Sports Management Conference

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023
Featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Dreaming of a future career in the sports industry? Passionate about sports and wanting to interact with top executives from professional sports teams? Eager to learn more about the state of professional sports in North America? 

Carthage College has pulled together an all-star lineup of sports industry experts for the inaugural Spotlight on Sports: Sports Management Conference. This FREE day-long conference will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The conference will begin at 8 a.m. Sessions continue until 4 p.m.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will be the keynote speaker. Commissioner Bettman will speak at 4:30 p.m.

Interact with industry experts from top professional sports teams including Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin and Minnesota Wild Board Member Mark Pacchini. Hear from young career launchers, experienced professionals, and executive leadership. Learn from other sports executives in the NBA, NHL, intercollegiate athletics, and minor league sports.

This event is for high school and college students and their parents/guardians, as well as interested members of the public.

This event is free and open to the public. Lunch is included.
Conference registration is required; please register by Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Register now!

Featuring … 

  • Gary Bettman, National Hockey League Commissioner
  • Sandy Burhans, ORBA Sports and Entertainment Group Leader
  • Brent Chapman ’01, myNILpay Chief Executive Officer
  • Daniel Diaz ’11, NBC Universal’s Director of World Cup, Olympics, and Cross-Platform Partnerships
  • Peter Feigin, Milwaukee Bucks President
  • Jon Greenberg, Milwaukee Admirals President
  • Ryan Kane, Carthage College Director of Athletics
  • Matt Majka, Minnesota Wild Chief Executive Officer
  • Bianca Miceli, University of Wisconsin-Madison Assistant Director of NIL and Community Outreach
  • Mark Pacchini, Minnesota Wild Board Member
  • Kristin Rogers, Manager of Employee Experience for the Chicago Bears
  • Andrea Rose, Muskegon Lumberjacks President
  • Jon Sata, Chicago Wolves President of Business Operations

Spotlight on Sports: Sports Management Conference

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023

TIMES:
8 a.m.-4 p.m. — Check-in, Welcome and Conference Breakout Sessions
Noon — Free Networking Lunch 
4:30 p.m. — Keynote and Q&A featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman

WHERE: Carthage College Campus, Todd Wehr Center

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: All are welcome! Conference sessions are intended for high school students, college students, parents/guardians, and members of the public.

COST: Free. Registration is required. Sign up by Sept. 1!

8-8:30 a.m. — Check-in for Conference Attendees
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms

8:30-8:45 a.m. — Welcome!
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms
Hear from Carthage College President John Swallow, Dean of the School of Business and Economics Jim Padilla, and Director of the Sports Management Master’s Program Carter Rockhill.

9 a.m.-11:50 p.m. — Breakout Sessions 1-3
Todd Wehr Center, 128 Rooms and Jockey Rooms
Breakout sessions will be held at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Each 50-minute session will feature panelists at the highest levels of professional sports teams. All four breakout sessions will be offered at each time slot, so attendees will have the opportunity to attend all four. Sessions:

  • Sports Media & Marketing: TV, Streaming, and the Future of Broadcast
  • Intercollegiate Athletics: The New World of NIL, Conference Realignment, and College Sports Today

  • Women’s Leadership in Sports: Breaking the Mold

  • View from the Top: Daily Grind to Championships

Noon-1:15 p.m. — Networking Lunch
Todd Wehr Center, 128 Rooms and Jockey Rooms

1:30-2:20 p.m. — Breakout Session 4
Todd Wehr Center, 128 Rooms and Jockey Rooms
See Breakout Sessions listed above.

2:30-3:30 p.m. — Campus Tour and Information Session
For high school students, other prospective Carthage students and their families, as well as interested members of the public.
Begin in Todd Wehr Center

3-4 p.m. — TeamWork Online Session
For current Carthage students and visiting students from other colleges and universities. 
Learn how to find a job in the sports industry and build a career doing what you love from experts at TeamWork Online, the country’s largest professional network and recruiting system for sports and live events.  
Campbell Student Union Auditorium

4:30-5:30 p.m. — Keynote and Q&A Featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms

Breakout sessions will be held at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each 50-minute session will feature panelists at the highest levels of professional sports teams. All four breakout sessions will be offered at each time slot, so attend the sessions in the order you choose. 

Sports Media & Marketing: TV, Streaming, and the Future of Broadcast

Panelists:

  • Mark Pacchini, Minnesota Wild Board Member. Mr. Pacchini brings years of executive experience in business and sports to the Carthage College Sports Management master’s degree program, where he teaches Sport Governance. A board member for the Minnesota Wild, Mr. Pacchini previously served as president and executive for Foote Cone & Belding. He serves on the Carthage College Sports Management Advisory Council.
  • Daniel Diaz ’11, NBC Universal’s Director of World Cup, Olympics and Cross-Platform Partnerships. A 2011 Carthage College graduate, Mr. Diaz is a tech-savvy sales director who led Telemundo’s sponsorship and sales efforts around the 2018 FIFA World Cup. NBC Universal has secured the FIFA Spanish-language broadcast rights for the World Cup through 2026. Currently based at NBCU’s Rockefeller Center headquarters, Mr. Diaz is a former NCAA soccer player, sitting on the board of various sport and education-based non-profits, and a founding member of Soho House Chicago. He serves on the Carthage College Sports Management Advisory Council.
  • Jon Greenberg, Milwaukee Admirals President. Mr. Greenberg has been with the Admirals of the American Hockey League since 2005 and currently serves as their president. He was named AHL’s Executive of the Year in 2007 and again in 2022. Also an avid Milwaukee Brewers fan, he started his career with the Brewers in Public Relations and Media. Mr. Greenberg is a 1989 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in mass communications. He serves on the Carthage College Sports Management Advisory Council.
Intercollegiate Athletics: The New World of NIL, Conference Realignment, and College Sports Today

