Judi Brown Clarke, PhD, OLY

Dr. Clarke is the Vice President for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Health System. She possesses over seventeen years on senior management teams shaping strategic plans for diversity and establishing infrastructures for inclusive excellence and equity sustainability.

This includes accountability metrics that facilitate progress and the utilization of data-driven, evidence-based practices for decision making. Judi is adept at fostering open dialogues on difficult conversations with multiple constituencies by building trust, empowerment, and skills. She is leading the University and Health System’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including the development of strategic programs and initiatives at the Health System.

Judi has a strong portfolio in grant funding, which has been leveraged to increase resources for the institution’s diversity initiatives. She has been a principal investigator (PI), co-PI, or lead staff researcher in multiple grant projects totaling over $50 million. She has demonstrated effective processes for collection, analysis, problem solving and analytical skills using benchmark availability data with metrics that map to the institution’s goals. This includes working effectively with employee resource groups and advisory groups for bottom-up impacts that support innovation and facilitate top-down institutional sustainability and growth.

She holds a bachelor’s in clinical Audiology & Speech Sciences, master’s in Kinesiology w/Sports Administration concentration, and doctorate in Public Policy and Administration. Judi was voted onto Lansing’s City Council in an At-Large seat (citywide). During her tenure, her colleagues voted her into leadership twice as vice-president (2014 & 2015) and once as president (2016). She chaired the Ways & Means Committee and the Development & Planning Committees, which were collectively responsible for a $210M internal budget and oversight of all development projects across the city. Judi’s educational, political, and municipal background has been instrumental in developing her skills around coordinated planning, evaluation of programs, policies, practices, and collaborative management infrastructures.

Judi has experienced great athletic success, she was a 4-time national champion and 12-time Big Ten Championship in track and field events. In the 400m hurdles, a Silver Medalist in the 1984 Olympic games and 3-time gold medalist in the Pan American Games, and 1987 Sports Illustrated Woman of the Year. Her athletic leadership portfolio is extensive, she is a current member on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Board of Directors and the United States Olympic Paralympic Association/Athletes Council (USOPA/AAC) Joint Nomination Committee. Formerly, she was a member of the United State Olympic and Committee’s (USOC) Diversity Working Group, a 2016 International Women’s Forum: Women Athletes in Business Fellow, Vice-President of U.S. Olympic Paralympic Association (USOPA), and Vice-Chair of USA Taekwondo.

She is vice-chair of the AAU CDO Steering Committee, 2021 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Senior Fellow, a member on the International Advisory Committee for the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics, a member on the External Advisory Committee member for the Center for Cellular Construction: an NSF-funded Science and Technology Center. Formerly she was a member of the External Advisory Committee member for W.K. Kellogg Biological Research Station, a member on the Director’s Research Advisory Committee for MSU National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, and External Advisory Committee member for Nevada’s EPSCoR Grant for the Study of Solar, Wind and Water Power.

Scott Goudeseune

With over 30 years of experience in operations, sales and marketing, Mr. Goudeseune leads the executive leadership team for ACE, where he provides vision and direction for the organization's strategic plans. In his role as chief executive officer (CEO), Goudeseune spearheads efforts to firmly establish and enhance ACE as an influential and unified voice within the fitness industry and beyond. Collaborating with other leaders in the fitness industry, public health, and health care, Goudeseune works to position ACE Certified Professionals as an essential piece to deliver safe and effective physical activity for all.

Within ACE, Goudeseune strives to create a healthy, happy working environment that attracts and retains talented employees and allows team members to embody the ACE mission.

In addition to his work as CEO, Goudeseune is an active supporter of increasing physical activity opportunities for all people and has served in various positions for numerous organizations and taskforces including the Campaign to End Obesity (CEO), National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCCPA) and the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance (NPAPA).

Goudeseune enjoys experiencing other cultures, working on home improvement projects, staying active, cooking for friends and family, and spending quality time with his grandchildren.

Elizabeth Kunz

As a lifetime advocate for girls' and women's issues, Ms. Kunz has always encouraged others to recognize the power they have to create and transform their own lives and the world at large. Liz spent the first eleven years of her career in the corporate sector before transitioning to the non-profit sector in 1996.  

