As senior director of brand marketing for Rawlings and as an adjunct sports marketing instructor, Lindsey Naber has mentored many Maryville students — 13 of whom are now full-time employees of the sporting goods powerhouse.

“Mentoring is a crucial component of our curriculum, and Lindsey is one our most effective mentors,” said Jason Williams, EdD, program director. “Through her teaching and active leadership style, Lindsey has provided countless students with the critical skills and valuable insights needed to be successful in the industry.”

There were few formalized internships when Naber was in college, which proved to be both a challenge and an opportunity, she said. That experience continues to inform her mentoring practice. “I learned by doing as a volunteer for my college athletic department, and it was completely what I made of it,” she said. “I was free to give a lot of time to learn about the industry — basically, I was a shadow to everyone in the department. That experience has shaped how I mentor students; they are immersed side by side with key decision-makers.”

At Rawlings, Naber oversees national product launches for B2B customer sales. She also helps develop major brand initiatives for events such as the MLB All-Star Game and the NCAA Women’s College World Series as well as managing brand properties such as the Rawlings Gold Glove Award program. Naber is intentional about having interns work on all aspects of her marketing projects. “We operate as a fully functioning team,” she said. “I like to show the good, the bad and the ugly so students are exposed to all facets of the job because it’s critical. It helps them decide what area of the industry they want to work in, whether it’s marketing, accounting, IT, manufacturing or on the digital team.”

Taylor Shingler, ’22, ’23, is one example of that learning curve. She began as a marketing intern with Naber and now works for Rawlings as a business intelligence analyst. “Lindsey made me feel like the work I was doing made a difference,” Shingler said. “She taught me to redirect my perspective, so another person understands better what I’m trying to communicate.” Russell Susuki, ’18, is director of marketing and corporate fulfillment with the Missouri Valley Conference. He interned with Naber as senior in the program. “Lindsey treated me like a full-time employee and gave me meaningful projects to assist with and eventually have responsibility for,” he said. “She took every opportunity to teach, and now I take every opportunity I can to help the next generation of sport business professionals learn and grow.” Morgan Ripper, ’21, ’23, works for Rawlings as a marketing coordinator, a position she landed after working as an intern with Naber. “Lindsey does a great job of giving a wide range of responsibility to interns and pulling people in on high-visibility projects that they can be proud of or see out in the marketplace,” she said. “She allows interns to learn what it’s like to work collaboratively but also allows them to own projects that other companies might not give to interns.”

Like Shingler and Susuki, much of what Ripper learned from Naber about workplace communication is utilized daily. But one skill in particular stands out, she said. “Forward thinking is probably the most frequently utilized skill I’ve strengthened since working with Lindsey,” Ripper said. “It is an underrated skill to be able to anticipate questions or issues that may come up.”

Through her leadership and mentorship, Naber emphasizes that learning is ongoing in the industry, said Ripper. “Her relationships go beyond the time the internship is completed,” she said. “Lindsey stays in touch with all of her interns, helping them professionally in the industry.” Internships provide students with valuable opportunities to develop skills and gain perspective, but those who mentor students also learn from the experience, said Naber. “Companies and brands are 100 percent benefiting from the added help,” she said. “And personally, mentoring forces me to reflect on my job and focus on what I’m doing and what I can do better.”

From her vantage point, Maryville interns set themselves apart with their advanced level of preparation and professionalism. “They know what to expect because the curriculum prepares them for that, and that helps us get to our end goal faster,” she said. “I sometimes forget how young they are because of their maturity and eagerness.”