Past Speakers
The Spotlight on Sports speaker series brings industry experts from professional and collegiate sports teams to the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ campus. In 2023, the Spotlight on Sports series expanded into a day-long Sports Management Conference, offering the public the unique opportunity to interact with top executives from NFL, NBA, NHL, and collegiate teams.
Past speakers include:
2024
Kevin Warren — Chicago Bears President
Kevin Warren covered some of the biggest trends in the industry on Sept. 20, which drew 315 registered attendees.
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2023
Gary Bettman — NHL Commissioner
More than 270 people took part in the College’s inaugural Sports Management Conference on Sept. 13, 2023. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was the keynote speaker.
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2022
Molly Fletcher — President of Client Representation for Sports and Entertainment at CSE
2021
Jackie Joyner-Kersee — Three-time Olympic gold medalist and international humanitarian
Named the greatest female athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, Jackie Joyner-Kersee spoke at Carthage in October 2021.
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Daniel Orlando Diaz ’11 — Director of World Cup, Olympic, and Cross-Platform Partnerships at NBCUniversal Media
* Member of the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sports Management Advisory Council
Carthage alumnus Daniel Diaz joined Jackie Joyner-Kersee for the October 2021 Spotlight on Sports event.
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2020
Caron Butler — Two-time NBA All-Star and assistant coach of the Miami Heat
Caron Butler spoke to Carthage students and the public in a virtual event during the pandemic.
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Peter Feigin — President of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum
* Member of the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sports Management Advisory Council
Peter Feigin talked about the role his organization plays in the community, the emergence of esports, and the international growth of the NBA.
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2019
Craig Leipold P’19 — Owner of the Minnesota Wild
* Member of the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sports Management Advisory Council
Carthage welcomed Craig Leipold, owner of the Minnesota Wild, to campus on Nov. 4, 2019 for a discussion about the business of sports and changes on the horizon.
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John F. McDonough — President and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks
Carthage welcomed John F. McDonough, president and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks, to campus on Nov. 4, 2019 for a discussion about the business of sports and changes on the horizon.
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The Spotlight on Sports Speakers Series is made possible through the Sam and Gene Johnson Distinguished Visitors Program and the Craig L. Leipold Fund for Sports Management.