She first learned about Girls on the Run in 2002, serving as a board member for two years before joining the staff in 2006. She has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Girls on the Run International since 2008, presiding over an incredible time of organizational growth. During her tenure, the organization has provided its physical activity-based positive youth development (PA-PYD) curricula to over 2 million girls in all 50 states.

Liz brings significant expertise and vision to Girls on the Run in setting strategic direction, leading change, and creating an inclusive culture of empowerment and innovation.

Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH

Dr. Lushniak leads the School of Public Health, the University of Maryland’s youngest (est. 2007) and most racially and ethnically diverse academic college. As Dean, he has developed several new academic programs, including accelerated and dual degrees, launched a global health initiative and provided leadership in the context of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Dean Lushniak had a long career in federal service, culminating in leadership roles as U.S. deputy surgeon general (2010–15) and acting surgeon general (2013–14). In 2015, he retired as a Rear Admiral from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps where he was an officer for 27 years. Among his credits in the USPHS, he was part of the CDC/NIOSH team that responded to the devastation at Ground Zero after 9/11, served as the FDA Deputy Incident Commander for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic response and led the USPHS hospital providing care to Ebola patients in Liberia in 2015.

He earned degrees from Northwestern (bachelor’s and medical) and Harvard University (master of public health). He currently serves on the Board of Regents for the American College of Preventive Medicine.

Michael McConnell, MD, MSEE

Dr. McConnell is a Clinical Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he sees patients in the Preventive Cardiology Clinic and teaches fellows and students, including in the Stanford Biodesign program. 

Dr. McConnell is a native of Brooklyn and did his BS and MS in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at MIT followed by his MD at Stanford. He specialized in Cardiovascular Medicine and Imaging at Brigham and Women’s and Beth Israel Hospitals in Boston and then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School. He returned to Stanford in 1998, leading clinical and research programs in cardiovascular imaging, prevention, and mobile health. He was Director of Cardiovascular MRI, Preventive Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Health Innovation where he oversaw the top-enrolling MyHeart Counts physical activity and cardiovascular health study launched with Apple in 2014. In 2015 he joined Google leading cardiovascular health, including Verily’s Study Watch, Google Fit’s Heart Points, and Fitbit’s Irregular Rhythm Notifications. He continues to advise companies on digital health technology and AI to promote cardiovascular health and prevention. Dr. McConnell has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles, including research and guidelines on technology-based assessment and promotion of physical activity and fitness, plus was the principal investigator of multiple research and training grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association (AHA). He has been a member of the Consumer Technology Association’s working groups on Physical Activity and Mobile Health and co-chaired their Cardiovascular Technology Solutions group in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology. He is a founding member of the AHA’s Health Technology Advisory Group and co-chaired the task force for AHA’s 2030 Impact Goal.

Suzanne McCormick

Ms. McCormick is the 15th person and first woman to lead YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the Y — a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Collectively, the nation’s YMCAs engage 11 million members — 4 million of whom are under the age of 18 — annually.

She became President and CEO of Y-USA in September 2021. She has 27 years of experience as a local and national executive leader in the nonprofit sector, most recently as U.S. President of United Way Worldwide and a member of its global management team. As President, Suzanne was responsible for helping the 1,100 local United Ways across the U.S. build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities. Under her leadership, the United Way tackled community challenges with innovative, equitable and systemic solutions. She also served as the executive sponsor of United Way’s Women United Global Leadership Council.

Previously, Suzanne spent five years as President and CEO of United Way Suncoast in Tampa, Florida, where she led a strategic plan to break the cycle of generational poverty, drove fundraising growth and increased community impact. During her tenure, she was Chair of the United Ways of Florida, one of the largest United Way state associations. She also served as the Chair of the United Way Network Partnership Group, which focused on developing and leveraging powerful philanthropy initiatives, and the National Professional Council, which advised the CEO of United Way Worldwide on strategic initiatives. Prior to leading United Way Suncoast, Suzanne spent 13 years at United Way of Greater Portland in Maine, including four as President and CEO.

Suzanne’s nonprofit leadership career also includes CEO roles at both the American Red Cross of Southern Maine and the People’s Regional Opportunity Program in Maine.

The NonProfit Times recognized Suzanne in the Power & Influence Top 50, its annual celebration of the nonprofit sector’s top executives and strategists, in 2021. She also serves on the Independent Sector Board of Directors.

Suzanne holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Duke University and is an alumna of the Peace Corps, through which she spent three years teaching English in Thailand.

