2026 AGENDA
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22
8:00 AM
Registration Open
Location: Midway West | Staircase
8:00 – 3:00 PM
BDSE empowered by Legends Global Workshop
9:00 – 11:45 AM
Case Cup: Preliminary Round of Presentations
Locations: Grand Ballroom A, B and C
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Morning Workshops
Retention & Customer Service: 3 Case Studies; Let’s Solve Together
Ron Contorno, President, Full House Solutions
Ken Troupe, Co-Founder, SportsBiz Builders LLC
Location: Midway 3-4
Sales Leaders
Melyssa Jaskiewicz, VP, Sales & Marketing, Sideline Sports
Brian Richeson, EVP, Business Development, Attend
Location: Midway 9
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Brunch
Location: Regency Ballroom
12:00 – 2:30 PM
League/Event Workshops
MLB (Invitation & Team Attendees Only)
Brian Jemison, Senior Director, Premium & Membership Service, Detroit Tigers & Detroit Red Wings
Jared Kozinn, Deputy Athletics Director, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, Michigan State Athletics
Location: Midway 5
NBA/WNBA (Invitation & Team Attendees Only)
Will Eidam, Director, Partnership Analytics, Detroit Pistons
Marisa Ferrara, Director, Partnership Activation, Chicago Sky
Location: Midway 10
NFL (Invitation & Team Attendees Only)
Adam Nuse, CRO, Tennessee Titans
Eric Sudol, CRO, Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Location: Midway 6
NHL (Invitation & Team Attendees Only)
Brett Baur, Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships, Excel Sports Management
Eric Stisser, VP, Corporate Sponsorship, St. Louis Blues
Location: Midway 1-2
MiLB: Bases Loaded: Hitting Home Runs in Tickets, Sponsorships & Community (Invitation & Team Attendees Only)
Zach Brockman, President, Beloit Sky Carp
Chip Maxson, President & COO, Sacramento River Cats
Andy Milovich, Head, Client Development, Revelocity Sports
Heather Raburn, Senior Director, Partnership Marketing, Unrivaled Sports
Location: Midway 8
Soccer (Invitation & Team Attendees Only)
Katie Foglia, VP, Marketing & Brand Strategy, Columbus Crew
Lindsey Moore, Director, Global Partnership Sales, Americas, Liverpool FC
Laura Wright, VP, Integrated Marketing, FC Cincinnati
Location: Midway 3-4
From Legacy to Lift-Off: Revitalizing Assets with New Sponsorship Energy
Haley Jurick, Director, Client Development, rEvolution
Location: Midway 7
Trade Show
David Brown, EVP, Idegy Inc.
Location: Midway West
1:15 – 3:15 PM
Case Cup: Finals
Location: Regency Ballroom
2:30 PM
Networking Break
Location: Trade Show Floor
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Coffee Break
Location: Trade Show Floor
3:00 – 5:30 PM
Discipline Workshops
Ticket Sales & Strategy | Tech Tank
Paige Farragut, Dallas, TX
Tom Sheridan, Co-Founder, SportsBiz Builders
Location: Midway 5
Brands (Brands Only)
Elliott Cox, Global Sports Partnerships Executive, Bank of America
Marc Timson, EVP, Strategic Partnerships, MoZeus
Lisa Woodward, Owner, Woodward Sponsorship Consulting
Location: Midway 7
Corporate Partnerships & Brand Activation | Tech Tank
Sponsored by
Doug Holtzman, SVP, Sports, Sportsdigita
Heather Raburn, Senior Director, Partnership Marketing, Unrivaled Sports
Location: Midway 6
Marketing & Fan Engagement | Tech Tank
Rishi Lal, Strategic Advisor, SEVN
Toni Will, General Manager & Governor, Kalamazoo Wings
Location: Midway 10
Innovation Lab | Tech Tank
Brian Gainor, Founder & CEO, Gainor Sports
Location: Midway 8
Business Intelligence & Analytics
Will Eidam, Director, Partnership Analytics, Detroit Pistons
Ryan Horiuchi, Customer Insights Manager, Portland Trail Blazers
Location: Midway 1-2
Private Events & Non-Game Day Revenue
Starr Jemison, SVP, Content Development & Private Events, Oak View Group
Location: Midway 3-4
5:00 PM
Registration Closes
5:00 – 5:45 PM
Budweiser Beer Wagon
Location: Trade Show Floor
5:45 – 6:15 PM
Buses to Busch Stadium
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Location: Busch Stadium
8:45 – 10:00 PM
Buses to Union Station Hotel
