University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Athletics Restructures Ticket Sales & Service Department
7/27/2018 10:30:00 AM | General
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Athletics announces the hiring of a new Ticket Sales and Service team that will be dedicated to new business development and to boosting service initiatives for current fans. The revamped department brings three new employees to the Southern Miss Ticket Office. Deven Matthews, Senior Ticket Sales Executive, Ben Winpigler and Hooks Hausman, Ticket Sales Executives, will be led by Lynne Firmin, Director of Ticket Sales, who has been promoted from a Ticket Operations position to overseeing the external unit of the Ticket Office.
Current Season Ticket Holders can expect to be contacted over the next several weeks with an introduction from their new Account Representative. "It's important that our Ticket Holders have a person that they can trust, not an 800 number, to call when they need assistance. When you purchase tickets from Southern Miss, you become part of a family. I want our fans to really feel that," described Firmin.
Sr. Associate Athletics Director of External Affairs, Stephen Pugh, believes the Athletic Department's refocus on Ticket Sales strategies is a crucial part of efforts to maximize the customer service provided to Southern Miss fans. "Creating value for our Season Ticket Holders is paramount. We want to recognize their investment in our success and we want to reward them with access to special events, benefits, and top-notch service."
A personalized experience and the fulfillment of additional Season Ticket Holder benefits is just a fraction of the initiatives the new team will focus on. The Ticket Sales team will also be dedicated to seeking new business by offering incentives for current fans to refer new ticket buyers, developing a Small Business Ticket Package, creating brand-new group events, and much more.
Firmin elaborated on the team's efforts to grow. "We have the capability to create an incredible ticket-buying experience for our fans. Not only do we have some new tools, but we have a group of three young and talented Account Executives that each bring a unique set of strengths and an enthusiasm for Southern Miss that can be ignited in new fans."
Matthews, a native of St. Martin, Miss., comes to Southern Miss after serving as a Ticket Sales Executive with the Biloxi Shuckers for three seasons. Matthews is a 2013 Southern Miss graduate of the Sport Management program.
Winpigler, who earned his Southern Miss Sport Management degree in 2018, hails from Laurel, Miss., and is a second generation Southern Miss graduate. Prior to his role as Account Executive, Winpigler worked as a student worker in the Ticket Office for the 2017-18 athletic seasons and an intern with the Southern Miss marketing staff from 2016-2018. He also worked as a Trainee with the Mississippi Braves during the 2017 season performing many different roles.
Hausman comes to Southern Miss after working as a post-graduate Intern in Ticket Operations at Texas Tech. He also served in ballpark operations with the Boston Red Sox, as well as an Intern with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and in game day operations with Ole Miss Athletics.
"We're very excited about the team joining us. They have a diverse background of experience in sales, ticketing, and customer service as well as deep ties to Southern Miss and the State of Mississippi," said Pugh.
For more information about the Ticket Sales Department or if you are interested in purchasing season or group tickets, please contact Lynne Firmin at 601-266-6721 or Lynne.Firmin@usm.edu.
