One of the largest sports industry conferences in North America came to Portland, Oregon, February 14-16, and the college's programs, students, and faculty were at the center of the action.
The annual National Sports Forum, now in its 21st year, brings together sports marketing, sales, promotions, and event entertainment executives representing major, minor, and college leagues for three days of networking and learning.
A host of sports business MBA students attended the event, Warsaw Sports Marketing Center Director Whitney Wagoner gave a keynote talk, our Portland-based Sports Product Management Program exhibited, and a team of four second-year MBA students represented the college at the event's Case Cup Competition. The Warsaw Center also hosted a happy hour for alumni and friends in the Portland area.
For the Case Cup Competition, students were given just 24 hours to create a 20-minute presentation to be delivered to a panel of industry representatives the next day. The Lundquist team did not advance, but took full advantage of the opportunity to learn from other students and professionals in the sports industry.
On Sunday, February 14, Wagoner's keynote talk focused on the state of diversity in sports business. Her message of defining your own possibilities instead of allowing others to define them for you resonated with audience members.
Additionally on Sunday, Izabel Loinaz, instructor and program manager for the Center for Sustainable Business Practices, joined Wagoner to host and moderate a workshop at the conference titled “Exploring Partnerships in the Greening of Sports." Panelists included representatives from the Portland Trail Blazers, NASCAR, and the Green Sports Alliance.
“This conference is a terrific opportunity to increase the profile and reputation of the Warsaw Center, the Center for Sustainable Business Practices, and the Lundquist College within industry," Wagoner said. “It provides a world-class experiential learning opportunity for our students and will open many doors to potential new collaborations on behalf of our students, faculty, and staff."