Damon Phillips

Mr. Phillips has been at the intersection of media, sports, and technology over the past two decades. He has successfully developed and operated businesses as an executive at top-tier media brands.

Phillips was elevated to Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, NBC Sports Group in 2020. He leads strategic initiatives across NBC Sports Group and its collection of assets and platforms. He also serves as the company’s head of diversity and inclusion. Phillips reports to Pete Bevacqua, Chairman of NBC Sports Group.

Phillips joined NBCUniversal in 2018 as Senior Vice President & General Manager of NBC Sports Washington, NBC Sports’ regional sports network available in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Phillips spent 10 years at ESPN in executive roles. Phillips was a driving force behind ESPN’s expansion of live video streaming on mobile and TV connected devices while serving as Vice President, WatchESPN & ESPN3. He also served as Vice President, Technical Product Management, reporting to ESPN’s Chief Technology Officer.

Previously, Phillips held roles at USA Football, DIRECTV, Disney, and the NBA. He also founded Sports TV Insider, a sports technology company.

Phillips was born in San Francisco, California and grew up in the East Bay. He earned a football scholarship to Stanford University and graduated with honors. He resides in Potomac, Maryland with his wife (Margo) and four kids (Paige, Carter, Reed and Ross).

James Siegal

Mr. Siegal is Senior Fellow for KABOOM!, the organization dedicated to putting an end to playspace inequity throughout the United States. Siegal served as KABOOM! CEO for five years, during which time he accelerated the organization’s work through public-private partnerships, extended its reach with philanthropy, drove innovation in playspace design, and sharpened its focus on racial equity.

Prior to KABOOM!, James served as Chief of Staff for the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that supports citizen engagement to address community challenges through AmeriCorps, the Social Innovation Fund and other programs. James has broad experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, including serving as Vice President of Nonprofit Programs and Practice at the leading nonprofit coalition, Independent Sector. He also served as Registration Section Chief and Assistant Attorney General at the New York State Attorney General's Charities Bureau and associate at the global law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. James and his wife enjoy spending time playing with their three children.

Brad Smallwood

Brad Smallwood leads Facebook’s Measurement and Insights group, responsible for analyzing and optimizing the online and offline impact of Facebook’s advertising. Smallwood works with the world’s largest brands and agencies both to measure advertising effectiveness and to improve the relevance of ad campaigns to Facebook users. Advertisers his team works with range from direct-response marketers interested in driving immediate consumer actions, to brand marketers looking to understand offline ROI as well as affect more long-term attitudinal changes in consumers (e.g. brand awareness metrics). In addition to ad effectiveness measurement, Smallwood oversees the day-to-day management of Facebook’s worldwide ad inventory including pricing, inventory controls, and running of Facebook’s marketplace.

Smallwood has over 20 years of experience developing and running both on and offline marketplaces. Prior to joining Facebook, he was General Manager of Yahoo’s multi-billion dollar display advertising business. While there, he worked to introduce several third-party demand channels to help strengthen the industry-leading Yahoo marketplace, including the acquisition of Right Media. Prior to Yahoo, Smallwood worked at startups Namezero, AllAdvantage, and Revcube, where he developed a series of state-of-the-art ad targeting and ad serving techniques. These techniques include the first behavioral targeting system, along with an integrated platform for online campaign management across search, display, email, creative, and landing page optimization. Before this, Smallwood was one of the early innovators in the pricing space, developing and running the pricing and revenue management systems for a variety of industries including airlines, hotels, and shipping.

Swin Cash

Swin Cash may be a highly decorated professional athlete, but there is more to her than points and rebounds. Swin, whose name Swintayla means “astounding woman,” is the founder of Swin Cash Enterprises LLC and the founder of Cash Building Blocks, LP, an urban development company that renovates and offers affordable homes for low income families. As if that weren’t enough, the McKeesport, Pennsylvania native, is the founder of Cash for Kids, a 501 (c) (3) charity with the mission to “motivate, educate, & elevate” kids. Through Cash for Kids, Swin has helped thousands of children across the nation and around the world, with a particular focus on fitness, leadership and service. 

