Director of Marketing, Blistering Pace Race Management
Name: Hannah Bornhofen Sconzo
Summers as a Camper: 4 summers
- 2007: Second Session Camper - Cabin 24
- 2008: Second Session Camper - Cabin 33
- 2009: Second Session Camper - Cabin 39
- 2010: CILT, Athletics Staff
Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 1 summer
- 2011: Junior Counselor, Tennis & Golf
Current Profession:
- Director of Marketing, Blistering Pace Race Management (2024 - Present)
Previous Roles:
- Marketing Coordinator at Motiv Sports
- Account Manager at Astra Digital
- Marketing & Creative Marketing Manager at Terlato Wine Group
Current Responsibilities and Career Path
I attended the University of Virginia, where Camp always served as a great point of connection. My first-year roommate, Kelly Rusher, was a fellow Camp Seafarer alum. We didn’t overlap at Camp (she was a 1st Session camper & I was 2nd Session), but we knew we’d live well together because we both loved Camp! Being an out-of-state student at a large college, it was the greatest blessing to have a Camp friend to navigate the new chapter with.
2nd semester at UVA, I joined a sorority (Chi Omega) and again benefitted from Camp connections. The Big Sister program within Chi O connected me with Jamie Oppenheimer, another Seafarer alum!
At UVA, I pursued a Media Studies major (with a focus in marketing) and a French minor. When graduation approached and it came time for exploring what industries I could work in, I thought back to an experience I had through Camp in high school!
I ran my very first half marathon with Run A Kid to Camp at the Myrtle Beach Marathon & Half Marathon in 2011. A high school tennis and soccer player, this was my first exposure to the running industry and I loved it! I loved that it was something that brought people together, allowed them to set and achieve goals, and helped them fundraise for causes that mattered to them.
So, I reached out to the local Charlottesville Marathon and interned on their team in the spring semester of my 4th year at UVA which ultimately connected me with a job opportunity in Sonoma, CA marketing a wine country themed half marathon series.
After a few years, I transitioned fully into the wine industry where I handled brand marketing in agency and in-house settings for a portfolio of wines, gaining exposure into luxury goods and hospitality.
Most recently, I’ve moved back into the running industry as Director of Marketing at Blistering Pace Race Management, where our clients include the Big Sur International Marathon, the Napa Valley Marathon, the TCS New York City Marathon, and more. In some ways, the running industry has a lot of Camp spirit, and that makes me feel at home!
Key Lessons from Camp
Camp taught me that character counts, and that it is one of the most valuable things you can bring to a team. Seafarer really emphasized how important it is to take time to connect with everyone you encounter, and to focus on leaving everyone better than you found them.
Camp also taught me that I am capable. My time as a camper and on staff instilled a quiet confidence in me that I carry every day. When obstacles inevitably arise in my work day, I often think of one of my favorite Seafarer Thoughts For the Day: “You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust your sails.”
Proud Achievements
At Terlato Wine Group, I was named DTC Person of the Year which was a cross-departmental recognition presented by the executive leadership team. The award celebrates an individual who contributed significantly to the success of the organization as a whole that year and who is identified as a leader among different teams.
The recognition was such an honor because it is everything I try to bring to any organization I’m a part of. Camp taught me to focus on how I can use my skills to serve those around me to achieve a common goal.
Influential Camp Mentor
Gretchen Presnell was my first counselor and she really helped me gain confidence in myself. It was my first time away from home for such a long period of time and she was so kind and compassionate towards the homesickness I was feeling. She encouraged me to lean on my Camp friends, set goals at my activities, and take pride in my independence!
Lexi Crawford was Head Counselor of Camp 2 the summer I was a CILT and she was such a thoughtful leader. I admired how she made time for everyone, genuinely connected with those around her, and encouraged her CILTs and counselors to become the leaders she knew they were.
Elizabeth Frisch - the Camp 4 AFOOFA queen herself! Frisch has an infectious attitude and zest for life that you can’t help but want to emulate. She taught me to appreciate the little things and look for the good in all people.
Advice for Staff
Camp is a masterclass in self-confidence and leadership. You’ll receive responsibility and hands-on experience that would take years to gain elsewhere. You’ll form life-long relationships that will support you for years to come. And, you’ll be better prepared to be a leader in school, at work, and beyond.
I rely more on the lessons and personal growth I achieved at camp than I do on the experiences I had at traditional corporate summer internships.
