KENOSHA, Wis. – Carthage College has compiled an all-star lineup of industry experts for its inaugural sports management conference, featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as the keynote speaker.
The free Spotlight on Sports conference will be held Wednesday, Sept. 13, on the Carthage campus, 2001 Alford Park Drive. This daylong event is intended for all audiences, including high school and college students, their families, and interested community members.
Conference check-in begins at 8 a.m., with educational sessions throughout the morning and early afternoon. Bettman will speak at 4:30 p.m. in a standalone event that’s also free and open to the public.
Having presided over the world’s premier hockey league since 1993, Bettman is the longest-serving commissioner in professional sports. Through his leadership, NHL expansion has brought teams to nontraditional hockey markets — including Las Vegas, home of the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights — and major broadcasting agreements have increased viewership.
At the Carthage conference, participants can also interact with top executives like Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin, as well as rising stars in sports management. Topics will include:
- Sports Media and Marketing: TV, Streaming, and the Future of Broadcast
- Intercollegiate Athletics: The New World of NIL and Conference Realignment
- Women’s Leadership in Sports: Breaking the Mold
- View from the Top: The Daily Grind to Championships
- TeamWork Online: Finding Jobs in the Sports Industry
Carthage offers a graduate business track in sports management and a new undergraduate minor in sport business, cultivating universal skills like disruptive innovation and cross-functional teamwork. Last month, 12 high school students completed Carthage’s first summer sports management camp, earning four college credits while visiting the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Green Bay Packers.
Although there is no admission charge to attend the Spotlight on Sports conference, registration is required by Sept. 1. To see the full conference schedule and reserve a spot, go to: www.carthage.edu/sports