Selected as the number two overall pick in the 2002 draft, it didn't take long for Swin to rack up awards and accolades. She is a five time WNBA All-Star, two-time WNBA All-Star MVP, and a three time WNBA Champion. Swin also is a two time Olympic Gold Medalist and was voted 'Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year' in both 2003 and 2007. Swin was recently honored by the WNBA as one of the top 20 Greatest and Most Influential Players in League History. Swin has played professional basketball for three seasons in China and with WNBA teams in Detroit, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta and New York. With the WNBA teams Swin played forward and wore number 32. The 2016 WNBA season as a member of the New York Liberty was her 15th and final year as a professional basketball player. Following her illustrious playing career, Swin accepted a job in the New York Liberty’s front office as Director of Franchise Development, a first-of-its-kind role in the league that sees her assisting with both business and basketball operations. She became just the second former player in WNBA history to immediately assume a front office position, and is the first to take on a role supporting both business and basketball goals. 

When not playing basketball, Swin pursues her other career as a sports journalist and on-air commentator and analyst for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Turner and MSG Networks. Swin is presently a commentator on CBS Sports’ “We Need to Talk,” which is the first national all-female sports show. Swin is also Host of MSG Network’s “The Jeff Hornacek Experience” and In-Studio Analyst for “New York Knicks Game Day.” 

Swin Cash is a much sought-after Public Speaker who has addressed topics of: Leadership, Teamwork, Overcoming Adversity (cancer, back surgery), Health and Fitness, Fashion, Women’s Issues, and Children’s Issues. She is the author of Humble Journey, More Precious than Gold, a recounting of her eventful journey through her professional and personal life and her discovery of why the lessons she learned are more precious than the medals she’s earned. Swin’s true passion is public service and philanthropy. She has served as an Envoy for U.S. State Department in their work with children in various countries and she has served as an Envoy for NBA Africa & NBA India. She has also devoted her time to serving as a Mentor to the White House Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships as well as the White House Fatherhood Initiative. 

Swin has spent over a decade with the WNBPA on the executive committee advocating for players. She has received an honorary doctorate from Washington & Jefferson College for public service, and multiple awards and honor of recognition such as History Makers Awardee, Smithsonian - Heinz History Center, Alumnae Hall of Fame, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, March of Dimes New York 2016 Sportswoman of the year award and the 2016 Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Swin has been awarded multiple WNBA's Care Community Assist Award’s for her extensive outreach efforts. Cash enjoys talking to young people, encouraging them to believe in themselves, to achieve their goals and to become leaders in their communities. This, she believes, leads to self-confidence, self-development and is essential to helping kids “get in the game” of life. 

Lawrence Epstein

Lawrence Epstein serves as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Zuffa, LLC, which owns and operates the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. He previously served as the Company’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel beginning in August of 2007. In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Epstein is responsible for all of Zuffa’s worldwide operations.

Under Epstein’s leadership, Zuffa spearheaded the regulatory effort for the sport of MMA, gaining approval and sanction from the world’s most prestigious regulatory bodies including the Nevada, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ontario (Canada), and New South Wales (Australia) Athletic Commissions. As a result of Epstein’s guidance, the UFC has become the fastest growing sports organization in the world.

During his tenure as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Epstein was responsible for Zuffa’s corporate government relations functions including activities before the United States Congress, State Legislatures and governments around the world.

The UFC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, produces more than 45 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Epstein has directed much of the Company’s international expansion and, as a result, the UFC has shattered box office records across the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Japan and Brazil. He was also instrumental in establishing television distribution agreements around the world with leading broadcasters such as Globo, Televisa, FOX International, and BT sports.

In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Broadcast Networks. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which airs on FOX Sports 1.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries and territories, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a videogame franchise with Electronic Arts (EA), UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club® affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, Octagon ™ branded apparel and Topps Trading Cards. Primary sponsors with the UFC include Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Dodge, MetroPCS and Harley-Davidson.

Epstein also spearheaded the UFC’s launch of UFC Fight Pass™, a new and innovative digital subscription service that delivers a minimum of 10 exclusive live events per year, newly created and exclusive content, and unprecedented on-demand access to the company’s vast MMA video library. UFC Fight Pass has become the premier destination for MMA fans to enjoy hundreds of hours of fights and exclusive content online from their smart TVs, personal computers and mobile devices.

Prior to joining Zuffa, Epstein was a Partner and the President of the Nevada based law firm Beckley Singleton, which joined with Lewis, Rothgerberin 2007. Epstein’s private practice focused on business litigation and encompassed transactional work including contracts relating to MMA, boxing and other entertainment businesses. He is rated AV (Preeminent) by Martindale Hubbell and has been featured in numerous publications, including the American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel, Vanderbilt Lawyer magazines and the Sports Business Journal.

