News
January 18, 2018
TORONTO — Canadian Football League Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, Toronto Argonauts General Manager Jim Popp and Toronto Argonauts Director of Football Administration Catherine Raîche are set to speak at the NFL’s Women’s Careers in Football Forum at the end of the month.
As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, the NFL will host its second Women’s Careers in Football Forum Jan. 26-27 during Pro Bowl Week. Fifty women, selected from a pool of more than 400 applicants and representing five countries (United States, Canada, Panama, Germany and Australia), will participate in the second-annual event in Orlando. The Forum will feature panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking sessions aimed to educate and prepare women for careers in Football Operations, including coaching, officiating, scouting and football front office positions.
Twenty-two of the women who participated in the inaugural Forum are working in Football Operations across professional, collegiate and high school football, including nine who obtained internships in the NFL (see below).
| WOMEN’S CAREERS IN FOOTBALL FORUM INTERNS | |
| 2017 Participant | NFL Football Operations Position |
| Stephanie Balachko | Pittsburgh Steelers Coaching Intern |
| Callie Brownson | New York Jets Scouting Intern |
| Nausicaa Dellorto | NFL Films Production Intern |
| Rachel Huhn | New York Jets Scouting Intern |
| Stephanie Jackson | Minnesota Vikings Scouting Intern |
| Odessa Jenkins | Atlanta Falcons Coaching Intern, Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship Recipient |
| Marirose Roach | New York Jets Scouting Intern |
| Phoebe Schecter | Buffalo Bills Coaching Intern, Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship Recipient |
| Collette Smith | New York Jets Coaching Intern |
Participants will have the opportunity to connect and learn from executives and industry experts representing the NFL, NCAA, Canadian Football League, Women’s Leaders in College Sports, among other organizations and academic institutions.
Featured speakers and presenters will include CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, NFL Chief Football Administration Officer Dawn Aponte, Glazer Family Foundation Co-President Darcie Glazer Kassewitz (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Women’s Leaders in College Sports Chief Executive Officer Patti Phillips, Atlanta Falcons Assistant General Manager Scott Pioli, CFL Toronto Argonauts General Manager Jim Popp, NFL Director of Football Development Samantha Rapoport, Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera, Stanford University Head Coach David Shaw, CFL’s Toronto Argonauts Director of Football Administration Catherine Raîche and Minnesota Vikings Chief Operating Officer Kevin Warren.
Forum sessions include: “Career Paths in Football Operations,” “How to Succeed in the Culture of Football,” and “NFL, CFL, Collegiate and High School Football: Where Should I Start?”. In addition, each participant will create an action plan to help achieve the next steps in their football careers.