Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee declined to make a prediction about the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup chances this season in GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium March 4.
But he did share his thoughts on having HBO cameras follow the team around for three months and the 2011 Winter Classic in Pittsburgh, which he called “the most enjoyable experience of my hockey life.”
Mr. McPhee was one of many sports executives to speak at the eighth annual Sports Industry Networking and Career (SINC) Conference at GW and Nationals Park March 4-5.
Organized and sponsored by GW and Swanson Communications, the conference featured more than 100 seasoned industry professionals, including Mr. McPhee and Kevin Payne, president and chief executive officer of D.C. United, as well as professionals from Washington Redskins, Comcast SportsNet and the Washington Nationals. The speakers covered a variety of industry topics, including law, marketing, new media and sponsorships.
SINC conference co-founder Lisa Delpy Neirotti, director of GW’s Sports Management Program within the GW School of Business, said the two-day conference is an opportunity for students to learn from industry executives as well as network in a series of roundtable networking lunches, where they’re able to personally meet executives and talk to them about their respective professions.
“The topics covered in the conference—trends and industry outlooks—serve as reinforcement to what GW students are learning in the classroom,” said Dr. Delpy Neirotti. There are approximately 80 undergraduates and 35 graduates pursuing sports management at GW.
The conference also featured keynotes by Gary Stevenson, M.B.A. ’81, former president of the marketing and media group at NBA Properties and former executive vice president for business affairs at the PGA Tour; and Michael Robichaud, vice president of global sponsorships for MasterCard.
GW Sports Information Director David Lubeski participated in the networking portion of the conference and said he enjoyed listening and offering advice to students.
“I was impressed with how many of the participants came from other schools and that these are students who are serious about getting their careers going,” he said. “It was refreshing to interact with young people who are looking ahead to lives that are really just getting started. I was glad to share many of my experiences with them.”
Doug Guthrie, dean of GW’s School of Business, introduced Mr. Stevenson at the conference, which was also sponsored by Temple University School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, American Public University, HBCU Connect and GameWear.
“One of the major industries our society rests on is the sports industry,” said Dr. Guthrie. “It gives me great pleasure to have colleagues that care passionately and think deeply about the ways in which sports intersect with society and the ways in which the business of sports is a tremendous aspect of society today.”