Written by MaryMargaret Hayes
Last week, I had the privilege of participating in Professor Andy Clark’s 11th annual “Behind the Scenes with Chicago Sports Organizations” course, an immersive experience that took us inside some of the city’s most influential sports organizations. Over the span of five days, we engaged with industry professionals, toured iconic venues, and gained firsthand insights into the operations and strategies behind Chicago’s dynamic sports landscape. Come along on the journey with me as I recap my key takeaways and highlights from this unforgettable week.
Day 1:
As a kickoff for our class, Kevin Willer, a Partner of Chicago Ventures, visited the School of Hospitality and Sports Business to give an amazing talk on all things sports business and entrepreneurship. Kevin emphasized the importance of “[surrounding] yourself with good people that you can learn from,” which resonated with me as I always try to surround myself with like minded individuals who will push me to be the best version of myself. Something that Kevin mentioned that especially resonated with me was when he explained that it is important to “surround yourself with good people that you can learn from.”
Kevin Willer
Following our discussion with Kevin, our class then traveled to the United Center, meeting with both the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks.
At the Bulls, our visit was led by Kola Adebola. Our class participated in a panel with a few members of the organization, even getting a surprise visit from Michael Reinsdorf, CEO of the Bulls! Later on in the day, we also got a chance to talk with Patrick Sandusky, the VP of PR and Communications.
Then, heading to the Blackhawks, we heard from many amazing members of their team, with Matthew Schroll leading our session that day. We were also taken on a tour of the United Center, led by Kevin LeClair. During our time with the Blackhawks, we were able to meet with a multitude of DePaul alumni, including Leila Rajput, Sean Montgomery, and Willem Caster. Not only did this experience provide a fascinating look at the operations behind two major sports teams, but it also gave our class the chance to connect with recent DePaul alumni in the industry.
At the end of our first day, our class attended a Bulls game—and they won! Watching the game together was a great way to bond while also experiencing the arena in full swing after meeting the team behind the Bulls and touring the United Center with Kevin.
Day 2:
For our first session of day 2, our class traveled to Paragon Marketing Group, meeting with Paragon’s Senior Vice President, Matt Waitz, along with Michael Socks, an account supervisor at the agency. Our class was able to learn more about Paragon’s initiatives and impressive clientele, along with a brief overview of the growth of the agency. Waitz explained that “we are not the biggest agency… but we are going to try the hardest,” which was evident within their company culture.
Following our visit with Paragon, we then headed over to the Chicago Stars, Chicago’s professional women’s soccer team that competes in the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League). Our class had the exclusive opportunity to speak with Karen Leetzow, president of the Stars, who took us through a presentation of what the team is fighting for within the NWSL – a chance at equality. After hearing from Karen, we had an open discussion with many DePaul alumni, including Elizabeth Endy, Emmanuel Gomez, Andrea Correa, Niall Hurley, Emmanuel Salazar, and Anna Schmitt; it was so inspiring as a current DePaul student to see many alumni working within the industry! It was also amazing to learn of the progress being made in women’s sports, with the Stars breaking an attendance record when they played at Wrigley Field this past June, with over 35,000 attendees!
Day 3:
Moving right along into Wednesday, day 3, we first started our day with rEvolution, a sports marketing agency in the West Loop! With Michael Begel and Ian Burleigh leading our session, we learned about the 3 core pillars of rEvolution: Strategy, Activation, and Measurement. Michael stated that “we connect brands with fans – that’s what we do at our core,” which was a perfect summation of our discussion with rEvolution. We even got to talk with Larry Mann, one of the original partners of the agency since its founding.
Later in the day, we also visited with the Chicago Bears in their Loop office! We had a panel with Kristin Rogers, Rachel Chessky, Nathan DiLorenzo, Logan Oppegard, and Joann Kowalski, where our class was able to hear from those who work within marketing, sales, HR, and partnerships. A quote that stuck with me this day was from Kristin, who stated that “when a lot of things divide us, sports is the one that unites us.” Well said!
After our visits with rEvolution and the Bears, we headed back to the United Center to attend a Chicago Blackhawks game as a class—a perfect way to wrap up our third day! During the game I even waited in line to meet Tommy Hawk, the Blackhawks’ mascot, which added a fun and memorable touch to the evening.
