Labor, Law and Baseball: How Katie Brezinski ’07 Made It to the Major Leagues

Katie Brezinski ’07 currently works for Major League Baseball in the Office of the Commissioner as Senior Counsel in the Labor Relations Department. She recently spent some time telling us about her current work and how her path has led her to the MLB.

Could you describe your current work and how your path led you to what you’re currently doing?
My day-to-day includes working with the unions that represent the players and the umpires on issues that arise under their respective collective bargaining agreements. I oversee four separate CBAs—one for the Major League players, the Minor League players, and then the Major and Minor League umpires. My team also handles any grievances and arbitration hearings as a result of disputes with the unions.

Without question, my path to MLB is a winding one. After graduating from Kent Denver, I attended Colby College in Maine where I earned my B.A. in Government and went on to earn my J.D. at Tulane University Law in New Orleans. I specifically chose Tulane Law because of their prestigious Sports Law Program and not only earned a Sports Law Certificate, but I was also the Senior Managing Editor of the Sports Law Review during my third year. Despite this focus in law school, I knew that once I graduated, I needed time to develop my skills as an attorney before trying to break into the sports world.

With that in mind, I found a love for labor and employment law and worked as a law clerk for a judge with the Department of Labor and eventually for Jackson Lewis, P.C., a national labor and employment law firm. I knew that if I developed an expertise in my focused area, I would be an asset to some sort of sports organization when the time was right. In mid-2023, I was living in Florida when I heard from a recruiter who was searching on behalf of MLB, and he told me that my background stood out to them in their national search. Fast forward many interviews later and two trips to NYC to meet the team, and I have now been in NYC working for MLB for over a year.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but now I can see by finding a passion in labor and employment, I was setting myself up perfectly for this type of opportunity.

What feels most fulfilling and most challenging about your work?
The fact that I come in everyday and have the tools and knowledge to face any number of issues is incredibly fulfilling and reaffirms that I am doing what I was meant to do professionally. I love problem solving, and this is a perfect job for that. I also can’t say enough about finally working in the world of professional sports. It was my dream and now that dream is a reality. It is still somewhat of a “pinch me” moment every single day when I walk through the doors at MLB and realize that I work directly for the Commissioner of MLB. Working in an area of law I love within an organization that I have admired since I was a kid is truly a dream come true and makes every day enjoyable.
 
One challenge I face everyday with my job is adjusting to working for an organization with many moving parts and, on top of that, the media attention that comes along with our work. The sheer number of departments that work on a variety of issues and figuring out the crossover between departments is an ongoing learning process for me. Another challenge that I am lucky to face is adjusting to working in my dream job at a relatively young age. Figuring out what is next, and how I want to continue to ascend within the organization is a new challenge that is full of uncertainties and unknowns, but it is one I am excited to tackle.

How did your Kent Denver education prepare you for what you are doing now?
Kent Denver was pivotal in so many ways to my success today. I remember the dean of my class telling me during my freshman year that if I didn’t take advantage of going in to meet with my teachers to ask questions, that it would be my fault and my fault alone. That really struck a chord in me that when you have the incredible privilege of attending a place like Kent Denver, you cannot be complacent, and you need to make the extra effort to meet with and get to know your teachers, so you can get the most out of your education. And I did just that during my time at Kent. I took that lesson to college, law school and into my professional career. I am extremely communicative with my bosses and colleagues, I ask questions without hesitation, and I am always engaged in the work. That is a direct result of my time at Kent.
 
While at Kent, my classmates challenged me daily. I was surrounded by exceptionally intelligent students, and that really motivated me to work even harder. I quickly realized that hard work does pay off, even if it doesn’t seem like it in the short term. It is the little things that build over time and make you successful, and I have my teachers and fellow students at Kent to thank for that understanding. I also have to mention Jason Mundy and Krista Sahrbeck. It was a privilege to be a student of theirs while at Kent. Mr. Mundy was instrumental in my college search and eventual acceptance to Colby, and Ms. Sahrbeck made learning truly fun and pushed me to be a great student.
 
How does being an alumna of Kent Denver School impact your sense of self now?
I always feel such pride when I tell someone where I went to high school. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my parents and how their sacrifices enabled me to have the best high school education possible. They knew how critical a great high school education was to achieve long- term success, and Kent was that first building block.

Can you share a KDS memory that brings you joy?
 One memory I will never forget is when I made the varsity tennis team as a freshman, and we won the state tournament. I remember how in awe I was of the upperclassmen on the team and how they led us to the championship. Lauren Miller '06, Catherine Duboc '05, Kelsey Smith '05, and so many others—they were just great leaders and really took me under their wing. I remember singing along to “Eye of the Tiger” with my team on our bus on the way home from the state tournament in Pueblo and how, when we returned, the entire school celebrated with us. It was a moment I’ll never forget.

Our coach at the time, Gay West, was instrumental in teaching me life lessons at a young age. I still remember a talk she gave us about how we cannot control others around us, but we can control ourselves and how we react to and handle difficult situations. Although it was in the context of tennis, I still tell people that story because it went far beyond the tennis court and is such a valuable lesson in life. Her belief in me and her dedication to us as student-athletes still brings a smile to my face.

Addendum:
Katie recently visited former KDS faculty member, Krista Sahrbeck (pictured at right), at the Hun School of Princeton and delivered a talk to the Young Women’s Leadership Cohort.