The Colie Edison Experience
May 11, 2020 | Women's Bowling
How a Tulane grad went from The Real World to the height of the bowling world.
Colie Edison went from a Tulane student displaced by Hurricane Katrina to a reality television star to the first female CEO of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). A story of relative fame to the top of the bowling world all started at the campus in Uptown.
She walked on Tulane University's campus as a student for the first time in the fall of 2002 with the world in front of her, but she knew this was where she wanted to be far before her first steps as a student.
"I went down to visit and spent a weekend with some freshman students, who I knew from high school, and quickly realized that there was no place else I was going to college except Tulane University," Edison said.
During her time in Uptown, she served as a leader on campus and lived through a turbulent time in New Orleans history. Edison was a part of one of the most historical graduating classes in Tulane's history. Every year of college brought a "hurricane break" for the East Brunswick, New Jersey, native, but the fall of 2005 was different.
"We drove to Austin, Texas, to UT, and that was where we were going to do our hurricane break," Edison said. "I remember vividly that we were staying at some hotel and we were all watching the news at 4 a.m. and saw that the levees broke. We knew immediately we were not going back to school."
As the city of New Orleans was decimated by Hurricane Katrina, the senior class at Tulane lay in limbo not knowing what the final two semesters held. Edison, as the president of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, organized a group of students to finish the fall semester at Boston University. Tulane returned to campus in the spring of 2006 for a graduation that was filled with star speakers, including Ellen DeGeneres and former United States Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush.
During her time on campus, Edison served as a leader and took that with her into the working world.
"I feel like my experience at a school that is in the heart of a world of play – The Big Easy – really gave me the tools that I needed to get where I am today," Edison said. "I would also say the rigor behind hard work, determination and building up a skill set that enables you to use your creativity is something that Tulane gave me."
Edison has worked her way through the bowling world and currently serves as the Chief Customer Officer of Bowlero Corp. and CEO of the PBA. Bowling was not something she would have thought of as a career, but it may have been in the cards from a young age.
"I grew up in a town called East Brunswick – Brunswick is a bowling brand," Edison explained. "I went to Tulane – we bowl on lanes. I think, whether or not I knew it, bowling was always destined to be part of my life!"
After seeing Bowlero Corp go from a five-bowling center chain to the largest owner and operator in the space, she now has her sights set on the PBA. Her plan is to raise the profile and exposure of the association.
"The new model that I've put in place is centered around honoring tradition and embracing change," Edison said. "That is the way that we are going to move forward."
Edison sees a path for the world's top bowlers to be in the highest ranks of professional athletes by increasing the visibility of the PBA through viewership, technology, sponsorship and ongoing player development.
The Tulane grad is no stranger to the spotlight as she starred on MTV's The Real World: Denver and The Challenge. During her time in Boston, Edison attended an open casting call for The Real World: Denver and was chosen among a sea of applicants. She used this experience as a time to learn and grow as a person.
"When the TV cameras come off, what I took away from it was that we all have our own challenges and we don't truly understand that until we get to know one another on a non-superficial level," Edison said. "I was probably sheltered from that for a long time in my life. I was definitely exposed to it by getting to experience New Orleans after Katrina and furthermore by going on The Real World and I am forever grateful for that."
Her time on the silver screen also gave her critical knowledge to take the PBA to unforeseen heights.
"From a professional stand point, my experience and background in entertainment and media has been key," Edison explained. "I know what people want to watch. I know what drives user behavior. I know what drives audiences to seek out different programming options. In both of my careers as a marketer and as the CEO of the PBA, I have utilized that. I've also learned that making connections and building relationships is core to being in a leadership position. Everybody that you meet can play a valuable role in your life, whether personal or professional, and vice versa. I have been able to hold on to those connections and understand the value in relationships, which you can't put a dollar sign next to."
The Tulane grad has also explored the options for women in the bowling world. She plans to work with the Green Wave bowling team to develop a path for bowlers from the youth leagues to the professional ranks.
"Through my connection at Tulane, I'm really excited to start working with the bowling team and exploring what a clearer trajectory might look like from youth play into high school play into NCAA play and then pros," Edison said.
Edison overcame obstacles during her time at Tulane and after, both in (and on) the real world. She has helped take Bowlero Corp. to the top, and Edison plans to do the same with the PBA.
