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Boston Globe

At NESN, Rose Mirakian-Wheeler has called the shots on her career direction

Advertisement 'Bergeron scored, and I don't think we replayed it until after the handshake line,' recalled NESN producer Brian Zechello. 'The moment was bigger than the replay and you couldn't replay what was happening on the ice, the way Rose was capturing it was so perfect.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up As one of the longest-tenured employees at our area's regional sports network, and one of the very few women directing NHL broadcasts, Mirakian-Wheeler's story is as captivating as those she helps tell on a nightly basis. From dance major at nearby Emerson College to sports television pioneer, from one-time NESN office receptionist to self-taught technical wizard, Mirakian-Wheeler is a New England sports staple. Related : As March draws to a close and takes Women's History Month with it, as the Bruins ramp up for their Women in Sports Night on Tuesday at TD Garden, this spotlight takes a well-deserved turn toward her, highlighting the amazing work she does behind the Bruins scenes. 'That comeback, we're watching as the Bruins were down, 4-1, and as the comeback builds, we said to each other, 'Let's lock in, we're doing something special,' ' Zechello said. 'I'll never forget that moment, being calm, telling the story, being on the same page. I'm really proud of that work we did together.' Much like the group of Black-and-Gold skaters down below, the people behind the scenes of a Bruins broadcast rely on their own brand of teamwork, coordinating in concert to make sure viewers experience the sights and sounds to make them feel as if they are in the building. That Mirakian-Wheeler is such an integral part of that team is a credit to her unconventional path, but also to her unwavering drive. Advertisement While an interdisciplinary degree in dance and television might not have predicted a career as a director, especially when she was hired by the fledgling network in 1984 to be a receptionist, Mirakian-Wheeler never stopped feeding her intellectual curiosity, knowing she wanted to do more. She worked in the office by day and sat in on the broadcasts of the network's sporting events by night. Far from a natural sports fan, she absorbed it all, soccer broadcasts, lacrosse games, and, not surprisingly, lots of college hockey. She made her own copies of all the technical manuals she could find, studying by night at home to learn how to work all of the studio's equipment. Related : 'Within a year or two, I kind of moved up to the traffic department in the front office and after two years, per my request, transitioned into production,' she said. 'I did various things, we were really short-staffed, maybe eight to 10 people who were actually employees, the rest were freelance. Gradually I taught myself how to edit, the small switcher, how to technical direct, writing, producing. 'I wanted to direct and produce. I started on college soccer and lacrosse, did those games, producing and directing, did my best with what I knew and what I learned. It was a huge learning curve and, looking back, I probably wasn't very good. But you get better. Advertisement 'Luckily the majority of people I worked with were supportive, never made me feel like I couldn't do it, not that that would have mattered. I had it in my head that I could do it. In my head, I didn't think about myself as a girl, I just thought, 'I can do this.' So after many years of producing and directing college sports, college hockey was kind of my forte, doing that from '88-89 through '97, I kept bothering my boss at the time, begging him really to do some Bruins games.' Wisely, they said yes. Since then, Mirakian-Wheeler has been tireless, at the rink as early as 11 a.m. for a 7 p.m. puck drop, a determined road warrior, traveling to set up every technical aspect ahead of a road game, then working throughout the broadcast to direct the visual traffic. In an industry that remains heavily male-dominated, she has made her mark, paying it forward by joining NESN's in-house group called WON (Women of NESN), a willing mentor ready to provide the type of help, assistance, and representation not available when she was starting out. 'I wish I could be more involved, but one thing about these jobs is that it's all consuming, long hours on game days, and travel,' she said. 'But I think [WON] is great. The women of NESN really support women at NESN and in the New England community, and I try to amplify women's successes. It's nice to have that at a company you're working for and with that will actively promote women and celebrate their jobs, their lives, their successes. I'm lucky to be part of that.' Advertisement With more than four decades as the beneficiaries of her expertise, NESN is just as lucky. For Zechello, who has two daughters, the trust that exists among his entire team is just the sort of example he wants them to see when they get to tag along on the job. 'As anyone who works in a business for a long time, I've gained a lot of knowledge and expertise, and I'm always willing if anyone wants to talk, ask questions, how did you get here,' Mirakian-Wheeler said, recalling a recent conversation with Janet Bryan, a fellow director who debuted by directing the women's Beanpot at TD Garden. From her past to the network's future, she gets it: 'I'm part of a team,' she said, 'and I could not do my job well without them.' Nor could they without her. Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at