Louis A. Borrelli Jr., a 1977 graduate of SUNY Oswego, founded the summit through a major gift in 2005. Borrelli is chief executive officer of NEP Broadcasting, which provides broadcast services to premier sports events like the Super Bowl, Olympics and NASCAR races; major awards shows; and live televised concerts. While a student, Borrelli worked at the student-run radio station, then called WOCR, and at WRVO.

In 2007, fellow broadcasting alumnus Al Roker, weatherman and host of NBC's "Today" show, joined as a major sponsor of the annual summit. Future editions of the event will be known as the Dr. Lewis B. O'Donnell Media Summit in memory of the longtime Oswego professor influential to both sponsors' careers. A 1976 graduate, Roker earned his first professional job while still in college as a weekend weatherman at WTVH-TV in Syracuse.