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
- Lacey Smith, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Special thanks to our entire planning committee: Brian Agnoletti, Kia Cline, Rob Dalhaus, Paul Elliott, Luigi Fabi, Angie Powers, and Kelly Wayne.
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 | 210 S. Race Street, Urbana, IL 61801
Welcome from Gies Business Dean Brooke Elliott, dinner buffet, networking
Tuesday, June 16th
7:30am-8:00am | Shuttles from Hotel Royer to Wymer Hall
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
Wymer Hall, 1020
Rebecca Pagels, Associate Dean for Advancement | Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
9:00am-9:45am | Board & Volunteer Management: An Alumni Engagement Discussion
Wymer Hall, 1010
Christine Beyers, Director of Alumni Engagement | Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Brandi Host, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement | Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
Bryan Melvin, Executive Director, Office of Development and Engagement | Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
Rebecca Pagels, Associate Dean for Advancement | Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
9:00am-9:45am | Parents as Partners: Starting the Conversation on Parent Philanthropy in Business Schools
Wymer Hall, 1060
Andrew Hanson, Director of Development| Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Katy Hopp, Development Program Specialist | Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
10:00am-10:45am | More Than a Thank You Note, Humanizing Impact Through Student Voices
Wymer Hall, 1010
Jennifer Alderete, Assistant Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations | USC Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Catherine Feathers, Assistant Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations | USC Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Lori Chan Velasco, Senior Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations | USC Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
10:00am-10:45am | The Alumni Engagement Flywheel
Wymer Hall, 1060
Steve Hasbrook, Managing Director of Development | Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
11:00am-12:00pm | Transformational Gifts
Wymer Hall, Irwin Auditorium
Fireside Chat with Gies Business Dean Brooke Elliott & Larry Gies
12:00pm-1:00pm | Lunch
Local Food Trucks will be parked along Sixth Street in front of the Business Instructional Facility
- Pastamania
- Burrito King
- Sidney Dairy Barn “Moo Mobile”
1:15pm-2:00pm | The AI Moment Won't Wait: A Playbook for Rapid Innovation in Advancement
Wymer Hall, 1010
Emily Maltby, Enterprise Account Executive | GiveCampus
Billy Tabrizi, Head of Business Operations | GiveCampus
Katie Blum, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Innovation | University of Illinois Foundation
1:15pm-2:00pm | Big Goals, Big Gifts: Frontline Fundraising Across the B1G
Wymer Hall, 1060
Anthony Lehnertz, Executive Director of Development | Tippe College of Business, University of Iowa
Jackie Richardson, Director of Development | Broad College of Business, Michigan State University
Courtney Villa, Senior Associate Director, Major Gifts | Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Moderator: Angie Price, Senior Director of Development | Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2:15pm-3:00pm | One School That Won't Sell Its Name, One That Gave It Away for Free: Unique Approaches to Naming Gifts
Wymer Hall, 1020
Jerad Meyer, Associate Vice President & Managing Director | Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vincent Martino, Executive Director of Development | Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue University
Moderator: Rebecca Pagels, Associate Dean for Advancement | Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
3:00pm-3:30pm | Travel to Gies Memorial Stadium, 77 Club
Shuttle buses parked on Sixth Street in front of the Business Instructional Facility
3:30pm-4:30pm | The Dean-Advancement Partnership: A Discussion with Leaders
Gies Memorial Stadium - 77 Club
Dean W. Brooke Elliott | Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dean Amy Kirstof-Brown | Tippe College of Business, University of Iowa
Dean Kathy Farrell | Nebraska College of Business, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Moderator: Nerissa Brown | Executive Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
4:30pm-5:30pm | Happy Hour | Gies Memorial Stadium Tour | Group Photo
Gies Memorial Stadium
5:30pm-7:00pm | Dinner
Gies Memorial Stadium, 77 Club
7:00pm-8:00pm | Shuttles to Hotel Royer
Wednesday, June 17th
7:30am-8:00am | Shuttles from Hotel Royer to Business Instructional Facility
8:00am-8:45am | Breakfast
Business Instructional Facility, Lincoln International Atrium
Special Visit from U of I Police Department K-9 Therapy Dogs
9:00am-10:00am | Developing the Leader Within
Wymer Hall, Irwin Auditorium
Sparkle Sanders, Certified Leadership Trainer + Coach + Speaker
10:15am-11:00am | Leading with Purpose in a Changing Landscape
Wymer Hall, Irwin Auditorium
A Fireside Chat with Josh Whitman, University of Illinois Athletics Director and Dean Brooke Elliott
11:00am-11:15am | Closing Remarks
11:15am-12:00pm | Boxed Lunches and Shuttles Available
Business Instructional Facility, Lincoln International Atrium
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
