Front Office U welcomes Clayton Grandquist of the Iowa Cubs!

Clayton joins us to talk about building a career in sports and why mindset matters just as much as skill set. Growing up in Des Moines surrounded by baseball, hockey, and family ties to the Iowa Cubs, his path into sports was shaped early.

Today, Clayton oversees all aspects of ticketing for the Iowa Cubs—from systems and online purchasing to box office operations, reporting, and working closely with ownership, management, and the CFO. He also leads and develops the ticket sales staff through weekly 1-on-1s, coaching, and strategic sales campaigns in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

A must-listen for anyone interested in ticket sales, leadership, or breaking into the business side of sports.

Connect with Clayton on LinkedIn
Email: claytong@iowacubs.com

Front Office U welcomes Ron Minegar!

Ron brings more than 20 years of experience working at the highest levels of professional sports. His career spans Major League Baseball, the NFL, and the NBA, along with advisory work for high-net-worth individuals looking to invest in professional sports franchises—both in the U.S. and abroad.

Ron is the founder of Neuron Sports Consulting, where he has worked with ownership groups pursuing acquisitions in the English Football League and other global sports ventures. Along the way, Ron gained experience in both family-owned team environments and large corporate structures, including Disney, shaping his views on leadership, consistency, and sustainable growth in sports organizations.

Originally from Wisconsin, Ron attended the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he shifted his focus from economics to business management with an emphasis on marketing, before earning his MBA from the University of Minnesota. He credits lessons learned during his time at UWL and Minnesota—especially around work ethic and long-term growth—as principles he still applies every day.

In this episode, Ron shares insights on building a career in sports, working behind the scenes of professional teams, and what it takes to create lasting success in a constantly evolving industry.

Connect with Ron on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes Weston Johnson!

Weston shares about his role as a Strength Coach for the women's basketball and volleyball teams at Stephen F Austin University. Tune in to hear about how Weston became interested in this career path, his mindset for networking, and some of his core values, including being honest and vulnerable.

Connect with Weston on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes back Zander Atwood!

Zander first joined the podcast back in 2023 when he was working with Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics. Now, Zander works at Trine University as a Sports Management Professor. Zander shares about his current role now, his transition, and advice for those interested in a career in sports, and how to find the best program for you.

Connect with Zander on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes Sal Milliotto to the podcast to talk about his journey into the sports business and what it takes to succeed on the partnership side of the industry.

Sal works with Learfield’s sports properties as part of a three-person team selling corporate partnerships across the Omaha and Lincoln markets. He shares insight into building new partnerships, managing renewals, upselling current accounts, and the importance of timing and work ethic, especially in year-one renewals.

Originally from New York and a lifelong Vikings fan, Sal reflects on how his athletic background, mentors, and ability to embrace adversity have shaped his approach. He also discusses breaking into the industry through networking, including landing his role via a LinkedIn message, and offers perspective on job titles and growth opportunities within the USHL ecosystem.

Connect with Sal on LinkedIn

Front Office U welcomes on Kirk McKnight!

Kirk joins the podcast to share about his career in sports, which includes writing books, now available as Audiobooks.

The Voices of Baseball book features 50 broadcasters in baseball and shares their perspective on stories about specific ballparks.

Voices of Hockey book features a history of each team as they go along, and includes 65 broadcasters.

Follow Kirk on Facebook

Red Wings Daily YouTube

Voices of Baseball Instagram

Front Office U welcomes Jarrett Mescher!

Jarrett joins the podcast and shares about his role in improving fan experience at games through game presentation and generating revenue through partnership activation.

Jarrett shares about his internship with the athletics department, being involved with the sports management association at Minnesota State Mankato

Connect with Jarrett on LinkedIn

Email: jarrettm@theralph.com

Front Office U welcomes back Kevin Joyce!

Kevin joined the podcast in 2023 while working for the Rockford Ice Hogs of the American Hockey League. Now, he works for Kraft Sports and Entertainment as a Ticket Office Coordinator.

Kevin shares about his transition back out East, tips for interviews, his role in the ticket operations, and more!

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn