From intern to Alouettes president

"I was one of the first employees hired, having already been with the organization in Baltimore,” Weightman says. “Sometimes it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”

Weightman didn’t realized just how much he had learned during his internship until working with the Alouettes as a marketing coordinator. People were suddenly coming to him with questions.

Those early days with the team also gave him the opportunity to participate in other aspects of the business — on one notable occasion helping Alouettes General Manager Jim Popp prepare the 1997 draft while the organization was on skeleton staff in transition between two offices.

As president, Weightman says his work remains just as varied. “No two days are the same, which keeps it exciting. One day might be more focused on the football-side of the business, what players we’re going to be signing, and other days we're talking about ticket initiatives, marketing initiatives and events for the upcoming season.”

One of the team’s major projects involves visiting schools and the community to develop football in Quebec. He says encouraging kids to play football means encouraging them to stay in school: “The minor leagues for football is school. If you want to play CEGEP or university or pro, it means going through school."

Weightman grew up with a love of football, playing receiver in high school and CEGEP. Still fond of his alma mater, he says he would like to one day hold the Alouettes training camp at Concordia.

For students eager to replicate his climb to the top, Weightman says internships and working hard are key.

"That's what I like about Concordia,” he says. “The slogan when I was studying there was 'Real education for the real world' and I thought it was quite accurate. I enjoyed the hands-on approach; it showed you how things will be when you leave school and what to expect. When I did get out into the real world, I felt I was well prepared."