For Women's History Month 2023, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment is highlighting women across their organizations.
Get to know Caitlin Kinser, the Senior Director of Community Impact & Events at the Colorado Rapids.
Please share a little bit about yourself, (hometown, where you went to school, how long you’ve lived in Colorado, hobbies etc.).
I’m originally from Southlake, Texas, which is a suburb of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area. I received my B.A. in Journalism and Broadcasting with an emphasis on Sports Media from Oklahoma State University. After I graduated, I started my career working for a minor league baseball team in Oklahoma City. From there, I moved out to Colorado, and I just celebrated my 9-year anniversary in January. Most recently, I just got my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University. When I’m not working, I enjoy hiking, running, traveling, and being involved in my church. I’m also a new dog-mom to Oliver, so he has been keeping me busy!
What made you want to pursue a career in sports?
Sports have always been something I’ve been passionate about, so the thought of having a career in sports was always of interest to me. I started playing sports when I was 4 years old, and I have an older brother who also played sports, so I grew up going to his games. My family also had season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers, so if we weren’t playing sports, we were going to watch the professional teams. Sports have just always been a big part of my life!
What does a typical day at your current job look like or entail?
The best thing about my job is that no two days are the same! I oversee all community outreach, game presentation and events for the Colorado Rapids, so I would say majority of my days are spent planning for an upcoming gameday, event, community program or player appearance. It’s an extremely rewarding job, but it’s also a lot of hard work. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes, so I feel very blessed to have a support team who are not only amazing at their jobs, but also make coming to work every day enjoyable and fulfilling.
What are some of your favorite things or experiences when it comes to working in sports?
I always say that I have the best job in the world because my department is the heart behind the badge. Sports are so much bigger than a result on the pitch, so I feel blessed to have a job that can invoke real change and have a positive impact in our community. One of my favorite things about my job is overseeing our Rapids Unified Team, which is a partnership we have with Special Olympics Colorado. Last year, we traveled the team to play the LA Galaxy Unified Team and I got to experience one of our athletes going to the beach for the first time. It’s hard to describe through words the impact that had on me, but I’ll never forget the look of joy on his face when his feet first touched the sand.
How important is it to see women continue to push past barriers especially in a male-dominated industry?
Simply put, representation matters. I believe that having women in leadership positions creates inclusion, and provides more of an opportunity for innovation and change to take shape. Women are essential to the success of any organization, and I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many strong, hardworking, and compassionate female leaders within KSE and MLS.
What’s the most rewarding part about being a woman in sports?
I think knowing that I’m a part of something bigger and that I have the capability to create a positive impact not only within my organization, but also in our community. It’s an exciting time to be a woman in sports because I think now more than ever our value is being recognized. It’s so empowering to see women owning teams, being named general managers, and seeing things like games being called by all-female referees. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I feel encouraged by my colleagues who are constantly breaking down barriers and paving the way for the future generation of women in sports.
What advice would you want to share with women looking to break into the industry?
Get experience anywhere you can! Whether it’s through internships, or asking to shadow a professional in their position, the more experience you have the more marketable you are. That might mean making sacrifices in other areas of your life, but if working in sports in something you’re truly passionate about, you have to put in the work.
Who is a woman – could be in any industry – that you look up to and admire and why?
This is easy - Deb Dowling the VP of Community Relations for KSE! I’ve gotten to work closely with Deb for the last seven years, and I’ve learned so much by just being in her orbit. Deb is kind, compassionate and resilient. She treats others with respect and always has a smile on her face. Most importantly, she’s an advocate for our department and the importance of what we do for our fans and the community. To know her is to love her, and I’m blessed to have her as a mentor.
