Speakers
We at ISBC are extremely thankful to all of our past speakers, emcees for sharing their time and expertise with us. With their help, we are all able to expand our knowledge of sports business and grow our love for the industry. Featured below are some of the amazing speakers coming to our 2020 Conference and a list of speakers from previous years.
MICHAEL STERK Red Line Radio Podcast -Barstool Sports
Conference Emcee
Michael Sterk is a 2009 graduate from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Upon finishing his undergraduate degree, Michael returned to the University of Illinois to earn a Master’s degree in Accounting. While attending the University of Illinois, Sterk walked on to the university’s baseball team as a pitcher and finished with a career record of 6-2 while primarily making appearances out of the bullpen. Michael began his professional life in the accounting sector, but in early 2019 he became “Barstool Carl” on a full-time basis with Barstool Sports after nearly 6 years with the company on a part-time basis. As an employee of Barstool Sports, Sterk blogs, hosts the successful “Redline Radio” sports podcast and has recently become the host of the national radio show “Barstool Chicago” on Sirius XM.
JULIE SUDERMAN Chief Financial Officer - BigTen Conference
Keynote Speaker
Julie Suderman will be entering her 12th year at the Big Ten Conference this summer. In May 2018, she was promoted to Associate Commissioner, Chief Financial Officer. Suderman served as the Big Ten’s Associate Commissioner, Finance from 2016-18 and from 2009-16, she was the conference’s Controller. During that time, she was responsible for overseeing the financial accounting and reporting of the conference. Before joining the conference office in 2009, she spent five years as the Controller at the Willow Creek Association. Suderman completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois in 1995, where she majored in accounting. She later went on to earn her MBA from Kellogg School of Management with concentrations in strategy, marketing and nonprofit management in 2006. Julie is married with three children.
CHRIS HARTWEG CEO and Publisher - Team Marketing Report
Keynote Speaker
Chris is a marketer focused on making connections. Connecting brands, teams and fans. Melding sound data and creative ideas. Balancing big dreams with tight budgets. He is also a huge proponent of doing well by doing good. Doing right by others and building strong culture not only leads to better humans but generates stronger results -- and boosts revenues. Some of the brands and properties he has worked with include: AARP, ADA, adidas, Blackberry, Bud, Cadillac, Chevy, Chicago Blackhawks+Bulls+Cubs+Fire+White Sox, Dallas Mavericks, DiGiorno, ditech, EA Sports, FIFA, Glenlivet, LaSalle Bank, Lions Clubs, Miami Dolphins+Heat, Miller Lite, Motorola, New Balance, Nestle, Nike, Nokia, Northwestern University, Playstation, P&G, Sony, US Navy, Verizon, VW, Westfield and Xbox.
Today, Chris is applying all these experiences to reengineer and relaunch Team Marketing Report, which he acquired late 2017. The sports marketing information leader since 1988 produces the Fan Cost Index(R), SportsSponsor FactBook(TM) and TMR Insider(TM). In addition, he founded and serves as executive director of Painless Networking. Now boasting 8,000 members between LinkedIn and Painless.Network, Painless began in 2003 for marketing pros to painlessly connect, share best practices and eliminate degrees of separation. He also hosts the "Painless Podcast" featuring marketers and their success stories. Other previous work includes running his own consultancy, leading teams at several agencies and in house experience for a bank as well as a hospital.
MIKE MYERS Chief Strategy Officer - BirdieBox
Keynote Speaker
Michael Myers joined Birdiebox as the Operating Partner and Chief Strategy Officer, in 2017. Prior to BirdieBox, Myers had been working in Sports Marketing since 1999 and has a plethora of experience in Sponsorship evaluation, negotiation and procurement, fulfillment and re-evaluation. Aside from Sports Marketing, Myers has worked as the Vice President of Sales & Promotion with Live Nation Entertainment and briefly served as a Marketing Co-Chair with Susan G. Koeman for the Cure in the Chicagoland area. Additionally, in 2009, he founded The Sports Marketer in Chicago, a marketing agency that is committed to creating a direct pipeline to the leaders of the hardest to reach, yet most sought after, demographics. Here, Myers is able to utilize his skills to help brands create unique, memorable, actionable and measurable solutions to the constant and new obstacles facing brands. Myers is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
2019
SPORTS HAVE NO LIMITS
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
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