Academics

Bellisario College crafts strong presence at Sports Business Conference

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Nearly two dozen people affiliated with the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications — alumni, faculty, staff and students — will play a role in the second annual Penn State Sports Business Conference, scheduled for March 18-19 on the University Park campus.

The two-day event (https://www.pennstatesbc.com/) features speakers, many of them Penn State alumni, and networking events in an effort to facilitate professional connections as well career placement and internship opportunities for students interested in the sports industry across all majors at the University.

Organizers and participants connected to the Bellisario College include:

Board of Directors:

  • John Bronson, managing director, Finger Licking Dutch, who earned his journalism degree in 2004, and
  • Mike Neligan, founder, Outlier Brand Management, who earned his journalism degree in 2005.

University advisers:

  • John Affleck, the Knight Chair in Sports Journalism and Society and director of the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism, and
  • Mike Poorman, director of alumni relations for the Bellisario College, who teaches the popular introduction to the sports industry class on campus.

Speakers (all Penn State graduates):

  • Sofia Check, 2018, social sponsorship, MLB
  • Erin Dolan, 2018, freelance sports reporter
  • Mary Golder, 2013, board of operations, Maxwell Football Club
  • Carlie Gould, 2018, sales associate, New York Jets
  • Scott Horner, 2002, vice president, Octagon
  • Jim Ivler, 1990, partner and agent, Sportstars Inc.
  • Becky Murdy, 2010, vice president, PIVOT
  • Linsey Shea, 2008, freelance producer
  • Alex Sheinman, 2018, marketing coordinator, Twenty
  • Colin Smeeton, 1998, president, PRP
  • Rachel Steinberg, 2014, manager, BSE Global
  • Jessica Handler Quinlan, 2010, vice president, NFL on Location

Student team members:
Maria Evangelou, Carly Fried, Kimani Haughton, Sklyar Kulchinsky, Megan Magee, Brenna Murray, Ashanti Rubin and Rahcel Tasker

A complete schedule for the event and registration information may be found on the conference website.

Last Updated June 2, 2021