Kathryn Ackerman, Md, mph, facsm

co-founder & Director, WOmens Health, sports & performance institute

Kate Ackerman, MD, MPH, FACSM is the co-founder & Director of the Women’s Health, Sports & Performance (WHSP) Institute, WHSP Medical and the Biennial International Female Athlete Conference; an Assistant Physician at Mass General Brigham, as well as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

She is triple board-certified in sports medicine, endocrinology & internal medicine. She is Chief Medical Officer of USRowing, co-chairs the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Women’s Health Task Force and a member of the National Leadership Council for the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, leading the Alliance’s focus on scientific advancement for women.

Her research focuses on female athlete health & various aspects of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). She has authored/co-authored over 175 articles and book chapters related to sports medicine, endocrinology, rowing, bone health, and female athletes, including position statements with the International Olympic Committee. She represented the USA as a lightweight rower at World Championships, has multiple National Championship titles and continues to compete with her teammates for life as a masters athlete.

Ruby Avila

Program Associate, Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program

Ruby is a Sports and Society Program Associate and supports Project Play’s work with communities through State of Play reports and technical assistance.

Ruby recently graduated from American University with a degree in Political Science and History. She has experience working with nonprofit organizations that focus on positive youth development in underserved communities. As a former camp counselor and soccer coach, her passion lies in supporting the growth of healthy and strong communities by centering and uplifting youth through sports.

Jordan Blazo, Ph.D

Executive Fellow, Human Rights and Sustainability

Dr. Jordan Blazo is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Co-Founding Director of the Minds in Motion Lab at Louisiana Tech University. His research aims to understand how to make sport the best experience possible for families. Specifically, he explores how family members influence each other's physical activity experiences and perceptions of athletic ability. This includes examining sibling relationship quality and differential treatment in youth sports. Additionally, Dr. Blazo works closely with families, youth and collegiate athletes, teams, and coaches on mental conditioning topics such as mental toughness, confidence, performance anxiety, and leadership. By drawing on his expertise in Psychology, Applied Sport Psychology, and Psychosocial Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity, he is able to provide comprehensive support to help enhance the overall sport experience for all involved.

Binta Niambi brown

Partner, Manatt, Phelos & Phillips

Binta Niambi Brown is a Partner in Manatt’s New York office, and member of the firm’s preeminent sports, media and entertainment practices. With a combination of deep corporate transactional and talent representation experience, she is a respected dealmaker who advises multi-strategy global investment firms, superstar talent (including a 3-time NBA Champion), college athletic programs, UHNW individuals and entrepreneurs across a variety of complex transactions, and in connection with name, image and likeness (NIL) strategy and dealmaking. She has structured, negotiated and closed over $100 billion in corporate and entertainment transactions.

Binta is a sought-after panelist, recently speaking at Columbia University School of Law, Harvard University, University of Alabama and Fordham University on the evolving Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) landscape and sports issues. She is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a member of Law360’s Sports & Betting Editorial Board and an Observer on the Uniform Law Commission Study Committee on Protection of Name, Image, and Likeness. Binta has been recognized by multiple media outlets as a leading attorney, most recently named to Variety’s Dealmakers of the Year list.

stuart brown

Executive Director, Inspire Foundation

Stuart Brown serves as the Executive Director for the Inspire Foundation, the charitable arm of Inspire Brands. The foundation works on behalf of Inspire and its brands to ignite and nourish change for good in the communities we serve. Before joining the Foundation in 2014, Stuart developed a passion for leveraging innovation to promote community impact while working for Fortune 500 companies, industry-leading non-profits and a West African start-up.

He is an alumnus of Auburn University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering as well as the Kellogg School of Management where he earned his MBA with a focus on Finance and Economics.

Prior to trading in his wanderlust for a mortgage and his hiking books for a fuel-efficient commuter car, Stuart could frequently be found traveling the world in search of the next great backcountry adventure, playing epic games of Ultimate Frisbee, mentoring teenagers, or chasing sunsets in his beloved Jeep Wrangler. These days, Stuart can most consistently be found living his favorite adventure: doing life with Noelle and their two sons, Eli and Sam.

TIM BROWN

Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL receiver

Tim Brown is one of the greatest collegiate and professional wide receivers to ever play the game. During his collegiate career at Notre Dame, Tim’s playmaking ability earned him the honor of being the first wide receiver to ever receive the Heisman Trophy award. After his 1987 Heisman Trophy winning season, Tim was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders with the 6th overall pick of the 1988 NFL Draft. Tim spent sixteen years with the Raiders, during which he established himself as one of the League’s most prolific wide receivers. Tim’s play led him to be named to nine Pro Bowl teams and his 1,094 career receptions ranks 5th in NFL history. His fame and success with the Raider’s organization earned him the title, Mr. Raider, and the honor of being inducted into the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tim currently works as a host on Sirius Radio’s NFL and College Football pregame and recaps. He now resides in Dallas, TX with his wife and four children.

Kevin Burton

Chief Programs Officer, Asphalt Green

Lawrence Cann

Founder / CEO, street soccer usa

Latasha Causey

President of Phoenix Raceway, Incoming BGCAZ Board Chair

Lex Chalat

Executive Director, Soccer Forward

Alexandra joined US Soccer Federation in January 2025 to lead Soccer Forward, a new initiative developed to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to the transformative power of soccer, creating healthier individuals and stronger communities as a Legacy of the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026.

Previously, she was at the Qatar Foundation (QF), where she joined in January 2021 as Director of Legacy and Community Engagement. In the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, she was part of a team responsible for coordinating the organization’s more than 50 entities across education, research, and community development to ensure that it holistically maximizes the world’s biggest sports tournament and enables long-lasting impact. This included spearheading the region’s first-ever performing arts festival; creating a program that shared first-hand the impact the World Cup has had on Qatar residents, delivering sports programming for thousands of Afghan refugees; and activating QF’s dynamic 12sqkm campus, Education City, through accessible and educational content.

With the successful tournament completed, she transitioned to the office of QF CEO and Vice-Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al-Thani, as Executive Director of Partnerships and Strategic Alignment to lead on priority projects, including the national women’s and girls’ sports strategy; national volunteering strategy; and strategy legacy plan for Education City Stadium. She also oversaw key partnerships and strategic initiatives for QF, from working with ConocoPhillips Qatar on a new invention education center, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a refugee scholarship program, to FIFA on developing a worldwide school program.

Prior to life in Qatar, Lex was Managing Director of the Beyond Sport Foundation, which convenes, funds and supports organizations using sport as a tool for social change. After joining in 2008, Lex helped the organization grow from the ground up while also co-founding thinkBeyond in 2014, a sister advisory firm that provides ways for governments, companies and charities across the world to create positive social change using sport.

