2026 Big Ten Business School Development Conference
Join the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business as we host the Big Ten Business School Development Conference June 15 - 17, 2026.
Meet our conference organizers
The conference is hosted by the Office of Advancement at Gies College of Business. For questions, reach out to us at BusinessAlumni@illinois.edu
- Rebecca Pagels, Associate Dean for Advancement
- Angie Price, Senior Director of Development
- Carrie Ummel, Senior Director of Advancement Operations
- Christine Beyers, Director of Alumni Engagement
2026 Conference Highlights
Josh Whitman, University of Illinois Athletic Director and Gies College of Business Alum (FIN '01, LAW ’08)
Fireside chat with Dean W. Brooke Elliott and college namesake Larry Gies
Dean's panel featuring Dean W. Brooke Elliott (University of Illinois), Dean Amy Kristof-Brown (University of Iowa), and Dean Kathy Farrell (University of Nebraska)
2026 Agenda
Monday, June 15th
5:00-7:00pm | Welcome Reception
Hotel Royer
Tuesday, June 16th
8:00am-8:45am | Breakfast & Registration
Wymer Hall, 3043 Sue & Charles Fish Executive Conference Room and Shebik Family Terrace
8:45am-9:00am | Welcome Remarks
Rebecca Pagels, Associate Dean for Advancement
Wymer Hall
9:00am-9:45am | Board & Volunteer Management - Panel Discussion
Led by University of Illinois Gies College of Business and Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Rebecca Pagels, Christine Beyers, Bryan Melvin, Brandi Host
Wymer Hall
10:00am-10:45am | SDR-Scholarship Ambassador Program
Led by the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business
Wymer Hall
10:00am-10:45am | Alumni Engagement Flywheel Effect
Led by University of Wisconsin School of Business
Steve Hasbrook
Wymer Hall
11:00am-12:00pm | Dean’s Panel - Leadership & Campaign Planning
Led by Gies Business, University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, and University of Nebraska College of Business
Wymer Hall
12:00pm-1:00pm | Lunch
Local Food Trucks will be parked along Sixth Street in front of the Business Instructional Facility
1:15pm-2:00pm | AI in Advancement
Led by Give Campus
Wymer Hall
2:15pm-3:00pm | Non-naming and Naming gifts
Led by University of Wisconsin School of Business
Wymer Hall
2:15pm-3:00pm | Collaborating with Internal Partners
Led by the Rutgers University Business School
Wymer Hall
3:00pm-3:20pm | Travel to Gies Memorial Stadium, 77 Club
Shuttle buses parked on Sixth Street in front of the Business Instructional Facility
3:30pm-4:30pm | Transformational Gifts
Fireside Chat with Gies Business Dean Brooke Elliott & philanthropist Larry Gies
Gies Memorial Stadium-77 Club
4:30pm-5:30pm | Happy Hour, Tour, and Group Photo on the field
Gies Memorial Stadium
5:30pm-7:00pm | Dinner
Gies Memorial Stadium, 77 Club
7:00pm-8:00pm | Shuttles to Hotel Royer
Wednesday, June 17th
8:00am-9:00am | Breakfast & Wellness Opportunities
Business Instructional Facility, Lincoln International Atrium/Wymer Hall and Shebik Family Terrace
9:15am-10:00am | Professional Growth - Leadership Coaching
Led by Sparkle Sanders
Wymer Hall
10:15am-11:00am | NIL and Changing Landscape of Collegiate Athletics
Josh Whitman, University of Illinois Director of Athletics
Wymer Hall
11:00am-11:15am | Closing Remarks
11:15am-12:00pm | Conference Concludes - Boxed Lunches
Business Instructional Facility, Lincoln International Atrium
11:15am-1:00pm | Shuttles available to Hotel Royer
Hotel Reservations
We’ve secured a special discounted room block at Hotel Royer for conference attendees (booking code: 91H). To take advantage of the group rate, please make your reservation by May 30. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to book early.
2026 Conference Sponsors
