Keep Bouncing Forward: Lessons from Sports, Business and Life

Carmelita "The Jet" Jeter,  is a top sprinter with three Olympic medals and a world record. Born and raised in Southern California, Carmelita got her athletic start in basketball; although she excelled in the sport shared by her family, it wasn't until high school that she found her love for speed. During her freshman year, Carmelita's basketball coach suggested she try out for track to help her keep in shape in the off-season. Although Carmelita showed up to that track practice wearing basketball high-top sneakers and basketballs shorts,  her natural talent for sprinting was evident.  She went on to run an 11.7 during that track season. Upon graduating high school, Carmelita signed with California State University, Dominguez Hills' track team and became the University's first U.S. Olympic trials qualifier.  Carmelita went on to become the most decorated track & field athlete in the history of the school all while achieving her degree in physical education.    Carmelita posted a lifetime best of 10.83, winning the second semifinal before finishing third in the final with a time of 10.90 at the 2009 World Championships,. After the 2009 World Championships, Carmelita entered the IAAF World Athletics Final having won her last three races by a significant margin.  During the 2009 World Championships, Carmelita not only won the 100m, but became the third fastest woman in history, setting a championship record with a time of 10.67.  This was the fastest 100m time recorded in 12 years, a time which had only been bettered by Marion Jones and Florence Griffith-Joyner.  Carmelita proved herself to be the best once again that year by not only winning the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, but setting a new personal best with a time of 10.64, making her the second fastest woman ever and earning the title of the "Fastest Woman Alive." During the 2012 Olympics, Carmelita anchored the US Olympic 4x100m relay team that smashed the old world record by more than half a second allowing the team to take home Olympic gold.   Carmelita became the first athlete to ever medal in both the 100m and 200m race at an Olympic Games, taking home both the Silver in the 100m and Bronze in the 200m.  In 2012, Carmelita was named the Los Angeles Sports Woman of the Year, an award given to a local female athlete whose performance and character exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship during that calendar year.  That same year, Carmelita was also the recipient of the Jesse Owens Award – the highest accolade in the sport of Track & Field, awarded by USA Track & Field Association to the most outstanding US female track and field athlete. Off the track, Carmelita has continued to invest her time in her community and philanthropic endeavors. After her aunt was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Carmelita made it her mission to help fight for the cure.  She partnered with Nike to design hot pink spikes that she wears during each race in support of Breast Cancer research.  In 2014, Carmelita was named the official Ambassador for Susan G. Komen's California Circle of Promise Initiative designed to promote breast cancer awareness among African American women.  In 2014, Carmelita launched her first Track Clinic. The Team Jet Track Clinic attracted over 100 kids who learned about health and fitness while also honing their track skills. Carmelita is also an avid supporter of After-School All Stars, where she spends time mentoring and encouraging youth.  Carmelita's younger brother, Eugene "Pooh" Jeter, is a professional basketball player, who currently plays for Chinese Shandong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.    Connect with Carmelita Jeter Website: carmelitajeter.com  Twitter: @CarmelitaJeter IG: @jetg5   Connect with Angie Lewis Twitter & IG: Angie_R_Lewis Facebook: Angie R Lewis  

Chef Tobias Dorzon, 32, is a celebrity chef and founder of Victory Private Chef Co., a catering and specialized meal plan business based in the Nation's Capital. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Chef Tobias grew up watching his Liberian father and chef in the kitchen, but opted to pursue football and attended Jackson State University on a full athletic scholarship.     After 3 years in the NFL and CFL, and studying at the Art Institute of Washington and abroad in Brazil, Chef Tobias began apprenticing at local restaurants. His career trajectory shifted, however, when retired Pro Bowler and Washington Redskin Santana Moss saw his Instagram photos and invited him to feed his family and friends.    Chef Tobias has been unofficially named the "chef of DC athletes" and with 30K Instagram followers (which includes Hollywood elite, pro athletes, etc.) has quickly become a celebrity in his own right.    Chef's hectic schedule includes preparing meals for his local athlete clients during part of the week and traveling to out of state clients on the weekends. When he isn't cooking, he's preparing and serving his food to the homeless, speaking to youth groups and, most importantly, spending time with his two beautiful daughters.      Current Client List (partial) Kevin Hart DeSean Jackson (Washington Redskins) DeAngelo Hall  (Washington Redskins) Chris Baker  (Washington Redskins) Jordan Reed  (Washington Redskins) Navorro Bowan (San Francisco 49ers) Jameer Nelson (Denver Nuggets)   Connect with Chef Tobias: Youtube- Tobias Dorzon  IG, Snapchat and Twitter @KingChefTD   Connect with Angie: Facebook Angie R Lewis Twitter & IG @Angie_R_Lewis  

Shaina (pronounced ​SHY-​ NA) Wiel is Founder and CEO of Minorities in Sports Business Network (MiS). Having worked in the sports industry since 2008, she has gained a breadth of experience and was able to build a large network. Because of her diverse network, she felt it was imperative that she create a digital space for her and her colleagues to exchange resources. In addition to MiS, Shaina has worked with athletes, companies, brands, and individuals on strategizing and cultivating their personal and public brand visibility. Shaina also co-founded ​You Got In!​ along with her twin sister Keisha which seeks to help students on the islands of Aruba and Curaçao apply to universities in the United States. She works closely with her students, guiding them through each step of the application process as well connecting them to the university and business opportunities. You Got In! serves as a college advising program for the islands and assists students with not only the application process, but scholarship and financial aide options, personal statement writing tips, SAT/TOEFL study tips and much more. Shaina attended Penn State University for her bachelors in BioEvolutionary Psychology (it sounds a lot smarter than it was) and received her masters in Sports Management from Columbia University. She currently lives in New York City with her dog Tropicana. Favorite Quotes: "My past is littered with the bones of men who were foolish enough to think I was someone they could sleep on." - Michelle A. Roberts "Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - Albus Dumbledore Connect with Shaina:  Website: www.misportsbiz.org & www.shainawiel.com Email:[email protected]  Twitter & IG @MiSportsBiz Connect with Angie: Twitter & IG Angie_R_Lewis  

Steven C. Morrison, from Orangeburg South Carolina, has been working with ESPN for five and a half years as a content producer and as talent producer/ guest booker for the past three year. Steve recently moved to North Carolina to expand the operations to ESPN's college networks home.  Steven was the only child of a single parent, but knew at an early age that sports journalism would be his niche. While attending North Carolina A&T State University he  gained valuable experience on campus utilizing the media resources to hone his sports journalism skills. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Inc. and Steve takes mentoring young people seriously knowing that his success is a direct reflection of countless mentors.  Steven's hobbies include reading, cooking (especially grilling BBQ), traveling, and event planning. His favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys and the legend Michael Irving. His love for Dallas extends to the new triplets Dez/Zeke and Dak. Lastly, Steven makes it known that Scottie Pippen is is favorite basketball player of all time. Connect with Steve: Twitter, IG, & Snapchat @SteveMo09  Connect with Angie: Twitter & IG @Angie_R_Lewis Facebook Angie R Lewis Email: [email protected] 

Chasity Melvin embodies style, uniqueness, beauty and faith. Chasity has overcome highs and lows throughout her 14 year professional basketball career to become a WNBA All Star, ACC Legend and NCSU Hall of Famer.  Chasity Melvin currently lives in Raleigh NC and works for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. She is the social and news media coordinator for the fund. Chasity is also a player consultant and member of the National Basketball Players Association.  Not only is she known for her stellar basketball career , her success with tendencies outside of sport include speaker, coach, philanthropy work and her independent work with the sports media. She enjoys commentating, sports co-host opportunities and hosting her online sports radio show. Her athletic experience combined with her engaging personality with off-court activities makes her one of a kind.  Chasity played in the WNBA for 12 seasons, Cleveland Rockers, Chicago Sky, and the Washington Mystics. She also played internationally for 14 years in Spain, Russia, Poland, S Korea, Italy, Israel, Turkey, and China amassing championships throughout the world. She solidified her athletic prowess as one of the few females to play in all 3 professional leagues, the ABL, the WNBA and win multiple championships abroad in Europe.  Now that her playing days are done, inspiring, motivation and empowering others are her passion. Chasity understands the importance of spirituality, self confidence, balance and positive order in becoming and staying successful in your career, post career and life in general. Chasity's first book "At the End of the Day" a devotional memoir from an athletes perspective is a must read. It the ultimate blueprint for young athlete and others seeking success, inspiration and an undeniable faith in reaching their goals. The book is scheduled for release in February 2017. Connect with Chasity Melvin: Twitter, FB and IG @ChasityMelvin www.chas44.com  www.kayyow.com     