For the last 15 years, she’s worked and lived in over 20 countries curating programs and partnerships around sport’s role in hard-hitting issues like the refugee crisis, youth gun crime and racial and ethnic divides. She’s led on projects that have included developing ESPN’s global community engagement approach, activating the International Olympic Committee's Sport for All policies, crafting SAP’s vision and implementation to be a purpose-driven sport sponsor, and finding new ways BT Sport can engage younger, socially conscious fans. She’s developed global CSR, purpose-driven sponsorship strategies for brand giants like Unilever, Bloomberg, Virgin and Disney and been involved on various legacy projects from South Africa to London to Brazil to Glasgow. She’s helped advise influential entities from the Holy See to the US State Dpt to the World Economic Forum and spearheaded partnerships with MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, NASCAR, the Premier League and Premiership Rugby. She’s also worked with greats like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, David Beckham, Muhammad Ali, Tony Blair, Michael Johnson, Tiger Woods and Billie Jean King.

She has appeared on BBC, Sky News, Al Jazeera, and Canada TV and has contributed to several academic journals and publications on the socio-economic impact of major sporting events. She also sits on the Board of Directors for Beyond Sport Foundation, Green Sports Foundation and the Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation.

A graduate of University of Pennsylvania and London School of Economics, she is an avid believer of the power that sport has to change lives for the better. She currently resides in NYC and is the mother to 2 year old twins, Saoirse and Sebastian.

Cindy Chang, md, famssm, facsm

NWSL Chief medical officer

Dr. Chang is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Past President of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), and Professor Emerita at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Chang also chairs the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC), and is on the Sports Advisory Council of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance and the Executive Board of the Women's Health, Sports & Performance (WHSP) Institute.

Chang was elected to the Board of Directors for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is currently is a board member on the AMSSM Foundation. She served as CMO of Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and 2012 London Olympic Games.

She finished residency in Family Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) before completing a fellowship in Sports Medicine at The Ohio State University (OSU). After staying on faculty in OSU’s Department of Family Medicine as assistant residency director and assistant team physician for the OSU Buckeyes, she returned to California to serve as the head team physician for Cal’s 27 athletic teams from 1995 to 2008.

Jim Clark

President & CeO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Jim Clark leads the nation’s largest facility‑based youth development organization, overseeing more than 5,500 Boys & Girls Clubs serving over 4 million young people annually across all 50 states and on U.S. military installations worldwide. Boys & Girls Clubs of America is also the nation’s longest-serving and largest provider of Native youth services.

Since joining Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2012, Jim has implemented a major restructuring and introduced a strategy focused on three priority youth outcomes: academic success, good character and leadership, and health and wellness. He has strengthened organizational capacity, improved program quality, expanded the national network, and positioned Boys & Girls Clubs of America as a leading advocate for youth. Boys & Girls Clubs of America is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s top charities by Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes and receives premier rankings by Candid and Charity Navigator.

Jim launched a national youth outcomes study that drives continuous improvement and demonstrates impact across education, leadership, and health. He has championed initiatives in STEM, summer learning, workforce readiness, and digital innovation, including MyFuture.net, YD Toolbox, and MyClubHub. In 2023, Boys & Girls Clubs of America reached a milestone with the opening of its 5,000th Club.

Jim previously spent 24 years with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel before serving as president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, where he led significant growth in membership, staffing, and service locations.

Allison Colman

senior director of programs, National Recreation and Park Association

Chris comacho

Thunderbirds charities

Betsy Cooper J.D.

Director, Aspen policy academy

Betsy Cooper is the founding Director of the Aspen Policy Academy, which equips experts and community leaders with the resources they need to speak up, be heard, and have an impact. A cybersecurity expert, Dr. Cooper joined the Aspen Institute after serving as the Executive Director of the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity at the University of California, Berkeley.

Previously, Dr. Cooper served in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an attorney advisor to the Deputy General Counsel and as a policy counselor in the Office of Policy. She worked for over a decade in homeland security consulting, managing projects for Atlantic Philanthropies in Dublin, the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit in London, and the World Bank, and other organizations. Dr. Cooper completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation (where she currently is a nonresident affiliate), as well as a Yale Public Interest Fellowship.

Dr. Cooper earned a J.D. from Yale University, a D.Phil. in Politics from Oxford University, an M.Sc. in Forced Migration from Oxford University, and a B.A. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. She speaks advanced French and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Jared Cooper

Executive director, fundplay foundation

Kate Deangelis

therapeutic recreation specialist

Kate DeAngelis is the Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for Lexington Recreation and Community Programs. Through her role she has experience providing inclusion services, developing and facilitating adaptive programming, delivering staff trainings, and implementing accessible practices, policies and places. Kate has sat on the Board for Massachusetts Parks and Recreation Association as the Therapeutic Recreation representative for the past five years, connecting members to resources and promoting inclusive play and recreation. Kate enjoys traveling around throughout New England, supporting organizations in strengthening inclusive practices and is committed to continuing her work with communities and organizations to expand access, inclusion, and a sense of belonging across the region.

Travis Dorsch, PH.D

Associate Professor, Human Development & Family Studies, Utah State University

Dr. Travis Dorsch is an Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Families in Sport Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University. Dr. Dorsch’s research targets the persons (i.e., parents, siblings, peers, and coaches) and contexts (i.e., organizations, communities, and societies) that have the potential to influence or be influenced by athletes’ behaviors, attitudes, experiences, and outcomes in youth sport. His research has been funded by multiple national organizations, including the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NCAA, and the Aspen Institute. Dr. Dorsch has authored more than 70 articles, book chapters, and technical reports and has contributed to more than 120 presentations for local, state, regional, national, and international audiences. His research findings have been highlighted in outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and TIME Magazine and are used by sport governing bodies within the U.S. Olympic movement, recreational and elite youth sport organizations, and sport coaches and parents to construct more developmentally appropriate sport contexts and to evaluate the role of youth sport in contemporary society. Dr. Dorsch is a former member of the national science board for the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition, a research fellow for the U.S. Center for Metal Health & Sport, and a member of the steering committee for the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation’s “Sport 2030” initiative. He was also named the 2021 Early Career Distinguished Scholar by the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport & Physical Activity.

benita fitzgerald mosley

ceo, us center for safesport

Olympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley is the CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport. An established international leader in nonprofit, sports, and business, Benita has served as CEO of Multiplying Good, a nonprofit committed to cultivating greatness through service to others. She has also served as the President of FundPlay Foundation, the VP of Community & Impact for LeagueApps, and the CEO of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA, where she helped leverage the power of sport to build thriving kids and communities across the nation.

A world-class athlete, Benita won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, making her the first American woman to accomplish this feat. She was a member of the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic Teams, an alternate on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, and a gold medalist in the 1983 Pan American Games. She is an inductee into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Committed to furthering athlete well-being, Benita serves on several committees and boards, including the International Olympic Committee Commission, and the Boards of Special Olympics International and Athletes for Hope. She also served on the Senate Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics.

Benita graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, where she competed on the track and field team, becoming an eight-time national champion and a 14-time NCAA All-American. She lives in Virginia with her husband and they have two kids in college.

sara rose foreman, rdn, cssd, sns

Program manager, dairy max

jeremy goldberg

president & co-founder, leagueapps

Jeremy Goldberg is President and Co-Founder of LeagueApps, a leading youth sports technology company powering millions of events, engaging players, parents, and coaches, and processing billions of dollars in payments that make sports programs possible. At LeagueApps, Jeremy oversees brand and communications, strategic business development, and NextUp—the professional home for the youth sports industry. Jeremy is also Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the FundPlay Foundation, a nonprofit spun out of LeagueApps that serves as a leading intermediary for youth sports organizations. FundPlay has helped expand access to sport for more than 500,000 young people and unlocked over $50 million in government funding for youth sports nonprofits nationwide. Jeremy is a 63x30 member of the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and serves on the Executive Board of Search for Common Ground, the world’s largest peace building NGO. Jeremy holds a bachelor’s degree with Honors from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenna, and their two children, where he puts his youth sports insights into practice as a coach for flag football and basketball.

