Sport Management Symposium: The Business of Sport
Join the GMercyU Sport Management Program, the Sport Business Association, Career Development and Office of Alumni Relations for the University’s Inaugural Sport Symposium: The Business of Sport.
You don’t have to be in the Sport Management program to attend, you just need to have an interest in anything sport related! The event is open to the entire GMercyU community, alumni, and friends of the University.
Hear from professionals with vast experience as they share their knowledge and answer your questions about the sport industry. Following the panel, there will be an opportunity to network with the guest speakers and students. Attire for student attendees is business casual.
Panelists
Jenna Bertoti
Account Manager, Philadelphia Wings
Jenna Bertoti graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 2020 with a degree in sport management. She started her career as an Intramural intern at Gwynedd Mercy University in the Athletic Department.
While working in the sports industry, she has held many different roles. Some of these job titles include Youth Sports Director, Assistant Manager, Inside Sales with the Philadelphia Flyers and she is now working as an Account Manager for the Philadelphia Wings.
Corey A. Lord ‘04
Founder/Owner of CAL Sports Academy
Internationally acclaimed athlete Corey A. Lord began his athletic career as a star soccer player and track and field champion in his native country of Barbados, which he represented throughout his elementary and high school years in the youth division of the CARIFTA Games. After moving to the United States, he set and still holds the New York State High School Track Class record as a sophomore in the 500-meter. He also set and retains the 200-meter record for his alma mater, Alfred State College, where he competed in the NJCAA National Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 1994.
Coach Corey began sharing his passion for sports in 1998 as a youth basketball coach for the North Penn YMCA, where his talent was quickly recognized. Due to popular demand, Coach Corey spent several years developing and expanding the YMCA’s youth athletic programs, including the Building Champs Basketball Program, which Coach Corey founded to give at-risk and low-income youth an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of sports.
His success at the YMCA and his desire to help young athletes develop to their fullest potential led Coach Corey to found CAL Sports Academy in 2006. Initially run through the YMCA, CAL Sports Academy now serves in multiple locations throughout the Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania with year-round Sports Development programs, clinics, leagues, camps, AAU basketball teams, Club Volleyball teams, private training, and special events.
In addition to launching CAL in 2006, Coach Corey also joined Gwynedd Mercy University as an assistant head men’s basketball coach and played a key role in GMercyU's 2009 Colonial States Athletic Conference League Championship and first round bid to the NCAA tournament. While at GMercyU, Coach Corey began sharing motivational presentations for high school and college athletes stressing the importance of education and providing insight on how to successfully balance academics and athletics.
Now a highly sought-after motivational speaker and personal coach, Corey brings all his energy, enthusiasm, passion, and experience to CAL Sports Academy, where every program is intended to empower youth to build strength, confidence, courage, and a strong sense of community. Coach Corey inspires players through his passion for teaching that allows players to discover their abilities and define their own “Strength Through Sports”. It takes: Determination, Commitment, Strength, Motivation, and Teamwork to be successful in anything you do and Coach Corey makes sure this is in his players and coaches every day of the year.
At CAL Sports Academy, Coach Corey has provided high-level training to athletes of all ages and skill levels. In 2011, his 5th Grade Boys AAU Team qualified and competed at Nationals in Detroit, Michigan. Coach Corey also took two basketball players to the 2012 NBA Fit Dribble Dish and Swish competition in Orlando, Florida where his players finished as the Champion and Runner-Up in their age groups. In 2013, his 5th Grade Girls AAU Basketball Team qualified for Nationals in Tennessee. In 2014, his AAU Boys Basketball program excelled throughout the season with several tournament championships. In 2016 his 5th Grade Boys AAU Team qualified and competed at the Nationals in Hampton Virginia. The following year in 2017 his 6th Grade Boys AAU Team qualified and competed at Nationals in Hampton Virginia. His 7th Grade Boys AAU Team also qualified and competed at Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Through his training programs, Coach Corey and the CAL Sports Academy staff have successfully trained athletes to make their Junior Varsity and Varsity school teams and several players are moving on to play in college.
As a reward to the hard work and dedication to his craft, CAL Sports Academy is experiencing exponential growth in bringing sports training to youth in the area.
Braydon Ruiz
Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual
Braydon Ruiz is a 2022 Temple University graduate with a bachelors in Marketing. He is a Financial Representative at Northwestern Mutual. Braydon started at Northwestern Mutual in the internship program in January of 2021, where he placed top 100 in the country and 6th in the region for the internship. With his newfound success, he went to full time in January of 2022, where he placed in the top 50 for all advisors in his tenure. Braydon focuses in the athlete space where he has opportunities to work with players across different sports, and around the world.
Braydon likes to go against the grain and do things others can’t. He believes if something doesn’t scare you, it’s not worth going for.
Karen Weaver, EdD
Graduate Faculty, Higher Education Academic Director, Collegiate Athletics Certificate Program
University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
Karen Weaver is an expert on college sports as they intersect with higher education management, media, and policy. A former Division I and Division III head coach and athletics administrator, Dr. Weaver examines college athletics from the perspectives of university presidents and trustees, athletic conference organization, higher education scholars, and sports finance. Her research includes mid majors and FBS Division I institutions, public finance and facility debt policies, and the role that college senior leaders can and should play in managing athletics.
Dr. Weaver has been a part of Penn GSE since 2007, when she began her doctoral studies in higher education management. After graduation, she left a 30+ year career in college athletics to join the faculty at Drexel University. Dr. Weaver began teaching at Penn GSE in 2012 and joined as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in 2020.
In addition to teaching in Penn GSE’s Higher Education programs, Dr. Weaver is the Academic Director and lead faculty member of the program Collegiate Athletics for Senior Campus Leaders through the Center for Professional Learning. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership, sports and digital media, marketing, and promotions. While at Drexel, Dr. Weaver was recognized by the Drexel Center for Academic Excellence for her work with undergraduate student media projects.
A long-time athletics administrator in NCAA Divisions I and III, Dr. Weaver has received numerous honors and appointments during her years in college athletics. She has worked for several Big Ten universities; she also oversaw the progression of building an athletics department program from club status into full NCAA Division III membership.
As a college athlete, she was an All-American and one of the first women ever to earn an athletics scholarship under Title IX. She was part of the United States National Training Squad in Field Hockey that qualified, but did not compete, in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Her USA Field Hockey coaching experience includes US Olympic Training Center camps, and US Olympic Development Camps.
Dr. Weaver’s awards include:
- Lock Haven University: Field Hockey Alumni Award (2016)
- Penn State Abington: Chancellor’s Award of Merit (2012)
- University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education: Young Alumni Award (2011)
- USA Field Hockey International Coach Selection (1985-1995)
- NCAA Post Season Appearances (1983-1986, 1994)
- Salisbury University: Faculty of the Year (1987)
- USA Today Coach of the Year (1986)
- Salisbury University: NCAA Division III National Championship. Field Hockey (1986)