In just a little more than a year, University of Oregon's Sports Product Management (SPM) workshops and networking events have helped establish the initiative as a powerful new presence in Portland's thriving sports product industry. And the momentum just keeps growing.
Among recent developments is a four-part video series offering insights into the industry via behind-the-scenes interviews at adidas, Nike SB, KEEN Footwear, and Handful Sports Bras.
In addition, this September's five-day, hands-on shoe-making workshop in Portland drew participants from all around the world. Using the state-of-the-art equipment in the UO's newly opened White Stag Innovation Lab below the Burnside Bridge, each attendee of the sold-out workshop designed, cut, stitched, and assembled a shoe.
The event was quickly followed by an October workshop in which participants learned techniques for powerful presentations from Denise Harrington, a sports product industry veteran with two decades of experience.
If you missed these events, don't fret. A two-day workshop on leadership will take place December 11-12 in Portland. And SPM's roster for 2015 adds events and workshops in Singapore and Hong Kong to its lineup in Portland.
Meanwhile, the initiative's proposed Portland-based master of science degree in sports product management continues to move through the university and state approval processes. The eighteen-month graduate program is expected to welcome its first class of students in fall 2015 with the UO's recently announced future new building in Portland's Old Town Chinatown neighborhood (opening in January 2016) slated to become the program's permanent home.
Those interested in applying to the pending sports product management master's program are encouraged to attend a December 2, 2014 in info session via online webinar and in-person in Portland.
Still want more about the SPM? Check out some recent articles in The Oregonian and Portland Business Journal.