Deacon Spotlight: Corey Pegram

Corey Pegram (2013 in BS in Business & Enterprise Management)

General Manager at REVELxp in Winston-Salem, NC

Tell us about your current job role and employer. What are you currently working on?

Our REVELxp Winston-Salem office focuses on two business lines, Tailgate Guys and PRE Event Rentals. Through Tailgate Guys, we partner with athletic departments (including Wake Forest) to sell and manage premium tailgating experiences for their fans, alumni, and ticket holders. We also assist the athletic departments in creating new hospitality areas that enhance the fan experience. On the PRE Event Rentals side, we work with universities, sporting events, local schools and festivals to provide them with their event equipment needs. My role is focused on revenue generation and business development in both business lines, including a few very exciting new hospitality areas that everyone will see at Truist Field this fall!

What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?

Wake Forest has played a huge role in all of it! As a student at Wake, you’re surrounded by motivated people and encouraged to step out of your comfort zone, including studying abroad, which was absolutely incredible. All of that encouraged me to try new challenging things after college, such as start a small basketball recruiting business and later move to Phoenix, AZ for a job with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. My wife Kathryn (’14) and I met at Wake and now have a 5-month old daughter Nora, so to now return back east with her in order to be closer to family and raise her in the Winston-Salem community is truly a dream come true.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?

Prioritizing. We are a small office and there are a lot of opportunities and challenges that come up every day. I’ve always been someone who hates saying “no,” and I try not to, if at all possible, but that requires a lot of discipline in focusing on the most important task at hand. In my previous job, this was taught as the “WIN” system – What’s Important Now. I try to be as fully present as I can each day so that I have the clarity to know what is the most important task that must get done now.

What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?

I think everyone should have a set of personal values, and I think to create those personal values everyone needs to spend a lot of time truly getting to know themselves. There are always going to be trade-offs in life, so when making tough decisions I find it helpful to have a set of core values to help make them. Mine are integrity, family and self improvement. They factor into every life decision I make.

We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?

I try to get to know people on a personal level as best I can. Asking questions about other people’s lives and truly caring about what they have to say is probably the most important skill to networking in my opinion. This helps establish a real connection, and odds are there are some common interests and/or life experiences to talk about!

Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?

I learned in grad school to have a “personal Board of Directors,” a group of close people in your life with whom you can share challenges, seek advice, and even some times vent about things. Mine are my wife, my parents, my siblings, a couple really close friends, and a former boss. They have helped guide me in big decisions and challenging situations.

What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?

Say yes to opportunities and be proactive about finding them! I think all of us working in sports realize how challenging it was to break into it, so we have the desire to help those who are trying to do the same. Reach out to us and ask to connect for a conversation!

What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?

Being a good dad and husband is number one on my list right now! Developing a strong community here in Winston is also very important to me, and on the career side, I just want to do the best possible job I can in my current role.

Story published in August 2021. For current updates about Corey, visit his LinkedIn page.