Jason ronai
With over 20 years of experience in coaching, teaching, instructional leadership, and athletic administration, Jason Ronai has built a distinguished career dedicated to education and sports development at all levels.
As a dual-sport Division I scholarship athlete, Jason played basketball and baseball at St. Peter’s University and UNC Asheville, laying the foundation for his lifelong commitment to athletics. After his playing days, Jason transitioned into coaching, serving as a College Baseball Assistant Coach at Indiana State University and the U.S. Naval Academy. He also brought his expertise to college basketball as an Assistant Coach at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and later as a High School Head Basketball Coach at Chicago Bulls College Prep.
Beyond coaching, Jason contributed as a Physical Education and Combatives Instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, emphasizing physical readiness, discipline, and leadership.
Jason earned a Master’s in Sport Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. He will complete his doctorate in Global Sports Leadership from East Tennessee State University in May, equipping him with advanced strategies to enhance athletic performance and cultivate leadership across teams and organizations.
Jason’s career reflects a deep passion for athletics, mentorship, and fostering excellence, whether on the field, court, or in the classroom.
Michael blair
Michael Blair is a dynamic leader and accomplished professional with a diverse career that spans athletics, education, and entertainment. He currently serves as the President of the NFL Alumni - Chicago Chapter, where he leverages his extensive network and expertise to support former players and champion community initiatives.
A former NFL running back, Michael played for renowned teams including the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and New Orleans Saints. His football career instilled in him a passion for mentorship and leadership, which he continues to cultivate off the field.
Michael is the founder of Ninety10 Sports Vocational Academy, an innovative program designed to provide youth with opportunities for growth and development both in sports and beyond. His dedication to education is further exemplified by his background in Early Childhood Education, specializing in Child Development, which has informed his approach to mentoring and fostering talent at every stage.
In addition to his work in sports and education, Michael is an international speaker who has inspired audiences worldwide. His adventurous spirit led him to represent the Jamaican Bobsled Team from 2016–2018 during their pre-Olympics training. He also showcased his charisma as the travel host for the Travel Channel's "5 Takes: Latin America," sharing captivating stories from around the globe.
Michael’s contributions to the arts are notable as well, with film credits that include roles in "We Are Marshall" and "The Game Plan." His outstanding career and commitment to excellence earned him the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Ball State University. In addition, he was recently recognized by the White House for over 10,000 hours of volunteer leadership, receiving the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award!
Trina BRaden
Trina Braden is an accomplished volleyball coach and leader with a career spanning decades of excellence both on and off the court. She currently serves as the Director of Coaching for Tsunami Volleyball, where she brings her passion for the sport and extensive expertise to develop athletes and coaches alike.
A standout athlete herself, Trina was named the All-Arizona Female Athlete of the Year in 1989, a prestigious honor that set the foundation for her journey in sports. Her coaching career began at the collegiate level, where she led programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL (1996–2005) and the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA (2015–2018).
Trina’s coaching achievements include earning the title of All-Florida Sun Conference Coach of the Year for two consecutive years (1999–2000), recognizing her ability to build winning teams and foster excellence. Her success extends to the national stage, with standout accomplishments such as leading teams to the 2017 AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championship title and securing a 2nd place finish at the 2017 USAV Girls Junior National Championships.
With a deep dedication to her athletes and the game, Trina Braden continues to inspire excellence, instill teamwork, and cultivate a legacy of success at every level of volleyball she touches.
JASON BUDDEN
Jason Budden is a seasoned sports industry professional with over 20 years of experience, recognized for his expertise in driving impactful initiatives and partnerships. With a versatile background that includes special project and event coordination, Jason has consistently delivered successful outcomes across various facets of the sports and entertainment landscape.
He is highly skilled in partnership management and activation, excelling in fostering meaningful collaborations that amplify brand presence and audience engagement. His leadership in integrated marketing campaigns, go-to-market (GTM) strategies, planning, and enablement reflects his deep understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior.
Jason’s career highlights also include brand creation, positioning, and expansion, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping brands that resonate with audiences. Additionally, his hands-on experience in retail sales oversight ensures that his strategic vision aligns seamlessly with execution and measurable results.
With a passion for innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Jason Budden continues to elevate brands, events, and experiences within the sports industry.
