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![]() | Val Ackerman - Former NBA executive and the first WNBA Commissioner, Ackerman is now the Commissioner of the Big East Conference. A Basketball Hall of Famer, she speaks in UWT Sports Enterprise classes, and is in direct contact with UWT students. |
![]() | Aaron Artman - This award-winning baseball executive is the president of the Tacoma Rainiers. A leader in the creation of the UWT Milgard School Sports Enterprise Management program. A regular speaker in program classes, Artman focuses on opportunities for students. |
![]() | Patrick Barthe - Versatile creative! Patrick founded Viper Gaming and College Tennis Online, and worked at Microsoft, Atomic and All in Media in designing and conducting product launches in gaming and technology. He shares his Esports knowledge with Sports enterprise students. |
![]() | Heath Bennett - is now the Chief Revenue Office of UW Athletics. He worked with the Philadelphia Eagles, in minor league pro-sports management in Modesto, Mobile and then onto the AHL, NHL and the NBA. He is a UWT Sports Management friend and resource. |
![]() | Kevin Bryant - Long time small college and high school athletic director, Bryant is a gym-full of knowledge. In the everchanging world of college sports operations, he astounds students of Sports Enterprise Management at UWT with his breadth and depth of knowledge. |
![]() | Dean Burke - The CEO of Tacoma Travel, Burke helps showcase the community where most UWT students live. Any conversation with Burke will lead to marketing analytics, much of which come from the sport industry. He is a friend of all things Sports Enterprise at UWT. |
![]() | Caitlan Calnan - As the Director of Group Sales and Event Marketing for the Tacoma Rainiers, Calnan leads a team of highly successful sports professionals. Her style of communications helps all Sports Enterprise students understand private sector concepts. |
![]() | Casey Catherwood - The former Creative Director of the Tacoma Rainiers, Casey brings his imaginative fun-at-the-ballpark personality. One of the most popular speakers in Sports Enterprise, Casey believes that a great fan experience is vital. |
![]() | Matt Chelap - The SVP of global sports agency Octagon Media, Chelap leads Home Depot’s sponsorship of ESPN’s College GameDay. His work has taken him to 7 Super Bowls and many college bowl games. UWT students benefit from Chelap speaking in class each year. |
![]() | Jen Cohen - She spent nearly 25 years in the UW Athletic Department, including 7 years as Athletic Director. Now at USC, she is one of the few women in the AD position in major college sports. Look for Cohen to speak in UWT’s Sports Enterprise classes again. |
![]() | Shannon Drayer - Long known as one of the best woman baseball journalists, Drayer has over 20 years covering the Mariners. Her style is one of having superior knowledge, Drayer is a hit with students when she speaks to Sports Enterprise classes. |
![]() | Tommy Farris - UW grad Tommy Farris coupled his love for the great outdoors with business to start the Olympic Hiking Company. When he speaks to Sports Enterprise classes at UWT, Farris discusses the challenges of operating a sports business in Olympic National Park. |
![]() | Buffy Filippell - The MVP of sports job recruiting, Filippell leads the largest recruiter of sports jobs in the US. Filippell has made her platform available to UWT Sports Enterprise students. On Teamwork Online, UWT students can find thousands of jobs in sports. |
![]() | Norris Frederick - A three-time Olympic medalist, this UW grad is a businessperson and philanthropist. Frederick inspires Sports Enterprise students with information about the discipline needed to become an Olympic athlete and operate business. Meet Norris on campus! |
![]() | Josh Garcia - Superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools, Garcia serves on the Advisory Board of UWT’s Sports Enterprise Management program. He always puts the students at the top of his concerns, and helps the program serve the students most interested in the sports industry. |
![]() | Eric Grubman - He spent 14 years as the Executive Vice President of the NFL and helped to build the league into its massive financial strength. Grubman is an annual speaker in UWT Sports Enterprise classes and discusses his worldwide company that serves the global sports industry. |
![]() | Jon & Ashleigh Guidoux - The Guidoux’s left corporate life in California to start the University Place Crossfit facility. Jon and Ashleigh are accomplished athletes who open their facility to Sports Management students to learn about the business of Crossfit and gym operations. |
![]() | Abel Hernandez - Assistant Teaching Professor at UWT, Hernandez is an Educator, Army Infantry Veteran, and Developer of Leaders in Business & Sport. A business owner and soccer program leader, he collaborates with UWT’s Sport Management program. |
![]() | Aaron Hill and Mike Shields - These Gonzaga alums told the story of the famed Kennel Club. They built such a following on the Gonzaga campus that coaches say they give GU a 10-point home court advantage. UWT students can hear the story first-hand in Sports Management classes.. |
![]() | Tony Horton - America’s personal trainer and creator of P90X, Tony Horton is a friend of the UWT Sports Management program. He discusses training, health, and what it takes to be a leader in the multi-billion health and fitness aspect of the sports industry. |
![]() | Brock Huard - Local favorite, UW and NFL QB, Huard has become a nationally known expert football commentator. In the UWT Sports Management program, Huard brings his unique variety of experiences as he discusses the difficult business of sports. |
