28
WSU Currents
•
Fall 2012
Current People:
Jon Kester ‘02
By Margaret Cox
Homecoming wouldn’t be the same without football, and football is
exactly what
Jon Kester ’02
does all year. Employed by the Green Bay
Packers, Kester serves as liaison between the community and the team,
helping to coordinate events at Lambeau Field. His path to the Packers
was a reward that came from determination and love of the game.
From Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, and a Packers fan from the start,
Kester chose Winona State University because of the small-town feel and
beautiful campus. At WSU, he built important skills such as critical think-
ing, leadership, and goal setting. After graduating with degrees political
science and public administration, he decided to further his education.
“
I’ve always been interested in sports,” says Kester, “and I knew sports
management was a good fit for me.” In 2004 he earned a master’s at the
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Kester spent several years working for the La Crosse Loggers, an ultimate
fighting training center, and the La Crosse Night Train, an indoor football
team. Meanwhile, his interest in physical activity turned into a passion for
bodybuilding and strongman competitions. Competing on a regional and
state level, he gradually moved through the ranks. “It’s a slow process, to
build up enough strength to compete in strongman,” he says. “But I
set goals and discovered that hard work is rewarded.”
This same persistence is what brought Kester to the Packers.
After researching opportunities, Kester approached the organi-
zation and waited for a response. Finally, the HR director, a fan of
strongman, recognized Kester’s name and wanted to meet him in
person. Kester has worked in Atrium Operations ever since,
ensuring that events at Lambeau Field run smoothly. The lessons
learned at WSU have served him well. “I learned a lot about leadership
styles in my political science courses,” says Kester. “When you have
30,000
people at an event, it’s important to keep it a safe and positive
experience.” He also says that an international relations course helped
him relate with the 250 full-time and 750 seasonal employees who assist
during the NFL season.
Each year brings something different, but one thing remains constant:
the joy on people’s faces as they come to Lambeau. “It’s a special place
to be. Green Bay has a small town charm, and the players are not flashy.
The team reflects the community.”
Highlights of Kester’s career with the Packers include everything from a
trip to the 2011 Super Bowl to escorting player Clay Matthews through a
mob of autograph-seeking fans. Through it all, Kester is thankful for his
experience at WSU. “From my roommate, Mark Finucan, to the faculty, to
my advisor, Matt Bosworth, I was surrounded by people who wanted me
to succeed,” says Kester. “They helped me find a career that I really love,
and I’m very grateful for that.”
“
I was surrounded by
people [at WSU] who
wanted me
to succeed
.
They helped me find a
career I really love.”