Hailing from the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, Ricki Dean has always had a passion for sports. After graduating from Central High School of Philadelphia as a proud member of the 266th graduating class, Ricki took her talents and passion to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she double-majored in Exercise and Sport Science: Sport Administration and Sociology, with a minor in Spanish in the Professions. It was here, at UNC, where she first discovered she could combine her love of sports with marketing, management and entrepreneurship. As a manager for the women's basketball team, Ricki honed the business savvy required to succeed in the sports industry. Upon graduation from UNC in 2011, Ricki decided to further her education at Georgetown University by earning her Masters of Professional Studies in Sport Industry Management in 2012. While studying at Georgetown, she held internships at both the NFLPA and the Washington Wizards. She then went on to work in League Operations with Premier League Basketball, a start-up league in the United Kingdom, focusing on marketing partnerships. These experiences, coupled with her time as a manager at UNC, laid a solid foundation for her career and led her to pursue a career in sports management and marketing. Ricki began at the NBPA, the Union for active NBA players, as an Executive Assistant, supporting Executive Director, Michele Roberts and EVP, Strategy and Development, Chrysa Chin. After only six months in this role, Ricki proved she was ready for more responsibility and was promoted to Associate Manager, Strategy & Development. She is putting to use her experience in marketing and strategy on numerous upcoming projects for the union, two in particular, that she is spearheading. Great things are to come from Ricki and she is eager to take the sports world by storm! Connect with Ricki: email: [email protected]    Connect with Angie: Facebook: Angie R Lewis Twitter & IG: Angie_R_Lewis Email: [email protected]

On this episode Angie interviews Lonnie Harrell a basketball legend who is now working with you in the DC area. A leader known for his superb shooting and overall ability on the floor, professional basketball player and former member of the And 1 Mixtape Tour, Lonnie Harrell has etched his name into sports history books. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Lonnie has broken college and professional records, but now uses his notoriety and expertise to mentor and train local youth who are also committed to being stellar athletes. After graduating from D.C.'s Eastern High School, where he was a letterman in track & field, basketball and tennis, and held the city title in track & field, Harrell attended Georgetown University – playing alongside Alonzo Mourning and under the tutelage of legendary Coach John Thompson. Harrell's time at Georgetown garnered a Big-East Championship win and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Harrell finished his college career at Northeastern, which led to spots on the Orlando Magic and then-New Jersey Nets rosters. Harrell continued his career as an active street ball legend under the moniker "Prime Objective", becoming one of the first journeymen on the exciting nontraditional basketball circuit; which includes leagues across the country that have produced some of the world's greatest players. His time on various street ball teams, like the And 1 Mixtape Tour, has taken him throughout the world, led to notoriety that stretches all the way back to New York's Rucker Park Tournaments, and garnered partnerships with Under Armour, Boost Mobile, Mountain Dew and Black Label. Today, Harrell is embedded in his community and uses his basketball fame and connections to give back to inner city youth and charities around the world. His strong belief in making a difference in children's lives led him to creating the Team Prime Basketball Organization, which includes League of Girls Hoops, Washington's only all-girl youth basketball league. Team Prime also provides private and group basketball and skills training to young players, ages 4 – 18. Sports Highlights: Played with or against: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O' Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Sam Cassel, Walt Williams, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Ray Allen, Rafer Alston, Derek Anderson, Dwayne Wade, Shandon Anderson, Rasheed Wallace, Darrell Armstrong, Penny Hardaway, Ron Artest, Jamal Crawford, Ricky Davis, Steve Francis, Richard Jefferson, Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Dikembe Mutombo, Jermaine O'Neal, Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond & many more. Lonnie's vast experience on and off the court has made him a very knowledgeable and complete basketball player. Connect with Lonnie: http://www.teamprimesports.com IG: @primeworldorder Connect with Angie:  Twitter & IG @ Angie_R_Lewis Facebook Angie R Lewis    

A pioneer and trailblazer Khalia Collier, is the owner & general manager of St. Louis' own women's professional basketball team, the St. Louis Surge. Khalia has taken on the challenge of building the first sustainable women's franchise in St. Louis. Her team is going into its fifth season; finishing as National Champions in 2014 and second in the nation this past season. Khalia Collier is a recent recipient of 30 under 30, Glamor Missouri Woman of the year awardee and as a prestigious Jack Buck Awardee for her community impact. Through this journey, she has maximized corporate and organizational relationships, developed supporter and donor programs, as well as positioned the organization for eminent growth. A St. Louis native with a deep commitment to the city, Collier is an entrepreneur dedicated to her franchise. She is a strong believer that St. Louis can support a women's franchise, and is working hard to see her vision through. Delving into sports management, she has taken on the task of re-branding the face of women's athletics through the St. Louis Surge. Collier has developed a strategic business model partnering with prominent executives, corporations and non-profits to build the Surge brand and develop new initiatives, while encompassing the community. Instilling the notion that all Surge players are leaders and mentors in the community, Collier has personally represented the Surge organization through her personal community service work and by giving back to youth and providing a platform for women's athletics. With a history in basketball, Collier began playing at the age of five and continued into her high school and collegiate career. Collier was a Division I recruit in high school and later attended Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri where she was a shooting guard for two years. She finished her basketball career at Missouri Baptist University. Collier obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Missouri Baptist University and currently works for the St. Louis Surge full-time as St. Louis Surge Owner and General Manager. Collier values leadership, hard work, education, excellence and sportsmanship, all reasons she believes the Surge will succeed as both an organization and a professional team. When asked why she took over ownership of the St. Louis Surge, Collier stated, "Now is the time for St. Louis to build the platform and lead the evolution of women's sports through creative, innovative, and strategic processes."  

Peppi Browne-Armstrong is a marketing professional with a robust analytical and sports background coupled with proven client facing success.  In any role she does she likes to explore, plan, design & innovate technically challenging issues to help individuals and companies solve problems.  She has performed several speaking engagements for profit and non-profit corporations, schools, camps, youth groups and other charitable organizations about managing ones time, money and energy as a successful student athlete.  She played college basketball at Duke University and was named to the Women's Basketball Journal Defensive All-American team.  She earned a Gold Medal as part of the US Junior National Team and was drafted by the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA.  She currently works for a large International technology company while owning and managing two small businesses and is married with two kids (8 and 3). website: www.docentz.com

Sam Sesay is a former NCAA Division 1 All-American track and field athlete, knows what it is like to be a student-athlete as well as the commitments needed to excel athletically and academically. From seeing firsthand and hearing countless stories of athletes struggling to transition to life after sports, Sesay was determined to help change that narrative for future generations. His passion for youth empowerment and sports, led Sesay to form Game Plan, Inc., a 501 (c)(3). Game Plan Inc.'s mission is to assist student athletes with strategies to be 1st PLACE on and off the field. He also serves as the organization's President and is responsible for leading a committed team of coaches, mentors, entrepreneurs, professionals, and former athletes to guide current student athletes to score big in life. Prior to Game Plan, Inc., Sesay co-founded Future Leaders and Young Entrepreneurs (FLYE) where his main focus was creating and directing FLYE's programs. During his time at FLYE, the organization was recognized by local and national media outlets for its ability to relate to and inspire the student athlete population. ​ Sesay holds a Masters in Entrepreneurship from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX and a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Management from George Mason University. His professional background includes time as a Software Engineer and a Program Manager/Project Manager Consultant for multiple fortune 500 companies and federal government agencies. Sesay also was a High School Track Coach, where during his 4 year tenure, he led his team to two state championship titles, two runner-up state championship finishes, and multiple school and county records. Moreover, many of his athletes received athletic and academic scholarships to major universities to further their education. Sesay is happily married to Kristina Sesay and they reside in Bowie, MD.    

