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She’s found her market in a crowded sports industry

Van Adams helping retired athletes find their way off the field

Meg Fry//March 30, 2015//

She’s found her market in a crowded sports industry

Van Adams helping retired athletes find their way off the field

Meg Fry//March 30, 2015//

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Van Adams left Grambling State University with a hard-earned undergraduate degree in biology and pre-med in hand.

But despite thinking a career in medicine was what she and her family both wanted for her future, it suddenly no longer held her interest.

“Women, in general, have to get out of their own way,” Adams said recently.

“Like Nike, just do it — don’t overthink it.”

So Adams returned to Grambling to pursue a master’s degree in sports administration.

It was the right move — soon after, she found herself working in key positions at organizations such as the United States Golf Association, Sports Illustrated and the Buffalo Bills.

“Every position I’ve had has been a building block to the next,” Adams said. “And when people start to see you can deliver on something, it almost does the work for you.”

After she was introduced to the sports community, Adams said, athletes started to approach and ask her for help managing fundraisers, starting foundations and finding them endorsement deals, due to their time constraints.

“I hadn’t thought to start a business, but business was coming to me,” Adams said. “Which led to this career I’ve packaged together for myself.”

Today, Adams is the founder and president of VanAdams Sports Group in West Orange, a boutique marketing agency specializing in brand identity and messaging, marketing and digital strategies, special event production, talent relations and program development for sports organizations and athletes.

Since 2004, Adams’ company has represented a number of sports celebrities and successfully executed marketing campaigns for their personal celebrity, business and nonprofit ventures.