When you hear the word football, images of men, sweat, action, maybe even beer come to mind. But, most of us don't think about the ladies behind the gridiron, working to help make our hometown team a success on and off the field. The Women of the Indianapolis Colts, lead by the next generation of Irsays, franchise co-owners Carlie, Casey, and Kalen, are proof there is not only a space for women in football, but indeed they are making a major impact on the sport. Throw on your jersey, grab some nachos, and meet some of the outstanding Women of the Indianapolis Colts.

Lindsay Catavolos Director of Partnership Marketing

1. What is your role with the Colts? I am the Director of Partnership Marketing in our Corporate Partnerships Department. I lead a team that brings our client partnerships to life. I graduated from the University of Kentucky and started an internship with the Colts Special Events Department in 2005. From there I was hired full-time and spent my first three seasons as a special events assistant. In 2008 I moved into our Corporate Partnerships Department and am now in my fifteenth season with the team. 2. Give us the scoop, what is your day-to-day like? Any given day you can find me working on promotional campaigns and activations for our clients, planning B2B events, working with my team on partner touchpoints and helping guide their client management, communicating with our internal teams on partner involvement and during the in-season prepping for game days. I work hard to have a team who provides excellent client service and works to create unforgettable experiences for our fans and partners. I am constantly kept on my toes, but wouldn’t have it any other way.3. Were you a fan before you joined the staff? I grew up in a football family and have been both a fan of the Colts and NFL since I was a little girl. I am motivated and inspired with how sports brings people and communities together. I am proud to work for an organization that excels off the field just as much as they do on the field. It fuels my passion and energizes me on a daily basis.4. The NFL is a male-dominated field, but more and more women are finding professional footing. What has your experience been as one of the Women of the Indianapolis Colts?I feel fortunate to work for an ownership team that believes, encourages and supports women within the industry. I also feel privileged that many of the women I work with I see as role models. They are strong, intelligent, passionate individuals with their own stories that inspire me. It’s been very cool to see how women have and are continuing to break barriers in the sports world and pave the way for future generations. Personally I have been supported and given opportunities that didn’t exist even four years ago such as my current role which I feel very proud of. 5. What advice would you give to a young girl wanting to do your job? I would tell her to never give up, stay driven and be confident in yourself even on the hardest days. It’s important to always be curious and constantly learning. You never know where your career will lead so be open to opportunities that come your way and be bold enough to make the opportunities if you don’t see them. It’s all about the journey so don’t be afraid of mistakes as they help lay the foundation of your skill set. 6. What has been your favorite experience since working for the Colts? There have been a lot of amazing experiences during my time with the Colts so it’s hard to pick just one. The common thread among the many favorite moments are the people, my teammates, and clients, I have been able to work with. If I had to pick one I would say making snow angels in the confetti after the team beat the New England Patriots at the RCA Dome to go to our first Super Bowl is definitely at the top of the list.7. Outside of cheering for the Colts, what do you enjoy in your free time? I love spending time with my family and friends. I like to try out new restaurants in Indy with a good glass of vino. I am an avid reader and board game enthusiast. I like to be active and hope in the near future to be able to travel again.

