member of a member
of the Women Connect board and that was.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Really cool to be able to see it grow.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
And like I mentioned earlier, I think what's really cool
is just getting to work with people that you wouldn't
typically work with, so whether it's finance, legal, you know,
and people that you do work with on a different
level than just like the day to day work aspects,
and just having that sense of camaraderie and going through
(21:34):
similar experiences of women working in the sports industry. I
think that's something that is really awesome that we have
here at the Niners, that we have that avenue to
be able to, you know, get to know each other
on a different level.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Do you have a favorite women Connect event or memory.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Yeah, I would say we do this Speak Easy event
that is very fun where we get to know executives
male and female at the forty nine ers, and it's
having you know, icebreakers and just getting to know each
other on a different level and having fun conversations and
you know, understanding more about our roles here within the
(22:14):
organization while also having some fun cocktails.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I think it's a great way to.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Hang out and take some of the pressure off of
getting to know that executive level, because you know, it
can be intimidating. But I think that's always been my
favorite event that's been hosted by Women Connect.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Transitioning to your game day, I'm really curious because, like
I see Patty every game day, and so I know what,
like our routines are we've built, how early we get here,
where we go, the first place we go once we park.
What is your game day?
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Like, Yeah, I get here around eight or eight thirty
just to get everything set up in the suite, so
we'll drop off field passes, sweet passes in the suites.
Sometimes we have to set up gifts for our guests,
and then pregame, it's a lot of being at our
desks and just troubleshooting any emails or phone calls that
(23:13):
we get with issues that might come up with parking
or getting into the stadium with mobile ticketing, and then
once kickoff happens, we're doing visits throughout the entire game.
So we're visiting our clients watching some of the game
with them, which is really fun, especially when you have
some really exciting moments that are happening in the game
(23:34):
to be able to share that with them and you know,
a bonding experience and you know, bonding over the game
of football and just getting to know each other better
through the reason that we're all here to watch forty
nine ers football. So yeah, we're doing visits throughout the
entire game. And then sometimes we do have sweet partners
who go on the field post game when NBC Sports
(23:56):
Bay Area does their show down there, and so it's
fun to kind of watch behind the scenes there too.
And then usually leave about an hour after the game,
so it's a it's a full day. And then of
course when I get in my car, I listen to
the K and BR broadcast and I can't get enough
of Niners football, just recapping everything.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
So that's what my day looks like.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
And then do you attend all Lewai Stadium events as well?
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Yeah, for the most part, so I'll be here for,
you know, all concerts that we have, most soccer matches.
You know, sometimes life comes up and we have, you know,
personal things like weddings to go to, so there's sometimes
where I'm not here for those events. But I try
not to miss a concert because I'm a huge music fan.
(24:48):
So it's really awesome because we visit with our clients
before those start, and then we really can just enjoy
them during the concert because you don't really want to
have to talk, you know, when you're guest at the
stadium to your representative, so we just let everyone enjoy
the music and we get to enjoy the music too,
and we get such amazing talents here.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
So it's really fun to be able to be a
part of that.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Did you have a service industry job before you got
to the Ford nine Ers because I feel like everything
that you've had at the Ford nine Ers has been
so client in person focused. Is that a skill you
honed once you got here or did you have that
experience beforehand?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Yeah, I actually had no experience working in the service
industry at all. The internship that I did when I
had met Dustin was completely unrelated, a little bit more
just on the event planning side, and it really has
just grown from the different roles that I've had here
at the Niners. And you know, growing up, I think
(25:50):
I was actually pretty shy and it wasn't until I
got into college and you know, working this job at
the Niners game day that I really just started to
realize I love interacting with people, I love talking, and
you know, combining that with you know, sports is just
an awesome thing to be able to call a job.
So yeah, no no service background up until coming here.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
You have a favorite non NFL event at Levi Stadium.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
That's a good question. I'm sure I have a few.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
I remember one Direction came here, so I know rip,
but that was really awesome. There were a lot of
screams and I was probably one of them, but that
was really cool. I'm trying to think there's just been
We've been so fortunate to host so many really you know,
(26:45):
cool events here that I'm trying to think of what else. Oh,
I can't forget my favorite band, Rolling Stones. They're my
absolute favorite. I remember trying to see them a few
years prior to them coming here and they sold out
of tickets like immediately, and I It's like, I'm never
going to be able to see them, and then being
able to work and see them live was just amazing.
(27:06):
So also listening to The Stones, it's a big contrast
between One Direction and the Rolling Stones. But the boy
band yes, yeah, going on yeah in the.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
UK, so yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Do you have any advice to anyone who wants to
get into the sports industry, You know, I think.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
It's something that I'll definitely take from my personal experiences,
any experience that is presented to you working in the
sports industry. So like for me working game day only,
just go for it. Just getting your foot in the
door is something that you never know where it's going
to take you. I never knew that was going to
(27:46):
be the path for me just working you know, ten
games out of the year, that it would grow into this,
so when the opportunity presents itself, I know, easier said
than done, but just saying yes and figuring out how
you're going to make it work afterwards it can pay
off for you. You know. It's so many people I
(28:08):
feel like want to work in the sports industry, so
when those few opportunities come your way, just go for it.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
In a job posting, there's always a really scary, scary
bullet point at the bottom. Have you done something in
your current role or I guess in any of your
roles with the forty nine ers that would be classified
as other duties as side.
