In the latest Jacksonville Jaguars front office move, the organization promoted someone who has both worked with President Mark Lamping and experienced the excitement of seeing an NFL team start in Jacksonville.
As Kelly Flanagan, 29, grew up in Jacksonville, so did the Jaguars.
She watched the games of her childhood team from the stands with her parents, who were season ticket holders, and saw the organization develop through the years.
Flanagan was named Jaguars vice president of finance and planning Monday by Lamping after serving as business planning manager for the organization in 2012.
During the transition into the new role, she will be assisted by former Chief Financial Officer Bill Prescott, who resigned Monday to pursue new opportunities and challenges in his career.
"The opportunity to come back to Jacksonville and be in my hometown was just amazing. I'm part of that generation that grew up with the Jaguars. I can remember the passion the city had for the Jaguars during the expansion. I can remember sitting and completing an entry for a coloring contest for the new team uniforms," said Flanagan.
After graduating from the Episcopal School of Jacksonville in 2002, she earned a bachelor's in accounting and an MBA from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. She also earned a master's in sports management from Columbia University in New York City.
"To come full circle and be a part of the organization that I saw as a hometown fan is a dream come true," said Flanagan.
Lamping said having someone on the top level of management who grew up cheering for the Jaguars offers a distinct vantage point.
"She is part of the generation of men and women who were Jaguars fans from the very beginning. She brings a unique perspective at the highest level of the organization and I welcome that," said Lamping.
Flanagan said she has been passionate about the sports industry from an early age.
She was a member of the Episcopal women's varsity golf team and followed her passion for golf as an intern for the FleetBoston Classic on the Senior PGA tour in the summer of 2003 and with the American Junior Golf Association in the summer of 2004.
She also has been a volunteer at The Players for the past 13 years.
She chose to pursue her passion for sports through accounting after graduating from St. Joseph's and began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City.
She said while there she worked in entertainment and media and had the opportunity to work with public and private sports and entertainment clients.
It was then she decided she wanted to be part of a sports organization rather than spend her time with them as clients.
"I've always been drawn to challenges. It's funny looking back on the memories of the people who tried to steer me away from (pursuing entertainment-media clients), saying, 'That's what everyone wants to do. There's not a lot of spaces in there. You'd be better off raising your hand for something that has more certainty,'" said Flanagan.
"For me, I've never shied away from pursuing what is most important to me," she said.
Flanagan was hired to work at the New Meadowlands Stadium, now MetLife Stadium, in 2009 and worked with Lamping, who was her boss. She advanced from senior accountant to corporate finance manager to controller.
"I had direct responsibilities to the (New York) Giants and the (New York) Jets in terms of managing the accounting and finance of the stadium," said Flanagan.
Lamping was hired by Jaguars owner Shad Khan in February 2012 and she rejoined him that year.
"The past year has been a tremendous experience. Getting to learn the people of the organization has been the highlight and getting to sit in and learn what Mark and Shad's vision is for the future in terms of really growing the organization," said Flanagan.
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