Women In Sports Careers Events

2008 Events Schedule - Click Here to view entire calendar.
The event schedule is continuously changing. Check back often so you don't miss out on our next event in your city! Space is limited so register early!

FAQ for all Events
Dress: Casual Business
Schedule: Appetizers, Drinks, Networking, WISC Network Entrepreneurial Opportunities, Guest Speakers/Panel
with Q&A, Closing and Networking.
What to Bring: Plenty of Business Cards, a Pen & Enthusiasm!
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ENHANCE YOUR CAREER! CONNECT WITH YOUR
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL GAME!
(Learn how to use the game of golf to network and close the deals on and off the course!)

WHEN: Thursday, June 19, 2008
TIME: 5:30pm - 8:30 pm (5:30pm-6:30pm: Golf Clinic with Kathleen Heiney & Staff )

PLACE: Overland Park Golf Course
1801 S. Huron St., Denver, CO 80223
website: http://www.overlandgolfcourse.com

Featured Speakers:

*Camille Hammond, Sales Manager, Destination Services of Colorado, Inc. - Click here for Bio

*Shelly Harper, Senior Vice President, Programming, Altitude Sports & Entertainment - Click here for Bio

*Sue Frederick, Author, Speaker, Career Intuitive, founder of CareerIntuitive.org and BrilliantWork.com - Click here for Bio

RECAP: DENVER, CO – On February 21, 2008, three incredible women within the events & communications community captivated an audience of career oriented women at the quarterly Women in Sports Careers Network event at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf and Country Club.

Three women imparted their career advice and expert knowledge onto the group of eager listeners. Camille Hammond, Sales Manager, Destination Services of Colorado, Inc. began the evening with a brief bio of her career, including her time with the LA Klippers and time at the Denver Pepsi Center and how those work experiences as well as her years as a competitive swimmer have really impacted her life.

Shelly Harper, Senior Vice President,Programming for Altitude Sports & Entertainment talked about her career path from it’s infancy to where she is today. She also touched on the challenges of being taken seriously as a woman, the importance of a work-family balance and some interesting studies relating to being taken seriously in a predominantly male oriented atmosphere.

Rounding out the panelists and adding a new way of thinking, was Sue Frederick, Author, Speaker, Career Intuitive. Sue’s intuitive, positive and creative approach to our career path brought a hopeful insight into the individual possibilities that we each possess.

The evening culminated with questions from the attendees and many stayed to take advantage of ongoing one-on-one conversations with our panelists who took additional time to answer individual questions and continue enjoying the networking atmosphere. The event was one in many to come, of events that Women In Sports Careers Network Leaders plan to host in Colorado, Nationally and Internationally!

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Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007: Denver: Passion for Sports & Business Success.

Featured Speakers:

*Sara Will, Paralympic Gold Medallist - Click here for Bio

*Brenda Buglione Kirwood: U.S. Ski Team Veteran; Ski & Fitness Instructor and Host for Snow Motion televised show (www.snow-motion.com) - Click here for Bio

*Alice Plain, Director of Golf - Vail Golf Course, Vail, CO & Soccer and Hockey enthusiast - Click here for Bio

Moderator: Diana K. Frederic, Tennis Professional, Colorado Springs Country Club/Lynmar Racquet Club - Click here for Bio

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Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007: Northern California: Communications and Media in Sports featuring speakers from the Media and Pro Sports Industry.

Featured Speakers:
*Neda Barrie, Golden State Warriors - Click here for Bio

*Michelle Smith, SF Chronicle Sports Reporter

*Ann Killion, SJ Mercury Sports Reporter - Click here for Bio

*Helen Carroll, National Center for Lesbian Rights Sports Project Director - Click here for Bio

Moderator: Mindi Bach, Sports Anchor/Reporter – KGO and FSN Bay Area - Click here for Bio

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WISC Nor Cal @ Google Corporate Headquarters! April 25, 2007 - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECAP!
When: Wednesday April 25, 2007, Registration opens at 6:00pm, 6:00pm-8:45pm
Where: Google Headquarters at Mtn. View, CA (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mtn. View, CA 94043)
Topic: Sports Marketing (Advertising, Promotions, Merchandising, Licensing)
Network Leader: Kristi Breisch, kristibreisch@sbcglobal.net

Panelists: (CLICK HERE to view photos and to read more details about our panelists)

Christine Forter, formerly GM for ABL SJ Lasers; instrumental in developing marketing for Stanford Women's Basketball

Ann Rodriguez, Director of Business Development for Earthquakes Soccer, LLC. Earthquakes Soccer, LLC is owned by the ownership group of the Oakland Athletics Baseball Company

Bob Couch, President of Robert Couch & Associates, Inc.(RC&A), spent over 20 years as a senior marketing officer with Fortune 500 company Anheuser-Busch, financial giant Visa-USA, and semiconductor industry pioneer ZiLOG, Inc.