Panelists:

  • Brent Chapman ’01, myNILpay Chief Executive Officer. This tech-savvy entrepreneur has served in a number of technology roles in his career. He has led technology and information system operations for Fay Financial, RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation, and Ocwen Financial Corporation prior to creating myNILpay. Mr. Chapman has an MBA from Oakland University in Oakland, Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and political science from Carthage.
  • Ryan Kane, Carthage College Director of Athletics. Mr. Kane became the Firebirds Athletic Director in April 2023. Prior to his arrival at Carthage College, he served as the Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Ripon College. During his time as head coach, he became the fastest coach to the 100-win mark in program history. He was also recognized with the Presidential Award for General Excellence given his service work with his players and his concerted effort to engage alumni. Mr. Kane received an undergraduate degree from St. Norbert College in Green Bay and a Master’s Degree in Sport Administration from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana.
  • Bianca Miceli, University of Wisconsin-Madison Assistant Director of NIL and Community Outreach. Ms. Miceli was named to this role in August 2002 after serving directly with the national champion Women’s Volleyball Team as their brand manager. She was responsible for running their social media channels and producing premium video content, including six seasons of the behind-the-scenes access series “Driven.” She was recognized for her outstanding work by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, having been presented with the Grant Burger Media Award for Social Media in 2021. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree Communication Arts and Italian. She graduated from Tremper High School in Kenosha.
Women’s Leadership in Sports: Breaking the Mold

Panelists:

  • Andrea Rose, Muskegon Lumberjacks President. Ms. Rose joined the Lumberjacks in 2018, and in three years was promoted to Interim President. The interim tag was removed in May 2021, and she has served in this role since. She is a Muskegon, Michigan, native and a 2010 graduate from Grand Valley State University, where she earned a degree in Sport Administration and Management. She serves on the Carthage College Sports Management Advisory Council.
  • Sandy Burhans, ORBA Sports and Entertainment Group Leader. With more than 20 years of experience, Ms. Burhans joined ORBA as the Sports and Entertainment Group Leader this past year. She is a trusted advisor regarding income taxes within the professional athlete and entertainment industry. She has direct experience with facilitating her clients’ tax preparation through the complicated “jock tax” spider web. Previously, she spent two decades with a top sports agency that specialized in the NFL and NBA players, where she handled many client relationships spanning from the athletes’ rookie year to veteran status to retirement.
View from the Top: Daily Grind to Championships

Panelists:

  • Jon Sata, Chicago Wolves President of Business Operations. Mr. Sata assumed the position of  President of Business Operations for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves after serving as the senior vice president of partnerships and business development, as well as vice president of partnerships. Prior to joining the Wolves organization, his experience in the sports and entertainment industry began with Live Nation Motor Sports, NASCAR’s Phoenix Raceway, before moving to the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). He serves on the Carthage College Sports Management Advisory Council. 
  • Matt Majka, Minnesota Wild Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Majka serves as the Chief Executive Officer of MSE, encompassing the Minnesota Wild, Iowa Wild, Saint Paul Arena Company, the Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, TRIA Rink, Herbie’s on the Park, and 317 On Rice Park. He has been a member of the Minnesota Wild organization for more than 25 years, most recently serving as president and chief operating officer of the organization. Prior to joining the Wild organization, Mr. Majka worked with Rollerblade Inc. for 13 years, culminating with him serving as the vice president of product marketing. He is a member of the Carthage College Sports Management Advisory Council.
  • Peter Feigin, Milwaukee Bucks President. Mr. Feigin has served as President of the Milwaukee Bucks for more than eight years, including during a championship season in 2021. Prior to joining the Bucks, Mr. Feigin served as chief marketing officer and revenue officer for Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, and the head of marketing and business development for NetJets. He initially worked in sports with the New York Knicks from 1998 through 2004, ultimately becoming the vice president of marketing. Mr. Feigin also serves on the boards for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public School Foundation, the African American Chamber of Commerce, COA Parents of the Year, and the American Heart and Stroke Association. In addition, he is a member of the Carthage College Sports Management Advisory Council.

About Gary Bettman

The longest-serving commissioner of the four major men’s professional sports leagues in North America, Gary Bettman has overseen remarkable growth and success of the National Hockey League since assuming the role in 1993. Through his leadership as Commissioner, the NHL has expanded from 24 to 32 franchises, bringing teams to non-traditional hockey markets while significantly driving growth in league revenue. He has successfully increased the viewership of hockey by securing large contract agreements with various major broadcasting entities throughout his tenure.

Mr. Bettman’s innovative approach has allowed the game to expand globally, and has fostered creative developments such as the Winter Classic. Prior to becoming NHL Commissioner, Mr. Bettman worked in the marketing and legal departments for the National Basketball Association. He studied industrial and labor relations at Cornell University before earning a Juris Doctorate from the New York University Law School.

Sports Management at Carthage

Carthage’s Master of Science of Business in Sports Management program offers a winning approach to business education, focusing on disruptive innovation, design, and developing high-impact teams. This program, which teaches business through the lens of sports, prepares students for leadership in today’s workplace, both within the sports industry and far beyond.


The Spotlight on Sports speaker series brings prominent sports industry leaders to campus to speak to students and the public about the business of sports. The series is made possible through the Sam and Gene Johnson Distinguished Visitors Program and the Craig L. Leipold Fund for Sports Management.

Register now!