Day 4:
With our course more than halfway done at this point, we are already on day 4, starting off strong with a visit to the Chicago Cubs in Wrigleyville!
In a presentation led by DePaul alumna Megh Babikian, we dove right into learning about ticket sales, HR, communications, fan development, and baseball sciences, meeting with Claribel Diaz, Rachel Landgraf, Brynne Murphy, and Joe Gyora to do so; Ethan Brock, a current sports business student at DePaul also stopped to speak with our class, as he is currently working for the Cubs as an Accounting Assistant. We then got to speak with Andy Blackburn, the VP of Development and Partnerships, who, along with Megh, then showed us around the many premier suites within Wrigley. It’s not everyday that you get to hang around underneath a baseball field!
Pivoting to soccer, we ended our day at the Chicago Fire. Welcomed by Ryan Mantel and Sam Bocken, our class learned the ins and outs of sales. We also met with Dan Moriarty (CMO), Emily Simanskis (Senior Manager of Digital Content and Social Media), and lastly Christine Giordano (Director of Partnership Marketing).
Day 5:
Our final day of visits brings us to Friday, where we started at Wintrust Arena, home to the Blue Demons and Chicago Sky. Greeting us at the entrance of the arena, David Kennedy, gave us a glimpse into the preparations that go into arena operations. While we watched the space be prepared for a concert that night, David explained to us just how versatile the arena is, hosting more than just basketball games.
We then met with Alex Teodosi, Chicago Sky’s VP of Sponsorships, who talked to us about his role within Chicago’s WNBA team, and the growth of women’s sports overall. Fun fact: Alex started as an intern for the Sky when he was at DePaul! One piece of advice from Alex that especially resonated with me was to “always give yourself a fair shot,” as you may not always be the smartest one in the room, but you better be the most hardworking.
DeWayne Peevy, DePaul’s Athletic Director then stopped by to explain his responsibilities at DePaul and all that entails being an AD. Peevy then took our class on a tour around Wintrust arena, stopping in both the men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms to view the impressive amenities for DePaul’s athletes within the arena.
Heading back to campus, we were then joined by Mike Gordon, the GM of Northwestern Sports Properties. Mike was a captivating speaker who had our whole class on the edge of our seats while listening to a breakdown of working in sports, with networking best practices.
The last part of our day included a “speed-dating” session with many DePaul Alumni, including Alex Bialek (Senior Coordinator of Track Content for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race), Nina Goodhue (Associate Athletics Director of Marketing & Fan Experience for DePaul Athletics), Sean Montgomery (Account Executive of Membership Services at the Blackhawks), Kelsey Horvath (Brand Marketing Manager at Schilling Cider), and Miliana Adams (Global Partnerships Coordinator at Abbott). Our class took turns meeting with each speaker through open discussions within small teams. The “speed dating” exercise was a perfect conclusion to our five days together, providing an opportunity to connect with alumni from the sports industry and gain meaningful insights into their career journeys, challenges, and advice for students like us.
Day “6”:
To wrap up the course, our class returned to campus for a final day where teams gave their final presentations to a group of panelists, with two teams being chosen as the “winners,” and getting to take home some prizes. Professor Clark has quite a sweet surprise for us, a cake with our class on it!
Among the 51 speakers we met with this week, a few common themes stood out. First and foremost: be a sponge! Nearly every speaker emphasized the importance of natural curiosity, a willingness to learn, and the ability to “soak up” as much information as possible. They also stressed the value of staying open-minded, as no career journey is linear. While you might have a clear vision of your goals, things don’t always unfold as planned, so adaptability is key.
The biggest takeaway for me, however, is the importance of being proactive. Every speaker, regardless of their organization, has achieved success by adopting an entrepreneurial mindset and, as Professor Clark puts it, “not doing the minimum.” To truly stand out, you must go above and beyond—taking that extra step is always noticed.
This week-long journey through Chicago’s sports organizations was an unforgettable experience, offering our class invaluable insights into the industry while showcasing the power of connections and collaboration. From engaging panels and dynamic site visits to candid conversations with industry leaders and alumni, each day provided a new perspective on the vibrant world of sports business. The recurring themes of hard work, community, and innovation resonated deeply throughout the course, reminding us of the unifying nature of sports and its potential to inspire change. A huge thank you to Professor Clark for curating such an impactful experience—it’s one that we’ll carry with us as we embark on our professional journeys.