Sports Management Worldwide is putting on a one-day conference in Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League. The conference includes NBA GM's, scouts, media personalities and lots of other interesting folks.
Here's what they say about the conference:
Gain valuable insight into a variety of careers from those working at the highest level in basketball! This day long career conference offers unique panel discussions and question-answer periods designed to start or advance your career on the business of basketball. The day will be split up into diverse speaker panels; including sports business, athlete representation, scouting, digital video editing, and sports career strategies.
The conference is on Saturday, July 11th in Las Vegas. Cost is $150, but there's an early sign up discount available ($100). Register here.
Full Disclosure:
These folks gave me a ticket to the conference for myself and one to give away to a reader.
If you want to attend and are interested in the free ticket let me know. I am still coming up with a contest idea but I am thinking maybe a 5000 word essay or perhaps something easier.
Tentative Agenda: (Speakers added daily!)
(Speakers will be added and times will change. Due to game schedules still being arranged, and teams finalizing who on their staff will be attending, this schedule is tentative.)
Please keep checking back to this webpage for updates and changes. A final schedule will be sent to registered attendees one week prior to event.
Friday, July 10th: (Thomas & Mack Arena Conference Room A)
6pm-9pm Registration opens. Welcome Reception with no host cocktails
7-8pm Kevin Pritchard, Trail Blazers GM and Chad Buchanan, Trail Blazers College Scout
8pm- 9pm Networking
Saturday July 11th (UNLV Theatre Classroom, walking distance from Thomas & Mack Arena)
7:30am Registration opens
8am Welcome - Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President
8:15am - Mark Warkentien, Denver Nuggets GM
"NBA Executive of the Year!"
8:45am Basketball Operations Panel:
Scotty Stirling, Sacramento Kings Head Scout
David Griffin, Phoenix Suns Sr. Vice President of Basketball Operations (invited)
Pete Philo, Timberwolves Advanced Scout (invited)
Masai Ujiri, Raptors Asst. GM (tentative)
9:45am Sports Agent Panel:
Trisonya Abraham, WNBA and overseas Agent
Solly Laniado, Israel Sports Agent (invited)
Steve Banks, Goodwin Sports NBA Agent (SMWW Alumni)
David Mondress, BDA Sports Vice President
10:30am Break
10:45am-11:30am Developmental League Panel:
Joe Newman, ABA CEO
Bob MacKinnon, Colorado 14ers GM (NBADL)
(more to be added)
11:30am-12:15pm Sponsorship Panel:
Nico Harrison, Nike Basketball (invited)
(More to be added)
12:15pm-1:30pm Lunch Break
1:30pm-2:30pm International Basketball Panel:
Bruce O'Neil, United States Basketball Academy President
Tom McCarthy, Asian Basketball Confederation
James Mullins, SMWW Director of Middle East and Missing Piece International
2:30pm-3:30pm Sports Broadcasting & Media Panel:
Brian Wheeler, NBA Play by Play Announcer (SMWW Faculty)
Marc Stein, ESPN Basketball Senior Writer
Chris Silva, OKC Thunder Website Writer, (If OKC goes to Vegas)
3:30pm Break
3:45pm - 4:45pm SMWW Faculty Panel:
Ed Gregory, former Sacramento Kings GM
Frank Burlison, Scout.com
Synergy Sports Technology
Total Sports Entertainment
4:45pm- 5:30pm Jump Start your Career in the NBA:
Beth Hancock, Portland Trail Blazers Executive Asst. to the GM
Chris Denker, NetScouts Basketball (SMWW Alumni)
(More to be added)
5:30pm Wrap up- Dr. Lynn Lashbrook
6pm Summer League Games -optional