🏆 From Seasonal Staff to Sports Partnerships

Betting on Yourself, Before You Have Proof

Nehemiah didn’t grow up with a roadmap into sports. He grew up in Tallapoosa, Georgia, and like many, his understanding of careers in sports was limited. “What I knew about working in sports was either playing the sport, coaching, being an athletic trainer, or being some type of sports counselor.” So he followed what he did know, studying psychology at Point University with an interest in helping people.

But the turning point came later than most. “I hadn’t really thought about working in sports… and then a buddy, named Payton Linder, asked me, ‘Would you ever think about working for a sports organization?’ And I’m like, no, I haven’t. That’s a great idea. Why haven’t I ever thought of that?” That moment unlocked everything.

No Blueprint, Just Proximity

Without a clear path, Nehemiah leaned into something simple but powerful: proximity. “Whatever it is that you want to be, there’s already somebody doing that.” So he acted on it, following up with someone he met during an Arizona Diamondbacks visit, named Anthony Synegal, asking to shadow, and getting his first real exposure to the business side of sports.

From there, he stacked experience across roles, working part-time in guest services at Mercedes-Benz Stadium while holding a full-time role in higher education, adding experience with the Atlanta Braves and participating in MLB’s virtual sales program. It wasn’t linear or glamorous, but it was intentional. “I knew I needed some type of experience to show that I know how to conduct myself in a professional environment.”

The Move That Changes Everything

The defining moment in his career wasn’t landing a job, it was risking stability. Nehemiah left a full-time role to take a seasonal position with the Atlanta Falcons. “That’s me coming from a full-time role going into a seasonal role, betting on myself.” At the time, it was a real bet, not a guaranteed outcome.

He treated it like an open door. “I didn’t stop networking, volunteering, and shadowing in different departments.” That mindset accelerated everything. Within months, opportunities followed, leading to a full-time role, then a promotion, and eventually a move into corporate partnerships. The throughline wasn’t luck, it was visibility and initiative. “I was able to use and leverage my access.”

Leadership Is Human, Not Hierarchical

Working across departments and teams, Nehemiah has seen what actually drives success inside organizations. It’s not titles or credentials, it’s people. “I see very good communicators; people who know how to communicate well with others.”

The leaders who stand out aren’t the ones with all the answers, they’re the ones willing to learn. “They’re not afraid to mess up and they learn from their team instead of having an authoritative mindset.” He also emphasizes inclusivity, not as a buzzword, but as a performance driver. “You can’t do everything alone; teams are better when everybody is empowered.”

Creating Access, Because He Didn’t Have It

Nehemiah’s “why” is rooted in something personal. “I truly care about people’s journey and how people are developing in life.” He’s also grounded in his faith. “I am a person of faith… and I truly believe that doing unto others as they would have done unto you is a very important theme in my life.”

Now, he’s focused on being that person for others, especially for those navigating the industry without clear access or guidance. “I’m very interested in connecting with minorities to help them understand how to navigate this space.” His focus is simple: point people in the right direction, sooner.

The Advice He’d Give Himself

If he could go back, he wouldn’t change the path, but he would move faster within it. “Stay the course and be patient… but also bet on yourself even more.” He’d also lean further into opportunity. “Say yes more… not being so hesitant or afraid about the unknown.” Because in his experience, growth didn’t come from certainty. It came from stepping into things before he felt fully ready.