Jayne Greenberg

north america chair, International Sport and Culture Association

Dr. Jayne Greenberg has served as the Program Director for the I Can Do It! Program for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to that she served as the District Director of Physical Education and Health Literacy for Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 22 years. Throughout her professional educational career, she has served as Special Advisor on Youth Fitness to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; President of FAHPERD; chaired the Sport Development Committee for the United States Olympic Committee, USA Field Hockey; coordinated the Olympic Torch Relay Miami Leg for the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, and assisted the United States Department of Health and Human Services in the development of the I Can Do It, You Can Do It Program, a national initiative to address the physical activity levels of youth with disabilities. Dr. Greenberg was named as the 2005 National Physical Education Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Sport and Physical Education, received the 2005 Highest Recognition Award by the United States Secretary of Health, Michael Leavitt, received the March 2009 Point of Light Award by Florida Governor Charlie Crist and was appointed the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness in 2009. In 2011 Dr. Greenberg was appointed by President Obama to serve on the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition; in 2012 Dr. Greenberg was selected to serve on an Institute of Medicine Committee; in 2015 was named as the North America Chair for the International Sport and Culture Association; and in 2016 was named as an Aspen Institute Scholar, received the 2016 North America Society of HPERD Professionals Award; and in 2017 received the Lifetime of Giving Award by Delta Psi Kappa and was named as the Education Sector Chair for the National Physical Activity Plan. Dr. Greenberg was inducted into the SHAPE America Hall of Fame in 2019.

Martina haggerty

VP of Infrastructure, Peopleforbikes

zarif haque

CEO, the good game

Zarif is the founder and CEO of The Good Game: the all-in-one platform that makes youth sports easy to find, join, and trust. As a serial entrepreneur and dad of three, he's been in the bleachers. He saw how much friction, confusion, and red tape stood between kids and the sports/activities they love, and he built the solution.

The Good Game gives families a seamless home for discovering programs and getting kids on the field, while giving organizations the tools to run leaner and serve more communities. At the center of it all is the ClearToJoin Passport, a living sports identity that moves with every athlete, volunteer, coach, and donor through every chapter of their journey. From youth leagues to high school associations, and from NCAA eligibility to NIL opportunities, the Passport adapts as rules shift across regulatory bodies. Whether someone wants to play, coach, work in sports, or give back to a community they love, the Passport ensures they're always ready, always compliant, and never left behind by a rule change they didn't see coming. Powering it all is a robust compliance engine that quietly handles the heavy lifting, allowing people to focus on the game, not the gatekeeping.

Zarif believes technology should make youth sports more human, not less. His work ensures that as the game evolves, what matters most: healthy kids, strong communities, and real connection that never gets lost.

melissa harper

co-founder & ceo, good sports

Melissa Harper is the Co-Founder of Good Sports and has been the Chief Executive Officer since its inception in 2003. She also serves as President on its board of directors. Under Melissa’s leadership, Good Sports has grown from a grassroots organization storing equipment in her garage for local youth to now supporting over 10 million kids nationwide.

In her role as CEO, Melissa leads Good Sports growth, organizational strategy, and partnership development. In addition to roles in nonprofit fundraising and consulting, she also spent nearly 5 years in the management consulting business with Gemini Consulting and Treacy & Company. Recent accolades for her leadership in the sports industry include The Woman of Inspiration Award from WISE Boston in 2024 and being named to the Sports Business Journal Game Changers Class of 2023. Good Sports has consistently been awarded a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator since 2014. Melissa is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and is a lifelong athlete participating in team sports and marathons as well as playing and coaching sports for her four children.

Ashleigh Huffman, Ph.D

Aspen Institute sports & society program

Dr. Ashleigh Huffman is an internationally recognized expert in sports diplomacy, gender equity, and research-driven social impact. As Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Aspen Institute, she forges alliances with governments, corporations, sports leagues, and academic institutions to drive system-level reform that promote sport for all.

Previously, Dr. Huffman served as the Chief of Sports Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State, where she played a key role in shaping international sports policy, advising on major global sporting events—including the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Cup—and leading strategic initiatives that leveraged sport to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities. Before that, she co-founded the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society at the University of Tennessee, leading research on sport’s role in gender and community development.

Dr. Huffman co-created the Global Sports Mentoring Program with the State Department and espnW, a pioneering initiative recognized with the ESPN Stuart Scott Humanitarian Award and Peace and Sport "Diplomatic Action of the Year” Award. Across 130+ countries, she has worked with athletes, coaches, corporations, and policymakers to implement research-based solutions that create lasting impact.

A former two-time basketball captain at Eastern Kentucky University, she earned her PhD in Sociocultural Studies from the University of Tennessee and remains committed to using sport as a platform for systemic change worldwide.

jenae jenkins

executive director, First tee - metro atlanta

kirsten jones

Sports Parenting Coach, Speaker and Best-Selling Author

rick jordan

VP, DIck’s sporting goods foundation

Guywintz Jules

Salem youth comission

Guywintz Jules is a high-achieving student with a 4.4 GPA and a rigorous AP course load. What truly sets him apart is his ability to translate excellence in athletics into leadership beyond the field. As a multi-year captain of both indoor and outdoor track and field, as well as a varsity soccer captain and starter, Guywintz has competed at the state and conference levels while modeling discipline, teamwork, and accountability. For him, sports have served as a formative leadership pathway—not just as competition, but as a vehicle for mentorship, resilience, and community connection.

In addition to his athletic leadership, Guywintz serves as an appointed member of the Salem Youth Commission, bringing a youth voice directly into local government and policy conversations. He has also held elected roles in student government, served as a freshman mentor, and led academic teams as captain of both the math team and chess club.

Through his work with the Immigrant Family Services Institute, Guywintz has supported immigrant families and youth programming. He brings a global and multicultural lens to his leadership as a trilingual speaker and has earned the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in Haitian Creole, reflecting both academic excellence and cultural competency.

Birju Kadakia

ceo & co-founder, rec technologies

Birju Kadakia, CEO & Co-Founder of Rec Technologies. Former lead at Uber & The Athletic. Helping cities run better programs, grow revenue, & increase participation via AI-powered recreation software.

Charlie Katica

executive director, rainer adaptive sports

Dr. Charlie Katica is an Associate Professor at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Rainier Adaptive Sports. Rainier Adaptive Sports was founded to address the lack of inclusive athletic opportunities in the South Puget Sound region, with a mission to create equitable, community-based programs that empower individuals of all abilities to participate in sport. With nearly two decades of experience in adaptive athletics, Charlie has dedicated his career to expanding access to sport and recreation for individuals with disabilities. He started his career in adaptive sports coaching at the University of Alabama, where he worked with the women’s wheelchair basketball team, and continues his involvement in the sport today as a coach for the Tacoma Titans wheelchair basketball team. His work bridges academia and community engagement, combining teaching, research, and hands-on leadership in adaptive sports. Charlie is an active leader in the adaptive sports community, developing programs and initiatives that promote inclusion, physical activity, and opportunity. His efforts have been supported through external funding, enabling the growth and sustainability of adaptive sports programs in the region.

chi kim

CEO, Pure edge, inc.