Ashley Hoffman Director of Member Services

1. What is your role with the Colts? I’m the Director of Membership Services, which means that I work on the ticket services side of the business focusing on the customer service and retention of our season ticket members and the creation of new benefits and experiences to elevate their membership throughout the year. I’ve been with the organization since August of 2018, so currently in my third season with the team. 2. Give us the scoop, what is your day-to-day like? Like many other people at the Colts, my day-to-day constantly changes and it’s definitely not a consistent 9-5 schedule! One minute I’m working on a timeline of membership appreciation events for the year, the next I’m meeting with various other departments to discuss the potential post-season, then I’m working with our analytics department on reporting our latest numbers. It’s always changing, but that’s what makes it fun! In addition, I manage a team of eight that each work with a group of season ticket members so often my days are spent meeting with my staff, discussing ways to improve what we offer to our accounts, talking through their current focus, and assisting where I can if there are any questions or concerns. It’s important for me to be a resource to others! 3. Were you a fan before you joined the staff?Honestly, I was a fan of football, but not necessarily the Colts. I grew up in St. Louis when the Rams were there, so they were my team when I was younger before they left for California. Since I began working for the Colts, I can definitely say I’m a fan! From everything the team does on and off the field, it’s a great organization to work for and I’ve been impressed by the values of ownership. It makes it easy to cheer for the Colts success! 4. The NFL is a male-dominated field, but more and more women are finding professional footing. What has your experience been as one of the Women of the Indianapolis Colts?My whole career has been in sports, even though I’ve only been in the NFL for a couple years, and I’ve realized that it’s important to focus on what you contribute to your role and your organization with your experience, regardless of your gender. There are some very strong women at the top here at the Colts, including ownership, and it’s encouraging and inspiring to see the advancement and opportunity. 5. What advice would you give to a young girl wanting to do your job?Dream big, don’t be afraid to take risks and never settle! Great opportunities are out there! 6. What has been your favorite experience since working for the Colts?One of the coolest parts of my job is taking season ticket members on away game trips. It’s so fun to visit new cities and new stadiums, watch the Colts {hopefully} win, and learn more about our season ticket members.My favorite experience though would have to be my first home game working for the organization. I was able to help out with our 'Tunnel Club' where fans stood on the field before the game and helped form a runout tunnel for the players. To be on the field looking up with 60,000+ fans cheering is something I’ll never forget. 7. Outside of cheering for the Colts, what do you enjoy in your free time? In a normal year, I really enjoy traveling. I have friends all over the country and it’s fun to meet up for weekend getaways and visit new places. I’m also an avid reader, love Sunday brunch, baking, trying new restaurants and exploring around town!

Pamela Humphrey Communications Coordinator

1. What is your role with the Colts? On a day-to-day basis my duties can consists of administrative, troubleshooting, media servicing, communicating with fans, coordinating departmental outings, hosting tours, working with other departments on special projects, assisting colleges with procurement of information and archives of their alumni. I have been described as the glue that holds it all together. 2. Give us the scoop, what is your day-to-day like? Off-season is strictly 8:30 to 5:00 with very few surprises. During the season you get into a game-to-game rhythm dictated by the coaching schedule. On the other-hand because there are so many people that work within the organization you’ll find yourself dealing with the human aspects of life. One day you come to work and you find out that your Head Coach's’ son has died. On another day you find out your new Head Coach has been diagnosed with leukemia and will undergo cancer treatment and will be unavailable to coach the team. You wake up on another day and find out a player has been arrested for swimming in the Broad Ripple canal. These examples require that our department coordinate the messaging with everyone involved whether it’s the family of the deceased or the one that’s sick, the league office or law enforcement. It’s all about presenting a united front with our messaging on a particular issue. The examples described would have been handled differently today with everyone being able to post on social media, whether they’re true or not. 3. Were you a fan before you joined the staff? Prior to joining the team, I was not a football fan. Growing up my father would dominate the main TV in the house. Football for him started on Saturday with college, NFL on Sunday and Monday Night Football. One could say I grew to resent football. For me everything prior to kickoff is about getting the job done and making sure everyone has what they need. When the ball is kicked off I become a fan. 4. The NFL is a male-dominated field, but more and more women are finding professional footing. What has your experience been as one of the Women of the Indianapolis Colts? This will always be a male-dominated business but there are more women finding their place and their voice in the industry. My personal experience is a little different from what you see now. I started in 1987 when there were no women in management, we were all considered 'secretaries'. The roles were subordinate, it was about keeping your head down and just doing your job. Having female owners has changed that, the organization now relies on the imagination, vision and voices of women because they have a different perspective of the world and that is reflected in the approach of ownership. 5. What advice would you give to a young girl wanting to do your job? I would tell her to start where she is. If she wants to work in professional sports start on campus, volunteer in your sports information office. Hone your communications skills. Learn to use as much computer software that shows your creative side. Try to connect with sports professionals in your area. I would tell her there are only 32 of these jobs, she’ll need to be creative and know this is not a glamorous position. A lot of our days are spent waiting on others, we call it the “Hurry Up & Wait” syndrome. Getting these jobs isn’t always about what you know but who you know. You’ll need to begin building your professional network early if this is the career path you want to take.If personal accolades are what she’s looking for then this isn’t the job for her. Most days are thankless and people often wonder what it is you really do. There is really nothing tangible you can show those around you. It’s not like you create a tangible product. The days are long and dealing with humans who may or may not make your job easier can be frustrating on many levels. You need to have a temperament of not taking things personally. If someone is having a bad day then you might just be the person they take it out on, nothing personal you just happen to be there at that moment. I would also tell her that if other opportunities present themselves she should take them because it’s about experience and those experiences in other industries may lead you back to the NFL. The path to these jobs isn’t always a direct path. 6. What has been your favorite experience since working for the Colts? January 21, 2007 the AFC Championship game versus the New England Patriots. Being on the field when the confetti fell was one of the most memorable moments of my life. Knowing that no one believed we would win after being down most of the game. I will never forget Marlin Jackson’s interception of Tom Brady as the clock ticked down to zero. My second most favorite experience was running out on to the field after we beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.7. Outside of cheering for the Colts, what do you enjoy in your free time? In my spare time I like to read, bake and visit antique shops. I’m not very crafty but have been known to attempt painting furniture for a change in décor or creating holiday table scapes. I’m a big fan of Pinterest and get a lot of ideas and recipes to try out on family and friends.

