Guest Speaker List

Spring 2014

SMGT 2230 –

  • Ken Shepherd, General Manager at Bridgeport Bluefish
  • Jack McDonald, Athletic Director at Quinnipiac University
  • Ben Gardner, Facility Operations Manager at Amsterdam Mohawks
  • Kathy Forkin, Assistant Director at UNH Career Development Center
  • Kacey Shepherd, Event Management Graduate Asst. at Quinnipiac University - Athletic Department
  • Dr. Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director at CT Assoc. of Schools / CT Internscholastic Athletic Conference

SMGT 6610 The Sport Industry

  • Rick Abbott, VP of Global Security and Facilities at ESPN
  • Michael Ansarra, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at CCSU
  • Ken Shephard, GM of Bridgeport Bluefish
  • Rosa Gatti, Former SVP of Communications at ESPN

SMGT 6626 Strategic Event Management

  • Sara Machowski, Program Director at Yale Conferences & Events
  • Shane Beardsley, Senior Director Events & Operations at Harbor Yard Sport & Entertainment

SMGT 6622 Sport Facility Development/Construction

  • Thomas E. Beebe, Senior Program Manager at ARCADIS U.S., Inc. and President of Connecticut Building Council
  • Don Westfall, General Manager at Connecticut Sportsplex
  • Mitch Goldblatt, former First Selectman for the Town of Orange
  • Mike Sobieraj, XL Center’s Guest Services and Security Manager
  • Frank Russo, Senior Vice President for Business Development and Client Relations for Global-Spectrum
  • Anthony Diaz, Athletic Director Payne Whitney Gymnasium Administration and Physical Education at Yale University

SMGT6617- Managing Sport Finance

  • John Ponzio, former President at Autotote and Town Treasurer, Town of Trumbull.
  • Ralph Willis, Senior Partner at EFA Associates former head of entertainment devision at GE Capital
  • Nick Turchan, Director of Finance at Cavaliers Operating Company, LLC..
  • Dan Crumb, Chief Financial Officer, Kansas City Chiefs

Fall 2014

SMGT 4475 Sport Event Management

  • Jef Thiffault, Founder / President at Contigo Sports Management
  • Anne Worcester, Tournament Director at the Connecticut Open
  • Sharon Pelkey, Director Special Events at Special Olympics Connecticut, Inc.
  • Patrick Fisher, Executive Director at Connecticut Sports Management Group, Inc.

SMGT 4450/6670 The ESPN Experience

  • Rosa Gatti Former, SVP Communications at ESPN
  • Mike Boissonneault, Sr. Dir. of Technology Business Operations at ESPN
  • Kate Fagan, Writer / Columnist at ESPNw
  • Nancy Weisman, Photo Editor at ESPN The Magazine
  • Craig Mortali, Former Producer at ESPN (5-time Emmy Award Winning)
  • Julie Sobieski, VP of League Sports Programming at ESPN
  • Mark Bowers, Manager of Digital Research at ESPN
  • Peter Serbegis, Regional Manager of Affiliate Sales at ESPN Radio
  • Scott Dalke, Director of Affiliate Business Operations at ESPN

SMGT 6613 Sport Facility Management

  • Shane Beardsley, Senior Dir. of Operations & Events at Harbor Yard Sports & Entertainment
  • Anthony Diaz,Senior Associate Athletic Director at Yale University
  • Jessica ScibekAssistant DirectorSCSU Student Center Fitness Center

SMGT 6620 Professional Sport Management

  • Charlie Shin, Senior Director of Strategic Planning, CRM & Analytics at MLS
  • Michael Minchella, Manager of Ticket Sales at NYC FC
  • David Thorpe, NBA Analyst at ESPN/ Founder and Executive Director of Pro Training Center

Special event- Does the Culture of Football Contribute to Domestic Violence?

  • Dr. Donna Lopiano is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Sports Foundation (1992-2007)
  • Lawrence Flanagan – former CMO (Retired), Worldwide Marketing & Communications, MasterCard Worldwide andcurrent CEO/President AARP Service
  • Dr. Kendell Coker,Assistant Professor of psychology at the University of New Haven.

Spring 2015 (planned)

SMGT 2230 Management of Sport Industries

  • Kathy Forkin, Assistant Director with UNH Career Development Center
  • Jamie Toole, General Manager at Bridgeport Bluefish
  • Matt Caporale,Executive Director with UNH Career Development Center
  • Robert Murdock, Director of Sports Marketing withConnecticut Convention & Sports Bureau
  • Scott Carey, Retired with National Sporting Goods Association

SMGT 3325 Sport Facility Management

  • Chris Brown, Executive Director, Guest Experiences, New York Mets

SMGT 4474 Marketing and Public Relations in Sport

  • Jeffrey Meeson, VP of Insights & Strategy at Octagon
  • Brent Fisher, VP of Affiliate Sales & Marketing at MLB Network

SMGT 6611 Sport Industry Marketing, Promotions and Public Relations

  • Marc Jacobson, President at Silverman Group
  • Oscar Allain, Account Director, Multicultural Marketing at Octagon