Sweet Lou Goes Back to School

The worlds of media and sports were the hot topics at the second annual Louis A. Borrelli Jr. Media Summit, held on the SUNY Oswego campus on Oct. 20.

Borrelli, a veteran cable operator and former SVP of broadband distribution and local promotion for AOL, launched his annual summit last year to help SUNY students learn about the industry he’s known and loved for three decades.

Now CEO of NEP Broadcasting, a specialist in sports television production, Borrelli, a 1977 SUNY Oswego graduate, last year committed $150,000 over five years to fund a media summit each autumn at his alma mater.

“Sweet Lou,” as he’s better known in the cable industry, tells us his goal is to bring students into close contact with leaders in the media industry for “high-level, cutting-edge debate” about its challenges and opportunities. On the day of the summit, the guests teach classes and visit with students and faculty.

“I’m very appreciative of the experience from my time at Oswego and wouldn’t be where I am today without that experience,” says Borrelli. “I wanted to do something for the school other than just write a check for a capital campaign. This gives all SUNY students access and exposure to real industry leaders in the communications and media field.”

This year’s conference, dubbed “The Impact of Media on U.S. Sports,” attracted a who’s who in sports and media. Guest speakers included George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks; Dr. Myles Brand, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association; Linda Bruno, commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference; Bud Poliquin, sports columnist for the Syracuse Post-Standard; and Stuart Robinson, athletic director at SUNY New Paltz.

Borrelli is already looking to next year. “I endowed the summit with the hope that we can raise additional funds and continue it far beyond the initial commitment I’ve made,” he says.