Chi Kim is the Chief Executive Officer of Pure Edge, Inc. a private operating foundation dedicated to the wellbeing of learners and educators across the US. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as a California school superintendent, school principal, leadership coach, classroom teacher, as well as, a program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She is also co-founder of the Teaching Garden program that was adopted by the American Heart Association to support heart health through school gardens.

Chi is a 2018 Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow, serves as the Board Chair & Trustee of the Ibis Group, Board Chair of YouthBuild Global Board of Directors, and FECOP Board of Directors in Costa Rica. She also serves on the advisory councils of the COVID Collaborative, More Perfect, ALLReady, and Wayfinder.

She earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed. from UCLA, a Tier I Administrative Services credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills, Tier II Administrative Services credential from Loyola Marymount University, XPT Performance Breathing Certification and Oxygen Advantage Functional Breathing Certification.

Joon lee

Founder, Morning Announcements

Joon Lee is an independent sports journalist and creator whose work explores the intersection of sports and culture. He produces YouTube videos through his production company Morning Announcements.

He formerly worked for ESPN, where he appeared on Around the Horn, First Take and SportsCenter.  His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Bleacher Report and The Ringer.

Cassidy Lichtman

board chair, USA volleyball

Cassidy Lichtman is the Chair of the Board for USA Volleyball and Vice President of Volleyball & Athletes Engagement for Athletes Unlimited. She was a founding member of Athletes Unlimited’s professional volleyball league, competed in the first two seasons and served as Chairperson of the Player Executive Committee. She is a former member of the USA Volleyball Women’s National Team and was a two-time All-American and an Academic All-American at Stanford. Cassidy is also the founder of P/ATH, a nonprofit that teaches the next generation skills around empathy, equity and empowerment through sport. She previously worked at shift7 with former Chief Technology Officer of the United States, Megan Smith, on projects focusing on inclusion and economic inequality. Cassidy was the first athlete to sit on the Board of Athletes Unlimited and was named one of AdWeek’s Most Powerful Women in Sports in 2022.

Seth lieberman

CEO, Ankored, Inc

Seth Lieberman is the CEO and founder of Ankored, a mission-driven athlete safety and compliance platform built to help protect kids and help organizations mitigate and manage their risk in youth sports. Ankored works with a wide variety of organization that serves young athletes including clubs, leagues, parks and recreation departments, and national governing bodies. Seth is a serial entrepreneur based in Boston and the father of four teenage athletes who play five sports. They keep getting faster while he keeps getting slower. He holds a B.A. with distinction in Economics from Carleton College.

Ryan lingor, md

primary sports medicine physician

Dr. Lingor is an Attending Physician at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), faculty member at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Medical Director and Team Physician for the New York Rangers. He specializes in the management of acute musculoskeletal injuries and the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Dr. Lingor's path to medicine was shaped by a foundation in sports medicine and athletic performance. After graduating from St. John's University in Minnesota, he earned certifications as a Certified Athletic Trainer, Registered Dietitian, and Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He went on to complete athletic training internships with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins before serving as Head Athletic Trainer for NFL Europe's Hamburg Sea Devils.

Dr. Lingor received his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and completed his residency in Family Medicine at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, followed by a Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to his current role, he served as Assistant Team Physician for the New York Jets and provided care for athletes at several local high schools and colleges. Throughout his career, he has treated athletes across the full spectrum of age and competition level, with particular expertise in ACL injuries ranging from young adolescents to the senior athlete.

Dr. Mallory Mann

Professor

Dr. Mallory E. Mann is Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Pacific Lutheran University, where her work sits at the intersection of sport sociology and sport psychology. Before entering academia, she coached at both the NCAA Division I and Division III levels and spent more than 15 years coaching youth sport, experiences that continue to shape her approach to coach education.

Dr. Mann has partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance and other organizations to deliver coach education programming to more than 4,000 coaches and sport leaders nationwide. She has also given academic presentations at regional, national, and international levels. She currently serves as the lead investigator on a grant-funded coaching education pilot project, supported by the Names Family Foundation, that is designed to bring accessible, evidence-based coaching practices to volunteer youth sport coaches across Pierce County, Washington. This community-rooted initiative reflects her commitment to bridging research and practice to improve youth sport experiences for all.

She has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is co-author, with Dr. Colleen Hacker, of Achieving Excellence: Mastering Mindset for Peak Performance in Sport and Life (2022), which offers practical psychological skills for performers across domains.

Stuart mcreynolds

cOo, canadian tire jumpstart charities

Stuart joined Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities in November 2022 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he provides enterprise leadership across strategy execution and organizational performance, supporting the planning, design, and delivery of investments, programs, and partnerships that enable children and youth across Canada to realize the transformational benefits of sport and play.

Prior to joining Jumpstart, Stuart was President & CEO of Abilities Centre, a national charity recognized for its leadership in accessibility innovation and improving quality of life for people of all ages and abilities. He has also held senior roles with the Canadian Paralympic Committee and is a former professional rugby athlete.

Stuart holds a BA (Hons.) in Sport & Leisure Management from the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Wales, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. He brings extensive experience in sport‑for‑development, systems leadership, and social impact, and was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his service and contributions to Canada.

VINCENT MINJARES, Ph.d

program MANAGER, aspen institute sports & society

Dr. Minjares is a Program Manager in the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program with responsibility for driving Project Play's coaching and school sports portfolios. His current work includes the National Coaching Strategy, Million Coaches Challenge, National ACL Injury Coalition and Service Learning through Sports. He holds a Ph.D in Coaching & Pedagogy from AUT University in Auckland, New Zealand, an M.A. in Education from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College.

Eli mitchell

policy advisor, U.S. house committee on education and workforce

Eli Mitchell is a Policy Advisor on the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where he specializes in sports policy and issues affecting neglected youth. With nearly five years of legislative experience, he has supported policymaking on matters impacting college and youth sports. Eli recently planned and supported a congressional hearing that highlighted the important role youth sports plays in promoting physical health, building character, and supporting child development. He is passionate about the power of youth sports to build stronger communities and more resilient individuals. A proud University of Kentucky alumnus, Eli looks forward to sharing insights from his policy work and discussing how accessible, high-quality youth sports can benefit the next generation.

zachary moo young

research consultant & Coach

Zach Moo Young was one of those kids who treated sports as his “way up.” By 6th grade, he’d specialized in “hoop dreams.” After a playing career with no shortage of disappointment and heartbreak (peaking as a Division III poor man’s Draymond Green), he sought to make sense of it all by bridging critical study of sport with his own experiments as a player-turned-coach.

