Alex Montoya Offers Inspiration

We had Alex Montoya, Manager of Latino Relations for the San Diego Padres, in class earlier this evening. Montoya is an incredible example of how determination and perseverance can make a difference in life, but—also—in getting a job in sports.

Montoya, who was born as a triple-amputee in Colombia, South America, worked hard after graduating from the University of Notre Dame to land a job with his favorite team: the San Diego Padres. After securing three interviews, working as an usher, and meeting with Larry Lucchino, Montoya still didn’t have his dream job. But, after further education and even more networking, Montoya was hired as Manager of Latino Relations.

Montoya is now in charge of growing the Hispanic marketing for the Padres, which includes fan relations across the border as well as overseeing the Padres’ Spanish website.

All of this is just a slice of Montoya’s incredible life, which he has chronicled in his book, Swinging for the Fences. Montoya gave the SMBA ’11 class some great advice about securing a job in sports, including “stay as connected as possible”, “tell an employer what value you’ll bring to them”, and “put in time and effort”. We’ll be sure to read his book for even more inspiration.