For the fourth consecutive year, the Dallas Mavericks teamed up with the Marcus Graham Project (MGP) to open the door for a group of diverse young professionals looking to step into the sports marketing industry.

Through the MGP iCR8 Boot Camp, 25 program applicants were selected to participate in the week-long training and mentorship program.

Established in 2009, the Marcus Graham Project’s iCR8 Boot Camps invest in future marketing and media leaders who will contribute to an expanded and diversified talent pool of highly skilled professionals.

During the first two meetings, students learned the ins and outs of the Dallas Mavericks approach to marketing, media, and communications and gained insight from team sponsors, like Target, on their techniques to leverage the brand’s connection to the Mavs.

With ample background on team operations and a deeper look into the Mavs’ efforts to expand the brand internationally, the four teams were challenged to create a comprehensive strategy for the Dallas Mavericks to penetrate markets in China, Germany, Mexico and Spain.

Over the course of the next two days, the teams collaborated to finalize presentations, which were shared with industry experts from the Dallas Mavericks and The Marketing ARM, a widely known sports, entertainment, and social media agency, for individualized feedback.

Among the four groups, the team assigned to the Chinese market was designated as the top presentation for their innovative ideas to grow the Mavs fan base, while also leveraging opportunities to increase revenue through multiple avenues.

Team leader and MVP winner Cory Hicks said, “This experience has been a roller coaster of different emotions as we overcame different obstacles to feel that sense of achievement and see all the work we put in come to fruition.

“My team was very helpful to bounce ideas off and collaborate…It’s definitely been a beautiful experience, and it’s been a huge reward to see that all the work has paid off.”

Hicks and his winning team will all be invited to interview for prospective internship openings in the Mavs Marketing department and experience a Mavs gameday in early March.

But, most importantly, all participants gained valuable insight into the sports marketing industry, and hope to join 96% of MGP alumni who received job offers within six months of completing an iCR8 Boot Camp.