Nov. 4, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Over 225 current and former University of Louisville student-athletes participated in the Corporate Playbook Career Fair on October 28, 2009. The event was hosted at the Brown & Williamson Club at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium through a unique partnership with The Corporate Playbook Career Network and the University of Louisville Athletic Department. After opening up the first and only on-campus student-athlete career center in the country last fall, this was the next step in going from career development to job placement for the University of Louisville athletic community.

"The Corporate Playbook has allowed us to move from graduation rates to placement rates with our student-athletes. Get a degree and get a job is part of the road map we put in front of our student-athletes. The career fairs The Corporate Playbook has created are second to none for student-athletes in this country", Julie Hermann, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA.

The career development and job opportunities for student-athletes have soared since implementing TheCorporatePlaybook.com website to the University's additional resources. This online networking site was specifically created for connecting current and former student-athletes to prospective organizations and employers.

The Corporate Playbook was founded by former football student-athletes, Chad Smith and Chad Pinkston (former UofL football player) and not only offers regional careers, but national opportunities for student-athletes and alumni.

Chad Smith added, "Having the opportunity to work with University of Louisville athletics has proven to be a tremendous partnership. By implementing career fairs on campus, companies now have the opportunity to reach quality candidates face-to-face that understand performance, teamwork, dedication and commitment to their workforce. Given the support and focus the UofL Athletic Department has toward its community, this is just one more step in providing quality life after sports programming for the success of its student-athletes, now and for the future."

Through the LCARE programming, which is a comprehensive student support system, the Athletic Department has been able to provide so many great opportunities for its student-athletes and the partnership with The Corporate Playbook has taken the career development opportunities to the next level.

"To be involved with The Corporate Playbook in the creation of the Career Center and now seeing the fruit of our labor in successful career placement is extremely rewarding knowing we are equipping our student-athletes for the next 40 years of their life" said Dr. Holly Sheilley, Assistant Athletic Director for Championships & Student Development.

The University of Louisville and The Corporate Playbook will be hosting a similar event on March 31, 2010, for regional companies interested in meeting with student-athletes from the University of Louisville. For more information on how to attend this event, please contact Dave Ragone at 502-657-6378 or dragone@thecorporateplaybook.com.