thursday, June 4, 2026 / 9:00 am - 4:00 PM
Host: Ryan Alpert / Vice President & Director of Athletics
Location: McCamish Pavilion / Georgia Tech
““We are honored and excited to bring CALS 1-Day to Georgia Tech. CALS consistently delivers dynamic and relevant programming and this is a great opportunity for industry professionals in our region to connect, learn and grow.””
REGISTRATION for cals 1-day is Open
REGISTRATION FEES
DIVISION 1
1-10 Staff Members $1,750
11-20 Staff Members $2,250
More than 20 Staff Members:
Contact us for pricing.
NON-DIVISION 1
Up to 5 Staff Members $750
Registration covers programming and lunch. Names of staff members attending will be requested two weeks prior to the event.
Special CALS hotel rate available if your group would like to stay overnight. Booking link provided after registration.
CALS 1-Day combines the culture and community of CALS into a one-day regional event for athletics departments within approximately a 300-mile radius of the host site. It is open to collegiate athletics departments and administrators of all levels and provides an opportunity for professional development and networking.
Who should attend
CALS 1-Day is designed to be a development experience for members of your athletic administration team. Whether it’s senior staff, middle managers, or entry level team members, CALS 1-Day creates an atmosphere for your people to grow and connect as a staff and with colleagues from around the region.
Faculty
CALS has always been known for our amazing faculty. We look forward to welcoming Athletics Directors, Athletics Department Personnel, and Industry Experts from around the region to to participate in CALS 1-Day.
For questions contact will.reece@adsymposium.us
2026 Agenda - georgia tech, atlanta
8:00-8:55 Arrival & Registration
9:00-9:30 Lead Yourself First: A Playbook for Becoming the Leader you were Meant to Be
Kevin DeShazo, BETTER
Seth Kindig, BETTER
9:30-10:15 From Search to Success: Hiring and Supporting Winning Coaches
Rhett Hobart, Deputy Director of Athletics, Auburn University
Brent Jones, Associate Vice President & Executive Director of Athletics, Georgia Tech
Doug Justice, Deputy Director of Athletics, Georgia State University
Marshall Steward, Deputy Director of Athletics, University of Tennessee
Moderator: DeLaina Sarden, Principal, Parker Executive Search
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:15 From the Chair: Setting Vision, Shaping Culture, Driving Results
Ryan Alpert, Vice President & Director of Athletics, Georgia Tech
Josh Brooks, Director of Athletics, University of Georgia
Graham Neff, Director of Athletics, Clemson University
Moderator: Kevin Barefoot, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Teamworks
11:15-12:00 Inflection Point: Leading Through the New Era of College Athletics
Keiko Price Carter, Associate VP of Campus Life & Director of Athletics, Emory University
Jared Benko, Executive Deputy Director of Athletics, Auburn University
Jason Carmichael, Director of Athletics, University of West Georgia
Jason Donnelly, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Furman University
Moderator: Brett Jones, Chief of Staff, Leona
12:00-1:00 Lunch Courtesy of Populous
1:00-1:30 Talking Points: A Conversation with Pete Thamel & Ross Dellenger
Ross Dellenger, Yahoo! Sports
Pete Thamel, ESPN
Moderator: Brent Jones, Associate Vice President & Executive Director of Athletics, Georgia Tech
1:30-2:15 Unfiltered: Honest Conversations with College Athletics Leaders
Chris Davis, Director of Athletics, Georgia Southern University
Darrice Griffin, Senior Deputy Director of Athletics, University of Georgia
Surge Troost, Associate Principal-Architect, Populous
Mark Wharton, Vice Chancellor & Director of Athletics, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Moderator: Katreshia Louis-Verrett, Deputy Director of Athletics, University of Alabama at Birmingham
2:15-2:30 Break
2:30-3:15 Revenue Generation in the New Era of College Athletics
Kyle George, Athletics Director, Troy University
Brady Hart, Deputy Director of Athletics, University of Tennessee
Brad Ledford, Deputy Director of Athletics, Kennesaw State University
Ford Williams, Deputy Director of Athletics, University of Georgia
Moderator: Cory Moss, President-Brand Management & Marketing, Learfield
3:15-4:00 The Climb: Strategies for Building a Meaningful Career in College Athletics
JP Abercrumbie, Executive Associate Athletics Director, University of Notre Dame
Ryan Hall, Executive Deputy Director of Athletics, Georgia Southern University
Marcus Hilliard, Executive Associate Athletics Director, University of Tennessee
Lisa Knox, Senior Deputy Director of Athletics, Clemson University
Moderator: Reggie McIntyre, Senior Associate Athletics Director, Georgia Tech
CALS 1-DAY Past Events
““Hosting CALS 1-Day at the University of Tennessee was truly a standout moment for us. It was an honor to welcome colleagues from across the region to Rocky Top for such an impactful event. As always with CALS, the program was exceptional—thoughtfully crafted, first-class in every detail, and packed with value for everyone in attendance. I wholeheartedly recommend getting involved with CALS 1-Day whenever it comes to your region. It’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss.””