CHHS Spotlight: Irv Brown Sport Business Conference Sees Students Networking with the Pros

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 MSU Denver each fall to share their experiences, provide advice about getting into the business, and network with the students. It’s 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.

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

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

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

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

The Irv Brown Endowment Fund (IBEF), the MSU Denver 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 recipients are 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 encouraged to apply as soon as applications open the beginning of December.

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. It’s 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 I’m setting the example for my younger siblings.”

The Irv Brown Endowment Fund, the conference, and the scholarships are lasting tributes to Colorado sports icon Irv Brown. Brown was MSU Denver’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 Irv’s 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!