Larra Overton Producer

1. What is your role with the Colts? In my role as producer & on-air talent I have the opportunity to share the stories of the incredible people throughout the Colts organization from players to coaches to front office to staff to fans, working in various aspects of Colts media. I host our weekly TV show, Colts360, co-host the Official Colts Podcast and serve as the sideline reporter for our game day radio coverage. I also produce and coordinate our episodic content including “With the Next Pick,” “Behind the Colts,” “Colts Life” and the Emmy-winning “Colts Forever.”2. Give us the scoop, what is your day-to-day like? Day-to-day varies a ton from in-season to the offseason. In the offseason, its primarily coordinating travel, interviews, shoots and edits for our various series. In season, Sundays are the highlight, as I do pregame interviews, cover the sidelines for the radio broadcasts, and conduct postgame interviews with the players. Mondays I usually spend planning our TV show for the week, coordinate with PR staff for interviews and connect with our production team on the content we are creating. I finish the day with an interview with Coach Reich. Tuesdays I focus on the podcast and writing scripts for the show and beginning my sideline notes for the week. Wednesday we record the remainder of the show and get our player interview for the week. Thursday I have a phone interview with a player for more game day prep and I really dive into my game day research and notes. Fridays we do a fun social media Q&A segment and get the injury report from Coach which helps me focus in on the notes and storylines for Sunday’s game.3. Were you a fan before you joined the staff? I grew up in Indiana with my parents being major sports fans, but primarily watching college basketball and college football. When I got to IU, I started watching every single Colts game. Sundays would usually be a light day of training or a day off (I ran track and cross country for the Hoosiers) so I immersed myself in learning about the NFL and becoming a avid Colts fan. I started covering the Colts in 2009 when I was working at WTWO in Terre Haute as the weekend sports anchor and sports reporter and always aspired to work for the organization; 10 years later it came to fruition! Working for the franchise has given me an even greater appreciation for the people, the family dynamic, the commitment to winning the right way, and the team’s investment in the community. I was always so proud to be a Colts fan, now I am proud to have the privilege of working within and representing the team that I also passionately root for! 4. The NFL is a male-dominated field, but more and more women are finding professional footing. What has your experience been as one of the Women of the Indianapolis Colts? We have such strong men and women in positions of leadership that have made me feel empowered, supported and encouraged throughout my professional journey. It starts at the top. Our women in ownership, Carlie, Casey and Kalen, are well respected across the NFL. Working in sports is undoubtedly competitive, regardless of your gender, and I have never felt disadvantaged being female. I’ve often had male colleagues say, “hey my daughter saw you on the field reporting and thought that was so cool!” or “my daughter saw you on TV interviewing Coach and has an interest in sports media” which are some of the most encouraging, greatest compliments I’ve ever received.5. What advice would you give to a young girl wanting to do your job? Don’t get discouraged! Be prepared, be passionate, and be willing to do the work. People will tell you how tough of a business it is to break into and to STAY in, but I would argue that being successful in anything that’s worth it is probably going to be challenging! And that only makes you stronger, better and more appreciative.6. What has been your favorite experience since working for the Colts? This may sound broad, but it’s building the relationships. The relationships I have built through producing content with players, coaches, front office executives, scouts, staff and fans. The greatest privilege I have in my role is being trusted to share someone’s story.7. Outside of cheering for the Colts, what do you enjoy in your free time? I love running and compete in many local road races. I currently have a streak of running at least one mile each day for more than 400 consecutive days. I am also a fitness instructor, teaching classes at Shred415 in Carmel. My husband and I got married in late July just before the season began, so I am enjoying settling into married life with him and our 3-year-old Mastiff, Tugboat.

