The Simpson College Sports Administration Club hosted their third annual Sport Administration Symposium with continued growth from previous years.
The event filled Hubbell Hall on the morning of Thursday, April 9. This year’s event set new records with over 166 attendees from six colleges, five high schools and 23 sports organizations. A highlight of this event is that it is fully student run by the club with over 40 roles, creating central Iowa’s largest sport management symposium.
“Our third annual Sports Administration Symposium was a huge success. The student have collectively bought in to the vision and have made it not only our program’s signature event, but the largest student-led event of its type in the region,” said Matt Garrett, sports administration professor at Simpson College, “It is a significant undertaking that involves many departments, all of whom deserve thanks.”
The Symposium is set up with opening remarks, an opening speaker, two panels of four, a keynote speech and a raffle.
The event began with welcoming remarks from the Symposium Co-Chair, Kacie Eisentrager, and President Sue Stuebner. New to this year’s event included an opening speech from Arthur Braden, Manager of Sales at the Iowa Wild.
Braden’s speech reminded everyone in the industry how important the people around them are. He did this by asking, “Who packed your parachute?” referencing the U.S. Navy pilot, Charles Plumb.
The event then moved into its first panel, which featured three Simpson Alumni. It included Cory Kennedy, Marketing Director at the Iowa Sports Foundation; Claire Oetting, Development Coordinator at Iowa State Athletics; Elise Boulton, Internal Operations Coordinator at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union; and Tony Hager, Founder of IASportz. Sophomore Josh Stauner emceed the panel.
“It was great to come back and see how much the event has grown. I really enjoyed talking to students and hearing what parts of the industry excited them and how Simpson is helping prepare them,” said Elise Boulton, 2024 graduate of Simpson.
Following a short break, the second panel began emceed by Simpson College Professor of Multimedia Communications and WHO 13 News anchor, Lisa Carponelli. This panel included Clayton Vanhorn, Video and Multimedia Coordinator at Omaha Storm Chaser; Nicole Buhrow, Director of Marketing and Events at the Zach Johnson Foundation; Tiffany Heishman, Aquatics Coordinator at Trail Point Aquatics and Wellness; and Ben Hansen, Director of Football Administration and Engagement at the University of Iowa.
The featured keynote speaker was Erin Mykleby, associate athletic director at Bemidji State and Syracuse Women Leaders in Sports Fellowship. Mykleby was introduced by Ryleigh Collum, Coordinator of Internal Operations at Simpson College Athletics.
Junior Taylor Carlson, 2026-27 Sports Administration Club president, is looking forward to being the chair of next year’s symposium.
“This year I was so proud of everyone that put on the event and the amount of people that were able to attend. I am beyond excited to be the chair for next year’s event and have Tom Keating join us as our keynote speaker,” Carlson said. “I have some big shoes to fill as our leaders have done a great job of running this event but so thrilled to see what it brings..”
The fourth annual Simpson College Sport Administration Symposium will take place on April 8, 2027, with Tom Keating, executive director at the Iowa High School Athletic Association and Simpson Alumnus.
