During the 2024–25 inaugural and 2025–26 seasons, I served as the Director of Media for the Elmira Aviators Junior Hockey Organization. In this role, I worked closely with a competitive team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), one of the premier junior hockey leagues in the United States. The Aviators compete in the NAHL’s East Division and play their home games at the LECOM Event Center in Elmira, NY, providing a high-level development environment for players aged 16–20 pursuing collegiate and professional hockey careers.
As Director of Media, I led the organization’s visual branding and digital presence across multiple platforms. My role required balancing creativity with the fast-paced demands of a junior hockey season while producing engaging content that strengthened the team’s identity and connection with fans, players, and the community.
Key responsibilities included:
Photography: Captured high-quality action photography and behind-the-scenes content during games, practices, and team events. These images were used across social media platforms, marketing materials, and organizational promotions to highlight player performance and enhance fan engagement.
Graphic Design: Designed original graphics for game-day promotions, player commitments, call-ups, roster announcements, and social media campaigns. These visuals played a key role in building a professional and recognizable brand presence consistent with the standards of junior and professional hockey organizations.
Website & Digital Content: Created web graphics and digital assets that supported the team’s online presence, ensuring consistency in branding across the organization’s website and social platforms. This included promotional visuals, schedule graphics, and marketing content tailored to engage the Aviators’ audience.
Serving as Director of Media gave me hands-on experience in the high-energy environment of junior hockey while strengthening my skills in photography, graphic design, motion graphics, and sports marketing. This experience reinforced the importance of strong visual communication in building a team’s identity and fan connection, and it played a significant role in my development as a sports graphic designer.
I would like to sincerely thank Ray Welsh, Marc Stemerman, Eddy Lowe, and the entire Elmira Aviators organization for trusting me with this opportunity and for allowing me to contribute creatively to the team’s brand growth.