Terri Lakowski is the CEO of Active Policy Solutions and an expert on youth sports policy in the United States. In her role at Active Policy Solutions, Terri has created and implemented strategic policy planning, lobbying, coalition building and education and outreach to renown organizations working on issues relating to sport, youth development, health and fitness, Title IX and gender equity, and civil rights. Terri has worked with her clients to educate the government about the important role that sports plays in youth development, such as helping kids to lead healthier lifestyles, improve access to sports for underserved populations like girls and students with disabilities, and using sports as a platform to advance educational outcomes for youth.  She was instrumental in orchestrating a Youth Sports Demo for the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS), as well as hosting a number of other briefings including a Youth Sports Safety briefing and assisted in formulating the recently introduced Youth Sports Concussion Act. She also secured a GAO study on youth sports to highlight the linkage between physical activity participation and increased rates of academic and personal success later in life. By conducting both a national and state level campaign, Terri orchestrated passage of a new directive from the Department of Education in January of 2013 and the Fitness and Athletic Equity Act for Students with Disabilities in Maryland, groundbreaking legislation and guidance that for the first time clarified the obligation of schools to provide sports and physical activity opportunities for students with disabilities. Terri has been featured for her leadership on this guidance in national outlets, including the New York Times and NPR's On Point. Terri has been featured as an industry leader in assisting schools and athletes understand regulations surrounding physical activity for individuals with disabilities. She recently hosted a webinar with the Office for Civil Rights and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), providing resources to athletic directors across the country on making their sports programs accessible to individuals with disabilities. Prior to starting Active Policy Solutions,Terri served as the Public Policy Director for the Women's Sports Foundation, where she was responsible for the operation of the Foundation's Public Policy Department, which provides education and advocacy to combat discrimination in sport.  In this capacity she oversaw the execution of all of the Foundation's advocacy and public policy projects, participated in press conferences and Congressional lobbying activities to advocate on behalf of Title IX and other gender discrimination laws, and developed state and local education and advocacy initiatives to improve athletic opportunities for girls and individuals with disabilities in both school and community recreational athletic programs. Before working at the Foundation, Terri developed and spearheaded a Title IX education and advocacy program at the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri (ACLU-EM). As part of this effort, she worked with administrators from school districts in Missouri to improve their compliance with Title IX and performed educational workshops for more than 1,000 individuals, including administrators, students, parents, teachers and coaches. Terri earned her Juris Doctorate from American University-Washington College of Law, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Terri received her bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis where, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Social Thought and Analysis with a concentration in Women's Studies. While at Washington University, Terri wrote an honors thesis "Title IX & High School Athletics: An Introspective Look Into Compliance Practices" and participated on the women's varsity basketball team for three years. Terri has taught as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Continuing Studies: Sport Management Program at Georgetown University, Diversity & Social Responsibility in Sport and in the Department of Exercise Science at George Washington where she taught Sports Law. Terri is on the Board of the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, which works in partnership with educational agencies in the U.S. to establish programs, policies and regulations in interscholastic adapted sports for students with physical disabilities to enhance educational outcomes and Baseball for All, an organization dedicated to helping girls and women play baseball.  Terri also coaches a fourth grade AAU girls' basketball team and serves as a mentor with Capitol Partners for Education, a nonprofit that works with DC youth to support their transition from high school to college. Website: activepolicysolutions.com   

Growing up with an older brother in a neighborhood of all boys, Lisa's love for competition and sports was developed early on.  Lisa continued her athletic career in high school by playing Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer and Golf at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis and then went on to play Basketball at Truman State University. She earned a degree in Business Administration with a double emphasis on Marketing and Management. Immediately out of college she worked for 24 Hour Fitness, first as the front desk manager (earning $8/hr) and quickly moved into Operations Management and within a year was promoted to District Manager and moved to Los Angeles County. In 2009, she started as an Independent Consultant for Life Fitness and Hammer Strength with Advanced Exercise Equipment. In 2011 she was given the opportunity to be the Regional Sales Manager for Spalding Team Sports. She spent the last five years on the road growing the Spalding Brand, negotiating contracts, working with Sporting Goods dealers and teams from Little Leagues to Professional sports teams. In 2015, she married the man of my dreams and soon after their honeymoon they discovered they had a beautiful little girl on the way. Now a Mom and a full time employee, she decided to take a leap of faith to solely run my own business in the Fitness and Sports Equipment Space. She is the proud co-owner of Eco Fit Equipment and Consultant with Advanced Exercise Equipment for Life Fitness and Hammer Strength. Eco Fit Equipment is a sales and service organization that has stemmed from the demand of getting high end refurbished commercial fitness equipment for small business and personal use. Eco Fit Equipment Service is focused on offering the very best commercial fitness equipment service to assist in equipment repair and preventative maintenance while using technology and good old fashion customer service skills to help increase the level of communication and satisfaction to our clients. She has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and knew that as the time was right she would operate her own business. She has spent the last 11 years working in mostly male dominated organizations, which has challenged her to excel in every role. She attributes that being an athlete has helped her during difficult situations and has given her the work ethic, confidence and has empowered her to live and work in the industry that she loves. She hopes to spend the next chapter of her life successfully growing her business, but most importantly, being a role model to her daughter so that she has the confidence to do whatever it is that she is compelled to do as an adult.  Website www.ecofiteequipment.com  

On this episode, Angie interviews Travis Key who talks about his book Beyond the Gridiron which he co-auhtored with Ashton Henderson. Travis beat the odds and walked on to Michigan State's football team. He is now a packaging engineer for a major company, and co-founder of a non profit called Apex Academy (formerly 4th and 1). Travis discusses how naive he was when he walked on campus is freshman year and how he became captain of the team his senior year. Travis explains, that there are many intangibles traits that coaches look for in players that may give a player a chance such as willingness to be first in every drill. Angie and Travis also talk about the importance of athletes having a plan as they transition from college. Preparing for life is essential. Find out what was Travis' greatest moment in his life thus far. You can reach Travis at the information below. www.beyondthegridironllc.com www.apex-academy.org Twitter @TravisKey Connect with Angie: Twitter & IG @Angie_R_Lewis Facebook Global Athlete Media Network www.globalathletemedia.com   

Nakia Sanford is a former professional basketball player who is passionate about giving back to her community. Her mission is to give young people the tools they need to live mentally, emotionally and physically healthy lives through her non-profit programs. As a money management coach, her mission is to impact generations of families by teaching financial literacy. Her devotion grew from being able to relate to the struggles of growing up in poverty. Living in public housing in Decatur, Ga., she experienced first-hand what a lack of information, opportunity and direction looks like. Therefore, everyday of her life, she pursues a dream of helping other people elevate their situation financially and creating legacies in their families. As an athlete, she learned leadership and work ethic. She has transferred her lessons of integrity and teamwork into her new profession. In business, she will help train an army of informed, capable, educated entrepreneurs one family at a time. She believes our country has become a slave to debt as part of our social DNA. She believes it must stop if we are to save the dwindling working class in our country and has sought out to do so by enabling people with education, empowerment and financial freedom.  Contact Nakia: Website: www.nakiasanford.net  Email: [email protected]  Read more at http://athletesaseducators.libsyn.com/size/25/?search=nakia#Cerx9xdBZu7O4gu0.99   Connect with Angie: IG & Twitter: Angie_R_Lewis Facebook: Angie R Lewis

 Angie Lewis recaps a portion of an interview she had with Ian Warner, an Entrepreneur, Olympian, author and NCAA All-American and he is the managing director of Cover-Ground.com. Ian's new app Fixt is disrupting the way athletes and therapist find one another and educating young athletes on the important of "pre-hab".  Ian Warner graduated from the business school at Iowa State University. He is dedicated to helping athletes succeed, both on and off the field. In Ian's first book Endure: An Athletes Guide to Faith, Hope and Success, Ian explains why life is not about winning but about enduring and understanding we are being prepared for God's purposes. Ian Warner demonstrates the power of endurance through various journeys, personal inspirations, and biblical stories. Fifty athletes share their testimonies and explain the gut-wrenching details of their most difficult athletic experiences.    Connect with Ian Warner Website: www.fixtapp.com Twitter @IanWarner310 IG @fixtapp   Contact Angie:  [email protected] www.globalathletemedia.com Twitter and IG @Angie_R_Lewis Facebook Angie R Lewis

