Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 9 No. 4 | March 2017

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2017
DAVID
BERGIDA
WRESTLING
Bell Meade, New Jersey
by Jimmy Robertson
VBS VT 1-3 page ad_Layout 1 7/21/16 11:52 AM Page 1
David Bergida is a redshirt senior on the Virginia Tech wrestling team
who will graduate in May with a degree in finance. He has an interesting job lined
up with CelebzDirect, Inc., a sports marketing agency based in Tampa, Florida,
following his graduation.
Q: Why did you decide to pursue a finance degree?
DB: “My dad is in the finance industry. He and his partner run their own securities
firm. He used to work on Wall Street for 20 years, but now he works in Princeton,
which is only about 10 minutes from where I live. I know there are a lot of jobs related
to finance – everyone has to deal with money. Business in general, and finance …
there are lots of jobs. People are always looking for grads coming out, so I didn’t think
it would be too difficult to find a job.”
Q: You have an interesting job lined up after graduation, starting in July at
CelebzDirect. Tell us about it.
DB: “I’m going to be the licensing and marketing coordinator for CelebzDirect. The
easiest way to explain it is that the company is a sports agency for athlete memorabilia.
We create relationships with former and current athletes in various sports, and they
sell us their memorabilia, or we set up a signing/appearance for them [in return for a
fee]. I’ll be reaching out to potential clients. It’s not really a finance job, but I will be
responsible for some financial aspects within the business.”
Q: Have you been able to work any internships?
DB: “I’ve actually interned at the place I’m going to be working for the past two
years. This past summer, there was a convention in Atlantic City, which wasn’t
far from where I live. They not only connect with athletes, but with trading card
companies like Topps and Panini. We take the athletes and get them to sign deals
with the card companies. I met a bunch of people that were with the card companies. I
was able to make some connections. The previous summer, I was in Tampa, and when
I’d go down there, I was working in merchandising and doing a lot of inventory – not
the most fun stuff. I’d reach out to clients, athletes, to see if they had any stuff they’d
want to sell because people would want to buy stuff like that, and it’s cash in their [the
athlete’s] pocket.”
Q: Where do you see yourself long term?
DB: “That’s the one thing I don’t know. I’m very fortunate that I can do something
and see how I like it. It depends on where it takes me. I can see it taking me to a bunch
of different places. I’ve thought about, if it helps the business, getting a law degree.
When you get a law degree, you can negotiate contracts and become an agent. The
business is still coming up, and I think I can take it high. If it doesn’t go anywhere,
maybe I think it’s not for me, but I really think we can expand. If it expands, I’ll
definitely stay for a while.”