Moderator: Ann Tardy, Founder of LifeMoxie! A global training and consulting firm specializing in creating opportunities for up-and-coming talent. Ann is a lawyer and has been a member of the California Bar since 1995. She has also worked as Co-Director, Entrepreneurial Program for the Girls' Middle School; Former Board Member and Treasurer for GirlSource; Former Board Member and Treasurer. .

RECAP: WISC Nor Cal continues to grow!! A special thanks to Ginger Johnson, WISC Nor Cal Advisory Board Member and Google, Inc. for hosting our meeting room! Google facility was a wonderful site to have a meeting!

One attendee said, “This was the best one I’ve attended thus far. It keeps getting better…I’m excited to be involved. Let’s keep pushing the envelope to make it better and more beneficial each time.”

Our event topic was Sports Marketing! Our event structure just keeps getting better and better! Event registration included a great pool of women from mid to upper level positions within their own niche in the sports industry: Nor Cal PGA; Stanford University athletics; San Jose State University; Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment; San Jose Mercury News; UC Berkeley athletics; SJ Earthquakes; Oakland Athletics; West Coast Conference; Player Agent; and, Fox Sports Net Bay Area.

With keeping in mind the three main goals for our networking events: 1) creating a good ole girls network; 2) effective networking; and, 3) learning and taking some information about that event’s topic and being able to apply it to your job! Our moderator for panel, Ann Tardy, worked the room meeting all the attendees, asking them questions about the night’s topic, Sports Marketing. Ann then utilized the questions from the audience to have the panel provide their experience and input. Great information was provided by the panelists: Ann Rodriguez, Director of Business Development for SJ Earthquakes; Christine Forter, former GM for ABL SJ Lasers; and, Bob Couch; formerly with sports marketing giants Anheuser-Busch and VISA. The panel information was so informative, that attendees were taking notes!

After the panel discussion, the attendees participated in a structured networking exercise where they got to network with 6 more women.

The attendees then participated in a mini group discussion led by one of the panelists on: advertising/promotions; corporate sponsorships/licensing; and, branding.

UPCOMING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EVENT:
Our next event, in conjunction with Bank of the West Tennis Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, July 25th in the Palo Alto area, the topic is Corporate Sponsorships. Moderator is Ann Kent , Founder of Kent Consulting. Panelist so far is Jason Pearl, VP of Corporate Sponsorships for SF Giants; others to be determined.

July 10, 2007: San Diego: Corporate Sponsorship featuring Taylor Peterson, Director of Sponsorships and Special Events, SD Intl Sports Council

Jan. 17, 2007 - NORTHERN, CA (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland)
When: Wednesday January 17, 2007, Registration opens at 6:00pm, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Where: UC Berkeley, Haas Club Room
Topic: Bay Area Sports Marketplace
Network Leader: Kristi Breisch, kristibreisch@sbcglobal.net
Cost: Members $35, Non-Members $50, Walk-ins $60 Panelists:

Teresa Kuehn Gould, Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator, UC Berkeley.

Mary Murphy, Fox Sports Net (FSN) basketball analyst, a long-standing personality in women's basketball, is the former head coach and general manager of the Sacramento Monarchs.

Moderator: Zennie Abraham, Chairman and CEO, Sports Business Simulations "Learn to Run", he created the Oakland-Alameda County Sports Commission and served as its president.

RECAP: Another great event... our momentum continues in Northern California! We expanded our network to the East Bay, we had first time attendees from Fox Sports Bay Area, USTA Nor Cal, SF Giants, and UC Berkeley! A special thanks goes out to Jim Herrman, Director of Ticket Sales for UC Berkeley Athletics, who hosted our event in the Club Room at Haas Pavilion.

