Photo courtesy of Sydnee Horstman.

History was made at Modern Woodmen Park. SAU students launched the inaugural Trailblazers: Women in Sports Conference, marking a new era for women’s representation in the sports industry across the Quad Cities.

The student-led event, organized by Sports Management student Allyson Reed, Marketing student Adriana Diaz (reporting for this article), and Mikayla Golding, who works for the River Bandits, brought together sports industry professionals, students, and mentors for a day of networking, storytelling, and empowerment.

“Seeing their hard work come to life was inspiring,” said Colleen McCue, Director of Operations at the Quad City Storm, who participated as a panelist. “Not only did they organize a successful event with a strong turnout, but they also created opportunities for attendees to grow their networks and find support within the local sports industry.”

The vibrant atmosphere welcomed the participants, as balloons, finger foods, and media walls  provided all possible support. There was a palpable energy in the very beginning, fueled by a shared passion for the advancement of women in sports.

Fostering connections for the future generations of sports leaders was the conference’s aim, which featured two different panels of women across the sports world. The panelists discussed their stories, insights on their careers, and advice among a room of immediate and eager students and professionals. 

Some of the powerhouses who spoke were: Micaela Booth, Director of Birdies for Charity at the John Deere Classic; Michelle Juehring , Race Director of the Quad City Times Bix 7; and Lea Nelson, Brand and Content Coordinator at Visit Quad Cities. Each delivered a unique angle on opportunities and leadership roles that exist within the sports context.

Micaela Booth reflected that “The Quad Cities are bursting with inspiring women that we can all look up to.” Lea Nelson pointed to a more personal lesson when she talked about how to her, from a very young age, her mother made women in leadership feel normal, “so she never saw it any other way.” These comments reinforced the views about the importance of visibility, mentorship, and community in crafting the next generation of women in sports.

At the event’s social hour, panelists would answer questions from the attendees and mingle with them. This opened a substantial space for developing long lasting connections towards internships, mentorships, or even career paths.

WISHING (Women in Sports Helping Inspire Next Generations) also participated in the event. Their team reflected on the power of the collaboration in a LinkedIn post: “We loved connecting with everyone at the event and look forward to future efforts that continue to empower women and uplift sports role models.”

Godding also gave special credit to her teammates:

“Aly took the lead on this once she came on board her dedication and ability to turn my crazy ideas into reality were crucial. Adriana transformed our social media and helped us reach even more people than we imagined.”

The event’s theme, “Trailblazers,” was evident not just in the title but in its mission. Organizers say it wasn’t just a conference; it was a movement to highlight and uplift women breaking into traditionally male dominated sports spaces.

The event was supported by the St. Ambrose Sports Management Faculty, whose encouragement helped bring the vision to life. “Their belief in this concept meant so much,” said Godding.

The organizers have plans to make this an annual conference in the future and the efforts will stretch farther and become even bigger. Looking forward to all this positive feedback and growing interest, the groundwork has indeed been laid for a tradition of empowerment, education, and industry transformation.

As the first conference of its kind, the event not only set a precedent it sparked momentum. Reed, Diaz, and Godding’s work has created a lasting legacy for St. Ambrose and women in the sports industry.

“Here’s to breaking barriers, building connections, and lifting each other up,” said McCue.

Adriana Diaz is a staff writer for The Buzz.