Former Knight Intern Starts Exciting Career at Burlington Coats.

Ex-OSU Cheerleader and Knights' Staffer Jenny Baker Moves East to be Buyer

Nobody is perfect.

That's one of the biggest lessons Oregon State graduate Jenny Baker learned in her two-year internship with the Corvallis Knights, a stint that was instrumental in her landing her new job with Burlington Coats back in New Jersey.

"One of the most important things (Knights' president) Dan Segel taught me was, 'It's OK to make mistakes,' " said Baker, who interned in 2011 and 2012 while attending OSU. "If you aren't making mistakes, then you aren't stepping outside of the box and taking chances.

"And if you aren't taking chances, you aren't striving to reach your full potential."

Baker grew up in Salem and came to OSU in 2007 after graduating from North Salem High School. She was a cheerleader for four seasons, captained the squad as a junior and senior, and graduated in 2011.

She learned of the Knights from Sandy Dawson, the DHE Internship Coordinator at OSU. She ran the merchandise stand and assisted with on-field promotions in 2011, and then coordinated the intern program and assisted in the ticket office in 2012, all while working another job at a Corvallis clothing store.

"I was looking for internship opportunities that provided hands-on experience and connected me to the sports industry," she said. "The Corvallis Knights seemed like a perfect fit, and they were!"

After the 2012 season, Baker accompanied her longtime boyfriend, ex-OSU football player Cameron Collins, back to his parent's home in New Jersey while he began his professional career. She landed her current position with Burlington Coats shortly thereafter.

"Jenny is a special person. I knew from the moment I interviewed her that she was a leader and was going to be a go-getter," said Knights' general manager Bre Kerkvliet, who first hired Baker in 2011 as a merchandise intern.

"She is a hard worker, has a great personality and is very personable. We will miss Jenny this season but wish her the best of luck in her new career. We know she will do great."

Baker lives in Tinton Falls, N.J., a New York City suburb on the Jersey shore about 45 minutes from Manhattan. She works at the corporate headquarters of Burlington Coats in nearby Burlington as an assistant buyer, specializing in handbags.

"I help buy all the handbags for our 460 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico," she said. "In a typical week I am at headquarters three days a week and in Manhattan working with vendors two times a week.

"I really like the mix between being in the office and being out in showrooms building relationships with all the vendors."

Her years with the Knights played a major role in helping her prepare for the responsibilities in her new job.

"Handbags are a lot different than baseball," she said. "But I gained experience working with all different types of people and learned how to multitask in a very busy environment with the Knights.

"The buying world and baseball are similar, in that the show keeps moving with you or without you. The Knights prepared me for the fast pace of the real world and helped me learn to prioritize when everything is priority.

"I also learned the importance of teamwork and winning in everything I do, big or small."

Filling many different roles, and learning to hire and supervise employees with the Knights, was also beneficial.

"I worked with a lot of different people and got hands-on experience in all aspects of sports entertainment in my various jobs," she said. "I was part of the whole process, from hiring staff, to working in the ticket office with Jaimie (ticket manager Jaimie Van Vleet), to being on the field for promotions.

"I enjoyed being able to bounce around to wherever I was needed, both in the office and on game days. I had a great time working with the Corvallis Knights and I miss them all very much!"