Epstein is also the President of IKE Gaming, Inc., the owner of the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. The El Cortez operates over 1,000 slot machines, 20 table games and 354 hotel rooms in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. Epstein has maintained a non-restricted gaming license in the state of Nevada since 1992.

A life-long resident of Nevada, Epstein has also been involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of The Meadows School, a private non-sectarian pre-K through 12 institution.

Epstein holds a Juris Doctorate and a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and is a member of the Vanderbilt University School of Law Board of Advisors.

Jane Wargo

From 2012-2019 Jane served as Director of the Presidential Youth Fitness Program. Tasked with getting the program off the ground, she facilitated partner activities and contract opportunities that resulted in the development of the program’s online and in-person professional development, grants program for schools, and program evaluations.

Prior to her role with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, she worked for nine years at the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition where she managed federal partnerships and initiatives, the Council’s science board and the Council’s signature President’s Challenge physical activity, fitness, and nutrition awards program.  While at the Council, she co-authored two book chapters addressing the development of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, served as co-lead of the activity and fitness work group for Healthy People 2010 and 2020, and led the development and implementation of a federal physical activity challenge to encourage a more active federal workforce.

Jane received her master’s degree in wellness management from Ball State University’s Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology and her undergraduate degree in English from Butler University.  She enjoys watching her children find joy through sports including baseball, horseback riding, field hockey, football, basketball, and volleyball.

Patricia Rockenwagner

Patricia (Patti) S. Röckenwagner is the Chief Communications Officer for STX Entertainment and leads the company’s efforts to promote its endeavors in the development, financing, production, marketing and distribution of content for film, television, VR, digital video, music video and games.

She previously served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for Condé Nast Publications.  In this role, she was responsible for the company’s communications, public relations and corporate positioning strategies, including brand marketing, media relations, employee communications and corporate social responsibility.

Prior to joining Condé Nast, Röckenwagner was Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing at McGraw Hill. Before that, she was Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications for Paramount Pictures where she directed all communications and public relations, as well as brand development and management for the entertainment studio worldwide.

Previously, Röckenwagner held similar executive communications and marketing roles at Time Warner Cable, Comcast and AT&T Broadband. During her time at Time Warner Cable, she re-launched Time Warner Cable’s Hispanic programming, marketing, events and bundling strategy. For Comcast, she oversaw media strategy and execution for the launches of HDTV, digital phone, DVR, Internet and business services in its west region. At AT&T Broadband, she led communications through its sale to Comcast.

Röckenwagner began her career in politics, serving as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager to Senator Tom Hayden, as Legislative Director and Spokesperson to Senator Art Torres, and as Legislative Researcher for Senator Edward Kennedy. She remains active in political and civic affairs.

She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. Röckenwagner was born in Argentina, educated in the United States and Europe, and speaks four languages. She has served on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and supports the Los Angeles Food Bank.

Gary H. Gibbons

Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., is Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he oversees the third largest institute at the NIH, with an annual budget of more than $3 billion and a staff of 917 federal employees.

The NHLBI provides global leadership for research, training, and education programs to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and enhance the health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling lives.

Prior to being named director of the NHLBI, Gibbons served as a member of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) from 2009-2012. He was also a member of the NHLBI Board of Extramural Experts (BEE), a working group of the NHLBAC.

Before joining the NHLBI, Gibbons served as the founding director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, chairperson of the Department of Physiology, and professor of physiology and medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine, in Atlanta.

Under his leadership of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, Gibbons directed NIH-funded research in the fields of vascular biology, genomic medicine, and the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. During his tenure, the Cardiovascular Research Institute emerged as a center of excellence, leading the way in discoveries related to the cardiovascular health of minority populations. Gibbons received several patents for innovations derived from his research in the fields of vascular biology and the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.

Gibbons earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in Princeton, N.J., and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Medical School in Boston. He completed his residency and cardiology fellowship at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Prior to joining the Morehouse School of Medicine in 1999, Gibbons was a member of the faculty at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., from 1990-1996, and at Harvard Medical School from 1996-1999.

