If you're following the Seattle Mariners' postseason run on social media, you're enjoying content created by a Gaylord College graduate, Chris Oven. Oven, who earned a degree in creative media production in 2020, works for the MLB franchise as a social media coordinator. Recently, Oven shared what his experience on the job has been like so far, how he began a career in sports, advice for current students and more.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Gaylord College?
It's hard for me to pinpoint a specific memory from my time as a Gaylord student, but the first ones that come to mind are many of the late nights spent working on projects (or not) with friends and classmates. All of the memories have to do with the people. The relationships I gained as a Gaylord student, from friendships to mentorships, are without a doubt the most rewarding parts of my experience.
Do you have a favorite faculty/staff member at Gaylord?
There are quite a few so I hesitate to give too many names, but Lee Reynolds and Dorion Billups are the two I have to shout out. Lee became one of my closest mentors at OU both professionally and personally, and did so much to help me launch my career, just as she does with countless Gaylord students and alumni. She's also your go-to for learning how to write the perfect thank you note. During his time there, Dorion, like the entire staff in Student Services, also became a mentor I could turn to for life both inside and out of Gaylord, and I'll always be thankful for that relationship.
How did your career path lead you to the Seattle Mariners?
During my time at OU and Gaylord, I was able to get involved from the get-go with the OU athletic department. After spending my freshman and sophomore years at SoonerVision, I interned in OU's athletic communications office where I learned to, among many other PR responsibilities, run team social accounts. Even while I was still a student, that internship gave me the opportunity to work major sporting events like Big 12 Championships, the Women's College World Series and the College Football Playoff. All of these set me up to find a role in professional sports after graduation, landing a seasonal role at Major League Baseball, where I worked directly with the Mariners digital team. After several months, the Mariners brought me on full-time, and I made the move out to the Pacific Northwest.
Describe your role with the Seattle Mariners.
As one of two social media coordinators, I'm responsible for overseeing the day-to-day digital presence and social voice of the Mariners. A "normal" day could include anything from covering our game,filming a TikTok and planning a campaign to analyzing social media metrics, building a sponsorship plan and breaking major news. We're constantly keeping up with the latest online trends and conversations and finding ways to adapt those to our voice and audiences.
What do you consider to be the most significant moments of your career so far?
I'd consider many of my "firsts" the most significant milestones in my career. During my time at OU, those were working my first football and basketball games and my first events as the primary contact for several sports. Since joining the Mariners, there have been plenty more. My first time at Spring Training and covering Opening Day in 2021 were both awesome experiences. More recently, traveling to LA to capture content of our two Mariners at the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game was an opportunity I'll never forget.
How did Gaylord College prepare you for your future career?
While Gaylord taught me so many invaluable technical skills, I think the most important skills I picked up were intangible. Networking, relationship building, personal branding and being a "storyteller" are all areas I learned so much about at Gaylord and have paid off in massive amounts not only in getting started in my career, but being successful in it as well. My self-confidence grew immensely at OU and that's opened so many new doors.
What advice would you give to current students aspiring to a career in mass communication?
Don't put limits on yourself. As one of the youngest full-time employees of the Mariners front office when I started, I fully understand how fortunate I was to get a "dream job" so early, but I never would have gotten it if I didn't put myself out there and try for it. Self-confidence and the ability to sell yourself and your talents are key, and it takes time and practice and rejection to get it just right. Always keep trying and pushing yourself to be better. Network as much as possible. Don't be afraid to reach out to strangers who could help you – most will be more than happy to, and the very worst they can say is no. Why not try?
What do you do for fun outside of work?
You might think that someone who works in sports would want a break when they're not at work, but that's not usually the case for me. I love going to different events at different venues. So far here in Seattle, I've been to a University of Washington football game, Kraken and Seahawks games and a Sounders match. Of course, there's nothing like Saturdays in the fall with college football on TV all day long (when I'm not sneaking to Norman for a weekend to catch the game in-person).
