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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • Matt Brown moderates a panel consisting of Matt Homan, Jared Rice and Lynn Oliver-Cline.

Program

Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

Time Function Location
7:45 AM Registration / Continental Breakfast Under escalators 
8:15 – 10:00 AM Case Study Competition 
*This is not open to attendees - only case study teams and judges
Congaree A/B
Session #1
9:00 – 10:00 AM Keynote Speaker:
Rick Welts, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks
Lexington Room
10:00 – 10:15 AM BREAK
Session #2
10:15 – 11:15 AM Panel: Next Play: Emerging Trends in Sport & Entertainment

Matt Biggers, Vice President of Marketing, Athletes Unlimited 
Jon Bishop, Vice President, Playfly Max
Mark Dyer, Founder, Taymar Sales U
Moderator:

Lexington Room 
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM Awards Luncheon 
A Conversation with: Jeremiah Donati, Athletics Director, University of South Carolina
Richland Room
Session #3
1:00 – 1:45 PM Keynote Speaker: 
Debbie Antonelli, ESPN/CBS/Raycom/Westwood One Basketball Analyst

Lexington Room 
1:15 - 1:35 PM Academic Research Presentation

Congaree B
1:45 – 2:00 PM BREAK
Session #4
2:00 – 3:00 PM Panel: Green Street Records ***Live Performance!

David Baker,
Music Industries Instructor, USC School of Music
Natasha Brison,
Associate Professor, University of South Carolina 
Katie DeMartini,
Artist
Jeremy Polley,
Assistant Professor, USC School of Music
Jen Reader,
Music Industries InstructorUSC School of Music
Moderator: Paul Graham,
Instructor, University of South Carolina
Lexington Room 

2:00 – 2:20 PM


2:25 – 2:45 PM


Frozen Liabilities? Evaluating Winter Olympic Nordic and Sliding Venues
Robert Sroka, Towson University 

The U.S. Center for SafeSport and Sports Venues and Business Entities:  A Legal Analysis of Pending Litigation
Clare Maness, University of Alabama / Troy University
Congaree A
2:00 – 2:20 PM



2:25 – 2:45 PM
The Gambling Fan: A Conceptual Examination of Gambling's Impact on Fandom
Yoon Sik Hong, University of South Carolina / Stephen Shapiro (Advisor), University of South Carolina

They could, go, all, the way! Experiential learning at the College Football Playoff National Championship
Robert Zullo, Slippery Rock University 
Congaree B
3:00 – 3:15 PM BREAK
Session #5
3:15 – 4:15 PM Panel: From Negotiation to Representation: The Agent’s Role in the Industry

Andrew Farag,
Executive, Underscore Talent
Erik Telford,
Agent, United Talent Agency
Moderator: Armen Shaomian,
Associate Professor, University of South Carolina
Lexington Room
3:15 - 3:35 PM



3:40 - 4:00 PM
Beyond the Game: How Fantasy Fulfillment in Metaverse Sports Shapes Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-being
Heeyeon Park, University of South Carolina / Yongjin Hwang (Advisor), University of South Carolina

An Examination of Perceived Value of Sport in Aruba: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Stephen Shapiro, University of South Carolina / Andy Gillentine, University of South Carolina
Congaree A
4:15-4:30 PM BREAK  
4:30 – 5:30 PM Panel: Breaking In: How to Get Hired in Sports and Entertainment

Cassidy  Haller,
Inside Sales Manager, Philadephia 76ers
Angelo Hronis,
Director of Business Development, Cleveland Cavaliers
Tara Schwinn, 
Director of Marketing and Team Business, ECHL
Ryan Simon,
Manager of Ticketing Services, Philadelphia Phillies
Moderator: Matt Dunn,
Instructor, University of South Carolina
Lexington Room
6:30 - 8:30pm Opening Networking Reception 
City Art
1224 Lincoln Street, Columbia SC 29201
 City Art

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Time Function Location
8:00 AM Registration Open  
Session #6
8:15 – 10:00 AM Case Study Finalists Present Congaree A/B
8:30 – 9:00 AM BREAK
Sesson #7
9:00 – 10:00 AM Panel: Your Career Starts Today. Best Presentation Ever the Sequel!
Murray Cohn,
President, MC Sports Sales and Training & Consulting
Michelle Price,
VP of Business Operations, TeamWork Online
Bill Sutton,
Executive in Residence, University of South Carolina
Lexington Room 
10:15 – 10:30 AM BREAK
Session #8
10:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Career & Internship Fair

More Info

Richland Room  
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Academic Research Poster Presentations: Pre-function Area

 

Pre-Function Area
1:15 – 2:30 PM Closed Session: SPTE 590 OVG Presentations
*only open to students in this class
Congaree A

 


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