January 02, 2013
When Vincent J. Accardi ’05CPS first arrived at St. John’s
University as a wide-eyed freshman, he faced a sudden
realization.
“I saw the incredible work ethic of the student-athletes,”
recalled Accardi, who at the time was aspiring to be a baseball
player. “They were putting in so much time and effort every day in
the weight room and at practice to ensure that they could play at
that next level. It really served as a wake-up call for me, and I
realized that I simply hadn’t put enough work into my athletic
career.”
But Accardi didn’t let that slow him down, and he soon found
another niche for himself in the world of sports – this time, in
the classroom.
“I decided to apply that same type of work ethic and preparation
that these athletes displayed, and put it towards my academics,” he
said. “I focused one year at a time, working as hard as I could,
and I’m glad to say it turned out for the best.”
All the hard work paid off for Accardi, who is now enjoying a
successful career in Sport Management and currently serves as
Director of Corporate Sales and Ticketing Operations at Stony Brook
University. In this role, he manages the ticket sales and
operations for Stony Brook’s 20 Division I sports teams, generating
revenue through ticket sales while pursuing new corporate
partners.
“It’s been a nice progression,” said Accardi, who was promoted to
Director just this past summer. “I really have to thank St. John’s
for the opportunities it afforded me, from internships to
networking events and more. This is where I was inspired to pursue
the sports business industry, not knowing that one day I’d have
this career, so I’m extraordinarily grateful for those student
days.”
During his undergraduate years, Accardi gained valuable experience
working as the Head Manager of St. John’s Men’s Basketball team,
assisting with the daily operations and on-the-court management of
the players.
It was just one of many opportunities that made Accardi’s time at
St. John’s special, and today, he’s proud to come back to events as
an alumnus. Whether he’s supporting scholarships through a golf
outing or sharing his insight with students at an Alumni Insider’s
View…Program, he always finds time to come back to campus.
“I’ve always said that there are many people here who influenced
me,” Accardi noted, “including people in the Career Center, the
Writing Center, the Office of Athletics and professors that I had.
So many people here made an impact on who I am, which is why I’ve
always been committed to giving back my time – it’s the least I can
do.”
Accardi, who still umpires baseball games in his spare time, has an
obvious passion for sports, and it’s clear that he shares that
enthusiasm for his alma mater.
“I really enjoy attending Sport Management programs on campus and
also recruitment events for prospective students,” he said. “Simply
put, I like to tell my St. John’s story, and show others how the
education here helped me – and can help them – be successful.”