Jasmine Park Senior Director of Human Resources

1. What is your role with the Colts? I joined the Colts on September 28, 2020 as the Senior Director of Human Resources for the newly established HR department. It was such an honor to be presented with the opportunity to join the team and the opportunity to build upon a strong culture of performance excellence in an inaugural role has been nothing short of an absolutely incredible experience for me, both personally and professionally. 2. Give us the scoop, what is your day-to-day like? Currently, our work-from home arrangements provide us with the flexibility to stay safe and productive during the pandemic so my daily schedule invariably includes virtual meetings. My day-to-day purpose boils down to helping to serve the Colts’ most valuable assets – our people – continue to develop and thrive. How this purpose manifests in daily activities during the week is as unique as each individual and department with whom I work and partner with – day in/day out. Every day is filled with pockets of fun, moments of challenge and opportunities to strategize on most impactful ways to advance our team’s mission and our employees’ interests, and be as positively impactful as I able to be each day. 3. Were you a fan before you joined the staff? Yes! As a native Hoosier, I may actually bleed blue. I’ve been lucky enough to have enjoyed a few Colts games in the past and in my opinion, as far as live entertainment goes, there’s nothing like the excitement and joy of watching live sports or entertainment at a stadium or venue. Now as an integral member of the Colts, my fandom has ratcheted up to the highest level of appreciation for our team’s efforts to incrementally improve on the field and work hard to win every game. As any other Colts fan will likely tell you, ours is a family-fandom and I’m so very proud to be a part of it! 4. The NFL is a male-dominated field, but more and more women are finding professional footing. What has your experience been as a one of the Women of the Indianapolis Colts? My own experience, as a woman who has never worked in sports prior to joining the Colts, has only been very positive. In my Human Resources role, I work on the business side of the house and have received nothing but support and encouragement from the men in our organization. Prior to joining the Colts, I did work in other male-dominated industries and do have many years of first-hand experience working in male-dominated verticals, and know that the components of success should include establishing mutual trust and respect, being curious and agile in mindset, proactively communicating to be heard and with the intent to be collaborative in producing winning results together.5. What advice would you give to a young girl wanting to do your job? I would advised young ladies wanting to pursue a career in football to start by becoming a subject matter expert in your chosen field of study and to be dedicated to putting into practice, pursuing your chosen passion and purpose. Then, when opportunities present themselves in the form of a job opening, you will be well-prepared and qualified to seize the moment. Whether it’s in a business support role such as Human Resources, or a football operations role such as a Referee, work hard and don’t let others discourage you from pursuing your dreams based upon your gender. As much as it feels right for you, follow your own path. 6. What has been your favorite experience since working for the Colts? Without a doubt, my favorite experience working for the Colts is getting to know and work with the people who make up our entire organization. On and off the field, ours is a collective team of incredible individuals, from the longest-tenured C-Suite executive to the newest intern, it’s a joy to work hard every day because I know exactly who’s going to benefit from my efforts. Regardless of that person’s role on our team, I look forward to connecting with each and every one of them on a daily basis.7. Outside of cheering for the Colts, what do you enjoy in your free time? I’m a voracious reader and while I haven’t had a lot of time since the inception of the pandemic to sit still enough to read regularly, I do love reading and carve it into my life as much as my crazy schedule will allow. I also enjoy running and hiking outdoors as much as possible, which has been a lifesaver for my mental and physical health this past year. And of course last but not least, spending quality time with my family is always my number one priority, and that does includes my four-legged family members.