Our event topic was Bay Ara Sports Business Marketplace. We had great discussion from our moderator and panelists: Teresa Gould, Deputy Director & SWA of UC Berkeley Athletics; Mary Murphy, Basketball Analyst for Fox Sports, ESPN, CBS, and Madison Square Garden Network; Eric Young, Reporter for SF Business Times; and, Zennie Abraham, Sports Business Simulations "Learn to Run” , CEO/Chairman.

After the panel discussion, the attendees participated in a structured networking exercise. The attendees then participated in a mini group discussion led by one of the panelists on: Emergence of Women in Sports Media; Sports Business and the Government; College Athletics as a Business; and, Bay Area Sports Business Corporate Sponsorships.

When: Thursday, November 9, 2006, 6:00-8:30pm
Where: Gordon Biersch, Mission Valley, San Diego CA (Complimentary Valet Parking)
Topic: The POWER of Networking
Network Leader: Rhonda M. Brown, rmbrown7@hotmail.com
Cost: Members $25, Non-Members $40, Walk-ins $55

Marty Caswell, Producer of XX Sports Radio and Coordinator of Padres Pre and Post Game Show

When: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 5:30
Where: Nutmeg Curling Club, Located at the Wonderland of Ice facility, 123 Glenwood Avenue, Bridgeport, CT (Just off exit 5 -- Routes 25 & 8 -- near Trumbull line).

Recap: See the article below about the event!

Curling: The Other Winter Sport, By Frances Moore, Westport News
Article Launched: 12/22/2006 09:16:15 AM EST

Perhaps it's my Scottish blood; perhaps it's because I've always been an active athlete; perhaps it's because my friends and I like nothing better than competing against each other. Whatever the reason, three of my friends and I were recently given the opportunity to learn the sport of curling at Bridgeport's Wonderland of Ice, where there is a brand-new curling facility.

The event was actually part of the Women in Sports Careers (WISC) series of planned activities. The scheduled events are designed provide networking opportunities for women in sports-related careers, which many of my friends are. WISC provided food, drinks and certified curling instructors. After the networking part of the evening, we were allowed to go out on the ice, get a few pointers and even play a shortened game. Click Here to view the entire article. Search by keyword "Curling"

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Northern California (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland)

When: Thursday November 9, 2006, 6:00-8:30pm
Where: HP Pavilion, Frank Jirik Room, San Jose, CA (Free Parking-Lot D)
Topic: Career Development
Network Leader: Kristi Breisch, kristibreisch@sbcglobal.net

Panelists:

*Kent Russell, VP of Sales and Marketing, San Jose Sharks and Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment
*Marlene Bjornsrud, Co-Founder of BAWSI, Former GM of SJ Cyberrays of Women’s United Soccer Association / WUSA
*Ilisa Kessler, Business Operations Manager for ABC7 KGO-TV/DT and teaches Event Operations for the Sport Management Graduate Program at USFC

Moderator: Ann Kent, KENT Consulting Group, strategic business planning and implementation

Recap: Coming Soon!

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Northern California (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland) WISC Networking Event

When: Thursday August 10, 2006
Where: AT&T Park, Executive Conference Room
Topic: The Value of Networking, What is Effective Networking
Network Leader: Kristi Breisch, kristibreisch@sbcglobal.net

Recap:
It was a great turn out for the WISC Network event in the Northern California area (SF/SJ/Oakland) on August 10th. New and current WISC members gathered in San Francisco, CA at AT&T Park, to hear words of wisdom from a terrific panel in a variety of sports and networking related careers.

Comments:
“The event Aug 10th was a tremendous success…interesting women from all facets of the sports world industry. Many women were able to immediately make connections for future employment opportunities and networking strategies. The time went by so fast, we needed more time to get to know all the fascinating positions women held in the corporate world.”
Jan Ahlman, Director of Sales, Poppy Ridge Golf Course
WISC Nor Cal Member and Board Member

NY/NJ/CT (Tri-State) WISC Networking Event

When: Thursday June 8, 2006
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Peppermill Restaurant,
Westport, CT
Network Leader: Ann Karrick, AnnKarrick@WISCNetwork.com

Recap: It was a great turn out for the WISC Network event in the Tri-State area (NY/NJ/CT) on June 8th. New and current WISC members gathered in Westport, CT, to hear words of wisdom from a terrific panel of women in a variety of sports related careers (including Rosa Gatti/ESPN, Christine Wypy/WWE, Maria Jannace/Lime Rock Park). The exciting panel discussed their career paths and career moves that got them to their current positions – along with obstacles they’d overcome. Future challenges facing the sports industry such as changes in technology were addressed, including how it is changing marketing strategies. Sponsorship is the front runner for the next event -- securing sponsorship, evaluating sponsorship opportunities, and everything in-between! See you there!

