Adam Kempenaar

Professor of Practice
Biography

About 

An award-winning digital content professional, Adam leverages extensive experience driving audience engagement within sports and entertainment to teach courses in both Sport and Recreation Management and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Previously, Adam was the Vice President of Marketing and Content for the Chicago Blackhawks.  

A pioneer in sports and film podcasting, Adam launched the first pro sports podcast in 2005 and co-founded the acclaimed Filmspotting, which was named the ‘#1 podcast for the movie buff’ by the New York Times in 2019. He is an active member of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

During his tenure with the Blackhawks, Adam was part of three Stanley Cup championship teams and oversaw the growth of the Digital Content department from a one-person operation to a staff of over 20, encompassing creative, social media, video, website, mobile, photography, email marketing, and business analytics.

He was instrumental in launching and evolving the club’s digital platforms, including Blackhawks.com, NHL-leading social media channels, and the trailblazing video production brand Blackhawks TV. He is a recipient of four Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards for Sports Programs Outstanding Achievement: Single Spot/Campaign (2021); Documentary (2020); and One-Time Special (2018, 2016).

A producer on two championship movies, “17 Seconds” and “Hat Trick,” Adam also served as Editor-in-Chief of Blackhawks Magazine and Blackhawks Publishing, which self-produced three hardcover championship books.

Mashable awarded the Blackhawks Best Brand Use of Twitter in 2009, and SportsBusiness Journal recognized the highly successful “What’s Your Goal” marketing campaign as one of five finalists for Best in Sports Social at the 2016 Sports Business Awards.

Prior to joining the Blackhawks, Adam spent three years at Frank N. Magid Associates, where he aided in consulting local TV news clients as Creative Projects Coordinator. 

Courses taught 

  • SRM:3176 Sports Analytics for Decision Makers
  • SRM:3179 Podcasting for Sport and Recreation Professionals 
  • SRM:4158 Advanced Sport Marketing 
  • JMC:3420 Content Marketing - Sport Content Marketing
  • JMC:3530 Sports Social Media Marketing 
  • JMC:3600 Topics in Designing/Producing - Nonfiction Narrative Podcasting
  • JMC:3600 Topics in Designing/ Producing - Narrative Sports Podcasting
  • JMC:3600 Topics in Designing/ Producing - Producing Film Criticism 

Stay Connected

More information can be found on LinkedIn

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Education
MA, Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Iowa
BA, Communication Studies, University of Iowa
BA, English, Grinnell College