Today, Zach is a researcher, writer, and coach devoted to contributing to sports cultures that help us make meaning, develop agency, and build civic character. His recent work focuses on how youth sports systems function on the ground, partnering with mission-driven organizations to translate research, lived experience, and humanistic values into practical strategies to shape coach education, develop policy frameworks, and organize communities in the service of whole-person development.

Zach holds a BA in Psychology from Oberlin College and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. You can find his personal coaching reflections at www.BallPhilosophy.com.ut Session)

craig morris

CEO, US Tennis association coaching

Craig Morris, a native of Australia, has built a career around promoting, developing and improving the sport of tennis. Morris oversees all aspects of building and developing the USTA Coaching business. Morris has coached at every level of the game, from school programs to the professional tour, and was chief executive of Community Tennis at the USTA from 2018 to 2024 which saw tennis participation rise from 17M to 25.7M players. His focus is always on making tennis more inclusive and sharing its benefits with a diverse population.

tim murphy

co-founder & president, Youth inc.

Tim oversees strategy, development, distribution, and monetization for Youth Inc.’s media division. Prior to co-founding Youth Inc., Tim led Corporate & Business Development at Audacy, the national leader in spoken word audio. He has also served in leadership roles at the New York Times Company and The Golf Channel, building digital products and businesses. Tim received his BA from Hamilton College, where he played football and golf. He also coached his son's youth baseball and basketball teams. Tim lives in greater Philadelphia with his wife Kate and their two children, Eloise and Owen.

sheila Ohlsson walker

strategic advisor, project play colorado

Sheila Ohlsson Walker, Ph.D., CFA, has been a competitive tennis player since childhood and knows first-hand the power of sport to transform lives. Done well, athletics is experiential learning for multiple life skills (physical literacy, psychological resilience, growth mindset, perseverance, discipline and emotional intelligence) that promote health and flourishing across the lifespan. Through science, advocacy and philanthropy, she aims to elevate safety, engagement, fun and access, helping make sport and play a basic human right for all young people.

Jennifer paulett

director, corporate sponsorship ESPN

Jennifer Paulett, director of ESPN Corporate Citizenship, is responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategy on youth sports participation. Since joining ESPN in 2015, she has led efforts to expand access to sports for kids through philanthropic investments and powerful storytelling.

Paulett oversees ESPN’s youth sports initiative Take Back Sports, which aims to make the youth sports system more accessible so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play and keep playing. Together with the Walt Disney Company, leagues, professional athletes and community partners, Take Back Sports also is elevating the narrative around the benefits and challenges of youth sports.

She represents ESPN on Project Play’s 63x30 committee, working with industry partners to drive participation in the U.S. to 63% by the year 2030. In coordination with the Aspen Institute, she also helped lead the award-winning “Don’t Retire, Kid” campaign featuring Kobe Bryant.

Paulett is a recipient of the Top Women in Media Awards from Cynopsis. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and lives in Connecticut where she enjoys being a youth sports coach and parent.

cody pillon

executive director, oakland united

Cody Pillon is an Oakland native, lifelong soccer coach, and founder of Oakland Genesis. Growing up playing the game in Oakland, soccer opened doors for him to travel the world, build lifelong friendships, and experience the deep sense of community the game can create. Inspired by those experiences, Cody founded Oakland Genesis to ensure that any passionate soccer player in Oakland has access to the life-changing benefits of playing in a safe, structured, and competitive team environment. Recognizing that many youth-serving organizations struggle to balance delivering their mission while also building the infrastructure needed to grow, Cody recently co-founded Oakland United alongside Matt Fondy. Oakland United was created to support impactful community-based organizations like Oakland Genesis by helping develop the spaces and advocate for the resources they need to expand their reach without diluting their mission or impact. Cody believes sport can be a transcendent vehicle for physical health, academic success, mental well-being, and community connection, and that those opportunities should be available to everyone. Cody lives In Oakland with his wife Anna, cat Murt, and dog Josie. He still loves playing the beautiful game with his friends and community in his hometown!

Jeff price

ceo, the heisman Foundation

Jeff Price was named the first-ever Chief Executive Officer of the Heisman Foundation in October 2025. In this role, he leads efforts to preserve and build upon the Trust’s legacy while expanding its brand, growing its audience, and advancing its charitable mission. Since stepping into the role, Price has helped negotiate a new multi-year agreement with ESPN, keeping it as the exclusive home of the Heisman Trophy Ceremony.

Prior to joining the Heisman Foundation, Price served from 2014 through 2025 as Chief Commercial Officer for the PGA of America, the Association that represents more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, and operates the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship in addition to marquee member and amateur events.

Before joining the PGA of America, Price held roles as President and Publisher of The Sporting News, President of Sports Illustrated Digital and Head of Sponsorships for Mastercard, after beginning his career at the NBA and Gatorade.
Price received his M.S. from the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sports Management at the University of Massachusetts and earned his B.A. in American History at Bates College. He lives in Sea Cliff, N,Y. with his wife, Cristina and children Jordan and Julia.

lJ rader

founder, Art but make it sports

LJ Rader is the founder and one-man operation behind the social media account ArtButMakeItSports. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, he is a lifetime sports professional, starting his career at NBC Sports, where he won an Emmy Award for his work on the XXII Olympic Winter Games. LJ was on the product team at DraftKings and is currently the head of the Broadcast Product Group at Sportradar. He’s also a diehard sports fan and passionate about art (go figure), spending free time at games, museums, galleries, and auction houses. In addition, he’s recently become obsessed with propagating plants, as well as dipping his toes into art collecting. He lives in New York City with his wife, son, and their dog, Rosie (shout-out to the ASPCA).

pascale Remy

head of Global partnerships, sports dans la ville

Pascale Remy currently oversees all international partnerships for Sport dans la Ville, France’s leading youth nonprofit. Founded in 1998, Sport dans la Ville has created innovative and impactful educational programs dedicated to serving youth at every stage of their development. Today, the organization provides support for more than 13,000 underserved children through sports and job-readiness training.

Pascale is committed to developing Sport dans la Ville's International Program—particularly exchanges with the US—so that more young people can benefit from these life-transforming experiences. For example, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 400 youth from around the world will gather in Boston for Festival 26—nine days of programming centered on the magic of this extraordinary sporting event. Sport dans la Ville is excited to organize this international youth festival with its sister organization Boston SCORES.

Julián Alonso Restrepo

Assistant Professor of Sport Leadership and Administration

Dr. Julián Alonso Restrepo is an Assistant Professor of Sport Leadership and Administration in the Department of Counseling, School Psychology & Sport at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s College of Education and Human Development. A native of Bogotá, Colombia, he brings a rich blend of international perspective, academic rigor, and practical experience to his work in sport management. Before entering academia, Dr. Restrepo spent a decade coaching college football across four American universities, where he developed a deep appreciation for the role of sport in individual and community development. His research centers on sport for development and peace, sport-based youth development, and building organizational capacity within sport programs.

Dr. Restrepo holds a Ph.D. in Sport Management from the University of Florida, an M.A. in Sport Management from Wingate University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from West Virginia University, along with graduate certificates in non-profit management and leadership. His scholarship has been published in peer-reviewed outlets and explores culturally responsive practices in sport-based youth development.