Dr. Cara Wright has been named associate athletic director for business administration/Senior Woman Administrator at Alabama A&M University. Wright will be responsible for budgeting and business operations of the Alabama A&M department of athletics. A former assistant professor in the sports management program at Alabama A&M, she is the first black woman to receive a doctorate in human performance at Indiana University. She received her master's in communications management from the University of Dayton, where she played on the women's basketball team. Wright earned a master's in athletic administration/sports management from Indiana University. She taught in the sports management department at Indiana and was an assistant to the senior associate athletic director of regulatory affairs in the IU athletic department. Wright was selected for the inaugural WNBA Future Leaders initiative in 2014. She also participated as a basketball instructor and administrator in South Africa for the NBA Basketball Without Borders program in 2011 and 2012.   Dr. Wright played college basketball at the University of Dayton and received Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Management.  Contact: [email protected] Connect with Angie: IG & Twitter: Angie_R_Lewis Facebook: Angie R Lewis  

in this book talk Angie speaks with former NFL player Brandon Williams about his motivation to write Millionaire Mindset. In a thought-provoking way Brandon Williams, provides a playbook to help athletes at all levels create a lifestyle that builds financial freedom. For many years, Brandon watched other professional athletes go bankrupt, lose endorsement deals and, unfortunately, create serious economic and legal hardships for themselves. Ironically, Williams could relate to these players all too well, as he faced similar struggles after his career. Although prime-time professional athletes can make millions of dollars throughout their careers, a high percentage find financial ruin shortly after their playing days have ended. Brandon wrote Millionaire Mindset because he doesn't want other athletes to go through the pain and depression he faced in his post-career season. Drawing from his experiences, Williams gives helpful tips, invaluable insights, and practical approaches to implement financial wholeness into your lifestyle. Known in the broadcasting world for his charisma and delivery, he hits the bullseye with Millionaire Mindset, giving athletes real-life solutions to the plaguing problem of financial instability within the athlete community. Millionaire Mindset is a fundamental guide to building financial freedom for athletes at all levels of the game. Whether you're on the junior high team or a 10-year veteran, you will relate to the powerful principles and practical steps within this book. "Passion + Purpose = Success" Brandon Williams   Connect with Angie Email: [email protected] Twitter & Instgram: Angie_R_Lewis  Facebook: Angie R Lewis

Now more than any other time in my lifetime, social justice and sports have collied. Athletes are becoming a lot more engaged in social activism and they are serious about using the various platforms to share their experiences. Every day we will bring to you athletes and sports professionals who are serious about their advocacy. Some are out from and make public displays of their causes while others choose to create changes in a different way. Regardless of their technique there is no denying that they their legacy will involve social justice work. From gender equality, to race to LGBTQ rights these the listeners will hear a diversity of perspectives that will challenge them to give more and take action. Layshia Clarendon of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream talks about advocating for herself and standing in her truth. She spoke passionately about the challenge she faced growing us an dhow she wants to speak on behalf of other young women. She is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights and was names 2015 Outsports Female Hero of the Year. She is passionate about bridging the gap between the LGBTQ community and the faith community. Connect with Layshia: Instagram, twitter and snapchat @Layshaic   Connect with Angie: Website: www.globalathletemedia.com Twitter: Angie_R_Lewis Instagram: Angie_R_Lewis Facebook: Angie R Lewis

On this episode, Angie highlights the great work former WNBA player Anita Maxwell's is doing with helping people transform their finances. Anita talks about why she started SuccessFull Living, the impact she hopes to have on others. In addition, Anita's in 2016 Anita launched SuccessFull Living  Radio also launched to help teach people about the importance of financial literacy and inspire them to live abundantly. She's currently taking a group of clients through a six month Treasure Transformation which she told the public about exclusively on Athletes as Educators on our show a few months ago. Anita played college basketball at New Mexico State University and was the first player in NCAA history to score over 2500 points, grab over 1000 rebounds and have 300 steals. Connect with Anita: Website: www.anitamaxwell.com and  www.successFull-Living.com t Facebook @TheAnitaMaxwell Twitter @anita_maxwell Connect with Angie: Website: www.globalathletemedia.com Twitter: Angie_R_Lewis Instagram: Angie_R_Lewis Facebook: Angie R Lewis

Our daily philanthropy segment high lights athletes who found a cause that they support with their time, talents or treasures. After 80+ interviews I learned that many of the athletes and sports professionals simple what to make life better for the next generation and Kaleb talks in depth about why he started Apex Academy. His passion away from the NFL includes Apex Academy, a non profit committed to helping young men in his hometown of Lansing Michigan learn valuable lessons from participating in camp and the year long mentoring program. Apex Academy started out as 4th and 1 East Lansing in the fall of 2010, but Kaleb and co-founder Travis Key decided to change the name and expand their work. Apex Academy focuses on helping young men from under resourced communities gain access to ACT preparation, resume writing, interview skills and character development workshops. The student athletes also conduct a community service project during the week of camp. Connect with Kaleb: www.apex-academy.org [email protected]    Connect with Angie Email: [email protected] Twitter: Angie_R_Lewis Instagram: Angie_R_Lewis Facebook: Angie R. Lewis

For this first episode of 2017 Angie discusses what she learned from having over 80 interviews in 2016. Although the podcast started with the goal of helping parents and student athletes understand the college recruiting process, it grew into to much more in a way Angie could not have predicted. Due to the success of last season Angie and the team created a new format for 2017 that will be exciting for listeners. Moving forward Athletes as Educators will release four segments per day based on four themes that emerged from theEach segment will have a specific theme based on what Angie learned from the interviews last year. There are four groups that most of athletes and sports professionals were a part of that Angie interviewed last year, authors, business/entrepreneur, social justice, and philanthropy. Each segment will be dedicated to bringing dynamic athletes or sports professionals who have this specific. The first segment at will focus on books by athletes or sports professionals, second segment will focus on athletes or sports professionals who are entrepreneurs/business leaders, the third segment will focus topics around social justice (gender equity, race, LGBTQ) and the fourth segment will focus on athletes with philanthropic initiatives (non profits, youth programs, scholarship funds etc.). This episode gives a new update on the podcast and some lessons Angie learned from last year.  Contact Angie Lewis  Email: [email protected] Website: www.globalathletemedia.com Twitter @Angie_R_Lewis Instagram @Angie_R_Lewis Facebook Angie R. Lewis 

On this episode, Angie interviews Bradley Beal, of the Washington Wizards to discuss his desire to be one of the NBA's best players and help younger players from his hometown St. Louis. He discusses his legacy and advice for young players wanting to play at the highest level.  The NBA star and former Chaminade College Prep star has decided to partner with the St. Louis Eagles, his former NIKE EYBL team, resulting in a new name for the high school boys teams, Bradley Beal Elite. This new partnership includes Beal working directly with players, assisting with program expansion, training for coaches, coaching when time permits and community service initiatives.  Beal was the 2011 Gatorade National Player of the Year and McDonald's All-American. Beal was selected by the Wizards with the third overall pick in the 2012 draft from the University of Florida. He played with the St. Louis Eagles from 2008-2010 in Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League competing against the top prep basketball players in the country. Connect with Bradley Beal: Twitter: @realdealbeal23 Instagram: @bradbeal3 SnapChat: RealDealBeal23

Nakia Sanford is a former professional basketball player who is passionate about giving back to her community. Her mission is to give young people the tools they need to live mentally, emotionally and physically healthy lives through her non-profit programs. As a money management coach, her mission is to impact generations of families by teaching financial literacy. Her devotion grew from being able to relate to the struggles of growing up in poverty. Living in public housing in Decatur, Ga., she experienced first-hand what a lack of information, opportunity and direction looks like. Therefore, everyday of her life, she pursues a dream of helping other people elevate their situation financially and creating legacies in their families. As an athlete, she learned leadership and work ethic. She has transferred her lessons of integrity and teamwork into her new profession. In business, she will help train an army of informed, capable, educated entrepreneurs one family at a time. She believes our country has become a slave to debt as part of our social DNA. She believes it must stop if we are to save the dwindling working class in our country and has sought out to do so by enabling people with education, empowerment and financial freedom.  Contact Nakia: Website: www.nakiasanford.net  Email: [email protected]   

