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In-Depth

Visitors bring expertise from the world of sports business to classroom

A sampling of sports business management program guest speakers this academic year.

University of South Florida

Fall 2016:
Don Garber, Major League Soccer
Jessica Gelman, Kraft Analytics Group
Tod Leiweke, NFL
Deno Anagnost, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bob Bolton, Fox Sports Florida
Ryan Cook, Tampa Bay Lightning; Tampa Bay Storm
Lorisse Garcia, leadership coach
David Halberstam, Halby Group
Claire Lessinger, Tampa Bay Sports Commission
Robert McHugh, Feld Entertainment
Joel Momberg, University of South Florida Foundation
Ryan Niemeyer, Tampa Bay Lightning; Tampa Bay Storm
Brian Specia, Tampa Bay Lightning
Tyler Thompson, Tampa Bay Lightning

2017:
David Stern, former NBA commissioner
Tariq Ahmad, Mount Sinai Health System
Juana “JC” Ayers, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Joie Chitwood, International Speedway Corp.
Sally Dee, Playbook Public Relations
Jarrod Dillon, Tampa Bay Lightning
Elizabeth Frazier, Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation
Eric Hart, Tampa Sports Authority
Stefan Scheuermann, Ironman
Carolynn Smith, Seven PR + Marketing
Dan Sutton, Riot Games
Bill Walsh, Tampa Bay Rays
Tracy West, Valspar Championship

University of Michigan

Nov. 2, 2016: Members of the University of Michigan Sport Management Advisory Board partnered with faculty to create engaged learning experiences for sport management students. Guests included:
David Berson, CBS Sports
Carrie Brzezinski, ESPN
Dustin Cairo, Zebra Sports
Marcus Collins, University of Michigan Ross School of Business; Doner
David Herman, Twitter
Matthew Kauffman, Intel
David Oxfeld, Excel Sports Management
Jon Paley, The Vault
Brandon Rhodes, Gatorade
Howard Handler, Major League Soccer

At the Michigan Sport Business Conference on Nov. 4:
Don Garber, Major League Soccer
Stephen Ross, Related Companies; RSE Venures; Miami Dolphins
Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans; Rock Ventures; Cleveland Cavaliers
Estee Portnoy, Jump.DC
Larry Miller, Jordan Brand
Abe Madkour, SportsBusiness Journal / SportsBusiness Daily

DePaul’s Sean McDonough, students at Wintrust Arena Sales Center
Photo by: DEPAUL UNIVERSITY / JAMIE MONCRIEF
DePaul University

As part of “Behind the Scenes with Chicago Sports Organizations,” students in the weeklong, winter intersession class visited with some of Chicago’s iconic sports teams. They were given behind the scenes access to the organizations and venues, all while learning about sports management and marketing.
At the Wintrust Arena Sales Center: Sean McDonough, DePaul University
At Soldier Field: Chicago Bears’ Dave McClamroch; Christine Christopoulos; and Rachel Chessky
At Chicago Cubs corporate offices: Colin Faulkner; Brad Nagel; Diego Chahda; and Ashley Beirne, Hickory Street Capital
n At Gatorade’s offices inside PepsiCo: Kenny Mitchell; Jonathan Kander; Izabela Aggarwal; and Abby Dyer
At the Chicago White Sox: Bob Grim; Rich Kuchar; Dan Mielke; Tom Sheridan; Gail Tucker
At the Chicago Bulls: Sarah Smith; Kevin Brilliant; Tony Rokita; Susan Goodenow
n At the Chicago Blackhawks: John Steinmiller; Greg Zinsmeister; Kayla Kindred; Leah Hendrickson; Brian Howe; Jake Tuton; Shilpa Rupani; Jim Bare; Steve DiLenardi; Kyleen Howe

James Madison University

Fall 2016:
Dennis Bickmeier, Richmond International Raceway
Peter Billups, Eugene Emeralds
Matt Butta, Virginia Sports Properties
J.W. Cannon, UPS
Mike Chatburn, JMU Sports Properties
Curt Dudley, James Madison University
Paul Gerlando, Vizeum
Ashley Schneider, Washington Redskins
JoAn Scott, NCAA
Ted Yeschin, Wasserman

Spring 2017:
Steve Buckhantz, Comcast SportsNet
Niki DeSantis, Pixel Factory
Brent Gambill, Richmond International Raceway
Patrick Gotimer, George Mason University
David Touhey, Monumental Sports & Entertainment

