Building Connections in the Carolinas

After returning from a trip to Virginia Beach, VA, just a little over two weeks earlier, we were back on the road again, this time embarking on a two-stop journey. Our first destination was Greensboro, North Carolina, where we prepared to attend the North Carolina Coaches Association (NCCA) conference. Following Greensboro, our travels would continue further south, marking another opportunity to connect with clients, gain regional insights and build stronger relationships within the High School Park and Rec (HSPR) market.

North Carolina

After a successful three-day road trip to Greensboro, North Carolina, we set up for the NCCA conference and had the chance to work alongside Gail Olson, the HSPR Sales Representative for North and South Carolina. Gail was welcoming and immediately helped us get familiar with the event, sharing helpful context on the various booths and attendees. His depth of knowledge about the regional market and existing Daktronics relationships gave us a strong foundation heading into the show. We also met Matt Lundberg, Regional Manager, who was equally helpful and supportive throughout the event.

Gail and Matt have attended the NCCA conference for years and have developed a routine around it. They were generous in including us, inviting us to lunch each day, giving us time to get to know them better and hear more about their professional paths at Daktronics.

Throughout the conference, they consistently shared valuable background on schools that visited the booth, what systems they used, whether they had Daktronics products and the status of their relationship with us. Since attendance is required for coaches in North Carolina, we had the opportunity to speak with a wide range of schools and programs.

A standout reference point was the installation at Asheboro City Schools, which Gail frequently brought up in conversation. The combination of installed indoor and outdoor video boards, marketing plans and DakClassroom created a strong case study. For many schools, it helped show how a project they assumed was out of reach might actually be feasible.

South Carolina

From there, we headed to the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA) conference. The setup went smoothly and we had another opportunity to work closely with Gail, this time focusing on the neighboring South Carolina market. As we became more familiar with the flow of the event, we were able to confidently handle the booth on our own when needed.

Having the chance to take the lead on conversations and answer questions without backup gave us practical experience that goes beyond what any training could offer. It pushed us to apply what we’d learned and build confidence interacting with coaches and administrators directly.

Whenever we had to run the booth independently, the preparation paid off. Between prior training and the regional insights Gail had shared, we felt ready to engage with visitors and represent Daktronics well.

Conclusion

Over the sixteen-day trip, we traveled through thirteen states, connected with a wide range of people and gained valuable insight into two important regional markets. The hands-on experience of setting up, running a booth, and engaging directly with current and potential customers was incredibly worthwhile and will carry forward into future roles and responsibilities.

Serenity Morrison – Augustana University – Business Administration & Psychology

Camden Musial – University of New Hampshire – MBA Business Analytics