Sefu Bernard has cut his teeth over the past 15+ years working in the NBA (domestically and internationally), WNBA, NHL; and, within an international context with Canada Basketball and FIBA.  From three-year olds to 30+ year olds, North America to Asia (and in between), able-bodied to wheelchair bound, male and female; also, those with varied learning capabilities, Sefu's experiential background affords him a unique – and practical – global perspective on athlete and team development.  A graduate of the University of Windsor with a Bachelor's degree in Human Kinetics and Sports Management, he is currently an assistant coach for player development with the WNBA's Washington Mystics.  From 2012 to 2014, Sefu was the Senior Director of Basketball Operations for the NBA in Asia; overseeing the management and continued growth of the NBA's coach and player development initiatives throughout Asia and Oceania. As National Development Coach and National Head Coach for Canada Basketball's Centres for Performance (CP) from 2007 to 2009, Bernard oversaw the development of a national player and coach development curriculum. He played a leadership role in the training and development of the numerous athletes and coaches that have participated on Canada's various national and Olympic teams. Prior to that, he was the Ontario women's provincial CP head coach (2005 to 2007); and an assistant coach from 2001 through 2005.  From 2006 through 2012, Bernard was the technical director for PGC Basketball (formerly Point Guard College), overseeing the development of the technical curriculum, course directors and video instruction for North America's top basketball instructional program. Prior to that, Bernard worked with the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club, serving as Manager of Player Development and Player Programs from 2005 through 2007 and Coordinator, Basketball Development from 2002 through 2005. Between 2000 and 2002, he worked for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Over the years, Sefu has visited some of the top player development hotbeds in the world; including: Spain (Senior Men's National Team, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Estudiantes), Italy (Benetton Treviso, Virtus Bologna), Germany (Bayern Munich), Turkey (Fenerbahce); and in other countries like Serbia and Argentina. A coach by training and a teacher by calling, Sefu is NCCP certified coach and holds a FIBA/IOC certification.   Follow Sefu on Twitter (@SefuBernard) or visit www.thellabb.com for more.   

Stacey Ward is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Young Boxing Woman Project located in Perth, Australia.  Energetic, compassionate and fierce, Stacey is the driving force behind YBW and her favourite motto is "no sorries". Her experience includes BHP, Rio Tinto, Airbus and more recently in the not-for-profit space, Dismantle Inc. She is fierce about challenging the status quo and challenging the stereotypes. Stacey also competes in boxing and is current novice state title runner up.    website: www.theyoungboxingwomanproject.com 

Jeremy excelled on the football field at Georgetown University earning All-Conference three (3) years and the coveted title of being an All-American cornerback. He is also an initiate of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Jeremy Moore is a graduate from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, majoring in marketing and management while obtaining a Business Certificate in Entrepreneurship.   He graduated from Columbia University obtaining a Masters of Science in Sports Management with a specialization in sports marketing and finance. Currently he works at Octagon, where he manages Bank of America's national sports sponsorship portfolio for campaigns (MLB, NBA, Local Campaigns) which includes all digital extensions, social media platforms, consumer interactive programing in-stadium, signage and hospitality. As a student athlete at Georgetown he founded G.A.M.B.L.E (Georgetown Aspiring Minority Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs) Sports, Georgetown University's first ever-undergraduate sports organization, as an avenue to help his peers break into the sports, media and entertainment industry. He facilitated sponsorship deals with various sports organizations within the DC metropolitan market to support his organizations endeavors. Jeremy continues to support his alma mater in several sports initiatives.  Jeremy started his professional sports career at Monumental Sports & Entertainment moved on to Premier Partnerships and the Madison Square garden Company. The strategies he learned have given him an approach to strategies that can enhance organization's revenue streams through media, digital, retail, intellectual properties and other assets. With a focus on giving back, Jeremy launched the Talented Tenth Initiative to prepare the top minority, male students from various high schools in Washington D.C., New York City, New Haven (CT) and Charlotte (NC) for their collegiate endeavors.  Jeremy serves as a mentor to several individuals who aspire to work in sports. He also lends his hand to the community for events catered to projects he is passionate about. He is always looking for ways to build the bridge and uplift the youth, preparing them to be the leaders for the next generation.

Anita Maxwell is a native of Dallas, Texas by way of Rome, Mississippi. She is a graduate of Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, where she was a stand-out volleyball, basketball, track athlete and honor student. Her basketball potential earned her a full scholarship to New Mexico State University. While at NMSU, Anita became the first player in NCAA history, including men and women, to score 2500 points, 1000 rebounds and record 300 steals in a career. Following graduation, Anita played professionally overseas in Israel, Turkey and competed against other European country basketball clubs. She was drafted by and played for the Cleveland Rockers of the WNBA during the inaugural season. Anita has over 15 years of professional career experience including various senior management level positions with for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She has the ability to connect with people on a level where they can understand and process information, leading her to be a sought after community relations professional, assisting corporations in achieving and maintaining positive relationships with their clients and the communities in which they do business. Today she is a financial services professional who applies everything she has learned to help others fulfill their financial goals and dreams. She is committed to changing people's understanding of how money works, which she believes will change the world.   Website: www.anitamaxwell.com Website: www.success-fullliving.com Facebook:TheAnitaMaxwell Twitter: Anita_Maxwell email:[email protected] 

Dr. Cara Wright has experience in the sport industry as a student-athlete, an administrator, trainer, consultant, coach, and as an instructor and fundamentals coach for the girls' NBA Basketball Without Borders Basketball Camp held in South Africa 2011 and 2012. She also have experience in compliance, marketing, ticket sales, fundraising, event planning, and execution. Dr. Wright played college basketball at the University of Dayton and received Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Management. She holds a Master's of Science degree in Athletic Administration from IUB, as well. She earned a doctorate in athletic administration/sport management with a minor in cognitive and behavioral psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington in May 2012. At IU she was an Associate Instructor in the IU Undergraduate Sport Management Program, as well as the Programs Assistant for the Student Support Services Program, and a doctoral student at Indiana University (IUB). Contact: [email protected]

Dr. Damien Hodge is a former college athletes who overcame tremendous obstacles to become leader in higher education. He is the Coordinator of Graduate and Professional Studies at Tennessee State University. He's an elite mentor and educator, equipped with a well-deserved reputation for being a forward thinker and positive change-agent in the lives of student and staff within the classroom and beyond. He loves to collaborate with others to improve academic and student outcomes.  He is passionate about mentoring underrepresented students on techniques in persisting to graduation. His dissertation topic was Balancing Accountability for Persistence Unto Graduation: Perspectives of African-American Male Undergraduate Students on Mentoring, Self-Determination, and Locus of Control. As a result he found that mentoring was the most important factor in the success of these students.  email:[email protected]

Isaiah Mares played football at Yale University before his career ended with a series of concussions. He was forced to stop playing football that was devastating for him as he tried to figure out how to best utilize his time since football ended. As member of Yales' black male initiative, Isaiah started a mentoring program for teenagers in the surrounding neighborhood to give them access to Yale's campus and inspire their lives. This program is one of Isaiah's greatest accomplishments and his commitment to youth continued beyond college.  Isaiah started Mares Management where he negotiated marketing contracts and scheduled all appearances for professional athletes. He coordinated all community service and non-profit work for each client while building social media brands. Initiated the language for, developed, and managed non-profit organizations on behalf of clients. In addition, he maintained corporate relationships for clients to build their brand and create new business networks.  He now works with HUDL, a web based platform that provides full video analysis tools from any computer or mobile device. He is working to help more club and summer teams utilize the platform to capture their games online. In addition, he helps his family run the Reebok series where they host 23 tournaments per year and they make numerous charitable donations to youth in need.   Email: [email protected] website: reebokseries.com    

Layshia Clarendon played for the Indiana Fever for three seasons before Atlanta drafted her this year. An outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights, Clarendon was named 2015 Outsports Female Hero of the Year.  Clarendon developed her candid nature and her playing ability at California after growing up in San Bernardino. As a point guard for the Bears, she served as a major piece in the team's rejuvenation. After the team barely went .500 her sophomore season, the team won 57 games in her final two seasons, which included a Final Four run in her senior campaign. Basketball wasn't the sole focus for Clarendon at Cal. She started going to church early on and took to heart the words of her pastor, who told her everyone has a story to tell. She became an active voice to those around her and was a member of the Gay Straight Alliance at Cal as well as Athlete Ally, which works to end homophobia in the sports world, on the national stage. She has had many speaking engagements thanks to her activism, which has included panel talks at the Human Rights Campaign in Atlanta and the Sports Business Journal in New York. She also writes frequently, which included a sports blog and a piece in Esquire two weeks ago about the LGBT movement's lack of emphasis on transgender individuals.

