BJ Pickard has served in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) office since 2017 and is the longest-tenured Associate Commissioner in the conference's 100-plus-year history. He leads the conference’s communications and branding efforts while overseeing sports information, media relations, conference awards, and the MIAC Sports Network. Pickard also plays a key role in championship administration across 22 sports, helping enhance the student-athlete experience for nearly 6,000 competitors annually, while providing assistance and leadership in future scheduling, strategic planning, and governance for the MIAC’s 13 member institutions.
Before joining the MIAC, Pickard worked in public relations capacities for the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers and the Arena Football League (AFL) office. In four years as the League’s Director of Communications, Pickard oversaw all media efforts and served as a primary media liaison for the League. He was part of a team that secured national television contracts with NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, and ESPN, in addition to title and presenting sponsorships for the League and its championships. Pickard also developed integrated branding and content strategies for clients, including General Mills and Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors, while serving as a branding consultant with Capture Marketing in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
In addition to his work with the MIAC, Pickard also serves as the Assistant Director for Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. He has been an active member of the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) Assistant and Associate Group since 2017, a regional judge for the College Sports Communicators Fred Stabley Writing Contest since 2019, and a selection committee member for the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division III weekly awards since 2022. In 2025, he also became a regional advisory committee member for NCAA Division III Football and joined the Minnesota Vikings' Advisory Council for Women's Flag Football.
An Eau Claire, Wisconsin, native, Pickard earned a bachelor's degree in public relations with a minor in coaching from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2010 and a master's degree from the University of Washington in 2011. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he completed professional certificate coursework through Yale University. A published author, Pickard resides in River Falls, Wisconsin, with his wife, Holly, daughter, Isla, and chocolate lab, Stella. In 2024, he and Isla helped launch western Wisconsin's first all-girls flag football league, where he continues to serve as a coach, recruiter, and advocate for girls in the sport.