Feb. 1, 2008

1) Name?
Jim Paquette

2) Number of years in your current position?
I started at Boston College in the Athletics Development office as an intern in 1994 and have served as the Associate Athletic Director for Development since 2002. In that time, we have grown from a two person shop raising $2m/year to a full-time staff of eight which secured $19m last year.

3) Why/when did you decide to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics?
As an undergraduate at Providence College, I worked for four years in the ticket and athletic development office. By my junior year, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in intercollegiate athletics administration. As a senior, I wrote to every Division I school in the country in search of an entry-level position or a graduate assistantship. The binder with the hundreds of rejection letters is somewhere in my basement.

4) What was your path to working in athletics development?
Upon graduation from Providence College, I accepted a paid hourly position in the Athletic Ticket Office at the University of New Hampshire. I lived in Massachusetts with my mother and commuted 65 miles each way. After nine months, I accepted another hourly position in the athletic business and facility operations office at the University of Massachusetts Boston - a Division III school. I then enrolled in University of Massachusetts Amherst and earned a M.S. in sport management. My former boss at UMass Boston knew the Associate AD for Development at BC and assisted me in securing the internship which got me started in athletics development.

5) In your mind, who in this industry can serve as a good role model?
There are many. Some individuals who I have tremendous respect for and have served as role models for me include Gene DeFilippo (Boston College), Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma), Bobby Purcell (NC State), Gary Barta (Iowa), Mike Hamilton (Tennesee), Jim Phillips (Northern Illinois), and Patrick Nero (America East).

6) How has your involvement with NAADD influenced your career?
Gene DeFilippo encouraged me to attend my first NAADD Conference in 1998 and it has had a dramatic impact on me both personally and professionally. I've gained as much from the relationships with the members as I have from any single presentation. It is through NAADD that I have expanded my professional network from regional to national and have made some terrific friends. I've learned to appreciate our ability to share ideas and best practices with each other and help one another become better development officers and more importantly better people.

7) What is the most important trait to possess for young professionals in athletics development?
No question it is first and foremost integrity. Having been fortunate enough to serve one institution for 14 years I've learned that conducting yourself with great integrity is the only way to be successful. I also strongly believe in a version of the Golden Rule which says "treat other people as they want to be treated". Finally, the athletics development/central development relationship can be challenging, but it is critical that you are a team player and fully consider what is in the best interest of your school.

8) What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Gene DeFilippo has always been a major proponent of the handwritten note and I've learned first hand from him the impact it can have on relationships. In today's age of text messaging, e-mail, voice mail and computer generated forms handwritten notes have become a lost art. You will be amazed at how many people go out of their way to thank you for sending them a personal note. It really sends a message about how much you value your relationship with someone.

9) What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the field of intercollegiate athletics development?
You can't just get into this business because you like sports. It is more of a lifestyle than a career. You have to be totally consumed by the business of college athletics and can't imagine what else you could possibly do which would be as satisfying. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Please remember that there is always someone out there who is willing to work twice as hard as you for half the money. It is truly a privilege to work in college athletics. Understand that you will need to learn the business from the inside-out and will likely not be ready to immediately hit the road and be a frontline fundraiser. Be patient and work tirelessly to perfect your job before you focus on the next opportunity. Don't be overly concerned with what your next job will be. If you stay focused and excel in your current job, bigger and better opportunities will be presented to you.

10) Will you please explain a professional failure/mistake and how you learned from it?
I've learned a lot about the appropriate use of e-mail in the last year. While it is highly efficient, e-mail is not always the most effective form of communication when dealing with sensitive issues. We've had several situations in our athletic department where news was delivered electronically instead of in a more personal way. We (me included) sometimes have the tendency to avoid confrontation or sharing bad news with someone and instead hide behind an e-mail. I've learned that while e-mail is terrific in many situations, it is critical to have the courage to deal with sensitive issues in a more personal way.

11) What is the best example of great stewardship that you have witnessed at your institution?
Anytime we can personally connect our student-athletes with our donors. This can happen with a thank-a-thon phone call, handwritten thank you note or a prearranged meeting. Our donors really enjoy the opportunity to meet and get to know our student-athletes. At BC, any event, where our donors are seated at a table with our student-athletes is always a hit.

12) What percentage of your work-week is spent in your office?
Too much. My favorite part of my job is visiting with donors and prospective donors. I frequently struggle with balancing my administrative responsibilities with my role as a frontline fundraiser. I try to stay focused on frequent reoccurring contact with our top donors/prospects and try not to confuse activity with results. We are in very bottom line business and our success is determined by how many gifts we help secure for our schools. Production counts!

13) How do you maintain balance between your professional and personal life?
It is not easy and one of the most difficult challenges in our business. We love our jobs so much and become so consumed by them that we don't give our family and friends the attention they deserve. In fact, in the field of development, much of our time is consumed by "social like" activities that exhaust us emotionally. In our spare time, we prefer to shut down completely. This can be a devastating trap. I try to schedule as much vacation time as possible in the summer when work responsibilities slow down a bit. In addition, I try to schedule 3-4 mini-vacations or long weekends with the family. These don't need to be complicated and can be overnights to visit family or friends. My four and six year old sons are excited if we go to a hotel with an indoor pool. Most importantly, I'm blessed with a caring and supportive spouse who will candidly share with me when I need to adjust work/life balance. Erin does a really good job of keeping me in line.

14) In your opinion, where is collegiate athletics development headed in the future?
The future of athletic development is brighter than ever and is the only revenue stream with no ceiling. We are simply limited by the resources available to us to connect and engage as many alumni, parents and friends as possible. Personal contact and relationship building are the keys to increasing the numbers of donors and the size of gifts. Schools must continue to maximize the use of transactional gifts (i.e. priority seating, parking & luxury suites) while attempting to establish a culture of philanthropy. In order to substantially increase contributions, schools will need to move past the "give this, get that" model. These benefit focused annual contributions will serve as a pipeline for future major gifts but will cease being the majority of fundraising revenue at most schools. Eighty percent or more of dollars raised will come from less than ten percent of donors. These donors will already have luxury suites at the fifty yard line and parking next to the stadium. Philanthropic giving will fund the new facilities, scholarships and coaching salaries of the future. In order to attract such gifts, Athletic Directors will need to be skilled at not only sharing their vision but also at articulating solid business plans deserving of transformational investments. Lastly, to attract mega gifts, athletic development officers will need to partner with their development colleagues across campus to fully engage the school's top prospective donors. Only through big ideas and carefully orchestrated collaboration will donors be inspired to maximize their gifts and schools exceed their campaign goals.

15) What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming Convention in Dallas?
Renewing acquaintance with old friends and meeting some new ones. I especially enjoy speaking with new development officers and helping them work through any professional challenges they are encountering.