Alexandra “Alex” Dubur serves  as Corporate Counsel for Visit Orlando, the country’s leading tourism association dedicated to branding and marketing Orlando as a destination. A proud double Gator, Dubur graduated from the UF College of Health & Human Performance’s Department of Sport Management and the UF Levin College of Law. 

She initially had her sights set on becoming a sports agent and knew a law background would help her stand out. However, the rigorous law school curriculum shifted Dubur’s mindset to pursue an in-house career.

“I wanted to marry my love for sports and law by leveraging law as a medium for resolution,” Dubur said. “I knew that I would only be as good of a lawyer as I knew the business world my client operates in.”

Throughout her studies, Dubur pursued opportunities in various sports organizations. Calling herself a “career intern,” Dubur interned with UF’s University Athletic Association, the Gainesville Sports Commission and the Special Olympics. Taking her business learnings with her to law school, Dubur interned in the legal departments at IRONMAN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Orlando City Soccer Club.

When reflecting on her time at UF, Dubur remains grateful for the industry-specific curriculum and networking facilitated by the faculty. She also shares the importance of these opportunities and how the sports landscape is a fierce job market that requires tenacity, thick skin and perseverance. Her advice to students? Reframing your perspective on rejection.

“In the sports world, you’ll face rejection and hear ‘no’ a lot. The industry is competitive, and companies take advantage of the talent pool to get their top picks,” Dubur said. “In college, I began viewing ‘no’ as ‘no, for now,’ which fostered a mindset of persistence. My brightest example of this is when I was rejected for a summer legal internship with the Seattle Seahawks but was later selected for a year-long clerkship.”

After some pivots caused by the pandemic, Dubur was recruited to serve as Corporate Counsel for NASCAR. There, she was the sole in-house lawyer for NASCAR’s exotic sports car sanctioning body, IMSA (International Motor Sports Association). In this role, Dubur helped manage the brand’s contract life cycle process, covering marketing, media, and sponsorship, among other business needs.

“Attending races and even driving a Ferrari at an organized event helped me understand first-hand IMSA’s unique business needs and risks,” Dubur said.

Dubur’s transition to Visit Orlando broadened her horizons beyond sports. “Sports being near to my heart, it’s special that I have the opportunity to stay in touch with my roots at Visit Orlando,” Dubur said.

Tourist development tax dollars are set aside annually to attract sports events to Orange County. Visit Orlando evaluates applications for such funding and makes recommendations to the Orange County Sports Incentive Committee.

“Seeing the intersection of sports, tourism and government relations has been eye-opening and a learning opportunity I’m fortunate to have only a few years into my career,” Dubur said.

[Profile added in 2024]

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