Lamar Reams
President
Dr. Lamar Reams is the Department Chair and Robert H. Freeman Professor of Sports Administration at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He received his PhD in Sport Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Reams’ research and scholarly interests focus on sport marketing, consumer behavior, and combat sports. He teaches courses in sport marketing, consulting, and leadership. Reams currently serves as an editorial board member for Sport Marketing Quarterly.
Matthew Blaszka
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Dr. Matt Blaszka is an Associate Professor at Indiana State University in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport. He is the graduate program coordinator and internship coordinator. Dr. Blaszka has a PhD in Sport Management from Indiana University, a master’s in Sport Administration from Georgia State University, and a bachelor’s in Sport Management from York College of Pennsylvania.
Jim Kadlecek
Executive Director
Dr. Kadlecek is Chair of the Department of Human Performance and Sport Business at the University of Mount Union, where he teaches sport sales, public relations, marketing of sport, and sport analytics. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Sport Marketing Association, as well as the Director of the Sport Sales Workshop and Job Fair. In addition to his scholarly activities and service, Jim works as a consultant for many sport organizations.
Nels popp
Assistant Director
Dr. Nels Popp is an Associate Professor in the UNC Sport Administration Program. Dr. Popp’s research interests include revenue generation for college athletic departments with a particular emphasis on sport ticket sales at the collegiate and professional sport levels. His work has been referenced by ESPN, Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, and the Chronicle of Higher Education, and his research has been published in a variety of academic journals.
Elizabeth Gregg
VP of Academic Affairs
Dr. Liz Gregg is a Professor and Director of the Institute for Justice, Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity in the Department of Leadership, School Counseling, and Sport Management at UNF. Her research focuses on gender equity in sport, issues in intercollegiate athletics, and branding in sport. Dr. Gregg is a former Division-I women's golfer at the University of Evansville. She completed both her master's and PhD degrees at Indiana University.
Rebecca Achen
VP OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Dr. Becky Achen is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Professional Performance Program at the University of Kansas. She has extensive industry experience in sport marketing and sales strategy, and concentrates her scholarship on relationship marketing and social media in professional sport. She is also actively engaged in the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Rick Burton
VP of Industry relations
Rick Burton is the David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management in Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and also teaches “Baseball in American Culture” in Syracuse’s Renee Crown Honors Program. Prior to his appointment as the Falk Professor at Syracuse in August 2009, Burton served as the chief marketing officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the Beijing Olympics where he directed the USOC’s marketing partnerships at the world’s largest sporting event.
JACKSON Sears
VP of Communications
Dr. Jackson Sears is an assistant professor in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Sport Administration Program. Dr. Sears’ research focuses on sport betting consumer behavior and the branding efforts of sport organizations. Dr. Sears earned a Ph.D. in Kinesiology (Specialization: Sport Administration) from Georgia State University in 2025. Prior to his Ph.D. training, Sears was also a two-time graduate of the University of Florida, where he earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in sport management.
Brendan Dwyer
MEMBER AT LARGE
Dr. Brendan Dwyer is a professor and director of research at Virginia Commonwealth University's Center for Sport Leadership. His research in sports marketing focuses on fantasy sports, sports betting, and fan behavior. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, received multiple research awards, and serves on several editorial boards in the field, including Sport Marketing Quarterly.
LIZ SATTLER
MEMBER AT LARGE
Dr. Liz A. Sattler is an associate professor and sequence coordinator of the sport management graduate program at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Sattler is a graduate of Webster University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing. She went on to earn both her master’s degree and doctoral degree at Illinois State University. Sattler's research interests are primarily focused on revenue generation in sport, with publications and presentations on ticket sales and fundraising.