Brent richard

ceo, img academy

Brent Richard’s vision as CEO of IMG Academy is to transform IMG Academy into the world’s most impactful education brand, with life-changing experiences, available to any student-athlete who believes in the power of sport as a platform for life. He is passionate about the value of holistic education through the lens of sport and improving and growing IMG Academy’s heartbeat boarding school experience, while simultaneously creating new student-athlete experiences online and internationally. Through its suite of connected sports education experiences, all under the powerful IMG Academy brand, all benefiting from IMG Academy’s half-century of expertise, IMG Academy is now helping families and student-athletes all around the world.

Since joining IMG Academy in 2020, Richard has built a world-class on-campus and online team, focused on executing this vision. IMG Academy has developed over recent years from a campus-only brand and experience serving 1,000 boarding school student-athletes, into a global brand with a suite of connected education experiences, ranging from boarding school, to camps, to online coaching and recruiting. Today, IMG Academy, with the help of digital scale, is serving over 150,000 student-athletes and 40,000 coaches each year, and its heartbeat boarding school in Bradenton stronger than ever, adding new sports, facilities and improving outcomes for its families.

In 2023, with a focus on ensuring that IMG Academy would be owned by a group that could bring significant expertise and value to IMG Academy families and student-athletes, Richard hand-selected Nord Anglia and EQT and led the sale of IMG Academy by Endeavor (NYSE: EDR) and subsequent transition and carve-out processes for IMG Academy.

Richard has also overseen the development of the IMG Academy Foundation, including $40M annually that IMG Academy is able to give-back via financial aid, discounted or free online coaching services, and community charity.

ma’net richardson

youth journalist, centre for sports and human rights

Ma’Net Richardson is a senior at East College Prep, where she holds numerous leadership positions. She serves as the Vice President of the Student Government, President of the Black Student Union, and a school ambassador. Additionally, she holds the distinction of being the captain of the school's inaugural Flag Football team.

Outside of the classroom, Ma’Net is deeply passionate about writing and journalism. Throughout high school, she has authored coming-of-age stories that chronicle the struggles and successes of her daily life. During her sophomore year, she collaborated on research regarding joy, solidarity, and resistance within school clubs and sports, which she presented at Harvard’s Alumni of Color Conference.

In her junior year, Ma’Net joined Youth Media Forward, a program for aspiring youth journalists. This platform allowed her to publish articles and interviews on critical topics, including racism in the media and the underrepresentation of queer athletes. These experiences solidified her commitment to advocating for underrepresented youth through the written word.

Looking ahead, Ma’Net is eager to attend college to study English Literature. She strives to continue participating in programs that utilize writing as a platform for marginalized groups and remains dedicated to making a positive impact in her future community.

dr. travis roache

Dr. Travis Roache works at the intersection of sports, business, and technology, focusing on how data and emerging digital tools are reshaping coaching, player development, and the overall sports experience.

Professionally, Travis has spent more than 15 years in leadership roles across technology and industrial companies, including IBM and PPG Industries, where he led digital transformation initiatives, product strategy, and data-driven decision frameworks.

Beyond industry, his work increasingly centers on sports. Travis was an NCAA Division III athlete, has coached at the NCAA Division II and III levels, and currently volunteers in youth sports while raising children who are highly active multi-sport athletes. He also served as a board member for a local sports nonprofit, where he helped develop one of its programs, which now serves hundreds of youth athletes.

His doctoral research examines how team composition and context influence athlete performance, reflecting his broader goal of applying analytics and systems thinking to help athletes, coaches, and organizations make better decisions in sport. Additionally, he frequently contributes articles on the online publishing platform Medium, targeting the business, sports, and technology communities.

Luis rosero

Vice President, Corporate, External and Community Affairs, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises

LuiLuis Rosero serves as Vice President of Corporate, External and Community Affairs for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. In this role, he leads national external stakeholder engagement and community relations efforts across the United States, partnering closely with Telemundo’s owned stations and internal divisions to strengthen relationships with civic, nonprofit, and business organizations nationwide.

Rosero oversees national initiatives that advance Telemundo’s public affairs and community priorities, including the creation of El Día Nacional del Fútbol, a first-of-its-kind U.S. national day celebrating soccer in Spanish. He is also a driving force behind Tu Momento. Tu Jugada, Telemundo’s flagship sports impact initiative that leverages the power of sports to inspire leadership, character, and teamwork. Under his leadership, the initiative brings together community engagement, experiential programming, and storytelling, activating Telemundo’s exclusive Spanish-language rights to the FIFA World Cup™ to unite and uplift communities through local events, emerging-leader development, and culturally resonant experiences across key Hispanic markets.

Through these efforts, Telemundo has expanded its community partnerships and deepened its connection with audiences through programs that demonstrate how the values learned through sport: resilience, collaboration, and perseverance, extend beyond the field and into everyday life.

Rosero first joined Comcast NBCUniversal as Vice President of Federal Government Affairs for Telemundo, where he worked to identify and pursue opportunities that advanced NBCUniversal’s policy objectives in the United States and Latin America. Prior to NBCUniversal Telemundo, he co-founded and directed Toyota Motor North America’s Hispanic Business Strategy Group, developing national strategies to deepen engagement with U.S. Hispanic consumers.

Earlier in his career, Rosero held senior communications roles across the public and private sectors, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Citigroup, and Deputy Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor. His experience also includes service in Congress and the White House during the Clinton and Obama administrations.

A native New Yorker, Rosero earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the State University of New York at Purchase. He currently serves on the boards of the NALEO Educational Fund and Prospera, a nonprofit supporting Latino entrepreneur across Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.

dr. julian rössler

adidas foundation

Julian Rössler is an advocate for sports diplomacy focused on international cooperation, partnerships, and social impact. He currently serves as Head of Stakeholder Engagement at the adidas Foundation, where he builds and manages partnerships with civil society, sports organizations, and public institutions to advance initiatives that empower young people through sport. Prior to this role, he served as a diplomat at the German Federal Foreign Office, gaining experience in international relations, public diplomacy, and government affairs. He was also responsible for the human rights and public affairs strategy of the UEFA EURO 2024. Across his career, Julian has developed strong expertise in stakeholder management, strategic communication, and cross-sector collaboration. He is particularly passionate about leveraging sport as a platform for inclusion, youth empowerment, and sustainable social impact through global partnerships.

Margarita safdie kanan

aspen institute mexico

Dr. Margarita Safdie Kanan is an accomplished professional with a Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Physical Activity from Queen’s University, Canada, and a Master’s degree in Applied Nutrition and Food Policy from Tufts University, Boston. In Mexico, she has served as a technical advisor in the General Directorate of Health Promotion, focusing on promoting physical activity and sports, as well as developing public policies to prevent overweight and obesity among schoolchildren.  Currently, Dr. Safdie is Director of Project Play México at Aspen Institute México, where she actively promotes sports and physical activity in healthy environments, especially for children and populations with disabilities. This work is crucial given the concerning global decline in physical activity and the rise in inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, which negatively affect children’s physical development.

Through the Project Play México initiative, Dr. Safdie aims to guide children ages 5 to 12 toward sports participation through physical literacy. She has also developed comprehensive strategies to address existing barriers and create opportunities through two key initiatives: the Sports Fairs, and the Public Spaces Intervention which rehabilitates or constructs sports courts to create new places for play and community, through institutional partnerships and significant investment.