9:00 PM
Official Bar
Grand Hall, Union Station Hotel
7:30 AM
Registration Opens
Location: Midway West Staircase
8:00 – 9:30 AM
Newcomers Breakfast
Hosted by
Location: Regency Ballroom
8:30 – 9:30 AM
SBJ Connect: Structured Networking Breakfast
Location: Grand Ballroom B - C
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
10:15 – 11:05 AM
Fireside Chat
Howie Nuchow, Co-Head, CAA Sports
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
11:05 – 11:45 AM
Fireside Chat
Steve O'Donnell, President, NASCAR
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Networking Break
Location: Midway West | Trade Show Floor
12:15 – 1:00 PM
Breakout Sessions Round One
Breakout 1: Sponsorship Sales
Ten MORE Emerging Sponsorship Categories & Partnership Platforms You Can Take Back to Your Organization
Brett Baur, Senior Director, Properties & Corporate Partnerships, Excel Sports Management
Travis Misner, Director, Team Partnerships & Strategy, Playfly Sports
Location: Midway 5
Breakout 2: Senior Management
The New Expectation of Sports Entertainment: How Creating Unforgettable Moments—Not Just Wins—Drives Engagement, Loyalty, and Revenue
Wayne Partello, CEO, CUENTO Marketing
Location: Midway 7
Breakout 3: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Beyond the Game: Community Engagement as a Core Revenue Driver and Brand Builder in Sports
Tatianna Carthorn, Founder & CEO, NextPhase Consulting
Location: Midway 8
Breakout 4: Business Intelligence
Lead Generation Through Analytics
Kai Murray, Director, Season Ticket Sales & Business Development, Kansas City Royals
Daniel Sommerhouser, Senior Director, Business Analytics, Kansas City Royals
Location: Midway 1-2
Breakout 5: Marketing
Cross-Collaboration Amongst Departments to Reach Goal
Matt Walker, Manager Partnership Activation, Cleveland Browns
Location: Midway 3-4
Breakout 6: Private/Special Events & Non-Gameday Revenues
Beyond Game Day: Uncovering Millions in Untapped In-Venue Sponsorship Value
Alexander Kerr, CEO & Founder, Trajektory
Location: Midway 10
Breakout 7: Wild Card
Hosted by
The Playbook for Success: Leadership Lessons from the Sports Industry
John Roberson, CEO, Advent
Eric Sudol, CRO, Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Location: Midway 6
Breakout 8: Ticket Sales
Experiences Rule, Tickets Drool: How to Sell Seat Outcomes in 2026
Bill Guertin, President, The 800-Pound Gorilla, Inc.; Co-Founder, ISBI 360
Location: Midway 9
1:00 – 2:30 PM
Networking Lunch
Location: Midway West | Trade Show Floor
2:30 – 3:15 PM
Breakout Sessions Round Two
Breakout 1: Ticket Sales
Theme Night Promotions
Bethany White, Manager, Fan Engagement, St. Louis Cardinals
Jennifer Nevins, Senior Director Group & Promotional Sales, St. Louis Blues
Location: Midway 5
Breakout 2: Sponsorship
Hometown Partnerships with Big Impact
Mike Kapilla, Manager, Sponsorships, Enterprise Mobility
Chris Rohlfing, Manager, Sports Marketing, Purina Nestle
Joe Samel, Media, Partnerships & Sponsorships, Stifel
Eric Stisser, VP, Corporate Partnerships, St. Louis Blues
Location: Midway 6
Breakout 3: Fan Engagement
Sports Betting: An Evolving Area of Fan Engagement
Evan Davis, Head, Gaming & Sports Practice, Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld, LLC
Location: Midway 7
Breakout 4: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Where to Begin: A Startup Approach to Inclusion and Belonging
Lia Rollman, Director, People & Culture, Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Kisha Smith, SVP & Chief People Officer, Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Location: Midway 1-2
Breakout 5: Senior Management
Negotiations Secrets of High Stakes Leadership
Andres Lares, CEO & Managing Partner, Shapiro Negotiations Institute
Location: Midway 3-4
Breakout 6: Artificial Intelligence
Your Sixth Player: Maximum Impact, Minimum Resources
Lenny Goh, VP, Business Development, Tradable Bits
Location: Midway 9
Breakout 7: Marketing
We Sell Nothing Fans Actually Need …So Why Are We Marketing Like We Do?
