On Monday, September 30, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) hosts a Strategic Athletics Communication Symposium at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, Mass. as part of the 2013 ECAC Convention and Trade Show. The communications presentation includes representatives from CoSIDA, the NCAA, ECAC-SIDA and Columbia University. CoSIDA's representatives are Eric McDowell (Union College, N.Y.), CoSIDA's first vice president; and Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of External Affairs.
The main communications presentation will run from 2:30-4:30 pm (Eastern) on Monday, Sept. 30 and will be followed by a town-hall open session on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 9:30 am (Eastern).
The Monday presentation will be live streamed and also archived for on-demand viewing at www.ecac.ezstream.com.
Below is more information on the ECAC Convention and the communications symposium taking place Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
CENTERVILLE, Mass. - On Monday, September 30, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) will host a Strategic Athletics Communication Symposium at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, Mass. as part of the 2013 ECAC Convention and Trade Show. Presenters at the symposium include members the NCAA Department of External Affairs, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the ECAC-Sports Information Directors Association (ECAC-SIDA).
The symposium will cover a variety of topics and presenters will accept submissions from confirmed attendees prior to the event, to answer specific inquiries. Topics will include the NCAA and its message, external affairs and the role of strategically relaying the message, the best practices of communicating through digital and social media and synergizing the communications process throughout and athletics department. Each organization will provide a presentation on one of the four aforementioned topics, followed by a question and answer segment.
Featured Speakers
Erik Christianson - NCAA Managing Director of External Affairs
- Crisis communications
- Internal and member communications
- Issues management
- Web, multimedia communications and social media
Joe Favorito - Director of Industry Relations for Columbia University’s Sport Management Program
- Independent consultant on crisis communications, social media, strategic planning, publicity and business development for clients such as:
- Bloomberg LP
- Major League Baseball
- Comcast’s Front Row Marketing division
- Former Vice President of Public Relations for the New York Knicks
- Former Director of Publicity and Media Relations for the United States Tennis Association
- Former Director of Public Relations for the Philadelphia 76ers
Barb Kowal - CoSIDA Director of External Affairs
- 30 years of industry experience
- Coordinates all CoSIDA communications objectives
- Works with CoSIDA President, officers, Board, Executive Director and other organizational staff to develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing plan for the advancement of the profession, organization and membership
- Former Assistant Athletics Director of Media Relations at the University of Texas
- Former Senior Associate Director of Athletic Communications at the University of Connecticut
- Was hired as first full-time Sports Information Director at Manhattanville College
Eric McDowell - CoSIDA First Vice President
- Assistant Athletics Director, Sports Information at Union College
- Former Sports Information Director at the University of New Haven
- Former Director of Sports Communications and Internal Marketing at the University of New Hampshire
- Former Media Relations Director for the Golden State Warriors
Kevin Beattie - ECAC-SIDA President
- Associate Athletic Director for Communications & Compliance at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
- Served as Sports Information Director at RPI from 1998-2010
- Served as acting Athletic Director (2007-08)
- Former Director of Communications with the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League
The 2013 ECAC Convention and Trade Show takes place from Sunday, September 29 through Tuesday, October 1 at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, Mass. On Sunday, the 15th Annual ECAC Golf Outing was held at Ballymeade Country Club, also in North Falmouth, Mass. On Sunday evening, the ECAC Honors Dinner presented by Jostens took place at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel, recognizing the achievements of 28 distinguished student-athletes, coaches, administrators and institutions. Monday, September 30 and Tuesday, October 1 are reserved for meetings, programming and the trade show.
For more information visit
www.ecacsports.com