She walked on Tulane University's campus as a student for the first time in the fall of 2002 with the world in front of her, but she knew this was where she wanted to be far before her first steps as a student.
"I went down to visit and spent a weekend with some freshman students, who I knew from high school, and quickly realized that there was no place else I was going to college except Tulane University," Edison said.
During her time in Uptown, she served as a leader on campus and lived through a turbulent time in New Orleans history. Edison was a part of one of the most historical graduating classes in Tulane's history. Every year of college brought a "hurricane break" for the East Brunswick, New Jersey, native, but the fall of 2005 was different.
"We drove to Austin, Texas, to UT, and that was where we were going to do our hurricane break," Edison said. "I remember vividly that we were staying at some hotel and we were all watching the news at 4 a.m. and saw that the levees broke. We knew immediately we were not going back to school."
As the city of New Orleans was decimated by Hurricane Katrina, the senior class at Tulane lay in limbo not knowing what the final two semesters held. Edison, as the president of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, organized a group of students to finish the fall semester at Boston University. Tulane returned to campus in the spring of 2006 for a graduation that was filled with star speakers, including Ellen DeGeneres and former United States Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush.
During her time on campus, Edison served as a leader and took that with her into the working world.
"I feel like my experience at a school that is in the heart of a world of play – The Big Easy – really gave me the tools that I needed to get where I am today," Edison said. "I would also say the rigor behind hard work, determination and building up a skill set that enables you to use your creativity is something that Tulane gave me."
Edison has worked her way through the bowling world and currently serves as the Chief Customer Officer of Bowlero Corp. and CEO of the PBA. Bowling was not something she would have thought of as a career, but it may have been in the cards from a young age.
"I grew up in a town called East Brunswick – Brunswick is a bowling brand," Edison explained. "I went to Tulane – we bowl on lanes. I think, whether or not I knew it, bowling was always destined to be part of my life!"
After seeing Bowlero Corp go from a five-bowling center chain to the largest owner and operator in the space, she now has her sights set on the PBA. Her plan is to raise the profile and exposure of the association.
"The new model that I've put in place is centered around honoring tradition and embracing change," Edison said. "That is the way that we are going to move forward."
Edison sees a path for the world's top bowlers to be in the highest ranks of professional athletes by increasing the visibility of the PBA through viewership, technology, sponsorship and ongoing player development.
The Tulane grad is no stranger to the spotlight as she starred on MTV's The Real World: Denver and The Challenge. During her time in Boston, Edison attended an open casting call for The Real World: Denver and was chosen among a sea of applicants. She used this experience as a time to learn and grow as a person.
"When the TV cameras come off, what I took away from it was that we all have our own challenges and we don't truly understand that until we get to know one another on a non-superficial level," Edison said. "I was probably sheltered from that for a long time in my life. I was definitely exposed to it by getting to experience New Orleans after Katrina and furthermore by going on The Real World and I am forever grateful for that."
Her time on the silver screen also gave her critical knowledge to take the PBA to unforeseen heights.
"From a professional stand point, my experience and background in entertainment and media has been key," Edison explained. "I know what people want to watch. I know what drives user behavior. I know what drives audiences to seek out different programming options. In both of my careers as a marketer and as the CEO of the PBA, I have utilized that. I've also learned that making connections and building relationships is core to being in a leadership position. Everybody that you meet can play a valuable role in your life, whether personal or professional, and vice versa. I have been able to hold on to those connections and understand the value in relationships, which you can't put a dollar sign next to."
The Tulane grad has also explored the options for women in the bowling world. She plans to work with the Green Wave bowling team to develop a path for bowlers from the youth leagues to the professional ranks.
"Through my connection at Tulane, I'm really excited to start working with the bowling team and exploring what a clearer trajectory might look like from youth play into high school play into NCAA play and then pros," Edison said.
Edison overcame obstacles during her time at Tulane and after, both in (and on) the real world. She has helped take Bowlero Corp. to the top, and Edison plans to do the same with the PBA.
Stream 1 - Colonial Lanes Classic Bowling | October 15, 2023
Tuesday, October 10
Stream 3 - Colonial Lanes Classic Bowling | October 14, 2023
Tuesday, October 10
Stream 3 - Colonial Lanes Classic Bowling | October 15, 2023
Tuesday, October 10
Stream 1 - Colonial Lanes Classic Bowling | October 14, 2023
Tuesday, October 10