Brandon “Stix” Salaam-Bailey

Think Watts Foundation

Brandon “Stix” Salaam-Bailey has always harbored boundless ambition, but he’s backed it up by quietly putting in the work over the last two decades to become one of Watts’ favorite sons. As a music executive, producer, artist, philanthropist, and pillar of his community, the Los Angeles native has impacted culture from nearly every angle, making history, fueling the creation of multiplatinum records, generating over 1 billion streams across various projects, and raising millions of dollars to support his hometown. Hailing from Watts, Stix initially shined as a rapper. Beyond releasing records, he famously pioneered the “KRUMP” dance movement as chronicled in the influential documentary Rize. His insight became sought-after in the studio. He discovered and developed Iggy Azalea, serving as a Co-Executive Producer on Ignorant Art. He also co-wrote and powered her Gold-certified Billboard Hot 100 hit “Team.” Not to mention, he wrote and recorded theme songs for LA Rams, LA Clippers, and LAFC and garnered four coveted CLIO Awards. During 2018, he founded the Thinkwatts Foundation as a 501(c)3 organization. Its programs have encompassed weekly food distribution initiatives, entrepreneurship workshops, financial literacy education, environmental justice initiatives, sports programs, coding sessions, educational advancement, and workforce development. Under its banner, Stix orchestrated alliances with household name brands such as Mastercard, Microsoft, Google, Toyota, and Bank of America. Plus, he notably became “the first non-profit founder to launch, design, and sell out his own custom Nike Air Force One shoe.” Further indicative of his positive impact, the City of Watts bestowed “The Key To City” upon Stix in 2021. The Thinkwatts Global C.E.O. and Co-Founder only continues to make the impossible possible.

britt salvesen

curator and department head, los angeles county museum of art

Britt Salvesen is Curator and Head of the Wallis Annenberg Photography Department and the Prints and Drawings Departments at LACMA. Recent curatorial projects include Digital Witness: Revolutions in Design, Photography, and Film (with Staci Steinberger, 2024–25) and Fútbol Is Life: Animated Sportraits by Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr. (on view through July 26, 2026). She is currently preparing an exhibition and accompanying publication--working title Why We Play: Sport, Art, and the Making of Modern Society--which will open at LACMA in May 2028, coinciding with the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

jacob schouenborg

secretary general, International sport and culture association (isca)

Jacob Schouenborg is Secretary General in International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA). He has been overall resposible for the operations of ISCA for 17 years, delivering global advocacy, capacity building, the MOVE Congress,and implementing more than than 80 externally funded initiatives with budgets up to 5 million euro each. He is also supporting ISCAs global campaign for physical activity called NowWeMove. His experience prior to working at ISCA includes working in the Danish Ministry of Culture as well as in the Nordic Youth Associations. He is experienced in the fields of diplomacy, capacity building, and leadership development.

ISCA is a global platform open to organizations working within the field of sport for all, recreational sports and physical activity. Created in 1995, ISCA is today a global actor closely cooperating with its democratic back-bone of 100  member organizations world-wide,  and an active community of 15972 do'ers in sport and physical activity. www.isca-web.org.

calli schroeder

EPIC Senior Counsel and Director of the AI and Human Rights Program

Calli Schroeder is Senior Counsel, Director of the AI and Human Rights Program, and Global Privacy Project lead at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a non-profit research and advocacy center dedicated to securing the fundamental right to privacy in the digital age for all people. She is a leading advocate for privacy, fairness, and transparency. In her role directing the AI and Human Rights Program, she highlights responsible, transparent, and privacy-protective design, development, and application of AI systems and provides perspective on AI risks and harms to lawmakers, enforcement bodies, and the public.

patricia shults

executive director, names family foundation

Haviland sharvit

executive director, susan crown exchange

Haviland Rummel is the Executive Director at the Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), a national foundation with a mission to help youth develop skills needed to succeed and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Haviland manages the organization’s strategy and grantmaking in social and emotional learning, digital well-being and youth sports. Prior to joining SCE she served as a senior consultant to nonprofit organizations in the areas of strategic planning and fund development. She has worked with a variety of nonprofits across sectors including cultural institutions, human service agencies, education and innovation groups, and healthcare organizations.

Haviland serves as the Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board of After School Matters, helping to provide nearly 20,000 teens across Chicago each year with paid opportunities to develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. Haviland holds an MBA in Strategic Management and Corporate Social Responsibility from George Washington University and a BS in Communications from Boston University.

Sharlivia slaughter

head cheer coach - student success advocate

Sharlivia Slaughter is a proud Portland native, born and raised in Portland. A dedicated educator and coach, she serves in the same public school system that shaped her own journey, giving back to the community that helped raise her. She currently works at McDaniel High School, where she mentors and supports students both academically and athletically.

As a devoted mother of two boys, Sharlivia balances family life with her deep commitment to education and youth development. Beyond her work in the classroom and on the sidelines, she is a passionate advocate fighting for the rights and recognition of cheerleaders, working to ensure they receive the respect, resources, and opportunities they deserve.

Rooted in community, driven by purpose, and committed to equity, Sharlivia Slaughter continues to make a lasting impact in Portland and beyond.

preeti sinha

head, institutional partnerships, right to play

Preeti Sinha is a seasoned global investment banker, development financier, and strategic leader with over 30 years of experience across investment banks, multilateral development banks, and the United Nations. She has cumulatively mobilized more than $20 billion in transformative impact finance worldwide, including during her tenure as Executive Secretary of the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), where she doubled revenues and catalyzed over $3 billion in impact capital.

Currently, as Head of Institutional Partnerships at Right To Play USA, Preeti leads high-profile philanthropic and foundation engagement, forging innovative finance partnerships to expand play-based learning and sports-for-development programs that reach millions of children across 15 countries.

Her career spans the World Bank, J.P. Morgan, Lehman Brothers, Rabobank, the African Development Bank, and the World Economic Forum. She has pioneered innovative financing instruments including green bonds, social impact bonds, outcome bonds, and blended capital structures to advance social equity, education, and climate resilience.

An alumna of Dartmouth College, Yale School of Management, and Harvard Kennedy School, Preeti is recognized globally as a thought leader in aligning capital markets with human dignity and planetary sustainability.

Jon Solomon

Research Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program

Jon has spent his career trying to pursue the truth in sports, while exploring how our tremendously entertaining, passionate and flawed games can play a role in creating a more equitable society. We’re not there yet. He’s still trying.

As Community Impact Director of the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program, he leads Project Play’s community work portfolio, national and local youth sports research, and media relations. Jon has authored more than 20 youth sports reports, including the annual National State of Play, local State of Play reports in communities around the U.S., and Reimagining School Sports reports.

