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.
Marcy Girton – Texas A&M
Chief of Staff
Ryan Matthews, Winthrop’s Managing Editor, chatted recently with Marcy Girton – Chief of Staff at Texas A&M – to see how Marcy 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?
Never underestimate the value of the relationships of those with whom you work on a daily basis. While we may learn and grow through the advice and education of experts in our profession, there’s much to be gained from those within our own organizations.
How has Win AD broadly impacted your department?
At Texas A&M, we work diligently to make decisions with the best available information. Win AD provides us with the tools we need to make solid decisions.
Can you cite one specific instance where Win AD helped you increase revenue, save time, save money?
When negotiating contracts with service or product providers, we reference the information available with Win AD to ensure we know the market value of the service or product. We’ve solicited RFPs from several vendors this year and with each issue, we have been very well-informed about the value as well as contractual elements we should include in our requests.
What have been some tips or tricks that you’ve found for using (getting the most out of) the system?
Though it’s not a specific tip, I do like the ability to re-order categories from highest to lowest number. If we are reviewing coaches’ salaries, or a vendor contract value, we can click on that column and quickly identify the high and low of the category.
If a peer were considering subscribing to Win AD, what would you tell him or her about your experience?
It’s a major advantage to be armed with information, and there is no substitute for accurate information in our business. With Win AD, we are able to get accurate and current information, allowing us to enhance our decision-making processes.
