4th Annual 2025 Sports Tourism Summit

Mark Harlan

In seven years as Director of Athletics at the University of Utah, Mark Harlan has led the Utes’ athletics programs to unprecedented success in the classroom, in competition and in the community, while elevating the overall student-athlete experience and raising the bar in fundraising to record-setting levels. The 2023 Cushman & Wakefield NACDA Athletics Director of the Year has guided the Utes to such comprehensive success while navigating historic changes in intercollegiate athletics and the 2024 transition from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big 12 Conference. Harlan arrived in Salt Lake City in 2018 bringing with him more than 20 years of intercollegiate athletics experience at five different universities.

The health, well-being, and holistic development of student-athletes remain a top priority for Harlan, with his continued support of the growth of the Crimson Council, Utah’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the U.T.A.H. Group and UnmUTEd, which promotes belonging and empowerment of student-athletes to represent Utah as their full, authentic selves. He has expanded mental health resources to increase the department’s Sport Psychology and Wellness team to five full-time staff members.

Prior to Utah, Harlan was athletics director at the University of South Florida from 2014-18, and previously held senior administrative positions at UCLA, Arizona, San Jose State and Northern Colorado. Harlan, 56, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in education from the University of Arizona.

Scott Draper

Scott Draper joined the Conference as Vice President - Football after serving as Associate Commissioner (Football) at the American Athletic Conference for eight years. In 2024 Draper was elevated to Chief Football & Competition Officer at the Big 12.  

Draper provides executive oversight of the entire Competition department while continuing to manage and grow Big 12 Football.

Prior to his time at the AAC, Draper was the assistant athletic director for football operations at the University of Michigan, where he was a key staff member of teams that won four Big Ten football championships, played in four Rose Bowls, 12 bowl games and won the 1997 National Championship. In his role, he supervised football sport administration, strength and conditioning, equipment operations, and athletic training operations. He also served as sport administrator and liaison to admissions, academic services, compliance and eligibility, and dining and housing.

Earlier in his career, Draper was a football offensive graduate assistant (1995-97) and assistant video coordinator (1992-95) at the University of Michigan. He holds a bachelor's degree in general studies from Eastern Michigan University (1994) and a master's degree in business administration from Madonna University (2012).

Mayor Karen Lang

Karen is honored to serve as Mayor of West Valley City. She is a member of the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District Board of Trustees, the WVC Clean and Beautiful Committee and the Chamber West Chamber of Commerce. She previously served on the WVC Planning and Zoning Committee and Jordan Valley Hospital Governing Board.

A long-time resident and business owner in West Valley City, Karen and her husband Brian opened Oakbridge Greenhouse in 1984. Karen and Brian raised their four children in West Valley City.

Mayor Dawn R. Ramsey

Dawn R. Ramsey is the Mayor of South Jordan, Utah, one of the ten fastest-growing cities in America. Since her election in 2017, she has focused on public safety, economic development, housing affordability, education, water, transit and transportation, open space preservation, and quality of life. Beyond South Jordan, she has served as President of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Vice-Chair of EDCUtah, Chair of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and on numerous statewide boards influencing Utah’s future. A graduate of Brigham Young University, she is a wife, mother of six, and grandmother of four. Mayor Ramsey is a dynamic and respected leader, dedicated to strengthening her community and shaping Utah’s future.

Mayor Monica Zoltanski

Mayor Monica Zoltanski is a long time Sandy resident, community advocate and entrepreneur. She was raised in Ohio in a large family of ten children, by parents who instilled in her core values of faith, hard work, education and service to others.

In 2019 she was elected to the Sandy City Council where she served for two years, before becoming mayor. In 2021, she is first woman to be elected mayor of Sandy City in its history. Today she is often recognized around town in her red cowboy hat, which she wears as a mark of her advocacy and cowgirl grit.