Jamael "Horse" Lynch grew up in the Williamsburg projects and went on to play national and international basketball in France and Germany, as well as with teams such as the Erie Bayhawks and LA Defenders of the NBA D-League, and the North Dallas Vandals. Lynch had a stellar college basketball career at SUNY Cobleskill, University of Rhode Island and University of Massachusetts Lowell. After much success on the court he was determined to give back to inspire youth. Lynch, started the Big and Little Skills Academy (BALSA), a 501c3 certified non-profit, dedicated to elevating the lives of young people through the game of basketball. Launched in 2012 in New York City, BALSA has evolved into a premier, nationally-reaching youth development organization inspiring a holistic healthy lifestyle and mindset for the children it serves. The Academy currently runs a network of basketball camps that teach leadership skills, self-esteem building, time management skills, peer relations skills, healthy habits, stress relief, academic accountability and other game changers for kids. BALSA also hosts innovative programs, such as Dribble Against Cancer, that promote social conscience and community responsibility. www.wearebalsa.com 

Elizabeth Williams plays for the WNBA's Atlanta Dream and plans on attending medical school once she finishing playing basketball. She has played overseas in Turkey and will play in Russia after the current WNBA season. Williams is currently having a breakout season with the Atlanta Dream in her second and year averaging 11.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game including a seven-block performance earlier this year. Williams has been very active in the Atlanta community, helping support the local youth and various education programs. She has volunteered at the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, the Conyers Public Library, and Meadowcreek High School to help stress the importance of education and literacy to students. Elizabeth Williams had a tremendous career for Duke Women's Basketball, earning numerous accolades with the Blue Devils including the 2012 NCAA Freshman of the Year, a four-time All-American, the four-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference team selection, and the 2015 National Defensive Player of the Year. She averaged 14.4 and 7.9 rebounds per game. The 6-3 forward dominated as a player finishing in the top 10 in program history points, rebounds, blocks, double-doubles, free throws, games played, minutes, charges taken, and more. She is currently part of the U.S. Select Team helping to prepare the women's national team for the upcoming Olympics this summer. www.wnba.com  

Sam Sesay is a former NCAA Division 1 All-American track and field athlete, knows what it is like to be a student-athlete as well as the commitments needed to excel athletically and academically. From seeing firsthand and hearing countless stories of athletes struggling to transition to life after sports, Sesay was determined to help change that narrative for future generations. His passion for youth empowerment and sports, led Sesay to form Game Plan, Inc., a 501 (c)(3). Game Plan Inc.'s mission is to assist student athletes with strategies to be 1st PLACE on and off the field. He also serves as the organization's President and is responsible for leading a committed team of coaches, mentors, entrepreneurs, professionals, and former athletes to guide current student athletes to score big in life. Prior to Game Plan, Inc., Sesay co-founded Future Leaders and Young Entrepreneurs (FLYE) where his main focus was creating and directing FLYE's programs. During his time at FLYE, the organization was recognized by local and national media outlets for its ability to relate to and inspire the student athlete population. ​ Sesay holds a Masters in Entrepreneurship from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX and a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Management from George Mason University. His professional background includes time as a Software Engineer and a Program Manager/Project Manager Consultant for multiple fortune 500 companies and federal government agencies. Sesay also was a High School Track Coach, where during his 4 year tenure, he led his team to two state championship titles, two runner-up state championship finishes, and multiple school and county records. Moreover, many of his athletes received athletic and academic scholarships to major universities to further their education. Sesay is happily married to Kristina Sesay and they reside in Bowie, MD.

Bernell Hooker is the founder and executive director of Images of Us (IOU) Sports whose mission is to Empower Girls to Achieve Their Best through Sports. She is also the owner of the Milwaukee Aces and the commissioner of the Global Women's Basketball Association. The league is in its inaugural year and with the goal to provide additional profession playing opportunities to women in the US. From IOU sports to the Milwaukee Aces, she Bernell knows the impact of sports of the lives of young women. Her overarching goal is to empower girls using education through sports as an avenue that instills discipline, teamwork and physical fitness to create well-rounded individuals. IOU Sports believes in the education, cultural awareness, diversity and growth of young girls and women in the professional sports arena.  Her organization is committed to providing education opportunities, internships, and seminars to women to help them augment the skills they already have. IOU Sports envisions programs created by women, for women. Website: www.iousports.org 

Richard Burgunder is an internationally acclaimed adventurer, entrepreneur, and professional extreme athlete. Burgunder is most known as a renowned competitor and the founder of Kurjax, an Extremus company. Burgunder is a five-time Paul Mitchell XTERRA Trail Run Series Regional Champion and is the only runner in XTERRA Trail Run Series history to earn titles in four different regions. Burgunder was selected as the first athlete to the XTERRA Trail Run (XTR) Ambassador Program and a featured speaker at Paul Mitchell XTERRA University trail running clinic at the 2012, 2013, and 2014 XTERRA Trail Run Nationals at Snowbasin Resort in Ogden, UT. Burgunder has been globally recognized as one of the winningest athletes in XTERRA Trail Run Series history. Burgunder was selected five times by the New York Road Runners (NYRR) to compete as an elite athlete in the internationally prestigious Empire State Building Run-Up, known as the stair climbing world championships. Only a couple hundred athletes out of thousands of applicants are invited to this high profile annually held stair-climbing race. In February 2009, Burgunder participated in a stair climbing challenge at the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, where he ran up 36 flights of stairs 71 times in 15 hours and 34. This was the equivalent to going from sea level to the top of Mt. Everest. Burgunder won national titles for the men's 20-29 age group at the 2008 USA Trail Marathon and 50 Mile Road National Championships. Burgunder is also a two-time top ten medalist at USA Track and Field National Championships as he finished 6th at the 2008 USA Trail Marathon National Championships and 9th at the 2009 50 Mile Road National Championships. Burgunder finished 12th at the 2008 50 Mile Road National Championships. Burgunder was invited and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank to represent the inaugural Team USA in leg one of The Greatest Race on Earth (GROE) 2007/08. Consisting of four exotic marathons in Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai and Hong Kong, The Greatest Race on Earth (GROE) was the world's only marathon team relay series. Burgunder is a two-time qualifying member of Team USA for the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Long Course Duathlon World Championships in Barcis, Italy and Fredercia, Denmark. In his ultramarathon début, Burgunder ran a 3:43:20 to set the record for the fastest 50k time by a 20-year-old resident of Pennsylvania at the GNC 50k in Pittsburgh on March 25, 2000. Burgunder has climbed six of the top ten highest peaks in the contiguous United States, Mt. Fuji, and several other iconic peaks throughout the world. Adventure pursuits have taken Burgunder to 11 countries and 47 states. Burgunder has been featured on CBS The Early Show, ESPN Radio 1280 The Ticket, KDKA-TV CBS Pittsburgh, WBAL-TV 11 NBC Baltimore, Running USA, Colorado Runner, Competitor Magazine, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Pittsburgh City Paper, The XTERRA Planet Magazine, and other major media outlets. Burgunder has been a member of PowerBar Team Elite for eight years and twice named PowerBar Athlete of the Week. A Pittsburgh native, Burgunder has lived across the USA settling in Leadville, CO, Boulder, CO, New York City, Naples, FL, and Arlington, VA. Burgunder holds a BA in Economics from Pennsylvania State University and is pursuing professional development coursework in advanced project management at Stanford University.  Burgunder's personal motto is, "There are no limits," and he applies that standard to everything he does. Website: www.RichardPBurgunder.com  

Megan Hughes Perry played college basketball at Cornell University and helped lead her team to the NCAA Tournament in 2008.She has eight years of sports and entertainment industry with the NBA. Her primary focus is the WNBA in which she works to support the best women's basketball players in the world! As a member of the WNBA Basketball Operations & Player Relations team, she is responsible for scouting top college prospects in preparation for WNBA Draft, Rookie Orientation programming, and managing player appearances for all league events.  Outside of the office she shares the talents and stories of these remarkable athletes with the fans and followers of the game. You can find her in front of the camera on national and regional broadcasts as a basketball analyst, covering games on ESPN3, CBS Sports Network, A-10 Network, and NEC Front Row.  If you are looking for experienced personnel in athlete development or on air-talent to share compelling athlete stories please reach out and connect with Megan Hughes Perry.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-hughes-perry-066a963 

Leslie Bottrell is a Family & Sports Medicine Physician working in Shanghai, China. She  also had the role of assistant program director of the Emergency medicine fellowship and faculty member of the family medicine  education program at United Family Hospital, China.    Leslie played basketball in high school and was recruited for university in Canada. At 18 years old she tore her ACL (& medial meniscus and strained MCL) on her left knee playing soccer in the basketball offseason.She underwent rehab (deferred surgery for a chance to play her final year of high school basketball). After that season she had ACL replacement and meniscectomy. She went on to play 5 years of varsity basketball during which time she had an another ACL reconstruction and several meniscectomies.   Leslie  taught PE, coached and refereed high school basketball. After college she went  to Australia and worked at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. In 2002 she studied medicine at the University of Sydney and played a further 4 years of varsity basketball.        