Dr. April Seifert, President & Data Scientist, SprocketCX
Location: Midway 10
Breakout 8: Wild Card
Inside SBJ’s Leaders Club: Building the Next Generation of Sports Business Leaders
Eileen Silvergleid, CRO, Leaders Group
Location: Midway 8
3:15 – 3:45 PM
Networking Break
Location: Midway West | Trade Show Floor
3:45 PM
Afternoon Remarks: Case and Challenge Cup Winners; Project Possible Award
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Super Panel
The New Home Field Advantage: How Brands Are Owning the Entertainment District
Tim Bodner, Partner, Global Head, Real Asset Deals, PwC
Elliott Cox, Global Sports Partnerships Executive, Bank of America
Moderator: John Roberson, CEO, Advent
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
6:00 PM
Registration Closes
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Opening Night Trade Show Reception
Location: Midway West | Trade Show Floor
7:30 – 9:30 PM
Women Sports Leaders Reception
Location: Energizer Park
8:00 – 10:00 PM
CITY After Dark Reception
Location: Energizer Park
10:00 PM
Official Bar
Maggie O’Briens
2000 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103 (across the street from Energizer Stadium)
7:30 AM
Registration Opens
Location: Midway West Staircase
7:45 – 8:50 AM
Networking Breakfast
Location: Midway West | Trade Show Floor
9:00 – 9:15 AM
Opening Remarks
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
9:15 – 10:05 AM
Fireside Chat with Joe Buck
Joe Buck, Play-By-Play Announcer, ESPN
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
10:05 – 11:15 AM
Super Panel
Gateway to Greatness: Leading St. Louis Sports into the Future
Bill DeWitt III, President, St. Louis Cardinals
Carolyn Kindle, Owner & Chairwoman, St. Louis City SC
Tom Stillman, Chairman & Governor, St. Louis Blues
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
11:15 – 11:45 AM
Networking Break
Location: Midway West | Trade Show Floor
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Breakout Sessions Round Three
Breakout 1: Senior Management
10 Ideas to Make Your Sports Venue More Attractive for Corporate Meetings
Rose Lanham, President, Athlete Speakers & Sports, Players for Good Speakers Bureau
Location: Midway 7
Breakout 2: Business Intelligence/AI
Building an AI Playbook to Leverage Your Data for New Revenue
Ryan Miller, Co-Founder & CEO, WolfCycle
Location: Midway 1-2
Breakout 3: Marketing
The Six Best Ideas You Should Be Doing Now! (SAMMY Competition)
Location: Grand Ballroom D-F
Breakout 4: Sponsorship
Worst Practices in Brand Partnerships
Molly Sapienza, SVP & Group Head, Corporate Sponsorships, PNC Bank
Location: Midway 5
Breakout 5: Diversity & Inclusion
Inclusive Sponsorships: Expanding ROI by Expanding Representation
Mara Dorne, CEO & Senior Regional Sales Leader, Dorne Region
Location: Midway 8
Breakout 6: Customer Service & Retention
Winning Without the Scoreboard: Creating Memorable Experiences & Building Fan Loyalty
Zach Brockman, Team President, Beloit Sky Carp Baseball Club
Jonathan Griffith, President, Studer Family of Companies
Audra Walden, Marketing Manager, MAVRX Sports Housing
Location: Midway 10
Breakout 7: Business Development
How to Leverage Stadium Development for Year-Round Value
Ben Donsky, Principal, Agora Partners
Howard Kozloff, Principal & Founder, Agora Partners
Jackie Krutz, Director, Titletown Development, Green Bay Packers
Location: Midway 3-4
Breakout 8: Marketing
What Does it Take to Engage the Next Generation of Fans?
Chad Menefee, EVP, Strategic Intelligence, SSRS
Location: Midway 9
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Networking Lunch
Location: Midway West | Trade Show Floor
2:00 – 2:45 PM
Breakout Sessions Round Four
Breakout 1: Business Development
Behind the Playbook: EQ in Action for Sales Success
Brittany Alexander, Executive Assistant, Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Location: Midway 1-2
Breakout 2: AI
3rd Annual State of Sports Biz AI: 60+ New Tools & Tricks to Transform your Career & Life
Jim Delaney, Founder & CEO, Activate Sports & Entertainment
Location: Midway 5
Breakout 3: Ticket Sales
Five Ways to Use AI Pricing to Boost Event Day Sales
Derek Zhou, Head, Investments, SeatGeek
Location: Midway 6
Breakout 4: Marketing
Revenue Beyond the Gates: Turning Every Fan Touchpoint into a Profit Center
Jacqueline Purcell, Sales Manager, Sports & Entertainment, Alvarado Mfg
Tim Thomas, Business Development Manager, i6
Location: Midway 3-4
Breakout 5: Fan Entertainment
Fan Engagement Partnership: How Singles & Doubles Should Compliment your Home Run Swings
Tom Bridger, Associate Director, Partnerships, WIT Sports
Location: Midway 7
Breakout 6: Wild Card
The Everchanging Landscape of Women’s Sports
Sara Arnold, VP, Corporate Partnerships, Chicago Stars FC
Location: Midway 9
Breakout 7: Sponsorship
Face It: Faster Entry, Easier Payments, Bigger Revenue
Trevor Purvis, Director, Ticket Operations, Technology & Solutions, Houston Astros
Location: Midway 10
Breakout 8: Case Study
Purposeful Partnership with the CT Sun Connecticut Sun
Kirsty Beauchais, Director, Partnerships, Connecticut Sun
Alexandra Maund, Director, Brand Development & Communications, Connecticut Sun
Jennifer Rizzotti, President, Connecticut Sun
Location: Midway 8
2:45 – 3:15 PM
Ice Cream Break
3:00 PM
Registration Closes
3:15 – 3:30 PM
Afternoon Remarks
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Power Play: Gary Bettman on the Future of the NHL
Gary Bettman, Commissioner, NHL
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
4:30 – 4:45 PM
Closing Remarks
Location: Grand Ballroom D - F
4:45 – 5:45 PM
Budweiser Beer Wagon
5:50 – 6:15 PM
Buses Depart for Enterprise Center
6:20 – 9:15 PM
Budweiser Gala
Hosted by
Chris Zimmerman, President and CEO, St. Louis Blues
9:15 – 9:45 PM
Buses Return to Union Station Hotel
9:30 PM
Official Bar
The Pitch, Union Station Hotel (located at the corner of Market St. & N. 20th)
