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Former player, broadcaster brings motivational approach to Phantom Fireworks
Former player, broadcaster brings motivational approach to Phantom Fireworks
By Dan Hiner
Warren
Vera Jones used to make shots on the hardwood. Now, she helps companies make sales.
After finishing as a record-setting 3-point shooter for the Syracuse women’s basketball team, Jones has spent time as a broadcaster, assistant college coach and a motivational speaker.
On Wednesday, she was the keynote speaker at the Phantom Fireworks annual manager meetings at the Avalon Inn and Resorts in Warren.
“You always have to push through and overcome what you think you can’t,” Jones said. “So I like to go into different organizations, and not everybody’s had the experience I have as a collegiate athlete, so sometimes offering those perspectives is a new way on how to get your mind grounded and optimistic that you can overcome anything.”
Phantom Fireworks thought Jones’ background in several careers would help her connect with the listeners.
The search for a speaker began in November, but the organization was not satisfied with the candidates. One of the regional managers saw Jones speak in Florida and recommended her to Phillip Silverman, Phantom Fireworks director of showroom operations.
“Glenn [Dregoiu] and I — the two that run the showrooms — we’re always trying to motivate our team because we have such a short window to succeed,” Silverman said. “The last couple years we’ve tried to push toward a motivational speaker and [someone] inspiring.”
Jones founded Vera’s Voice LLC in 2007, and two years later founded Play Through the Foul Team Building and Communication.
Jones shot 35.3 percent from deep while helping the Orange to two Big East title, including the first in program history in 1985.
She finished her career with 1,113 points and was inducted into the Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame in 2002.
The former shooter uses experiences from her playing career to help business and employees overcome adversity.
“My terminology is ‘fouls,’ which is a basketball reference or a sports reference,” Jones said. “But there’s not one of us that goes untouched by fouls in our lives.
“It’s not always workplace conflict. Sometimes it’s conflict that you’re bringing from home — sick parent, sick child, sick you — and yet there’s a responsibility you have to do every day in your organization or at your job. And that’s not always easy.”
Jones’ career didn’t start as expected. She was hired by a South Carolina country radio station. The station manager gave her the name “Bobby Jones” because he thought her real name wouldn’t resonate with their audience.
She didn’t know anything about country music, but eventually was named the South Carolina Broadcasters’ Association Personality of the Year in 1994.
“When an African-American women walks up there in this country setting when about two people of African-American ancestry actually listen to country music, people were shocked,” Jones said.
“That was huge to be able to pull that off, but it proved it’s not about what you can see, it’s about who you’re meant to be.”
After looking up to former ESPN broadcaster Robin Roberts, Jones later found herself back in sports.
Since 1997, she has covered women’s college basketball and the WNBA for ESPN, FOX Sports, the Madison Square Garden Network, NBA-TV and the Big Ten Network.
Each step provided more opportunities for Jones. Her playing career led to her time as a broadcaster and the time on air made her more comfortable sharing her messages with the public.
“I’ve been running my mouth since the womb,” Jones said. “Being blessed for being paid for it has been awesome.”