2018

Conference 

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

​Carey Davis - Super Bowl XLIII Champion, Analyst for ESPN St.Louis

​

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 

Keith Bruce - President of Quintevents International, CEO of Super Bowl 50

                        Host Committee

​

STRAIGHT FROM THE FRONT OFFICE: A CONVERSATION ON LEADERSHIP IN SPORTS

Kevin Warren - COO of the Minnesota Vikings

Tim Buzard - SVP of Administration for the Chicago White Sox

​

SPORTS AGENCIES: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ATHLETIC REPRESENTATION​        Andy Szabo - Manager, Corporate Partnerships at PCGSPORTSDESK

Lauren Ahasic - Account Supervisor at Paragon Media; Gatorade Team 

Sean Wallis - Director; Partnerships development at W Partners

Luke Reiff - Fighting Illini Sports Properties 

​

SALES IN SPORTS: COMMUNICATING THE VALUE OF THE GAME

Mike Ernst - Senior VP of Ticket Sales, Service, Operations, and Marketing for the                                  Chicago Fire

Megan Malone - Corporate Partnership Manager for the Chicago Bears  

Justin Ramquist - Senior Director of Ticket Sales, Premium and Corporate 

​

INSIDE THE MACHINE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS

​Joni Comstock - Senior VP of Championship, NCAA

Erin Harvego - VP of Marketing, Big Ten Conference

Josh Whitman - Athletic Director, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dave Schnase -  VP of Academic and Membership Affairs, NCAA

​

HEAD INJURIES IN SPORTS: PROGRESS IN THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION

Kevin Jackson - Former Senior Research Scientist at the Beckman Institute

Ed Sherman - Players Tribune Writer at the Sherman Report

Julian Bruene - Sports Medicine Physician at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush

​

INNOVATION IN SPORTS: HOW TECHNOLOGY SHAPES THE FAN EXPERIENCE

​Adam Grossman - CEO, Founder of Block Six Analytics

Keith Bruce - President of Quintevents International, CEO of Super Bowl 50

                        Host Committee

Andrew McIntyre - VP of Technology for the Chicago Cubs

​

PAINLESS PODCAST

​Chris Hartweg - Painless Podcast Host and Founding Partner at Huddle Pro

Joe Ronovsky - Manager for Corporate Sponsorship Sales for the Chicago White Sox

Anthony Kryzak - Sales Development Manager for the Chicago Wolves

2017

Sports business: An Industry of opportunity

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

​Max Siegel - Chief Executive Officer at USA Track and Field

Patrick Lucey - Director of Data Science at STATS LLC.

​

THE BIG LEAGUES: RUNNING A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE

​Joseph Spencer (moderator) - President of Illinois Uplifting Athletes, Illini Football                                                           Player

Kevin Warren - Chief Operating Officer for the Minnesota Vikings

Mike Ernst - Senior VP of Ticket Sales for the Chicago Fire

Kiernan Kelliher - Director of Finance for the Chicago Bulls

Rex Carter - Director of Risk Management for the St.Louis Cardinals

Pete Hassen - VP of Marketing for the Chicago Blackhawks

​

MATHLETICS: A NUMBERS GAME

​Narendra Ahuja (moderator) - Research Prof. in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering                                                           at the University of Illinois  

Patrick Lucey - Director of Data Science at STATS LLC.

Spencer Anderson - Manger of Basketball Administration for the  Indiana Pacers

Sheldon Jacobson - Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois

​

THE FAN EXPERIENCE

​Jenny Deway (moderator) - Assistant Director of Illini Athletics Communication

Derek Throneburg - VP of Brand and Marketing Strategy for the Indiana Pacers

David Kissel - Strategic Advisor and Former CEO at Instadium 

Scott Robinson - Senior Associate and Senior Designer at Populous

Adam Grossman - CEO and Founder of Block Six Analytics

​

REBRANDING THE GAME: THE IMPACT OF MARKETING IN SPORTS

Steve Raquel - President of IOV Media and Adjunct Lecturer for the Gies College of                                 Business