Garry Cox has a passion for running, writing and was a long time educator. Garry started running as a child and held track records at his high school.  He recognized a gift of being faster than most when he was young and he throughly enjoys running daily. While in his 50's Garry joined a track club and started running competitively. Garry is also a women's basketball fan and a season ticket holder of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. From the very firs season he has attended every home game. In the interview he speaks candidly about the league, why he loves women's basketball and how the league can grow even more. As a writer, Garry has a blog and chronicles his experience running along with interviews from olympic hopefuls he has met over the years and looks forward to sharing their stories. For more information visit www.garrycox.com

Jayme Callahan has over a decade of college coaching experience and has coached at every level from high school to NCAA Division I basketball. Most recently she was an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin.  Prior to Wisconsin she served as an assistant coach at Clemson University for one season. The St. Louis native also served as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at La Salle University in 2010-11. Callahan also spent two seasons at Southeast Missouri as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2008-10 and was also a head coach at Division III Webster University for two seasons. Callahan's other coaching stops have included one year as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (2005-06) and three seasons as a head coach at two prep programs. In her only season at Putnam County High (Unionville, Mo.) she was named Tri Rivers Conference and District Coach of the Year (2002-03) and she was at Trinity Catholic High School (St. Louis) for two years (2003-05). Callahan earned a degree in health promotion and wellness in 2002 from Missouri Southern State (Joplin, Mo.), where she started at point guard all four years. She completed her career atop the Lions' all-time career steals list with 225 and games started with 107, starting every game since her freshman season. She also ranks second on the school's career assist chart with 429.

Earl Austin Jr. has been covering sports in the St. Louis area since 1986. He is the sports editor of the St. Louis American, which is one of the top African-American newspapers in the country. Earl is also a local sports historian who has penned two books and produced one DVD on basketball history in the St. Louis metropolitan area. His latest book, "You Might Need a Jacket: Hilarious Stories of Wacky Sports Parents," is the culmination of more than 20 years of Earl witnessing "Straitjacket Parent" behavior at youth sports events. Earl has seen it all from mothers making bobblehead dolls of their children to dads being arrested and taken away in handcuffs from their children's games and everything in between. Earl is a former athlete himself who played high school and college basketball. He was inducted into the Lindenwood University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. www.earlaustinjr.com www.stlamerican.com 

John Ishee is a 30 year coaching veteran with a wealth of experience at all levels of women's basketball. He is currently the coach at Gulf Port High School in Mississippi and has an unwavering passion for the game.  Ishee was a head coach at Southeast Missouri State University where the Redhawks won two Ohio Valley Conference Championships, advanced to the postseason twice and secured the program's first NCAA Women's Tournament berth. During the 2007-08 season, Ishee led the Redhawks to an overall record of 23-9 and 17-3 mark in the OVC to clinch Southeast's secondstraight regular-season conference title.  At New Mexico Highlands University, an NCAA Division II institution he served as head coach of the Cowgirls' basketball team. Prior to that, he coached  at Life University in Georgia. That year, the Runnin' Eagles went 22-10, ranked 18th in the nation and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Division I National Tournament. Ishee then moved on to New Mexico State, where he worked as the team's top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons. Ishee also held assistant coaching positions at Saint Louis University, Ole Miss, McNeese State, Pacific and Southern Mississippi.   Ishee served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Southern Mississippi. Ishee helped coach the Golden Eagles to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and one Sweet 16 berth . Ishee started his college coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Southern Miss men's team.  Ishee was also head coach of both the men's and women's basketball teams at Prentiss High School (Prentiss, Miss.). He compiled a 77-40 record, won two division championships and advanced to the state playoffs twice at the prep level. Ishee received both his Bachelor's of Science and Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Southern Mississippi. 

Ty Evans, a native of Beloit, Wis., a former All-American at Wisconsin-Whitewater and 12-year collegiate coaching veteran.  He is currently and assistant coach at Auburn and has coached Alabama,  Georgetown and St. Louis University. At Alabama, Evans coached the post players and helped his players earn All-SEC honors in three of his five seasons. He was also instrumental in coaching the Crimson Tide to a WNIT Sweet 16 appearance in 2011, the team's first post-season trip since 2002. Also heavily involved in recruiting, Evans brought national attention to Alabama in 2010 and 2011 after securing top-20 recruiting classes both years. Prior to going to Alabama, Evans served two years at Georgetown and was instrumental in the recruiting and re-building efforts that would eventually turn Georgetown into a perennial NCAA Tournament team. He began his collegiate coaching career at Saint Louis University where he served as an assistant coach during the 2001-02 season. After a season coaching professionally overseas, Evans returned to Saint Louis as assistant coach during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.  A 1995 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Evans earned a degree in secondary education while serving as a co-captain on the basketball team for two seasons. He was a first team All-American for the Warhawks following the 1994-95 campaign. Evans garnered two-straight all-conference honors and led the Warhawks to the NCAA tournament twice. For his efforts, Evans was inducted into the Wisconsin-Whitewater Hall of Fame in 2010. Evans spent the 1991 season at the University of Richmond before transferring to Wisconsin-Whitewater. That year, the Spiders won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship and went to the NCAA Tournament where, as a No. 15 seed, defeated No. 2 seed Syracuse in the First Round. Evans had a professional career overseas, playing in Norway and Taiwan. In 1998, he won his team's Most Valuable Player award in Norway and was named to the All-Star Foreign Tour Team in 1996. Evans is also a 2012 member of the Beloit Historical Sports Hall of Fame.  

Shanda Samuels is currently an elementary school teacher who is passionate about helping young people prepare for life. She uses everything she learned as a college athlete to support her students and help them overcome adversity. This love for learning is transferred to her family where she and her husband are adamant about making sure her and children are successful on and off the court.  Shanda offers advice about the college recruiting process that she went through as a player and how she is assisting her oldest son through the process as well. Parents will be enlightened about the strategies she offers and find value in her wisdom.  Shanda played college basketball at Labette Community College in Kansas and transferred to St. Louis University. She was apart of the first team to go to post season play at St. Louis University. 

Marisa Gonzalez was born in Puebla, Mexico and started playing soccer at age 8. Like many other women's soccer players she started playing with boys which fueled her competitive nature. Having supportive parents who always advocated for sports had a tremendous impact on her life.  Marisa's father played and coached soccer locally making soccer a part of her everyday life. With a desire to play in the US Marisa worked persistently to find a school to play collegiate soccer. After serious injuries, Marisa transferred schools and loved her collegiate experience at Southwest Minnesota State University.  She also studied at Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, Spain and earned Master's in Business Administration with a focus in Sports Administration. Marisa's love for sports operations continued as she worked with the Pan American Games and The World Taekwondo Championships. Now Marisa is the women's program director and general manager for the Noria Football Club and is responsible for recruiting players, organize and plan tournaments and trips for all Women's teams; also in charge of the budget planning and program development.     

