GAVIN KEMP (He/him)

What brought you to Humber and your program of study?

Having graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor's degree, I was looking to pursue a postgraduate degree to gain practical skills in a particular field. I was a voracious consumer and fan of print magazines, and I envisioned starting a career in the magazine industry. I discovered the "Humber Advertising Media Sales Program" offered by two Industry Executives (Barb & Donna) and sought to get my one-year diploma and begin my career in the advertising industry by learning the skills required for this profession.

What was your favourite Humber memory or experience?

Favourite memories include the bonds and friendships formed with a very small, cohesive group of students in the one-year cohort, all of us looking to break into the industry with our first jobs. Many became friends, and we even travelled together as a class on a memorable spring break vacation. The entire class successfully secured careers in the advertising industry through the program, and we remained in touch in the years that followed.

What was Humber's greatest impact on your personal and professional life?

The greatest impact may be the relationships I have developed with fellow students and the lifelong friendships I have formed, including with my best friend. Professionally, Humber helped me land my first internship, which led to my being hired after a two-month term. I was able to use the practical skills learned in professional selling and media buying to establish a career in the magazine industry before moving on to television and ultimately professional sports. The fundamentals of the sales experience taught in the program are still essential to my business on a day-to-day basis, nearly thirty years later.

What are you up to now?

I am currently the General Manager and Vice-President for the National Football League's operations in Canada, based in Toronto. I oversee a team responsible for marketing, fan development, media partnerships, commercial sponsorship, consumer products, and the overall P&L for the business in the territory, reporting to our league headquarters in New York.

What else do you want to share (e.g. Memorable trip; If you had a superpower; Favourite food or coffee shop; Personal and professional interests; Awards and recognition; Other milestones)?

Very thankful for the incredible teachers at Humber (Barb, Donna, Norm) who played a pivotal role in starting my long career in Canadian advertising (TIME Inc., Rogers, Bell) and professional Sports (Tennis Canada, NFL). They made a great impression on a number of us graduates, who are still proud to refer to ourselves as "Barb and Donna's kids" to this day.