Tara Green, chief revenue officer at American Airlines Center, discussed the road that led to her success and gave tips to students interested in pursuing sports communication Wednesday evening in the O’Donnell Auditorium.

Green’s love for sports began at a young age. She was an athlete in high school and always knew she wanted to pursue the field as a career. Green majored in international studies at the University of North Carolina and got her master’s in sports administration from the University of Ohio.

After graduate school she got her first job working for the 1994 World Cup, which was in Dallas.

“This was the hardest job I ever had, but it was the best job ever,” Green said.

After the World Cup, Green began working for the University of North Texas in the athletic department, something she never expected would be a part of her career path.

“Be open-minded. You don’t know where your experience is going to take you,” Green said.

Next, Green became vice president for the Dallas Convention of Visitors Bureau in the sports marketing department. During this job, Green took a leave of absence to serve as the vice president and chief operating officer of the 2011 Super Bowl Host Committee. On Sept. 1, 2011 Green began her role as chief revenue officer at the American Airlines Center.

As a successful woman in the sports communication field, Green offered advice to students.

“My number one piece of advice is to learn how to use social media to its maximum capacity,” she said.

She explained how she wished she could go back to school and learn these techniques. Through social media, students can find their niche and stand out in the workplace.

She also explained how it is crucial to build a network of people and never lose sight of who you’ve met.

She concluded by saying, “A lot of what you’re going to do after college is deciding what you don’t like. Many people don’t realize that and expect to start at the top. Your ability to get along with people in the office and do what is asked of you is what is going to get you noticed in order to move up to that next level.”

The evening was sponsored by SMU’s chapter of PRSSA, Public Relations Student Society if America.