Terri Lakowski is the CEO of Active Policy Solutions and an expert on youth sports policy in the United States. In her role at Active Policy Solutions, Terri has created and implemented strategic policy planning, lobbying, coalition building and education and outreach to renown organizations working on issues relating to sport, youth development, health and fitness, Title IX and gender equity, and civil rights. Terri has worked with her clients to educate the government about the important role that sports plays in youth development, such as helping kids to lead healthier lifestyles, improve access to sports for underserved populations like girls and students with disabilities, and using sports as a platform to advance educational outcomes for youth.  She was instrumental in orchestrating a Youth Sports Demo for the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS), as well as hosting a number of other briefings including a Youth Sports Safety briefing and assisted in formulating the recently introduced Youth Sports Concussion Act. She also secured a GAO study on youth sports to highlight the linkage between physical activity participation and increased rates of academic and personal success later in life. By conducting both a national and state level campaign, Terri orchestrated passage of a new directive from the Department of Education in January of 2013 and the Fitness and Athletic Equity Act for Students with Disabilities in Maryland, groundbreaking legislation and guidance that for the first time clarified the obligation of schools to provide sports and physical activity opportunities for students with disabilities. Terri has been featured for her leadership on this guidance in national outlets, including the New York Times and NPR's On Point. Terri has been featured as an industry leader in assisting schools and athletes understand regulations surrounding physical activity for individuals with disabilities. She recently hosted a webinar with the Office for Civil Rights and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), providing resources to athletic directors across the country on making their sports programs accessible to individuals with disabilities. Prior to starting Active Policy Solutions,Terri served as the Public Policy Director for the Women's Sports Foundation, where she was responsible for the operation of the Foundation's Public Policy Department, which provides education and advocacy to combat discrimination in sport.  In this capacity she oversaw the execution of all of the Foundation's advocacy and public policy projects, participated in press conferences and Congressional lobbying activities to advocate on behalf of Title IX and other gender discrimination laws, and developed state and local education and advocacy initiatives to improve athletic opportunities for girls and individuals with disabilities in both school and community recreational athletic programs. Before working at the Foundation, Terri developed and spearheaded a Title IX education and advocacy program at the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri (ACLU-EM). As part of this effort, she worked with administrators from school districts in Missouri to improve their compliance with Title IX and performed educational workshops for more than 1,000 individuals, including administrators, students, parents, teachers and coaches. Terri earned her Juris Doctorate from American University-Washington College of Law, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Terri received her bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis where, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Social Thought and Analysis with a concentration in Women's Studies. While at Washington University, Terri wrote an honors thesis "Title IX & High School Athletics: An Introspective Look Into Compliance Practices" and participated on the women's varsity basketball team for three years. Terri has taught as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Continuing Studies: Sport Management Program at Georgetown University, Diversity & Social Responsibility in Sport and in the Department of Exercise Science at George Washington where she taught Sports Law. Terri is on the Board of the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, which works in partnership with educational agencies in the U.S. to establish programs, policies and regulations in interscholastic adapted sports for students with physical disabilities to enhance educational outcomes and Baseball for All, an organization dedicated to helping girls and women play baseball.  Terri also coaches a fourth grade AAU girls' basketball team and serves as a mentor with Capitol Partners for Education, a nonprofit that works with DC youth to support their transition from high school to college. website: activepolicysolutions.com 

Donna's business career began after playing 3 years in the Women's Professional Basketball League, the WBL where she earned All-Star status. This experience enabled her to work in network television sports at ABC and later in cable television at SportsChannel before forming her own production company. Currently leading the efforts of Orender Unlimited, a Jacksonville-based consulting and advisory company, Donna utilizes her expansive experience to provide sales, marketing, media and diversity strategies for a wide array of industry companies and has consulted on entertainment and digital projects.  Donna served as President of the Women's National Basketball Association for 6 years, leaving the position in December 2010. Her responsibilities included the oversight of all league operations including both the business and competitive aspects of the league. During her tenure, with her focus on revitalizing the brand, its value and relevance, the league experienced 4 years of consecutive attendance growth, after many years of decline. Donna spent 17 years at the PGA TOUR leading the negotiating team that changed the paradigm for how PGA TOUR golf was both packaged and sold for television resulting in significant growth for the TOUR

Cynthia Jordan was named director of basketball operations at University of South Carolina prior to the 2011-12 season after spending her first three seasons on the staff as the video coordinator. She began her career in college athletics as a graduate assistant for head coach Dawn Staley at Temple University in 2007-08. Jordan coordinates all team activities, including all aspects of the team's travel arrangements. She is responsible for communicating all scheduling items to the team and serves as the program's liaison with various other areas within the athletics department. As the video coordinator at South Carolina, Jordan was responsible for taping games and practices, breaking down film and coordinating the ongoing video needs of the coaching staff. As a GA at Temple, she learned all the necessary components of a collegiate basketball program. A four-year letterwinner on the Temple women's basketball team, Jordan was part of three of Staley's Owl teams to win Atlantic 10 Tournament championships (2002, 2004, 2005). She went on to play one season of professional basketball in the top division in Switzerland. Jordan earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing in 2004 and her master's degree in sports and recreation administration in 2009, both from Temple.

Dr. Kim is a passionate leader whose work at Play Like A Girl is fueled by her own struggle with overweight and obesity since childhood. Recently named the 2014 espnW Toyota Everyday Hero, she is a relentless community organizer who is on a mission to increase opportunities for girls in active play, physical activity and sports. Dr. Kim is also a respected public health professional and former academician with two decades of experience in behavioral intervention research. Her work exploring the relationship between cancer survivorship and spirituality has been cited in scholarly publications such as Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, Health Education Research, and Cancer Control. Prior to founding Play Like A Girl, Dr. Kim served as a tenure-track professor at University of Georgia and Morehouse School of Medicine.  Before her teaching career, Dr. Kim served as Director of Georgia's Cancer Control and Prevention Program. She began her career with Tulane Xavier National Center for Excellence in Women's Health, as a program evaluation specialist for the New Orleans REACH 2010 (Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Health) project aimed at reducing the prevalence of weight-induced heart disease in African American women. She was later recruited to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she served as a Public Health Advisor, responsible for management of the National REACH 2010 grant program.  Dr. Kim earned a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication at Xavier University of Louisiana, a dual MPH/MSW in community health social work at Tulane University, and a PhD in health education at University of Alabama at Birmingham. In her "spare" time, she serves on local boards at YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee, Junior League of Nashville, CABLE Nashville, and Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Dr. Kim and her husband, Mark A. Clay, MD, reside in Nashville, TN with their two sons.

Growing up with an older brother in a neighborhood of all boys, Lisa's love for competition and sports was developed early on.  Lisa continued her athletic career in high school by playing Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer and Golf at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis and then went on to play Basketball at Truman State University. She earned a degree in Business Administration with a double emphasis on Marketing and Management. Immediately out of college she worked for 24 Hour Fitness, first as the front desk manager (earning $8/hr) and quickly moved into Operations Management and within a year was promoted to District Manager and moved to Los Angeles County. In 2009, she started as an Independent Consultant for Life Fitness and Hammer Strength with Advanced Exercise Equipment. In 2011 she was given the opportunity to be the Regional Sales Manager for Spalding Team Sports. She spent the last five years on the road growing the Spalding Brand, negotiating contracts, working with Sporting Goods dealers and teams from Little Leagues to Professional sports teams. In 2015, she married the man of my dreams and soon after their honeymoon they discovered they had a beautiful little girl on the way. Now a Mom and a full time employee, she decided to take a leap of faith to solely run my own business in the Fitness and Sports Equipment Space. She is the proud co-owner of Eco Fit Equipment and Consultant with Advanced Exercise Equipment for Life Fitness and Hammer Strength. Eco Fit Equipment is a sales and service organization that has stemmed from the demand of getting high end refurbished commercial fitness equipment for small business and personal use. Eco Fit Equipment Service is focused on offering the very best commercial fitness equipment service to assist in equipment repair and preventative maintenance while using technology and good old fashion customer service skills to help increase the level of communication and satisfaction to our clients. She has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and knew that as the time was right she would operate her own business. She has spent the last 11 years working in mostly male dominated organizations, which has challenged her to excel in every role. She attributes that being an athlete has helped her during difficult situations and has given her the work ethic, confidence and has empowered her to live and work in the industry that she loves. She hopes to spend the next chapter of her life successfully growing her business, but most importantly, being a role model to her daughter so that she has the confidence to do whatever it is that she is compelled to do as an adult.