Prior to joining the Aspen Institute in 2017, Jon was an award-winning sports reporter covering college football, NCAA issues and investigative stories. He worked at CBSSports.com, The Birmingham News, The State, The Anderson Independent-Mail and The Washington Post.

tom spangenberg

board president emeritus, mass youth lacrosse

Tom Spangenberg is an entrepreneur and business owner who also spent the past 25 years volunteering with youth lacrosse organizations at the local, regional, state and national levels, advocating for the life-changing experience youth sports can be for all participants. He is currently an Emeritus Director & Board Member of Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse (MYL), having previously served as board Chair, President and regional director for the non-profit organization over the past 18 years. Tom's passion for lacrosse began with his experience as a player (Wilton, CT & Babson College) and continued to grow as a father, coach, referee, leader and board member. Tom remains grateful for the opportunity he has had to see the sport flourish in his community, as a direct result of MYL and its practical, family-friendly mission. He remains a dedicated advocate for MYL's inclusive, child-centric philosophy, which has provided character-building experiences for thousands of youth players—including his own four sons—and their parents, coaches and town leaders. Tom and his colleagues at MYL encourage you to join us in promoting the importance of building and supporting a non-profit, volunteer-led, community-based youth sports model in your community and every community across the Commonwealth, the country, and the world. Youth Sports Done Right. Be Part of It!

jason targoff

president, cambridge youth soccer

Jason Targoff has been president of Cambridge Youth Soccer since 2012. During that time, the program has shifted its focus towards fun, local play in a competitive recreational league. The program has more than doubled in size and is now at close to 2400 players annually.

Cindy Nguyen thomas

managing director, bank of america

Head of Sports and Entertainment Marketing, overseeing a team that activates partnerships across sports, entertainment and talent. Core focus involves onboarding and managing marquee partnerships, including FIFA World Cup 2026, US Soccer Federation, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Boston Marathon, the Masters, Special Olympics and a full portfolio of team relationships that span NFL, MLB, NBA and NWSL, all towards building relationships that drive brand, business growth, customer engagement and community impact. Her favorite days include anything Dodgers baseball, cheering for her two boys – 9 and 12 – on the field, and days at Laguna Beach with the family. 

laurie tisch

president, the laurie m. tisch illumination fund

Laurie M. Tisch is a philanthropist and civic leader focused on expanding access and opportunity and strengthening community wellbeing through innovative partnerships across public health, youth development, and the arts. She is Founder and President of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. Established in 2007, the foundation has invested in initiatives spanning youth development, healthcare, food access, civic engagement, sports, and the arts.
In 2018, the Illumination Fund launched its Arts in Health initiative to support organizations using the arts to address mental health stigma, trauma, aging related diseases, and community wellbeing.

Building on this work, in 2026 the Illumination Fund launched Play to Thrive, a multiyear initiative designed to expand access to youth sports and strengthen mental health and wellbeing. The initiative supports organizations that provide safe, inclusive sports programming, with particular focus on girls and underserved communities, and advances evidence-informed coaching and leadership development.

Ms. Tisch serves on the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), the Whitney Museum of American Art, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Aspen Institute. She is a co-owner and member of the Board of Directors of the New York Football Giants. She and her daughters are among the owners of Gotham FC, the NY/NJ National Women’s Soccer League team.

chuck todd

host, the chuck toddcast

Chuck Todd is a renowned political analyst, Host of The Chuck ToddCast, a weekly podcast offering in-depth interviews with political figures and experts, and Head of Politics & Host of “Sunday Night with Chuck Todd" for the Noosphere App. A six-time Emmy Award-winner, Todd was NBC News’s chief Political Analyst and moderator of Meet the Press from 2014 to 2023. He also hosted Meet the Press NOW, a daily show on NBC News NOW, bringing timely political analysis to a digital audience.

Known for his sharp insight and encyclopedic knowledge of politics, Todd has
co-moderated multiple presidential debates, including the record-breaking 2019 and 2020 Democratic debates. He previously served as NBC News’s chief White House Correspondent and hosted The Daily Rundown on MSNBC.
Todd is the author of two books and has contributed to The New York Times, The
Washington Post, and The Atlantic. He teaches how Washington works as the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence for The University of Southern California’s Capital Campus, in Washington, D.C.. Todd resides in Arlington, V A, with his wife, Kristian, and their two children.

katie van dyck

senior legal fellow, american economic liberites project

Katherine Van Dyck is a policy advocate and antitrust attorney who has spent two decades championing the rights of consumers and small businesses. Her work today focuses on access and affordability in youth sports. In December 2025, Ms. Van Dyck testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education at the first-ever congressional hearing on youth sports market structure. In April 2026, she testified at a congressional field hearing in Pittsburgh focused on the rising costs and financialization of youth sports. Ms. Van Dyck is a senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and UC Berkeley's Civil Justice Research Initiative and the founder of KVD Strategies PLLC. During the Biden Administration, she served as an Attorney-Advisor in the Federal Trade Commission's Office of Policy Planning.

charlie ward

head coach, Men’s Basketball, florida a&M university

Charlie Ward, Jr. embodies the principles of integrity, hard work and faith in God. A standout dual-sport athlete at Florida State University, he starred at quarterback and point guard. As a senior, he won over 30 awards, including the Heisman Trophy, set 19 school and seven conference records, and led the Seminoles to a national championship. After graduating, Ward was drafted twice by Major League Baseball and was a first-round draft pick by the New York Knicks. He played 11 seasons in the NBA and later served as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets. Ward has devoted his post-playing career to coaching and mentoring. He is an advisor for the AAU Alumni Youth Basketball Council and was head coach at Florida State University High School, leading the team to a state title in 2022 and earning Coach of the Year honors. In April 2025, he became head coach of Florida A&M University men’s basketball and guided the program to its best season finish since joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He and his wife Tonja have three children, Caleb, Hope and Joshua. In 2015, they established The Charlie and Tonja Ward Family Foundation to continue their philanthropic efforts and leave a legacy of giving back. The Wards are currently working on development of the Charlie Ward Champions Ranch, a multi-sport, multi-service campus that will serve youth and families in Tallahassee and beyond.

rebecca wasserman

vp, Strategy, operations & impact, gamechanger

Rebecca Wasserman is VP of Strategy, Operations, and Impact at GameChanger, a DICK’S Sporting Goods company. She brings over 20 years of experience scaling mission-driven organizations, with leadership roles at the intersection of strategy and social impact. Prior to joining GameChanger, she served as the founding Chief Program Officer at Matriculate. Earlier in her career, she held roles at leading nonprofit organizations, including Points of Light Institute, generationOn, and Children for Children.

carol yan

student & co-founder, Golf on top

Carol Yan is a senior at Diamond Bar High School, an avid golfer, and a student leader dedicated to expanding access to youth sports. She is committed to play Division I golf at Georgetown University, where she plans to major in Economics/Finance.

During her time at Diamond Bar High School, Carol co-founded Golf on Top, a student organization dedicated to introducing golf to youth through low-cost, large-group community clinics. The organization emphasizes fun, inclusion, and community over scores or competition, creating welcoming experiences for beginner golfers. Golf on Top is powered by volunteers from the Diamond Bar High School golf team and focuses on recruiting new players to participate in fun-based golf outings that build confidence, connection, and lasting memories.
Outside of Golf on Top, Carol is a member of her high school varsity golf team and has served as co-captain for the past two years. She is also the event coordinator for her school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter. Through her leadership, Carol aims to promote golf as a community-driven sport and contribute to broader conversations around youth participation in sports.