The Oregon Accelerator, a student-led organization at the University of Oregon, provides strategic resources to develop Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities for student-athletes while offering experiential learning for its student staff.
The agency currently partners with 114 Ducks athletes. Its latest project features a campaign with quarterback Dante Moore, scheduled to air more than 3,000 times monthly.
Jakob Lookofsky, a student in the program, has been promoted to Head of Athlete Relations on the account management team. He joined the Oregon Accelerator in the fall.
Lookofsky built relationships with athletes and contributed to campaigns developing their personal brands. That experience led to his promotion.
"This role means so much to me," Lookofsky said. "I have always had a passion of getting more involved within the organization at a leadership level."
Lookofsky now leads his team while developing as a manager. "I'm really excited to not only lead this group of individuals but also learn how to become a better leader," he said.
The Oregon Accelerator environment developed Lookofsky through real-time problem-solving on projects, shoots, and client work. He learned from experienced account managers including Kyra and Jon.
"Learning through Kyra, Jon, and all of the senior AMs has prepared me to be able to lead my team," Lookofsky said.
Lookofsky prioritizes trust with athletes, viewing them as individuals first. "Building trust with an athlete starts with seeing them as a person first, not a performer," he said. "I try to be the one person to move away from the sport to find out more about them."
He believes strong athlete relationships are essential for campaigns to succeed. "If the relationship with the athlete isn't good, you cannot get anything done as an account manager," Lookofsky said.