University of Pennsylvania

Fall 2016:
Akshay Khanna, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center
Rob Tilliss, Inner Circle Sports
Jason Hillman, Cleveland Cavaliers
Seth Berger, Philadelphia 76ers Innovation Lab

Georgia Southern

Richard Thornton, Atlanta Braves
Dennette Thornton, Atlanta Braves

University of Dubuque

Via Skype:
Brian Cristiano, BOLD Worldwide
Rob Cressy, Cress Media

Syracuse University

Michael Behan, Legends
Peter Carlisle, Octagon
Anthony Di Fino, Syracuse University
Sue Edson, Syracuse University
Herman Frazier, Syracuse University
Vera Jones, broadcaster and author
Mari Lee, UFC
Floyd Little, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Seth Markman, ESPN
Steve Mayer, NHL
Gerry Matalon, Playbook Inc.
Ian McFate, Aramark
Linda Natoli, The Oncenter
Melissa Richards-Person, Papa John’s Pizza
Jim Sarosy, Syracuse Crunch
Jason Smorol, Syracuse Chiefs
Brandon Steiner, Steiner Sports Marketing
Eric Stensland, Dunkin’ Brands
Mark Wheeler, Syracuse University

Via Skype:
Lisa Baird, U.S. Olympic Committee
Tracie Hitz, NCAA
Bill Hofheimer, ESPN
Christy Huggins, Eventbrite
Jake Kelfer, author “Elevate Beyond”
Adam Lefkoe, Bleacher Report,
Carolyn McCaslin, Legends
Brian Poliakoff, Twitter
Lloyd Richards, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Jacquelyn Sparks, New Jersey Devils
John Swofford, Atlantic Coast Conference

University of Central Florida

The DeVos Distinguished Speaker Series is held Fridays while school is in session from August through May. The DeVos Sport Business Management Program also includes an ESPN Executive in Residence on campus each year in partnership with the network.
John Skipper, ESPN
Adam Silver, NBA
Roger Goodell, NFL
Michael Whan, LPGA
Stacey Allaster, U.S. Tennis Association
Alex Martins, Orlando Magic
David Wright, Minor League Baseball
Bernie Mullin, The Aspire Group
Jeremy Schaap, ESPN
Lonnie Ali, civil rights advocate and widow of Muhammad Ali
Bernard Franklin, NCAA
Jason Collins, former NBA player and first openly gay NBA player
Donna Orender, former WNBA commissioner; Generation W
Judy Sweet, first female Division I AD
Abe Madkour, SportsBusiness Journal / SportsBusiness Daily

Saint Joseph’s University

Fall 2016:
Don DiJulia, Saint Joseph’s University
Tim Curran, Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment
Chad Biggs, Philadelphia 76ers
Ryan Bucciarelli, Philadelphia 76ers
Shaun Gallagher, Philadelphia Union
Rodney Morris, BrainDo Analytics, Web Analytics and Web Development
Braden Moore, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils

Spring 2017:
Tim Curran, Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment
David Halberstam, Halby Group
Troy Ewanchyna, NBC Sports Group
Mark Ruzomberka, NBC Sports Group
Kevin Lappen, NBC Sports Group
Darryl Haberman, MLB Advanced Media
Preston McClellan, PGA Tour
Dan Rudley, SendtoNews
Christa Linzey, Philadelphia Phillies
April Carty-Sipp, WPVI-TV 6ABC
Joe Sheridan, Global Spectrum/ Liacouras Center at Temple University
Kevin Carroll, Kevin Carroll Katalyst
Michael Siegel, Impact Sports Management

Sport for Social Change and Social Justice Speaker Series
The first event in this speaker series is the screening of “They Said We Couldn’t Play,” a documentary about the members of the Negro League’s Philadelphia Stars, followed by a panel discussion including:
Dan Stephenson, Philadelphia Phillies, manager of video production; “They Said We Couldn’t Play” writer and producer
Dr. John B. Lord, Saint Joseph’s University
Rob Holiday, Philadelphia Phillies
Ken Johnson, Philadelphia Phillies
Dr. Mahlene Duckett Lee, Divi Consulting
Second event of the speaker series: Ethan Medley, New York Giants
Third event of the speaker series: Dr. Kiersten White, Saint Joseph’s University

University of South Dakota

Fall 2016
Erica Westhoff, Denny Sanford Premier Center, Arena and Convention Center, Orpheum Theater Center

Spring 2017
Morgan Lunz, Portland Timbers

— Compiled by SportsBusiness Journal research

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