Jonathan Kander - Sports Marketing Manager at Gatorade

Sean Wallis - Director of Partnership Development at W Partners

Pete Hassen - VP of Marketing at the Chicago Blackhawks

​

U OF I ATHLETICS: AN INSIDE LOOK

​Dr.Michael Raycraft (moderator)- RST Lecturer at the University of Illinois

Josh Whitman - Athletic Director for Illini Athletics

Janet Rayfield - Head Coach for the Illini Women's Soccer Team

 Brad Wurthman - Associate Director of Illini Athletics

​

REACHING THE SUMMIT: WOMEN IN SPORTS BUSINESS

​Cheryl Cole (moderator) - Professor at the University of Illinois

Renee Chube Washington - COO at USA Track and Field

Carol Voronyak - Director of Talent Recruitment and Negotiations at ESPN

Mary Lee Gilliand - President and CEO at Madison Strategic Partnerships, Executive                                      Director of MS Strategic Brand Communication at UIUC

​

THE EVOLUTION OF SPORTS MEDICINE

​

​Dr.Jim Mauer (moderator) - Counselor at the Carle Foundation Hospital and Mental                                                      Health/Sports Psychology Counselor for Illini                                                                      Student-Athletes

Kevin Jackson - Senior Research Scientist at the Beckman Institute

Dr.Julia Bruene - Sports Medicine Orthopedic Physician at Midwest Orthopedics

Matthew Zalewski - Athletic Trainer at Athletico

​

FOOT IN THE DOOR

​Emily Barretta (moderator) - Co-Founder ISBC, Business Advisory Consultant at                                                            Ernst & Young 

Zach Dicken - Director of Sales for the Chicago Fire

Michael Casey - Analyst in the Chicago Cubs Strategy and Development Group

Austin Hunt - Associate Account Executive at IMG

​

THE VOICES OF SPORTS MEDIA

​Jim Dahl (moderator) - Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs, UIUC College of                                               Business

Chad Boxenbaum - Game Entertainment Associate for the Chicago Bulls

Sam Panayotovich - Sports Reporter, Anchor, and Host at WGN Radio

Michele Steele - Reporter and Anchor for ESPN

Ed Sherman - President of ShermanReport.com

2019

SPORTS HAVE NO LIMITS

EMCEE

       Michael Sterk - Host of Redline Radio for Barstool Sports

         Carey Davis - Super Bowl XLIII Champion, Analyst for ESPN St.Louis

KEYNOTES

        Damani Leech - SVP of Football Strategy an d Business Development, NFL

        Jon Greifenkamp - VP and CFO of the Chicago Cubs

        Jim Woodcock - SVP and Partner, Sports Business at FleishmanHillard

​

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT OF SPORTS MEDIA

​Steve Raquel - President of IOV Media and Adjunct Lecturer for the Gies College of                                   Business

Alex Roux - Social Media Producer for the Big Ten Network

Derek Throneburg - VP of Brand and Marketing Strategy for the Indiana Pacers

​

HOW TO RECRUIT AND DEVELOP THE IDEAL ATHLETE

​Lisa Strasman -President of NCSA (Next College Student Athlete)

