Chambana Sun

Illinois Athletics will partner with the local organization 5 Things to present a “Women in Sports Special Edition” event on September 18 at State Farm Center. The gathering aims to foster networking and discussion among women involved in sports, with a focus on practical advice and relationship-building.

The event will feature several prominent figures from Illinois Athletics. Head coaches Shauna Green (women’s basketball) and Tyra Perry (softball), along with assistant volleyball coach Jen Tamas, will participate. They will be joined by administrators Sara Burton, Chief Sports Officer and Senior Woman Administrator; Tiffany White, Faculty Athletics Representative; and Cassie Arner, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Sport Administration.

According to organizers, the format includes time for mingling over food and drinks before speakers address five different topics. Each speaker is expected to offer five practical takeaways aimed at helping attendees “hack life, move intentionally and live more fully.” Topics such as resilience, leadership, and building team culture in the workplace are scheduled for discussion. The evening is designed to give attendees a chance to interact with coaches outside their typical work setting.

The 5 Things organization was established in 2018 by attorney Brooke Starks and corporate strategist Carrie Eisenmenger. Its mission is to provide social networking opportunities tailored for women in the Champaign area. Unlike traditional networking events, 5 Things emphasizes a casual atmosphere where each speaker has less than 15 minutes on stage. Since its founding, the group has hosted two or three events annually; this upcoming event at State Farm Center will be its sixteenth.

General admission opens at 5:30 p.m., with further details and ticket information available at https://www.5things.net/.

“Fighting Illini head coaches Shauna Green (women's basketball) and Tyra Perry (softball) as well as assistant coach Jen Tamas (volleyball) will be joined by Illinois administrators Sara Burton (Chief Sports Officer, Senior Woman Administrator) together with Tiffany White (Faculty Athletics Representative) and Cassie Arner (Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Sport Administration) taking the stage for the special edition event.”

“Formatting of the event is simple: Time to mingle with food and drink before a cast of speakers on 5 topics each present 5 practical, tangible takeaways to hack life, move intentionally and live more fully. In this special collaboration, attendees can expect to hear specifically on topics like resilience, leadership and building team culture in the workplace. The audience will have a unique opportunity to experience the coaches outside of their normal work environments in a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere.”

“The 5 Things organization was founded in 2018 by area attorney Brooke Starks and corporate strategist Carrie Eisenmenger. 5 Things was created to fill a void in social networking opportunities for area women. Intentionally built to be unlike any other event, it strives to turn networking on its head and deliver an event that caters to the way women prefer to do business: through connection. It is deliberately casual, grounded in practical advice, and quick-hitting as each speaker has less than 15 minutes on stage. 5 Things hosts two to three events annually with the State Farm Center event marking the 16th event.”

General admission doors open at 5:30 p.m., with tickets available through https://www.5things.net/.