![]() | Brian Jones - Jones is a sports business expert with sales and management experience in Major League Soccer, NFL, and Major League Rugby. He is also an owner in professional sports. Jones is a popular speaker in UWT Sports Management classes. |
![]() | Chris Kennedy - Senior Vice President of Business Analytics and Strategy, Kennedy is a supporter of the UWT Sports Management program as a board member, host of student groups, and speaker in the classroom. |
![]() | Stephanie Lopez Cox - Olympic Gold Medalist on the 2008 US Women’s National Soccer team, Lopez Cox is now a collegiate coach. She even brings her gold medal to UWT Sports Management classes as she discusses the tribulations of gaining Gold Medal status. |
![]() | Holden Markoff - A versatile participant in the sports industry, Markoff leads the Pines Capital Group and counsels athletes and investors in the sports industry. His expertise is a great opportunity for UWT Sports Management students to learn entrepreneurship in sports. |
![]() | Kelli Masters - Recognized as one of the most influential women in the sports industry, Masters is an NFL sports agent. She is based in Oklahoma and speaks to UWT Sports Management classes about players who place their futures in her hands. |
![]() | Jen Mueller - The intersection of sports talk and business communication is where veteran sports broadcaster Jen thrives. She is a pioneering Mariners and Seahawks broadcaster and a UWT Sports Management board member. Jen also brings her expertise to UWT classes. |
![]() | T’wina Nobles - Washington state senator T’wina Nobles was an inaugural member of the UWT Sports Enterprise Management program Advisory Board. An athlete in her youth, she supports youth sports and education programs throughout the state. |
![]() | Tim O’Holleran - O’Holleran is a Tacoma Rainiers AllStar as the Senior Director of Business Development. A speaker in UWT Sports Management classes, he advises students about making their way in the sports industry – particularly internships. |
![]() | Josip Radic - Josip heads the International Office at the Apira University of Applied Sciences in Split, Croatia. He is working with the UWT Sports Management program to find ways to a Tacoma,WA/Split, Croatia collaboration. |
![]() | Talisha Rhea - Success follows Talisha Rhea. The GM of WNBA champs Seattle Storm, prepared for the job on the basketball court in college and the pros. Rhea is a regular speaker in UWT Sports Management classes discussing professional basketball operations. |
![]() | Devon Schuler - He took advantage of Sports Enterprise Management education at UWT and now gives back as an industry expert. Devon works in digital strategies for European Athletics, and offers his experiences to his alma mater’s Sports Management students. |
![]() | Ashley Schutt - The former Pacific Coast League Woman Executive of the Year, Ashley is the Tacoma Rainiers’ Director of Operations and Merchandise. She leads much of the Rainiers’ business and shares how it’s done with UWT Sports Management students. |
![]() | Gee Scott Sr. - Scott built a business based on his connections to sports, athletes and the ability to timely communicate. He added on-air media to his repertoire. Highly knowledgeable about college sports business, Scott discusses the future of youth with UWT students. |
![]() | Sydney Shub - UW Grad and Kraken Manager of Ticket Operations, Sydney Shub, is a great example of creating opportunities. She worked in professional sports in Colorado and then came home with the start of the NHL team. Sydney discusses her progress with UWT students. |
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Jon Spoelstra - Former NBA executive Jon Spoelstra is known as a top marketing executive. A noted author, Spoelstra discusses theories and practice of sales and sports business operations with UWT Sports Management students. |
![]() | Leigh Steinberg - The inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire, Steinberg discusses with UWT Sports Management students how agents negotiate with players, encourage players to work with the community, and the overall relationship with sports teams. |
![]() | Becca Stout - Starting as an intern, Becca is now the Managing Director of Community Engagement for the Seattle Seahawks. Her work includes making opportunities known to UWT Sports Management students that could lead to engagement in the sports industry. |
![]() | Marcus Trufant - Tacoma native, retired Seahawk defender, and an original member of the UWT Sports Management advisory board, Trufant inspires students with his responsibility first message. Nonprofit work or business counseling, Trufant is an icon at UWT. |
![]() | Alisha Valavanis - The President and CEO of the four-time WNBA Champions, the Seattle Storm, Valavanis is the business chief in the growing world of women’s professional sports. She is a highly recognized business executive and speaker in UWT Sports Enterprise classes. |
![]() | Bob Whittsitt - Long time professional sports CEO, and author of Game Changer: An Insider's Story of the Sonics’ Resurgence, the Trail Blazers’ Turnaround, and the Deal that Saved the Seahawks, Whitsitt is a regular adviser to UWT Sports Management students. |
![]() | Shaina Wiel - The Founder of Minorities in Sports Business, Wiel uses her marketing expertise to provide sports industry opportunities for many who would not have opportunities. Wiel discusses with UWT students ways to make sure their voices are heard. |
![]() | Kate Yeager - With over 10 years of writing, and hosting including gaming and Yeager is an expert in esports creation and marketing. She discusses with UWT Sports Management students theories and practice of the growing esports market. |