Alumni Highlight
Luke Schuellein
Luke Schuellein
CEO of Shoeline Entertainment
WSU SMGT Alumni
(B.A. 2011)
What is your current position and give a brief overview?
Small business owner of Shoeline Entertainment. Shoeline Entertainment is a ticket brokerage company. The company buys and resells sports and entertainment tickets.
Was this career path on your radar since you graduated? If not, speak on how you came across this position.
This specific career path was not on my radar. I always wanted to work in professional sports, but never really knew about the secondary market of the sports and entertainment world. Through connections, I was introduced to a business called Viwa in 2016. They were a company that worked in the sports and entertainment industry.
What originally drew you to Wichita State University and the Sport Management program?
Living in Kansas, I wanted to receive in state tuition and scholarships, so my options were either Kanas University or Wichita State. Kansas University was just 30 minutes from where I grew up, but I wanted to live further from home, so after visiting Wichita State, I was sold!
Were there any professors, mentors, or classes that had a lasting impact on you?
I think all my teachers were great when I attended WSU! Many of the teachers are still there (Vermillion, Stoldt, Ross, Noble). One adjunct teacher I had, Matt Brokaw, was key in helping me land a role with the Wichita Thunder, and that position would not have occurred without having Matt as a teach and staying connected with him.
Can you tell us about your current role and what a typical day looks like?
As a business owner I am overseeing all the day-to-day things, as well as all the administrative items. It’s a small business, so it is myself, a full time employee, and an intern. Generally speaking, my day to day typically consists of identifying different sporting and entertainment events to target and analyzing the probability of whether or not the event would turn a profit. In addition, every day I am pricing inventory, making phone calls, and meeting with my staff.
How did you get your start in the sport industry after graduation?
My first taste in the sports industry after graduation, was actually another internship with the New York Mets, in the ticket sales department. This helped jump start my sports career!
How did your WSU Sport Management education help prepare you for your career?
I definitely think the required internship was the most beneficial for me and helped prepare me for my career. My internship was at the 3&2 Baseball club. I learned a lot during my internship and it allowed to me to gain exposure to the industry.
What trends or changes have you noticed in the sports industry since you began your career?
Dynamic ticket pricing has been adopted by almost all teams now. Ticket sales departments used to not understand that certain teams drew more fans and priced those games like a weekday junk game. Now days, all teams and colleges understand the popular teams will draw more fans and then price those tickets accordingly.
How can students make the most of internships, networking, and volunteer opportunities?
I believe you get what you put in. If you just show up and put in the required work, you’ll get a grade, but it’s important to do more than just that. Ask questions, utilize your network, set up informational interviews, and stay in touch with past bosses or leaders to help you leverage future opportunities. As Dr. Noble used to teach, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And it’s not who you know, it who knows you.”
How has being part of the Shocker community influenced your personal or professional life?
I live in Arizona now and there are not too many Shockers out here, but I still try and meet with the Sport Management program when I visit Kansas and always send over internship and full time opportunities when I am hiring.
Do you still keep in touch with WSU classmates, faculty, or mentors?
I do stay in touch with Sport Management program as I always send over internship and full-time opportunities when I am hiring. As for classmates, there are a few that I still stay in touch with! Mentor wise, I have more from professional teams that I have stayed in touch with.
What motivates or inspires you most in your career?
I’ve always had a strong intrinsic motivation to do my best in anything I do. This has applied to my business as well and being able to drive revenue for my company, while being involved in all different sports (professional, collegiate, and entertainment events), makes it fun and challenging.
What’s next for you-any exciting projects or goals on the horizon?
I would like to find and hire someone who could run my business for me and allow me to be less hands on. This is something I’d like to accomplish in the next five years, but finding the right person is always a challenge.
What information did you take away from your time at WSU that has helped you the most in the professional world?
Similar to a previous answer, I’d say my internship with the 3&2 Baseball club was the most impactful for me. I was provided an opportunity to be hands on, take on projects myself, and not just make copies. I was able to make an impact on the company, gained contacts with the Royas, and further strengthened my work ethic during that internship.
What mistakes have you made in the past that you recommend avoiding making in the sport management field?
Office politics is something you need to learn to manage. Early in my career, when things changed within the organization, I did not handle it the best. I became negative and did not fully buy in. Ultimately, there will be office politics wherever you go, so it is important to understand that and be flexible and open to change.
What advice would you give to current WSU students who want to pursue a job in sport?
Biggest pieces of advice would be two things: have a strong work ethic (prospective students and hires say this, but have examples of this and act it out) and be sponge and never stop learning. There are so many different opportunities in the sports world and so much advice could be applied. I am always happy to connect with current Shockers and help.