Sport in Society�s Ben Weiss packs one crazy schedule
by Mark Salzillo
Ben Weiss has a schedule that expands each day. Between his professional career, personal life, and community involvement, Weiss manages a packed schedule and shows no signs of letting work load get the best of him.
Weiss� grace under pressure is necessary in his position as assistant manager of Events and Planning. Working for The Center for the Study of Sport in Society on the campus of Northeastern University has prepared Weiss to take on the many responsibilities he holds as all the programs of Sport in Society utilize his abilities to plan and schedule events.
However, the most important event that Weiss has a hand in planning is the yearly celebration that embodies Sport in Society�s mission. Known as the True Heroes of Sport Awards Gala, this event celebrates individuals who have displayed an exceptional commitment to the improvement of social issues in the world of sports.
�My favorite part about the event is being able to sit back and simply watch everything come together,� explains Weiss.
This is not Weiss� first position involving with athletics. During his years as an undergraduate at Northeastern University, he was a manager for the Men�s Ice Hockey team. Prior to arriving on campus as a freshman, he had contacted head coach Ben Smith and expressed interest in becoming involved with the team. In the first few weeks of school the coach replied to Weiss and set up a meeting.
�After fifteen minutes talking with the head coach, he said to me �welcome aboard.�� Weiss recalls. �It was the easiest interview I�ve ever had.� He stayed on board for the remainder of his years at Northeastern, from 1994-1999.
Weiss� experience with the hockey program opened many avenues for networking. During his senior year, he acquired a work-study position with Sport in Society as a career services partner. The networking has also landed Weiss a part time position as statistician for the ESPN radio broadcasts of Northeastern hockey.
After a year working in computer tech support, he returned to Sport in Society as a consultant to help plan the yearly Gala in 2001. As a result of the September 11 tragedy and the passing of that year�s Sport in Society Hall of Fame inductee Dich Schaap, the Gala was rescheduled for six months later. The job was lasting a lot longer than was expected, and Weiss was taken on as a full-time employee. He has never slowed down since, and continues to add to his already busy life.
There may be some relief for Weiss after the summer of 2006. The season will mark two momentous occasions for him, as he will be finishing the MBA program at Northeastern and marrying his fianc�. While most people would hire a wedding planner to help with the arrangement, Weiss� professional planning experience is spilling over to his private life. He admits it is hard to relinquish the responsibilities of something so personal.
In addition to graduating and marrying over the summer, this will be Weiss� 9th year assisting with the planning of the annual charity baseball game called the Oldtime Baseball Game held in Cambridge, Mass. College baseball players from across the country dress in vintage uniforms and play the game of baseball the way it was meant to be played. He explains that the money raised is given to a small organization where the amount will make a big impact. Weiss became involved with this event as a result of a short stint in Newport, RI with an amateur baseball league. It was here that he met Steve Buckley, who runs the event every year. Weiss is mostly responsible for arranging the roster and overseeing game-day operations.
Luckily for Weiss, the charity baseball game will be happening after his honeymoon. But even so, �to use the title of a movie, it will still be One Crazy Summer,� said Weiss.