Speakers/Panel:

Rosa Gatti
Sr VP, Corporate Communications
and Outreach, ESPN
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Maria Jannace, Chief Marketing Officer
Lime Rock Park (LRP)
Track hosts NASCAR Busch, Professional SportsCar and SCCA Pro Racing organization events

Ann Karrick, Moderator
TV & Radio - Host & Producer, Air Talent, News

Event is Sponsored by Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock has become synonymous with the history of sports car racing in North America, establishing a rich tradition as the center of road racing on the East Coast. Click Here to learn more about this sponsor.
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San Diego, California Event Recap!

When: Thursday April 20, 2006
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Where: Seau's - The Restaurant, Westfield Mission Valley
Network Leader: Rhonda Brown, RMBrown7@hotmail.com
Sponsor: Seau's - The Restaurant, Click here to learn more about this sponsor.

It’s official! WISC San Diego Network kicked off its inaugural event on Thursday, April 20. With more than 30 women in attendance, the night was full of networking and panelists’ discussions surrounding education, career development, and the power and necessity of networking. Panelists Clint White, sports marketing manager for Petco; Maria Arcega-Dunn, Fox 6 news anchor; and surprise panelist Dionne Miller, Fox 6 sports anchor, all told their stories of triumph and advised attendees of the necessary roads to travel to achieve their goals. All-in-all, it was a great event. The group made connections with one another and with the guest speakers that will hopefully last throughout their careers. Join us in July for our next WISC San Diego Network event. We will engage, educate and network with San Diego’s dynamic sports talent.

Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Event Recap

Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort
950 Ocean Dr • Deerfield Beach, FL
Thursday, March 30th, 2006 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Sponsor: American Home Mortgage Pro Sports Entertainment Division

Network Leader: Kim Thompson
Email: Kimberly.Thompson@americanhm.com

Event Recap: The first Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Women In Sports Careers networking event was held on March 30th in Deerfield Beach. The evening was a success as 30 women from the greater Miami area gathered for a night of networking and guest speakers. Our fantastic speakers included Kim Stone, Executive Vice President and GM of the AmericanAirlines Arena, where she discussed her success in the sports industry and her experiences with the NBA Miami Heat as well as the importance of networking with other women. Also speaking for the evening was Marie Claire DeBortoli, founder of "International Golf Academy" and the 2005/2006 LPGA Golf Instructor of the Year. Marie-Claire discussed her path up to where she is today and also shared some golf etiquette tips with us to remember when incorporating the business world with golf. Overall the women made some great contacts and relationships and from the responses, really enjoyed themselves. Our next event will be held in Miami in late June where we will be combining our networking event with a silent auction fundraiser to fund some other WISC events.

Special Thanks to Sponsor: American Home Mortgage Pro Sports Entertainment Division. Click here to learn more about this sponsor.

Denver Event Recap

Magnolia Hotel Denver
April 5th, Wednesday, 6:00 – 8:30PM
Sponsors: Magnolia Hotel Denver, UBS Financial Services
Network Leader: Heather Nevill
Email:Heather.Nevill@Sprint.com

Event Recap: Shelley Harper, VP Programming of Altitude Sports TV and Lisa Vad Thorner, Assistance Commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference were panel speakers for the first ever Colorado Women in Sports Careers networking event. Shelley and Lisa have achieved great success in their careers and shared with the audience their experiences climbing the corporate ladder throughout their organizations in the face of challenges and obstacles of working within a male dominated industry. They shared advice and best practices that enabled their success while also addressing questions from the audience. Denver’s next event is targeting for late July and we are anticipating another fantastic group of panel speakers, networking exercises, food and more fun!

Special Thanks to Sponsors: Magnolia Hotel, Click here to learn more about this sponsor. Stephanie A. Sammons, CFP for UBS Financial, Click here to learn more about this sponsor.