Lecture Series

A major component of Oregon's advantage is extensive participation of sports industry leaders. The Warsaw Sports Marketing Center has become a national leader in bringing relevant speakers to campus. Every term, sports business professionals share their wealth of experience with students and faculty.

Past Speakers have Included (from L to R) Dick Pound of the IOC, Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, Val Ackerman of the WNBA, Steve Patterson of the Portland Trailblazers and Phil Knight of Nike.

Since 1997, more than 100 speakers have traveled to campus to share their experiences with the small group of Warsaw students. Over the past several years, the Center has had the pleasure of hosting a number of distinguished speakers including:*

• Nina Abness, Leo Burnet
• Val Ackerman President, WNBA
• William Baker, Owner, Bake's Marine Center
• Scott Bedbury, formerly of Nike and Starbucks
• Sandi Bittler VP, Business Operations, Portland Fire
• Toby Blanck Octagon
• Dean Bonham President & CEO, The Bonham Group
• Zak Brown President, Just Marketing
• Keith Cutler Publisher, USA TODAY Baseball Weekly
• Michael DeStasio VP Sales, Huffy Sports
• Andy Dolich EVP Sports Marketing, Tickets.com
• David Dunn Athletes First
• John Elkins, Visa
• Dana Gilbertie VP, Youth Marketing, NHL
• Joe Giansante Action Sports Cable Network
• Howard Handler Senior VP, Marketing and Fan Development, NFL
• Joey Harrington, NFL Quarterback, Warsaw alum
• Bobby Hinds Lifeline Fitness Equipment
• Erin Hubert VP, Sponsorship Sales and Client Services, Portland Trailblazers
• Martha Ivester Nike
• Bill Schmidt Gatorade
• Jim Kotchik Senior VP, Chief Financial Officer, Portland Trailblazers
• Kelly Krauskopf Director of Basketball Operations, WNBA
• Peg Lalor Founder, Gorge Games
• Sabrina Lau IMG
• Sue Levin Founder, lucy.com
• Sheng Li Manager, Marketing Partnerships & Sponsorships, Visa International
• Donna Lopiano Executive Director, Women's Sports Foundation
• Casey Martin Buy.com / PGA Tour
• Marla Messing President, 1999 Women's World Cup
• Steve Miller President, Devine Racing
• Bill Moos Athletic Director, University of Oregon
• Erin O'Connell US Soccer Federation
• Bruce O'Neil President, US Basketball Academy
• Steve Patterson Portland Trailblazers
• Caroline Petty GM R*Works
• Neil Pilson former President, CBS Sports
• Jeffrey Pollack Founder, Sports Business Daily
• Eli Primrose-Smith VP, Worldwide Olympic and Sports Sponsorship, IBM
• Terry Rhoads Zou Marketing
• Andy Roundtree VP, Finance and Administration, Anaheim Sports
• Patricia Scarci Liberty Bank
• Mark Scoggins LA Lakers
• Mary Slaney Olympic Athlete
• John Smelzer Director of Business Development, Quokka Sports
• Leigh Steinberg, Sports Agent
• Hank Steinbrecher Secretary General/Executive Director US Soccer
• Jamie Sykes Director, Marketing, National Football League Properties
• Cindy Trames Brand Director for Global Kids Business Units, Nike
• Tyrone Tubbs Director Corporate Sponsorship, Major League Baseball
• Randy Vataha, Gameplan, LLC
• Fran Vettor-Gray Marketing Asset Mgr, Sports Marketing Group, Coca-Cola
• Leslie Visser Sports Reporter, ABC/ESPN Sports
• Frank Vuono President, Integrated Sports International
• Teri Wagner VP, Strategic Marketing and Development, ABC Sports
• Dan Weiden Weiden & Kennedy
• Howard White Nike
• Reggie Williams Disney Sports
• Tim Young GMR* Works

*In some cases, these speakers are no longer with the company they represented at the time of the lecture. Titles at the time of the lecture.