Chris Smith - CEO and Founder of Athlete Network

Keiko Price - Senior Associate Director of Athletics, UIUC Sports Administration

​

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL AGENDAS ON SPORTS

​Adrian Burgos Jr. - Author and History Professor at UIUC

Cari Van Senus - NCAA Chief of Staff

Damani Leech - Senior VP of Football Strategy for the NFL

​

THE DEALS THAT DRIVE THE GAME

​Deryk Gilmore - NFL Sports agent through Priority Sports Entertainment

Alex Burge - Client Executive and Agent at Excel Sports Management

Mike Galeski - Senior Manager at Sports Marketing UL

​

BUILDING A SPORTS TEAM AS A COMPANY

​Liz Geist - Director of Human Resources for the Chicago Bears

Marie Sutera - VP of Human Resources for the Chicago Blackhawks

Ann Weiser - VP of Human Resources for the Chicago Cubs

​

THE CHANGING DYNAMICS OF FAN INTERACTION

​Kent Brown - Associate Director of Illini Athletics Media

Ryan Sullivan - Senior Communications Coordinator, Big Ten Network

Chris Hartweg - Painless Podcast Host and Founding Partner at Huddle Pro

2018

Conference 

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

​Carey Davis - Super Bowl XLIII Champion, Analyst for ESPN St.Louis

​

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 

Keith Bruce - President of Quintevents International, CEO of Super Bowl 50

                        Host Committee

​

STRAIGHT FROM THE FRONT OFFICE: A CONVERSATION ON LEADERSHIP IN SPORTS

Kevin Warren - COO of the Minnesota Vikings

Tim Buzard - SVP of Administration for the Chicago White Sox

​

SPORTS AGENCIES: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ATHLETIC REPRESENTATION​       

         Andy Szabo - Manager, Corporate Partnerships at PCGSPORTSDESK

Lauren Ahasic - Account Supervisor at Paragon Media; Gatorade Team 

Sean Wallis - Director; Partnerships development at W Partners

Luke Reiff - Fighting Illini Sports Properties 

​

SALES IN SPORTS: COMMUNICATING THE VALUE OF THE GAME

Mike Ernst - Senior VP of Ticket Sales, Service, Operations, and Marketing for the                                  Chicago Fire

Megan Malone - Corporate Partnership Manager for the Chicago Bears  

Justin Ramquist - Senior Director of Ticket Sales, Premium and Corporate 

​

INSIDE THE MACHINE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS

​Joni Comstock - Senior VP of Championship, NCAA

Erin Harvego - VP of Marketing, Big Ten Conference

Josh Whitman - Athletic Director, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dave Schnase -  VP of Academic and Membership Affairs, NCAA

​

HEAD INJURIES IN SPORTS: PROGRESS IN THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION

Kevin Jackson - Former Senior Research Scientist at the Beckman Institute

Ed Sherman - Players Tribune Writer at the Sherman Report

Julian Bruene - Sports Medicine Physician at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush

​

INNOVATION IN SPORTS: HOW TECHNOLOGY SHAPES THE FAN EXPERIENCE

​Adam Grossman - CEO, Founder of Block Six Analytics

Keith Bruce - President of Quintevents International, CEO of Super Bowl 50

                        Host Committee

Andrew McIntyre - VP of Technology for the Chicago Cubs

​

PAINLESS PODCAST

​Chris Hartweg - Painless Podcast Host and Founding Partner at Huddle Pro

Joe Ronovsky - Manager for Corporate Sponsorship Sales for the Chicago White Sox

Anthony Kryzak - Sales Development Manager for the Chicago Wolves

2017

Sports business: An Industry

of opportunity

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

​Max Siegel - Chief Executive Officer at USA Track and Field

Patrick Lucey - Director of Data Science at STATS LLC.

​

THE BIG LEAGUES: RUNNING A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE

​Joseph Spencer (moderator) - President of Illinois Uplifting Athletes, Illini Football                                                           Player

Kevin Warren - Chief Operating Officer for the Minnesota Vikings

Mike Ernst - Senior VP of Ticket Sales for the Chicago Fire

Kiernan Kelliher - Director of Finance for the Chicago Bulls

Rex Carter - Director of Risk Management for the St.Louis Cardinals

Pete Hassen - VP of Marketing for the Chicago Blackhawks

​

MATHLETICS: A NUMBERS GAME

​Narendra Ahuja (moderator) - Research Prof. in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering                                                           at the University of Illinois  

Patrick Lucey - Director of Data Science at STATS LLC.

