BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — A Ferris State University graduate's dreams of joining the NBA have been made a reality in a leadership role with the Atlanta Hawks.
Amarr Blake joined the Hawks as a membership associate after he graduated from FSU in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in business with a minor in marketing.
In his first year, he became a new membership sales consultant.
This May, Blake was named the team's Premium Club sales manager.
“I really was unaware of membership sales, or the associate’s role for new season tickets before I began,” Blake said. “There are groups who want to entertain clients or are just after a night or afternoon of enjoyment themselves. So many people come from other parts of the country to Atlanta for their careers, which means we get clusters of fans wanting to see their team or a visiting NBA star at the arena. My job is to identify their ‘whys’ and help them achieve that with the Hawks.”
While at FSU, Blake participated in a student sales competition in Atlanta and was among the top 16 presenters.
He said hiring managers for many NBA teams were there to make connections, which allowed him to get his foot in the door with the Hawks.
Blake was also a member of the FSU football program in 2018, playing as a defensive back in 2019 and the 2021 National Championship season.
At FSU, he served as the voice of the football team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
"When I was young, growing up in Flint, I always dreamed of making it to the NBA,” Blake said. “It turned out I got here differently on the business side. I am very blessed to have this opportunity.”
