Not only does Winthrop Intelligence help ADs increase revenue and athletic programs to be more competitive, but the Win AD database also assists athletic staff throughout an administration to increase personal productivity and make better, more informed recommendations. We are interested in hearing from staff who use the database to their strategic advantage, for career advancement, and about innovative uses of the system that provides tangible, university-wide benefits.
Chris Helms – Virginia Tech
Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Sports
Ryan Matthews, Winthrop’s Managing Editor, chatted recently with Chris Helms – Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Sports at Virginia Tech University – to see how Chris is getting value from Win AD.
What advice would you give to a talented young admin that you wish someone had given you five years ago?
Work hard, work smart, and take time to forge relationships. If you follow these principles, your impact will be noticed and the difference you make will add value to the organization. From a commitment standpoint, be willing to do what others won’t. This too will be recognized and you’ll notice that colleagues will call on you more frequently—and those are opportunities to deliver. Your work will lead to connections; those connections become relationships that are invaluable for your development and career growth.
How has Win AD broadly impacted your department?
Quick and efficient access to the most current information available has delivered timely data from which to make decisions. Through the hiring and promotion process, to contract negotiation, it’s a tool that we turn to first to establish excepted and expected parameters.
Can you cite one specific instance where Win AD helped you increase revenue, save time, save money?
In a recent renegotiation of one of our contracts, we were able to leverage additional items into the new one due to the fact that we could see like contracts for similar schools. Win AD gave us a great starting point, and proved to be invaluable as we negotiated much needed add-on’s to the new contract.
What have been some tips or tricks that you’ve found for using (getting the most out of) the system?
The system is straight forward. Most times when I’m in search for information, I start with a micro approach and work out toward a macro view. I’ll begin with conference information and then move to larger divisional and national comparison groups. This gives me a complete perspective when using information for decisions.
If a peer were considering subscribing to Win AD, what would you tell him or her about your experience?
Win AD is a tool that delivers. The customer service at Win AD is outstanding, and they’re always trying to identify new and different ways to help their customers. They’re innovative, they listen, and they produce.
