Ryan Dever ’17, MBA ’18, proves that pitching yourself through networking can be a huge driver toward a successful future career — even in something you had never previously considered.

The Tabernacle, New Jersey, native is a vice president for Outlyr, a sports marketing company that specializes in event management, sponsorship consulting and sales and property representation.

For Dever, that means being the tournament director of two LPGA Tour stops, including the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern, which is held at Seaview Golf Club just down Jimmie Leeds Road from Stockton’s Galloway campus.

And while he always wanted to have a career in sports — he was a huge Philadelphia Phillies and Flyers fan as a kid — golf wasn’t in his upbringing.

“The first time I picked up a club was after working for the ShopRite LPGA the summer of 2015 when I was a freshman at Stockton,” said the 30-year-old who now lives in Clearwater, Florida. “And it’s been a part of my life ever since.”

Dever credits a Stockton class called “The Power of Sports” he took his first year in 2015 with getting him to where he is today. A sports marketing executive who was a guest speaker in one class held a networking session and at that event he was introduced to someone who worked for the Classic. Dever inquired about volunteering and got an internship. 

“That internship opportunity that lasted several years led to the full-time job that I have today,” said Dever, who has worked for Outlyr since the second semester of his sophomore year. “But the beauty of it was I was able to finish up my education.”

And Dever was busy at Stockton. He was enrolled in the School of Business accelerated dual-degree program, but Outlyr allowed him to work around his class schedule.

“It’s just cool how a couple of conversations can turn into a 10-year career,” he said. “It really shows the power of how networking is really important. You never know where a conversation, a cup of coffee or an email might lead.”

For Dever, his time at Stockton led him to not only running the ShopRite LPGA, but for the past two years he has also been the tournament director of one of the LPGA’s most prominent events — The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in Belleair, Florida. The 2025 tournament gained some additional exposure when WNBA star Caitlin Clark played in its pro-am and Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, was given a sponsor’s exemption to make her LPGA debut.

As the tournament director, Dever acts as the lead liaison between the tournament title sponsor and the LPGA Tour. In other words, he’s responsible for making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

As for his time at Stockton, Dever has fond memories of playing intramural flag football and leading tours on campus as an admissions ambassador.

“It was a great way to test the waters in public speaking,” he said. “I saw it as another opportunity to sharpen a tool in the shed.”
He said he feels like “Stockton chose me as much as I chose Stockton” because he committed during an Early Decision Day at Seneca High School. 

“I’ll always come back to the small class sizes and the kind of one-on-one opportunities with professors that I got at Stockton,” he said. “I never felt like just a number in a seat in a lecture hall.”

As for his future, Dever hopes to continue at Outlyr putting on first-class golf events.

“I’ve always been passionate about sports and finding a career in it,” he said. “I feel like I don’t work a day in my life, honestly.”
And how’s his golf game?

“I’m working on it,” Dever said with a laugh. “I’m at the point in my career where playing golf is becoming a part of my business day to day. That’s why I’m trying to improve my game, but I think everyone is always trying to improve their game. Even Tiger Woods, right?”