SVG All-Stars: Sarita Meinking, Executive Director, Field Operations, FOX Sports

In an era when sports production is evolving faster than ever, a new generation of leaders is beginning to make its mark on the industry. Our new SVG All-Stars series explores the journey of the industry’s rising executives, showcasing their experiences and career highlights in the business, overarching philosophy and leadership strategy, technological and creative innovation, and where they see the industry headed. Join us as we uncover the story behind their ascent and the impact they are having in an ever-evolving industry.

Innovation is the name of the game in today’s hyper-competitive world of live sports production. Each year, major championship events inspire new levels of technology, storytelling tools, and programming initiatives designed to drive tune-in and develop deeper engagement with audiences.

Sarita Meinking is executive director of field operations at FOX Sports, where she has been a rising star for a decade.

All that innovation doesn’t fall out of thin air; it requires meticulous planning and organizational foresight to put the gear – and, more importantly, the people – in place to ensure that the efforts not just succeed but happen at all.

FOX Sports has built a legacy of pushing the envelope of what viewers can expect from a live sports production, and, these days, one of the key people making this “magic” happen is Sarita Meinking.

With 17 years in the industry, Meinking has been a rising star at FOX for a decade, following stints at NFL Films, MLB Network, and the Big Ten Network. As executive director of field operations, she lays out the onsite plans for many of the biggest events of the year: college basketball, major golf championships, even the Super Bowl.

Meinking with FOX Sports VP, Engineering and Operations, Brad Cheney at the 2018 U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

In this week’s edition of SVG All-Stars, Meinking shares her career journey and offers her opinions on industry innovations she has her eye on, how to get started in the industry, and why it’s important to “keep the easy stuff easy.”

What are the key responsibilities of your current role?
I manage and organize the technical and operational details of a variety of FOX Sports’ marquee events.

Over the years, I have worked on major events like the U.S. Open Championship, Super Bowl, World Series, Belmont Stakes, and basketball championships, but my primary day-to-day responsibilities this time of year are focused on college basketball and the UFL. At these events, I source and assign vendors, assign mobile units, equipment, and crew to ensure successful events.

Meinking with FOX Sports Director, Engineering Phil Abrahams on the opening day of the college-basketball season in November

Beyond the nuts and bolts of ensuring that each event runs smoothly from the operations side, we are also constantly evolving to ensure we have the most efficient systems in place. For example, last year, we launched a new master-grid and scheduling system that helps to run all our events, including booking and tracking all crew and travel.

What key industry trend do you see as having a major impact on your organization right now?
I am most excited about the use of the cloud in the television industry. I believe it has been a big step forward; it will put us in a place to ultimately have people work anywhere. I’m also excited to see cellular-based transmission being used more regularly, not just as a backup transmission option. Both of these elements have a major impact on our onsite workflows and have helped us become more efficient across events.

What core philosophy do you try to live by when managing your team/operation?
I always say, “Keep the easy stuff easy.” If our team can perfect the everyday tasks, they will be able to handle the hard stuff when it inevitably comes along. Preparation is key in this role, and we try to stay ahead of the curve as much as possible to ensure that we can roll with the punches and problem-solve on the fly when needed.

What is your favorite event(s) you’ve ever worked?
My favorite event was also the hardest event I’ve ever worked: the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. It was the first time FOX Sports had ever broadcast golf, and we were immediately put on one of the sport’s biggest stages with a major championship on the line. We had over 1,000 people working onsite in what was one of the largest single-event broadcasts in remote-television history. I learned a lot from that event with plenty of bumps in the road along the way, but, ultimately, it was an incredibly rewarding experience.

Meinking with (from left) FOX Sports Operations Managers Penelope Prior, Danielle Karns, and Nicole Perrin

How did you get started in sports production? What was your first real job in the business?
My first job in television was as a production assistant for NFL Films’ Hard Knocks series. I had a whirlwind three weeks onsite in River Falls, WI, for “Training Camp With the Kansas City Chiefs,” where I learned a lot across some long days. I loved being part of the team and wanted to continue in this industry, and I was fortunate to meet some wonderful people who helped kickstart my career in sports television.

What one piece of advice do you have for someone just starting their career in this industry?
Be respectful of everyone, not just people you think are important. Everyone has a critical role on the team and embracing that will take you further than anything else.

To read more of the SVG All-Stars series, CLICK HERE.