SPMT Hall of Fame

Sport Management Hall of Fame

John Abrams (’93 & M’03) – ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, ACRISURE STADIUM OPERATIONS & EVENT MANAGEMENT - UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

John Abrams joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Athletics in June of 1998 and is currently an Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Game Operations. He serves as the primary contact for all football operations at Acrisure Stadium and is the primary game manager for men’s basketball at the Petersen Events Center. Abrams also serves as the athletic department’s liaison to many departments on campus and is a member of the athletic department’s Leadership Team.

Abrams has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the athlete department facilities for more than two decades. He was involved in football game day operations in the final two seasons at Pitt Stadium and the 2000 season at Three Rivers Stadium before assisting in relocating all athletic department staff to temporary offices and locker rooms and then into the new Duratz Athletic Complex for football and the Petersen Events Center for basketball and administrative staff. Abrams assisted in the design and construction of the Duratz Athletic Complex (2001) and the Petersen Events Center (2002) and worked closely DLA architects on $2.5 million renovation of the Baierl Basketball Center at the Petersen Events Center (including new locker rooms, player’s lounge, and new graphics). In 2016, he helped guide a renovation of the Petersen Events Center that included replacing the original main arena floor, addition of LED boards, fiber wiring throughout the arena, court design and banner displays in the venue.

As the main point of contact for the University of Pittsburgh with Heinz Field for construction projects and all Pitt football game operations since the stadium opened in 2001, Abrams has established strong relationships with various support units (Pittsburgh City Police, ALCO Parking, ARAMARK, Landmark Security, Sports & Exhibition Authority, Pittsburgh Pirates, and PennDOT) surrounding Heinz Field game operations. He is also the athletic department liaison with ASM Global, Pitt Police, and Department of Parking and Transportation on day-to-day operations of the Petersen Events Center and for home men’s basketball games. Abrams also developed a comprehensive gameday operations strategy that is standardized across all sports and helped formulate a three-phase plan to change the athletic department’s logo throughout all athletic facilities to coincide with the 2016 Pitt Script launch.

Brandon Berns (’07) – DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS – SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY

Brandon’s current role with Slippery Rock University is responsible for developing, promoting, and increasing foundation and corporate support for the University’s academic and campaign priorities. Prior to coming home to SRU, Brandon oversaw the coordination of multiple 5k fundraising walks for over a decade within the Western Pennsylvania market raising fifteen million dollars for various health and human service causes. Most recently, he coordinated the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community Event, a peer to peer fundraising 5k walk event specializing in smaller non-profit entities across the state of Pennsylvania and Delaware in which seven million dollars were raised to support over 250 nonprofits, accounting for nearly 40% of the all-time revenue raised in the events 20-year history, including winning recognition for the Best Virtual Fundraiser during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to Highmark, his work involved the American Heart Association and the Pittsburgh Heart Walk raising eight million for cardiovascular related purposes. Brandon also held positions with the Delmarva Shorebirds baseball club and the Youngstown SteelHounds hockey club. Brandon currently funds two scholarships on the Slippery Rock campus; one for the Sport Management Volunteer of the Year and another for the student who portrays the university mascot, Rocky. Brandon also serves as the Alumni Advisory Board Chair for the SRU SPMT department.

Beth (Wilson) Brand (‘06) – DIRECTOR, PHILANTHROPY ENTERPRISE EVENTS & DIRECTOR, VELOSANO AT CLEVELAND CLINIC

Beth is the Director of Philanthropy Enterprise Events and Director of VeloSano at Cleveland Clinic. She and her team execute world-class events that engage participants and donors to support philanthropic priorities. Ranging from fundraising galas to golf tournaments to donor recognition ceremonies, each event is an impactful and meaningful experience. In 2013, Beth joined Cleveland Clinic as the Assistant Director of VeloSano – then a bike ride and peer-to-peer fundraising campaign for lifesaving cancer research. Since then, she has been a leader in evolving the event to become the priority fundraising movement for cancer research at Cleveland Clinic. In 10 years, over $51 million has been raised for VeloSano, including over $32,000 in generous donations from SRU Sport Management Banquets. Prior to her time at Cleveland Clinic, Beth managed special events and game entertainment for the Cleveland Browns.

Tom Embrey (’02) - VICE PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER, PNC ARENA

After graduating from SRU, Tom went on to work for several organizations which include the Memphis Redbirds (St Louis Cardinals’ AAA affiliate), Indiana University Athletic Ticket Office, Xavier University Cintas Center, Florida Panthers/BB&T Center and currently PNC Arena and the Carolina Hurricanes. Tom has been with PNC Arena/Hurricanes since January of 2022 as VP/GM of the arena. In his current role Tom oversees the arena’s daily operations and a $70 million budget which includes Arena Booking and Marketing, Food and Beverage, Facilities and Operations, Box Office Operations, Arena Production and Entertainment, Security, Fan Experience and Parking.

Tom will play a role in the $300 million enhancement of the arena beginning in the summer of ’25 which includes a focus on revenue generating opportunities such as premium locations and operational efficiency. In addition to the enhancement, the 50 acres of land the arena lives on will undergo a major 3 phase development over a 15- year time frame. Tom is a member of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance which supports and solicits major events to the area and arena which include NCAA Championship Tournaments, E-Sports Championships and more.