Stephanie Pemberton Vice President of Marketing

1. What is your role with the Colts? I currently serve as the Vice President of Marketing for the team. This marks my 17th season with the team. I started as an intern during the 2004 season and have been blessed with the opportunity to grow within the organization over the past several years. Since I was a teenager growing up in small-town Indiana, my dream job was to work in the NFL for the Colts. I can honestly say I’m living out that dream!2. Give us the scoop, what is your day-to-day like? One of the things I love about my job is that there is no 'typical day.' Sports is a fast-paced environment – we are constantly challenged to adapt and evolve, so remaining flexible and being able to adapt is really important. That’s never been more true than in 2020 as we’ve navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Me and my team currently oversee our Affinity Clubs {e.g. Kids Club, Blue Ladies, etc.}, Cheerleaders, Community Relations, Consumer Products/Licensing, Digital & Database Marketing, Events, Gridiron Hall {event space at our facility}, Mascot {a.k.a. Blue}, and Youth Football for the team.3. Were you a fan before you joined the staff? Yes! I was born and raised here in Indiana, so I grew up following the team. I still have my official membership letter for the Colts Fan Club from my childhood! As I got older and entered college, my fandom evolved into an overall interest in the business side of sports. My passion for the sport drove me to want to make a career in the field. Once I secured an internship with the Colts, I fell in love with the organization even more. We have tremendous ownership in the Irsay family and I felt such an alignment with the organization’s values and mission. It’s a big part of what has kept me here for so many years.4. The NFL is a male-dominated field, but more and more women are finding professional footing. What has your experience been as one of the Women of the Indianapolis Colts. I feel tremendously blessed to be able to work for one of the few NFL teams that has female ownership, and have always felt supported during my time with the Colts. From a young age, Mr. Irsay’s three daughters have been very involved with the team, so it’s been wonderful having that female representation at the ownership level within our organization. We’ve also seen our female fan base grow and evolve so much over the years – based on research we’ve done, nearly half of our fans are women, which is really incredible. We even have a dedicated women’s fan club called the Blue Ladies.5. What advice would you give to a young girl wanting to do your job? Sometimes we, as girls and women, can be our own worst enemy. Don’t let your fear hold you back – if you want to work in sports, go after it. Work harder than everyone else around you, and have confidence in your abilities. Don’t doubt your capabilities and what you can bring to the table. You should dream big, but also know that usually the biggest dreams are the ones that take the most hard work.6. What has been your favorite experience since working for the Colts? I have had so many wonderful memories it’s hard to name one. Going to two Super Bowls and winning one will always be up there on my list. But there are so many little moments along the way that will stick with me forever, as well. The smiles on the faces of kids at Riley Hospital for Children when we visit, the hugs from foster kids when we give them backpacks filled with 25 books through our Books for Youth program, or seeing a Make-A-Wish kid’s face light up when he or she gets to meet their favorite player. These are the moments when I realize how blessed I am to work for an organization that uses its platform to make a difference. Yes, what happens on the football field will always be exciting and memorable, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to see the thousands of moments off the field that make me so proud to be a part of the Horseshoe.7. Outside of cheering for the Colts, what do you enjoy in your free time? My husband and I have two young kiddos, so most of our free time is spent with them. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so the importance of family has never been stronger. By God’s grace, my cancer journey is one of healing as my pathology reports came back clean after surgery. But through the chemo, surgery and recovery, I was reminded how important life’s little moments are, so I’ve really tried to cherish those even more.

