About Us

“When I arrived at the University of Maryland in the Fall of 2018, I was in love with every aspect of the school, except there was always one part missing, which I couldn’t figure out. In my second semester, I learned about the UMD Sports Business Society and at the first meeting Laura Humphreys talked about her experience as a Senior Manager of Marketing & Activation at the Baltimore Ravens. Listening to her speak, I found my untapped passion for the intersection between sports, business, and connecting with my community. Leaving that meeting, I knew I had to figure out a way to unleash that potential on campus.

Creating the Maryland Sports Business Conference was an idea that came naturally to Bradley and me. We were two students with a shared vision and desire to make an impact on our campus by getting involved in the nearby booming sports market. Although there were bumps along the way, our dream never wavered. The immediate impact and positive feedback of our work made everything worth it to keep going. The Maryland Sports Business Conference has since created a networking and relationship-strengthening vehicle that connects students with alumni, sports executives, athletes, and their respective organizations.

From what was just an idea to the creation of a successful conference with Bradley, to now being Alumnus and being able to see the conference flourish under the next generation of leaders, it is incredible to see its everlasting impression on UMD. The Maryland Sports Business Conference has become an epicenter for students all around the UMD and greater DMV area to follow their passions, connect with alumni, and create opportunities for their dream internship or job. Just as I realized my spark in sports business, I am confident the Maryland Sports Business Conference will be somebody’s “Laura.”

“Co-founding the Maryland Sports Business Conference alongside Rachel will always be one of my proudest accomplishments from my time at the University of Maryland. Coming into college, I was still very unsure about what I wanted to do, but I was always fascinated by sports and business. During the first look fair, I saw the UMD Sports Business Society and quickly got involved, attended every meeting, and became the President by the end of my freshman year. This opportunity allowed me to progress my career and network with hundreds of alumni and professionals. Most importantly though, I had the opportunity to inspire the next generation of sports business leaders and make an impact on campus.

Being in one of the largest media markets, Rachel and I saw a massive opportunity for students to network with UMD alumni and the neighboring professionals in the industry. This led us to host the first Maryland Sports Business Conference virtually in 2021 and the feedback from attendees inspired us to continue to grow the annual event. Every year, our team strived to bring in the most influential leaders, discuss the hottest topics in sports, and provide opportunities for students to progress their careers.

As an alumnus, I am excited to attend the conference every year to see how the next generation of leaders build on the blueprint that Rachel and I have laid out. It brings me tremendous joy hearing the success stories of students that have reached their dream jobs and seeing the impact we have made at UMD.”