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The ability to make a decision can have a lasting impact on the result of a sporting event or in some cases a lasting impact on your life.
 
For former Eastern Illinois women's soccer standout Devon Bissell, a decision she made while in graduate school has paid off and placed her in the middle of a career many other people dream of.
 
Bissell currently works for GMR Marketing, LLC where she serves as the account director for Comcast NASCAR Strategy and Activation. 
 
Yes, you read that correctly, a female working in NASCAR Strategy. 
 
That statement may have seemed odd 20-plus years ago, but in today's market an estimated 37 to 40 percent of NASCAR's fan base is made up of women;  a statistic that Bissell clearly thought about when looking at a career choice.
 
"When I was at EIU, I was introduced to NASCAR by a friend and actually became a bit of a fan.  I chose to follow a career in NASCAR with a strategic plan," said Bissell.  "Realizing that my entire graduate school class was focused on obtaining a job and starting a career in stick-and-ball sports, I decided it would be best to try and differentiate myself and therefore initially pursued a career in NASCAR, in marketing."
 
Bissell has now worked in NASCAR marketing for close to 10 years and has been instrumental in launching several main stream ideas through her position with GMR.
 
"I've been fortunate to have worked with so many great people, launched so many great programs, met a lot of celebrities and been to a lot of incredible places.  One of my most satisfying moments was when we launched the NASCAR XFINITY Series this past February.  A lot of hard work went into that program (and still is).  It was an amazing feeling being there at the first race in Daytona, Florida to watch it unfold."
 
Bissell was also fortunate to be blessed with talent on the soccer field.  A native of St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, she was a three year member of the Panthers soccer team and was instrumental in the success of that program during its early days in the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
"My favorite memory from being an EIU soccer player would have to be when we beat SEMO (Southeast Missouri), 1-0, in the OVC Championship game to advance to the NCAA Tournament to play Notre Dame at Notre Dame.  As a college athlete, we all strive to make it to the highest, most competitive level possible and winning championships.  My hope and goal was to make it to the NCAA Tournament once in my career and we were able to achieve that my final year in 2001.  No better way to go out than that!"
 
Bissell helped the Panthers win three OVC titles during her time in Charleston earning OVC Player of the Year honors in 2000 and OVC Tournament MVP honors in 2001 as the Panthers made the first of four NCAA Tournament appearances.  To this day Bissell still holds the OVC career record for assists with 30 and the EIU single season record with 16.  It was those many hours of preparation that she felt prepared her for the next phase of her life.
 
"Being a student-athlete at EIU prepared me in a number of ways but the one that stands out is learning that working hard pays off.  As a student-athlete, you learn that if you don't put in 110% in both your sport and your academics, you won't reach your full potential.  My coaches and teachers preached that to us every day and it stuck with me.  To this day, I truly believe that the lessons I learned about balancing everything in college have set me up to be successful in my career."
 
The drive to be the best and give 110% percent helped Bissell push herself and expand her horizons.  She earned her degree at EIU in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film.  It was that initial degree that put her in the right place at the right time.
 
"After EIU I spent a year working at Universal Studios in Orlando for a film production company, which is really what I wanted to do from the start and what my EIU degree is in.  However, I realized that I clearly have a passion for sports as well and ultimately decided to further my education in sports business and marketing/events.  I completed my Master degrees in Sports Business Management and Business Administration from Central Florida in 2005."
 
The passion for sport has been in her blood since she was two years old and started kicking a ball around with her dad.  To this day he has been one of her driving forces.
 
"My dad, hands down, is the coach that had the biggest influence on me.  He was my coach for so many years and taught me everything I knew on the field.  I spent a lot of time on the field outside of official practice times and I attribute my determination, dedication and passion for sport to him.  Those things have certainly rubbed off on me."
 
With that passion for sports Bissell was able to set herself apart and gain employment in the sports industry combining two of her passions.  Obtaining a job at GMR Marketing in their Charlotte, NC office right out of graduate school after interning for NASCAR for a year became a perfect fit.  GMR Marketing has since blossomed into an award winning, top-notch agency headquartered in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
 
"By far what I love about my current job is working with people at both my company and in the NASCAR industry.  Not unlike the team I played for at EIU, I have and work with a great team of people who day in and day out give so much of their time and effort to achieve the goals we set.  I'd be remiss not to mention that I love seeing the marketing plans, programs and events come to life.  It's incredibly satisfying knowing all the hard work and time that everyone has put into something pays off.  It's what keeps you motivated to keep pushing to deliver the next one."
 
That motivation runs deep in Bissell's current line of work and the competitive spirit still burns.  She misses the days of being a competitive athlete and how much fun being a student-athlete was at EIU.
 
"I desperately miss playing soccer on a regular basis.  I miss playing with a team and the comradery that came along with it.  When you got on the field nothing else mattered but them.  You gave 110% effort, bringing yourself to complete exhaustion but would walk away feeling so accomplished.  You then turned around and gave that same effort in the classroom.  I enjoyed taking classes with teachers who were sports fans or fans of our team.  It really helped motivate me to do well in their classes even if it was a field I wasn't initially considering for a career."
 
In addition to her role engaged with NASCAR, Bissell has had the opportunity to work with other marketing events with one of her personal highlights being the Tavistock Cup Golf Tournament where she was able to watch and meet professional golfers Anika Sorenson and Ernie Els.
 
To fuel the competitive drive away from her job Bissell has become a half-marathon runner participating in two a year for the past several years.  She also has become an adventurer of sorts by her own definition, living life to the fullest.
 
"I try to do something or go somewhere a little out of the ordinary a couple of times a year.  I've been skydiving, driven a NASCAR stock car at 140 mph around a speedway and learned how to ride a motorcycle (with no intention of buying one); just to name a few.  It's all about life experience!"
 
EIU: Class of 2002
Major: Communications – concentration in Radio, TV and Film
Sport: Women's Soccer

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