DAVE LAX
Dave Lax is a dynamic marketing and sports management executive with over two decades of experience driving innovative initiatives and building transformative partnerships across the sports and entertainment landscape.
Renowned for his expertise in brand development, sponsorship acquisition, and event execution, Dave excels in delivering results that make a lasting impact. His portfolio showcases a wide range of achievements—from crafting compelling digital and experiential marketing campaigns to establishing and scaling traditional brand-building strategies.
A proven leader, Dave has successfully launched new brands, developed engaging websites, and secured multi-year partnerships with premier blue-chip companies nationwide. His vision, combined with a commitment to excellence, makes him an influential force in shaping the future of sports and entertainment marketing.
Andy Ferguson
Andy Ferguson is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning baseball, scouting, player development, and cutting-edge technology solutions. A former Division I baseball player at NC State University, Andy transitioned into coaching, including a stint with the Harwich Mariners in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. With over 20 years of experience in baseball scouting, player development, and event operations, he has played a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing top-tier talent.
Beyond the field, Andy has spent the past decade specializing in SaaS (Software as a Service) administration, system architecture, and solution development across multiple platforms, including Salesforce, NetSuite, Clarizen, Kantata (with M-Bridge), and Smartsheets. His expertise extends into business intelligence (BI) solutions, where he has leveraged the Domo platform to develop data transformations, dashboards, and governance strategies.
Andy’s unique blend of SaaS and BI experience has enabled him to design and implement solutions that enhance daily efficiencies for sales and client-facing teams, streamline multi-platform integrations, and provide C-suite executives with comprehensive financial and business health reports. His ability to bridge the gap between technology and business operations makes him a valuable asset in both the sports and corporate landscapes.
ANDREW GORDON
Andrew Gordon is a seasoned professional with over 23 years of experience in designing and implementing international sport-for-development programs, particularly in conflict and post-conflict communities. With expertise in international NGO management, community development, and cross-cultural peace-building, Andrew has dedicated his career to leveraging sports as a transformative tool for youth development and social impact.
As the Co-Founder and Director of the JSC Youth Sport Academy in Panama City, Panamá, Andrew has been instrumental in fostering youth development through athletics. He has focused on enhancing social and life skills while creating and implementing an indoor elite athlete training facility. Under his leadership, the academy and its partners have secured over 90 scholarships for Panamanian student-athletes to study and play baseball at universities across the United States, opening new educational and athletic pathways for young athletes.
A former basketball player and coach up to the university level, Andrew's deep understanding of sports has shaped his approach to programming, coaching, and leadership. He brings a unique combination of on-the-ground athletic expertise and a strategic vision for global development.
Andrew holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology/Anthropology from Fordham University and a Master’s degree in International Relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His commitment to empowering youth and building resilient communities continues to inspire his work around the world.
CORSON FIDLER
Corson Fidler is a seasoned data analytics, project management, and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience across the sports business, education, and financial services industries. A Mathematics major with minors in Economics and Education, he also holds a Masters in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University. Corson is recognized for his expertise in marketing technology, end-to-end data management, and data analytics to enable data-driven business decisions.
Corson’s work for Baseball Factory in Sales and Marketing Operations roles saw him promoted to Vice President of Marketing & Analytics and serve on the Executive Board. His data analytics skills helped optimize the company’s schedule of 300+ annual diamond sport events and drove the company’s 200% registration growth of key revenue-generating tournaments. Corson’s project management skills helped the company successfully navigate business model shifts during the Covid-19 pandemic and enabled additional revenue and lead generation programs. His marketing leadership skills enabled the department to efficiently execute 30% more campaigns with 20% less staff and to create a seamless lead hand off from marketing to sales.
In addition to teaching Mathematics in private high schools with Varsity coaching and student advising responsibilities, Corson has worked in the Financial Services industry in Marketing Analytics developing reporting for omni-channel campaigns, providing competitive analysis, reporting on P&L performance, and project managing marketing technology integrations into customer journeys.
Corson is a former collegiate soccer player turned soccer referee who climbed the officiating ladder to become a National Referee; he has worked professional games in USL and NWSL, college Division 1 games in the NCAA, and continues to referee at the High School Varsity level.