Symposium panelists are making an appearance in Blo-No, representing the sports industry, and giving sports management students who are interested in this field the opportunity to speak and connect with motivational speakers.

Four panelists, lunch, four more panelists and a keynote speaker begin at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Chateau Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington.

An internship fair will follow for sports management students interested in networking and finding a job from 3 to 4 p.m.

“We want to help our students find ways to get into the sport management program and into the sport industry. That’s where they want to work, and that’s where they want to get jobs,” Nels Popp, assistant professor of sport management at ISU, said.

Speakers include officials from sports teams and from television networks.

Between the eight panelists, three of them are ISU alumni: Jay Blunk, executive vice president of the Chicago Blackhawks; Phil Bedella, vice president and general management of Comcast SportsNet Chicago; and Eric Buchanan, general manager of the Texas A&M Sports Properties (Learfield Sports).

“One thing we found was people work in sports because it’s so competitive. We find that the people that make it are really very willing to give back,” Popps said.

There will also be an MC, Lance Lippert, a professor in the School of Communication, he added. Leading the lineup of top sport industry executives is Pat Williams, senior vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic.

“He’s one of the most phenomenal motivational speakers I’ve ever encountered,” Popps said.

Questions are prepared for the symposium including questions about the lockout for Jay Blunk.

This event is open to the public for $30 per ticket.

To register for the symposium, visit KinRec.IllinoisState.edu.