Spotlight on Sports
Sports Management Conference
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
- WHEN: Noon-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17
- WHERE: ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha, WI 53140
- COST: Free
- WHO SHOULD ATTEND: All are welcome! Conference sessions are intended for high school students, college students, parents/guardians, and members of the public.
Featuring …
Keynote: “Putting Traditional Broadcasting on Ice: How Fans Watch Sports” By David Proper — Senior EVP of International and Media Strategy of the NHL.
- Mark Abernathy — Managing Director, Brazen Entertainment
- Matt Brown — Founder and Publisher, Extra Points
- Conor Caloia — Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner, Forward Madison FC and Breese Stevens Field
- Charlie Larson — VP of Communications, Milwaukee Admirals
- Bianca Miceli — Marketing Communications Manager, League One Volleyball
- Jamie Wood — CEO and Founder, Hyphenated Athletics
Conference Schedule
Noon-12:45 p.m. — Check-in / Networking Session / Lunch
Todd Wehr Center, 128 Rooms
Enjoy light refreshments as you network with other conference attendees before sessions begin.
12:45-12:55 p.m. — Welcome
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms
Hear from ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ President John Swallow and Dean of the School of Business and Economics Jim Padilla.
1-1:50 p.m. — Sport Marketing and Public Relations: The Current Fan and Athlete
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms
Panelists: Mark Abernathy, Charlie Larson, and Bianca Miceli
Moderator: Professor Colleen Palmer
2-2:50 p.m. — College Sport: The New World
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms
Panelists: Matt Brown and Jamie Wood
Moderator: Professor Megan Zienkiewicz
3-3:50 p.m. — Sport Investment: New Opportunities
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms
Panelists: Conor Caloia
Moderator: Professor Chao Zheng
4-4:50 p.m. — Keynote: “Putting Traditional Broadcasting on Ice: How Fans Watch Sports”
Todd Wehr Center, Jockey Rooms
Keynote Speaker: David Proper
About David Proper
David Proper serves as the senior executive vice president of media and international strategy for the National Hockey League. He leads the development and execution of the NHL’s media and international strategies, overseeing game scheduling and all broadcast relationships.
Mr. Proper played a central role in negotiating the NHL’s current seven-year U.S. broadcast and streaming deals and has guided the league in navigating the evolving media landscape. He also spearheads efforts to expand the NHL’s global reach, securing broadcast partnerships across more than 250 countries and developing major initiatives such as the NHL Global Series and the new 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Before joining the NHL in 2011, Mr. Proper held senior roles at Time Warner Cable and served as senior media counsel for the National Football League. He earned a B.A. from Macalester College and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.
Sports Management at Carthage
Carthage offers a graduate business track in sports management and an undergraduate minor in sport business, as well as a five-day summer camp for high school students who are interested in the field. These programs draw heavily on the expertise of the college’s Sports Management Advisory Council, whose members include Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold and Milwaukee Bucks president Peter Feigin.
In 2023, the inaugural Spotlight on Sports conference drew more than 270 attendees. It featured a Q&A with longtime NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
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.