Dr. Catriona Higgs – RETIRED FACULTY – SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY: SPORT MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
Dr Higgs is formerly a professor in the Sport Management Department at SRU. She taught at SRU for 35 years, chairing both the Physical Education and Sport Management Departments. She graduated from Dunfermline College of Physical Education (BEd. Hons), Stirling University (M.S.) and Texas Woman’s University (Ph.D). A sport sociologist, she published many articles and presented at national and international conferences around the world. She is now happily retired, living her best life at her home by the river!

Dave Muye (’00) – VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS – FELD ENTERTAINMENT

Dave has been with Feld Entertainment for fifteen years and currently serves as Vice President of Global Partnerships. He is responsible for leading the team that drives new business across Feld Entertainments global footprint through the creation of strategic partner programs focused on sponsorship, media, television advertising, licensing, experiential activation and alternative revenue streams. These partnership programs are built around the most requested touring shows in family entertainment including: Disney On Ice, Marvel Universe Live, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and Feld Motor Sports a division of Feld Entertainment, which includes Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross and the Super Motocross World Championship. Previously at Feld Entertainment Muye served as Sr. Director of Strategic Alliances. In this role he led the team responsible for partner activation, account growth and renewal for the organization’s entire portfolio of corporate partnership business.

Prior to Feld Entertainment acquiring the company Muye was the Director of Client Development for Clear Channel Entertainment and Live Nation Motorsports. He began his sports and entertainment industry career as Sponsorship Account Manager for SFX Entertainment, where he focused on asset development, partner management and marketing campaign activation. Throughout his career Dave has been an advocate for the SRU program and mentored and hired a number of SPMT students.

Jeff Podobnik (’89) – VICE PRESIDENT FLORIDA/DOMINICAN OPERATIONS - PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Jeff Podobnik currently serves the Pittsburgh Pirates as their Vice President, Florida and Dominican Republic Operations, a position he has held since September 16, 2019. Now in his 36th year with the organization, Podobnik has overseen the Florida Baseball Operations and the Dominican Baseball Academy continually since returning to Bradenton as the Director of Florida Operations in 2017.

As a member of the Bradenton community, Podobnik is directly involved in the local area as a board member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce where he served as 2023 Chairman of the Board. In addition, Podobnik is actively involved in the Bradenton Boys and Girls Club and is a proud Manatee Education Foundation board member.

Podobnik began his tenure with the Pirates as an intern in December 1988 and in 1990 started his career as a Communications & Management Information Systems Coordinator at Three Rivers Stadium. He first joined the Florida Operations staff in 1991 as the Director of Florida Baseball Operations, a position he held until 1999. Later that year he returned to Pittsburgh to assist in the eventual opening of PNC Park and spent 17 years as the Pirates Senior Director of Security and Contract Services before returning to Bradenton.

In addition to his work throughout the Pirates organization, Podobnik’s resume includes various roles in assisting with Major League Baseball All Star Games in 1994, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008. Podobnik now resides in Parrish, FL, with his wife, Amy, and son Josh. His adult sons, Tyler and Cooper, were born in Manatee County during Jeff's first stint in Bradenton. Jeff and Amy also have two grandchildren, Sadie Ann (6) and Hugh Edward (2).

Rob Thompson (’97) – DIRECTOR OF STADIUM EVENT OPERATIONS - PSSI STADIUM LLC/ACRISURE STADIUM

After graduating from Slippery Rock University, Rob completed an internship and accepted a position with SMG at Three Rivers Stadium. He oversaw the closing of that legendary facility and the opening of Heinz Field, now Acrisure Stadium, where he serves as Director of Stadium Event Operations. He works with local city service agencies (EMS, Police, and Fire), the University of Pittsburgh, NFL, NHL, and national promoters to present large scale events including Steelers and Pitt football games, AFC Championship games, the NHL Winter Classic, international soccer matches, and countless concerts including Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, and The Rolling Stones. He also oversees local favorites such as the Acrisure Stadium Rib Fest - one of the largest rib fests on the east coast. Rob serves as a mentor to young professionals within the organization and shows his ongoing support for Sports Management programs throughout the region.

Jermaine Truax (M ’08) – VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

Jermaine is currently in his sixth year directing the Bucknell University Department of Athletics and Recreation, and in the fall of 2023, he was promoted to Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. Jermaine oversees a 27-sport, Division I program that consistently competes for Patriot League championships and annually ranks among the national leaders in student-athlete graduation rate. After receiving his master of science degree in sport management from Slippery Rock, Jermaine gained experience in athletics administration with the NFL's Buffalo Bills and the Arena Football League's San Jose SaberCats, and in the collegiate ranks at St. Bonaventure, Bowling Green, and Loyola Chicago. He was the deputy athletics director at Loyola Chicago in 2018 when the Ramblers captured the nation's attention with a magical run to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four. During his tenure as AD at Bucknell, Jermaine has been heavily involved in NCAA leadership and governance. He chaired the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) selection committee in 2022, and in 2023 he began a four-year term with the NCAA FCS Oversight Committee.

Sport Management Hall of Fame

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