Ashleigh Levine Begins Sales Internship with Eastern States Exposition

Ashleigh Levine

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Ashleigh Levine has begun a part-time venture as Hooplandia and sponsorship intern at Eastern States Exposition (ESE). In this role, she will assist the Sales department — namely the Hooplandia general manager and sponsorship sales manager — with administrative tasks, including compiling recap materials for valued partners, tournament participant outreach, and more.

“I cultivated a good relationship with the ESE team during Hooplandia, and I am happy to be a part of the organization and to see what the fair looks like behind the scenes,” Levine said.

Levine is entering her senior year at UMass Amherst, where she studies business administration in marketing and sports management in the Isenberg School of Management, and has maintained a position on the dean’s list throughout her collegiate career thus far. She is director of Philanthropy for the Pioneer Valley Tip-off Classic and involved in the McCormack Student Leaders, a sports management club at UMass Amherst. She’s held multiple roles with the latter, including time as the fundraising chair and sales summit director. She is also vice president of Logistical Operations for the Women in Sport Management club.

Hooplandia partners with the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sports Management Leaders Club and Professor Emily Must, club advisor and director of Internships and senior lecturer, on a yearly assignment to develop a case study of the 3×3 basketball tournament and festival. The students’ objectives were to improve sponsorship relations and increase team registrations by developing marketing plans.

“I met Drew Dawson, the Hooplandia general manager, when my group presented case studies to him as part of the McCormack Student Leaders,” Levine said. “I was determined to secure an internship role for the summer, so I made sure to introduce myself and followed up offering assistance for the tournament.”

Beyond the classroom, Levine is a front office intern in Isenberg Graduate Programs. She supports day-to-day office operations, including scheduling appointments, managing calendars, and organizing sensitive files. She also assists the Oak View Group as Mullins Center event staff during major events, whether that be sports or concerts.

Off campus, she serves as ambassador for the Connecticut Sun, assisting the Communications director, ensuring efficiency for gameday operations, shadowing leadership, facilitating the 50/50 raffle, and more.

“I grew up watching the league, and I first became a fan at the age of 12,” she said. “To see the league grow and be a part of that growth is full circle for me.”