Colby Pepper ’20

Graduate school and year: 

Ohio University, 2022

Current city and job: 

Kansas City, MO | Business Development Manager at Sporting Kansas City

What first interested you in your career? How did you discern your calling?

Discerning my calling came through lots of prayer and stepping out in faith to try something new. Through my coursework at Covenant, I discovered areas that interested me in the sports industry, but I was not able to fully evaluate those areas until I had "real-life experience." Once I was able to develop some real experience in a few areas and prayerfully evaluate how the Lord could use role to further his Kingdom, it became clear that I was pursuing my calling.

I landed in my role in corporate partnerships unknowingly the summer before my senior year at Covenant. I had been pursuing a career in the sports industry and was interested in college athletics when I was selected for an internship with the New York Mets in 2019. I was placed in the corporate partnerships department and had no idea the department's role in the organization. Throughout the summer I fell in love with the relationship building and strategy pieces of corporate partnerships. My coworkers at the Mets gave me a variety of experiences throughout the internship which helped me to explore what a career in corporate partnerships entailed and how my skills aligned.

What has your career path looked like since graduating from Covenant?

After graduating from Covenant, I attended graduate school at Ohio University in Athens, OH. While in Athens, I received Master of Business Administration and Master of Sport Administration degrees while working part-time as a graduate assistant in the athletic department. My time in graduate school also gave me the opportunity to work various sporting events, complete projects for live clients, and build relationships with sports industry professionals. Some of the events included the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, US Soccer National Team games, NASCAR playoff races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and projects for the New York Jets and Vancouver Whitecaps. After graduate school, I accepted a full-time position with the Hall of Fame Village working for a mentor I met during graduate school, and then transitioned into my current role as Business Development Manager at Sporting Kansas City..

In this position, I enjoy building relationships and strategically crafting solutions to help companies reach their marketing goals and objectives in and around the sports industry.

Looking back now, how did Covenant prepare you for your career and for life?

Covenant faculty helped prepare me for my career by cultivating opportunities for me to grow both inside and outside the classroom. Professors crafted rigorously challenging course materials, but also encouraged me to pursue work outside the classroom and equipped me with connections and tools to be successful.

I really appreciated the time and care that the faculty and staff poured into myself and each of their students. They truly cared about my personal, professional, and spiritual growth and pushed me to be my best in the classroom.

In what ways did Covenant impact your faith and how does your faith inform your career? 

Through chapel lectures and The Christian Mind course, Covenant helped me to understand that no matter the field or line of work, we as believers have an incredible opportunity to reach others for the gospel. I recognize that my role in the sports industry is an incredible platform to serve clients, coworkers, and fans with whom I would not typically cross paths or share the gospel.

Covenant impacted my spiritual formation by helping me to understand no matter what career path I decided to pursue, I would have an incredible opportunity to see my workplace as a mission field and serve and love others like Christ. My faith informs every facet of my life, but I see my faith most impacting my work in how I serve others, respond to challenges, and strive to see everyone I come in contact with in the image of Christ.

God has provided for me abundantly in giving me community and other like-minded people in each of my stops so far in my career. Entering the workforce, I was nervous about working in a secular environment, but the Lord has provided incredible support and a mission field on which to share the gospel.

What advice would you give students who are considering Covenant?

If you want to be challenged to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually and live in a strong community of other believers also striving to glorify the Lord and pursue excellence, then Covenant is an incredible option.

Raise your hand and volunteer for as many opportunities as possible. You will quickly learn what you like and what you don't, and you never know who you may meet if you carry a positive attitude and work diligently.

Why did you choose Covenant?

I chose Covenant because it gave me an opportunity to compete at a high level athletically, pursue excellence in the classroom, and be mentored and grow spiritually alongside faculty and classmates passionate about living out their faith. 

What are some fond memories or a favorite story from your time at Covenant?

Some of my fondest memories from Covenant were all of the unplanned moments with my hallmates, teammates, and friends. Whether it was a late night trip to Cookout or long conversations in the Great Hall, there were always plenty of things to do and explore on campus.