Spencer Anderson - Manger of Basketball Administration for the  Indiana Pacers

Sheldon Jacobson - Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois

​

THE FAN EXPERIENCE

​Jenny Deway (moderator) - Assistant Director of Illini Athletics Communication

Derek Throneburg - VP of Brand and Marketing Strategy for the Indiana Pacers

David Kissel - Strategic Advisor and Former CEO at Instadium 

Scott Robinson - Senior Associate and Senior Designer at Populous

Adam Grossman - CEO and Founder of Block Six Analytics

​

REBRANDING THE GAME: THE IMPACT OF MARKETING IN SPORTS

Steve Raquel - President of IOV Media and Adjunct Lecturer for the Gies College of                                 Business

Jonathan Kander - Sports Marketing Manager at Gatorade

Sean Wallis - Director of Partnership Development at W Partners

Pete Hassen - VP of Marketing at the Chicago Blackhawks

​

U OF I ATHLETICS: AN INSIDE LOOK

​Dr.Michael Raycraft (moderator)- RST Lecturer at the University of Illinois

Josh Whitman - Athletic Director for Illini Athletics

Janet Rayfield - Head Coach for the Illini Women's Soccer Team

 Brad Wurthman - Associate Director of Illini Athletics

​

REACHING THE SUMMIT: WOMEN IN SPORTS BUSINESS

​Cheryl Cole (moderator) - Professor at the University of Illinois

Renee Chube Washington - COO at USA Track and Field

Carol Voronyak - Director of Talent Recruitment and Negotiations at ESPN

Mary Lee Gilliand - President and CEO at Madison Strategic Partnerships, Executive                                          Director of MS Strategic Brand Communication at UIUC

​

THE EVOLUTION OF SPORTS MEDICINE

​Dr.Jim Mauer (moderator) - Counselor at the Carle Foundation Hospital and Mental                                                          Health/Sports Psychology Counselor for Illini                                                                          Student-Athletes

Kevin Jackson - Senior Research Scientist at the Beckman Institute

Dr.Julia Bruene - Sports Medicine Orthopedic Physician at Midwest Orthopedics

Matthew Zalewski - Athletic Trainer at Athletico

​

FOOT IN THE DOOR

​Emily Barretta (moderator) - Co-Founder ISBC, Business Advisory Consultant at                                                                 Ernst & Young 

Zach Dicken - Director of Sales for the Chicago Fire

Michael Casey - Analyst in the Chicago Cubs Strategy and Development Group

Austin Hunt - Associate Account Executive at IMG

​

THE VOICES OF SPORTS MEDIA

​Jim Dahl (moderator) - Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs, UIUC College of                                                      Business

Chad Boxenbaum - Game Entertainment Associate for the Chicago Bulls

Sam Panayotovich - Sports Reporter, Anchor, and Host at WGN Radio

Michele Steele - Reporter and Anchor for ESPN

Ed Sherman - President of ShermanReport.com

2020

CHANGING THE GAME

EMCEE

       Michael Sterk - Host of Redline Radio for Barstool Sports

​

MORNING KEYNOTE

       Julie Suderman - CFO of the Big Ten Conference

​

AFTERNOON KEYNOTE

       ​Chris Hartweg - CEO and Publisher of Team Marketing Report, Painless Podcast

         Mike Myers - Chief Strategy Officer, BirdieBox

​

SPORTS MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIP: DEALING WITH WITH CHANGING MARKETPLACE

Pete Hassen - VP of Marketing for the Chicago Blackhawks

Teddi Domann - Marketing Director for 360 Sports​

Rebecca Rogers - Head of Sports Marketing for Culvers

Erin McClafferty - Director of Marketing for UIUC

​

SPORTS MEDIA: HOW THE INDUSTRY IS REVOLUTIONIZING ITSELF

         Adam Rogowin - VP of Communications for the Chicago Blackhawks

         Alex Roux - Social Media Producer for the Big Ten Network

Kent William Brown - Associate Director of Media Relations for Illini Football

​

PEOPLE WHO KEEP YOU IN THE GAME: HOW SPORTS MEDICINE IS CHANGING

​         Beth Pieroth - Director of Concussion program at Midwest Orthopedics

         Randy Ballard - Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine at UIUC