Sports Career Spotlight | Marty Hunt

Posted on WorkInSports.com: 1/26/2006
By: Brandon McClung - Sports Business Journal

Age: 49
New title: Senior director of operations and facilities, Chicagoland Speedway
Previous job: Director of operations, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
First job: Manager at a country club
Education: Attended Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Resides: Frankfort, Ill.
Grew up: Indianapolis
Executive most admired: Clarence Cagle, former superintendent for Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Brand most admired: Chevrolet
Favorite vacation spot: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Last movie seen: “Walk the Line”
Favorite musical group: Chicago

What is the biggest challenge in your new position? The implementation of a project manager program that will allow all the departments to better communicate and become more efficient.

What is your biggest professional accomplishment? Being able to perform all the logistical issues with the sanctioning bodies (IRL, Formula One and NASCAR) for three of the largest single-day sporting events. At IMS, the logistical setup of the inaugural United States Grand Prix was very gratifying. I was involved with the point of contact for all logistics for the teams that came over here to the United States and was also involved with a team of facility people in Indianapolis that would convert an oval track facility into a road course facility.

What is your biggest professional disappointment? Not spending enough quality time with my kids. The motorsports profession demands a considerable amount of time.

What career advice do you have for people wanting into this industry? Find an internship with a sanctioning body or a motorsports facility and preferably in the operations side of it. You need to work with an organization that will allow you not to be stuck with only all the “dirty” jobs but have the ability to move from department to department to learn all that you can.

What is one story you are continuing to watch in sports today? The amount of money that athletes are making and how that is affecting the ability for certain markets that have so many professional teams to compete for the entertainment dollar.

This career spotlight is courtesy of the Sports Business Journal. CLICK HERE to visit their official website.