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The School of Communications got an early start with its Homecoming Weekend celebration, presenting Brad Holloman ’09 with its Outstanding Alumnus Award during a Nov. 1 alumni networking event. The corporate partnership account manager for the NBA’s Orlando Magic was recognized for both his work as an undergraduate as well as his continued excellence as a professional in the sport industry.

During the award presentation in the Snow Family Grand Atrium, Dean of the School of Communications Rochelle Ford highlighted Holloman’s success on and off campus, noting he was a “standout” long before reaching the NBA.

For photos of the Holloman award presentation and School of Communications Homecoming events, .

In her remarks, Ford recalled that as an ���ϲ����� undergraduate Holloman was studious, thoughtful and driven, evident by the work he completed Under the Oaks. As a student, he landed an internship with the Daytona International Speedway, and later conducted undergraduate research on the purchasing habits of NASCAR fans. Holloman also worked in promotions, marketing and operations for ���ϲ����� Athletics, and helped develop a marketing plan for ���ϲ�����’s women’s basketball tournament. He was also a leader in the inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference case study competition.

After graduation, Holloman continued building a strong resume, working for AEG Management in Connecticut, home of the XL Center, which hosts the UConn basketball programs and other major entertainment events. In 2012, he transitioned to the NBA and the Orlando Magic, overseeing the activation and retention of corporate alliances, responsible for partnerships with Heineken, Chick-fil-A and many other corporations.

In 2018, Holloman led the strategy for the Magic’s partnership with one of the NBA franchise’s biggest accounts, Anheuser-Busch. This partnership, which included an original content series along with distinctive activations through the team’s app, was .

“Brad was the type of student that changed the trajectory of our department,” said Associate Professor of Sport Management Tony Weaver, one of Holloman’s former instructors. “For the Sport Management Department, he defined what experiential education should look like – case studies, undergraduate research, service learning, leadership, internships. Brad did it all. More important than his work, Brad is a wonderful ambassador of our program, school and university.”

Both Ford and Weaver commended Holloman for maintaining a close relationship with his alma mater, welcoming Communications Fellows to his Orlando Magic offices and returning to campus in 2017 as the keynote speaker of the Sport Management Department’s senior banquet.

At that end-of-year celebration, Holloman shared with students and attendees the importance of “building relationships” – both professional and personal ones. He stressed how networking in the sport industry never really stops, but it’s more than just learning names and job titles. “It’s not about the number of business cards you collect, it’s about the connection,” he said.

In her conclusion, Ford thanked Holloman for sustaining a bridge between himself and the School of Communications. “When you think about alumni that the world needs, Brad Holloman has demonstrated that he continues to be that through the relationships he builds and maintains,” she said.

Holloman attended Homecoming weekend with his wife, ���ϲ����� alumna Sarah Smith Holloman ’09. She works as a social media marketing specialist for C4 Social, a full-service digital agency in Winter Garden, Florida.