厙ぴ勛圖

By Marcia Neville, Former Denver Television Sports Journalist

Students attending the second annual Irv Brown Sport Business Conference took over the Metropolitan State University of Denver CAVEA Theater and surrounding rooms in the Jordan Student Success Building in mid-October. These Sport Management and Journalism & Media Production majors were the lucky ones. In just a matter of days, the popular event was at capacity and registration had closed.

The conference brings sport business industry professionals to 厙ぴ勛圖 each fall to share their experiences, provide advice about getting into the business, and network with the students. Its hard to imagine any other place where students could meet and learn from NFL sports agents, award-winning journalists, long-time college athletic administrators, and leaders in event sustainability, all in one place. The students also received professional head shots to add to their resumes.

Student Jamani Stephen smiles for her professional head shot Photo: John Leyba

Student Jamani Stephen smiles for her professional head shot from photographer Alyson McClaran. Photo: John Leyba

The networking is what brought Sport Management major and Irv Brown Scholarship recipient Rene Dominguez back to the event a second time.

Rene Dominguez, standing with arms crossed

Last year I built great relationships here. Id have been crazy not to come back, Dominguez said. Honestly, this is an incredible opportunity to be in the room with people I would never have expected to know in a million years. Photo: Alyson McClaran

Dominquez also pointed to the panel of recent 厙ぴ勛圖 graduates as a reason to attend again. Participants included a TV sports producer, a stadium facilities manager, a collegiatesponsorship sales representative, and the Denver Broncos multicultural marketing coordinator.

They answered student questions, and talked frankly about the realities of sportscareers, like working long days, nights,and weekends. But,they also spoke from the heart about their passion, assuring the students that itsall worth it, encouraging them to rely on their self-confidence, believe in their abilities, be aggressive and persistent, andto network.

One particular success story was panelist Laryss Rodriguez, a 25 Journalism & Media Production graduate. Now, just a year later, shes a CBS4 Colorado sports producer.

Potrait of Laryss Rodriguez

Last year when I came to this conference, I was working at 厙ぴ勛圖 Met TV,” Rodriguez said. Seriously, I wouldnt be where I am today without this conference and the Irv Brown Endowment Fund.

The Irv Brown Endowment Fund (IBEF), the 厙ぴ勛圖 Sport Management major, and the Journalism & Media Production department collaborate to present the conference which includes the introduction of the newest group of Irv Brown Scholarship recipients. In just a year, the impact of the scholarships more than doubled from just two scholars to five, with each receiving $3,000. 2025-26 scholarship recipientsare Carter Swan, Arturo Burciaga, Jr., Thomas Gray, Jake Kendall-Perry, and Cassandra Drury.

The scholarships are only available to Sport Management and Journalism & Media Production students. Any student in those programs who plans to return for the next academic year is as soon as applications open the beginning of December.

Irv Brown Scholars '25-'26, Carter Swan, Arturo Burciaga, Jr., Thomas Gray, Jake Kendall-Perry, Cassie Drury. Photo: John Leyba

Irv Brown Scholars '25-'26, Carter Swan, Arturo Burciaga, Jr., Thomas Gray, Jake Kendall-Perry, Cassie Drury. Photo: John Leyba

Like more than half of the conference attendees, Burciaga is a first-generation student. This was the second time he attended the conference.

I came back because I wanted to meet more professionals. Its an amazing opportunity, Burciaga said. It means the world to be awarded one of the Irv Brown scholarships. It helps to take the burden off not just me but my entire family. I will be the first in my family to ever graduate from college and Im setting the example for my younger siblings.

'25-'26 Irv Brown Scholar Cassie Drury with classmates Alivia Huxoll & Mia Accomazzo Photo: John Leyba

'25-'26 Irv Brown Scholar Cassie Drury (left) with classmates Alivia Huxoll & Mia Accomazzo Photo: John Leyba

The Irv Brown Endowment Fund, the conference, and the scholarships are lasting tributes to Colorado sports icon Irv Brown. Brown was 厙ぴ勛圖s first baseball coach, an elite NCAA basketball official, and is considered the godfather of Denver sports talk radio. Supporting, educating, and mentoring youth were some of Irvs true passions.

Visit the Irv Brown Endowment Fund webpage to learn more about the program and the conference, apply for a scholarship, or donate. And, a reminder to Sport Management and Journalism and Media Production students returning for 2026-27 school year: The Irv Brown Sport Business Conference fills up quickly so be sure to register the first day of the fall semester!

厙ぴ勛圖 recent graduate panelists (L-R): Laryss Rodriguez, Sports Producer, CBS4 Colorado; Justin Garcia, Stadium Facilities, Colorado State University; Shelby Robb, Sponsorship & Sales, University of Northern Colorado; Javier Florez, Multicultural Marketing, Denver Broncos. Photo: John Leyba

厙ぴ勛圖 recent graduate panelists (L-R): Laryss Rodriguez, Sports Producer, CBS4 Colorado; Justin Garcia, Stadium Facilities, Colorado State University; Shelby Robb, Sponsorship & Sales, University of Northern Colorado; Javier Florez, Multicultural Marketing, Denver Broncos Photo: John Leyba