MEET THE WOMEN KEEPING INDY INDIE : Check out our Women of Mass Ave feature

Ashley Powell Director of Community Relations

1. What is your role with the Colts? I have been with the Indianapolis Colts for 14 seasons and have loved every minute of my time with the team! I completed two internships with the organization before I was hired on full-time after graduating from Indiana University in Bloomington {Go Hoosiers!}. I spent most of my time within the Events and Marketing Department where I was able to experience some pretty amazing opportunities with my coworkers. In 2018, I made the move to become the Director of Community Relations where my team and I get the opportunity to share the heart behind the horseshoe every day. 2. Give us the scoop, what is your day-to-day like? I think what makes this job so fun and unique is that there is no typical day-to-day! The Community Relations team is responsible for the philanthropic arm of the Colts organization and helping our players use their platform to make an impact in the community. We have an incredible group of guys that give up their “day-off” every week to serve at our Community Monday events. Our projects may range from building playgrounds in a day, facilitating a drive-thru Thanksgiving meal distribution for 2,000 families or handing out brand new school uniforms to an entire school of deserving students. It’s important for us to be a positive force for good and we are committed to improving the lives of our fellow Hoosiers by building a healthy, inclusive and compassionate community. 3. Were you a fan before you joined the staff? I am a born and raised Hoosier so the Colts have always been a part of my life. Being a member of this organization has shown me the true power of sports and how it can bring a community together. Indianapolis is special and I’m just fortunate to work for an organization that is so passionate about the community in which we all live, work and play. 4. The NFL is a male-dominated field, but more and more women are finding professional footing. What has your experience been as one of the Women of the Indianapolis Colts? The Colts organization has some pretty incredible female leadership. I think most people know this, but our Ownership includes three women who are actively engaged in our day-to-day operations. I truly look to these women, and all of the women in our organization, as role models that have helped shape me to become the person I am today in my career. 5. What advice would you give to a young girl wanting to do your job? Don’t ever give up on your dream! The sports world can be a tough industry to break into and you have to be willing to be flexible and try new things. Take any opportunities that may come your way, even if it may not be your dream job to start out with. Enough hard work and persistence will pay-off in the end.6. What has been your favorite experience since working for the Colts? This is a hard one! It is really difficult to pinpoint one experience but it would have to be the opportunity to work with so many amazing individuals. The people in this organization are some of the hardest working and most passionate people I know. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by colleagues whose work ethic pushes me to continually be better. I’m beyond grateful that this organization has introduced me to some of my very closest friends in life! 7. Outside of cheering for the Colts, what do you enjoy in your free time? Free time, what’s that?! I have two very spunky little redheaded daughters that keep my husband and I very busy. We love spending time outdoors and made a goal to try and visit as many parks as we could in Indiana this summer {we only hit about 8, but with two little ones that felt like an accomplishment!}. I’ve lived in Indianapolis my entire life but still enjoy exploring the city as it is ever-changing and growing!

As one of the few NFL teams with female ownership, it’s no surprise the Indianapolis Colts have numerous talented women in key position within the organization. Jim Irsay, the team’s owner and CEO, has three daughters – Carlie, Kalen and Casey – who have been involved with the organization their entire lives and currently serve as Vice Chairs/Owners.

Special thanks to the Indianapolis Colts for providing images for this piece.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Laurel Price traded in her former career of wrangling Fraternity & Sorority members as a university Greek Advisor for wrangling her her six year old son and four year old daughter. She previously worked as the Communications Director at the Urban Chalkboard and now supports theCityMoms as the Digital Editor. Laurel loves reading {her resolution is to read at least 36 books a year}, long solo trips to Target, hiking and cycling, and {according to her husband} is becoming an obsessive environmentalist.

The Women of the Indianapolis Colts