Speaker 5 (28:32):
I knew you were going to say that you're a
regular listener, though.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
I have done so many I'm trying to think. I'm
trying to think of some off the top of my head,
but I know there are plenty. At this point, I
just kind of assume anything that we do assisting our
sweet partners is a part of my job, So anything
that entails I'll do. But I think maybe like giving
(28:59):
you know, stadium tours or museum tours, that's not something
that I really have like experience informally doing. But you know,
being here day in and day out, you're so acquainted
with the building that you are actually equipped to be
able to do that. There are some things that I
(29:20):
do that I'm like, I can't believe, like this is
so cool that this is a part of my job
that it doesn't really like feel like a job. So,
you know, visiting guests on the sidelines that have field
passes like that is always such a cool, unique opportunity.
You know, I've put together gift bags for you know,
(29:43):
Elton John for that concert, just smaller things like that.
But I know there are endless examples. It's just not
coming to me very easily.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
I almost wanted to ask you earlier, like is there
when you check in on your your sweet clients and
things like that, like do they ever have weird requests
or like like you said, like someone loses a key
and we're all just scrambling to find this key for
the lock on the cabinets, Like yes, anything like that.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
Yes, Actually, something just popped in my head that counts
for both of these questions.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
So there was.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
A chef that worked at a Michelin Star restaurant that
was a guest of one of our sweet partners, and
he had brought some Parker House roles and a huge
tin of caviar that needed to be brought into the stadium.
So I remember having to meet him out at a
(30:46):
tailgate because he was also doing a fancy tailgate setup,
you know, got the tin of caviar, got the roles
to serve the caviare on, and set that up.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
In the suite.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
So that was very unique, a unique request that I
received to set that up. It's, you know, very bougie,
but also cool to see a tin of caviar that's
that big, because you can only imagine how much that costs.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
So are you nervous, like, yeah, don't drop it?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (31:17):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely a couple of things where
were like a security gonna let me through with this,
But am I setting this upright? Because I'm not really
a caviar connoisseur so and you know, chefs can be
very particular, So definitely nervous to that degree, But it
all worked out. I took some pictures for my own
personal keeping, just to remember that moment and be like,
(31:38):
this is really cool. So that was definitely a unique
request that I've fulfilled.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
Did you get to try it?
Speaker 2 (31:45):
I didn't get to try it.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Unfortunately, but well, I don't know if it's unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
I'm not sure caviar is my thing.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
But you mentioned like sweet food earlier. Do you get
to try it like so that you can tell your
partners you know, what's I mean. I'm sure it's all great,
but just like what you recommend if they have questions.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Yeah. An event that we.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Have put on previously is our Sweet Tasting event where
we sample all kinds of items that are on the
menu that we're going to be offering in preparation for
the season. So we've definitely tried out items there. I
think something that is really popular and a classic is
mac and cheese, and we have a pulled pork mac
(32:32):
and cheese, so I've had a lot of that, so
that's really good. And yeah, just your traditional stadium food,
I would say is the most popular thing in the suite.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Even though you would think about it.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Being an elevated experience, I think those are still tried
and true. And the fanciest thing I think I've ever
seen is like a tomahawk.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Steak flatter in a suite.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
You don't see it often, but it's always eye catching
when you see that in someone's sweet.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Yeah, as someone who grew up a four or from
a forty nine ers fan family, did you have a
favorite player growing up?
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Jerry Rice for sure. Also Steve Young.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
And the funny thing about that is, I remember having
a poster of Steve Young in my room growing up,
and it was on this sliding door that I have
in my bedroom that connects to my bathroom, and somehow
it became untaped and it is in the like pocket
of where the door goes into so when I slide it,
(33:31):
when I go back home, I.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Can still hear the poster. I'm like, I need to.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Get this thing out of there and see what it
looks like, what kind of state it's in. But yeah,
I just think he is such a great personality and
a great ambassador of the forty nine ers too. I
love listening to him on K and BR and you know,
I've been fortunate enough to have a handful of interactions
with him too, and he's so friendly, really funny. So yeah,
(33:56):
the two of them, and they're a great duo together too.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
So I feel like you should get that framed at
this point. That feels like predetermination or something, I.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Know, And I'm trying to think of like it's probably
faded into like a pink color at this point because
it was back when we had like the maroon jerseys.
I'm pretty sure, so it's it's definitely not the look
that we're used to now of the forty nine ers uniforms.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
Hillary, thank you so much for joining the podcast.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Yeah, thank you both. This is a lot of fun.
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