Throughout his career, Gibbons has received numerous honors, including election to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences; selection as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Minority Faculty Development Awardee; selection as a Pew Foundation Biomedical Scholar; and recognition as an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association (AHA).

Catherine Zinn

As Orrick’s Chief Client Officer, Catherine helps to ensure that the firm is a steward of our clients’ businesses. Catherine supports Orrick’s commitment to each client’s cause by listening to their views and concerns, responding to their needs, and articulating a shared understanding of priorities.

Among other responsibilities, Catherine meets with clients to solicit their feedback and works with the firm’s client relationship partners and teams to help deliver value added services. She also coordinates the firm’s strategic partnerships with thought leadership and community organizations, also designed to add value for our clients and enhance the firm’s social impact.

Previously, Catherine held senior client relations roles at DLA Piper and at JAMS, the country’s largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services.

Catherine serves on the boards of various organizations including: Silicon Valley Directors’ Exchange, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, Bay Area Cancer Connections, and Legal Services Sales Organization. In January of 2015, the Secretary of Health and Human Services appointed her to the Board of the National Foundation for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition for a six-year term.

In 2008, Catherine served on Hillary Clinton’s National Finance Committee, and, beginning in 2011, she served on Barack Obama’s National Finance Committee as the National Coordinating Co-Chair of Lawyers for Obama. Currently, she is a Community Liaison for Kamala Harris for Senate.

Catherine was recognized as a 2014 Woman of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and a 2015 Woman of Achievement by Legal Momentum. In January of 2015 she was inducted into the International Women’s Forum and invited to be an American Leadership Forum Fellow for 2015-2016.

Catherine is a regular speaker on leadership, empowerment for women, and sales coaching. Recent speaking engagements include: “In Conversation with Secretary Madeleine Albright: Power of Connections” for Breast Cancer Connections, “Women as Rainmakers” for the California Women Lawyers Association, “Women in Negotiation” for Women’s Business Empowerment Day, and “Sales: the New Normal in the Legal Industry” for the Legal Marketing Association.

Catherine was a three-sport varsity athlete in college, tennis instructor, personal trainer, and head coach of a top ranked high-school tennis team in Washington, DC.

Catherine is a graduate of Hamilton College with a degree in Economics. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and eight-year-old son.

Robin Thurston

Robin Thurston is the CEO of Helix, where he is helping build the world’s first personal genomics platform. Most recently, he served as chief digital officer at Under Armour and led the overall strategic direction of the company’s Connected Fitness business. Prior to joining Under Armour, Robin co-founded and built MapMyFitness into one of the world’s largest open fitness tracking platforms.

Robin spent the first ten years of his career building a mutual fund classification and ratings platform at Lipper (a Thomson Reuters Company), as well as a manager risk and compensation platform at both American Century Investments and Wellington Management. He graduated with a MS in Finance from University of Colorado at Denver. Follow Robin on Twitter at @RobinJThurston.

Jimmy Lynn

Jimmy Lynn, a veteran of more than 25 years in the Sports and Entertainment sectors, is one of the pioneers of the Digital Sports space and is regarded as one of the leading relationship brokers and connectors in the sports industry. He is a co-founder and Vice-President of Kiswe Mobile, a interactive mobile video start-up focused on bringing a rich viewing experience for live media content such as sports and entertainment events to mobile devices.

Previously, Lynn was the managing partner of JLynn Associates, a global strategic advisory firm focused on sports-related digital media, marketing, and retail for a diverse set of clients including teams, athletes, leagues and associations, media outlets and other businesses.

Prior to founding JLynn Associates in 2009, Lynn served as Vice-President, Strategic Development and Partnerships at AOL, where he and his team were responsible for the strategic development and account management of AOL Sports’ strategic partnerships and organizations including the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, MLB, WNBA, NHL, PGA Tour, ABC Sports, CBS Sports, HBO Sports, Sports Illustrated, Turner Sports, NFL Players Association, WWF, The Sporting News, STATS, SportsTicker, etc. During his 14-year career at AOL, he was instrumental in developing AOL Sports into one of the leading global sports destination internet sites.

Lynn also served as a Vice-President, Diversity Partnerships and Strategic Relationships for AOL’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, he managed AOL’s employee affinity networks and partnerships with community service organizations.

Lynn also was a member of the Time Warner Sports Forum, which included executives from Sports Illustrated, HBO Sports, Turner Sports, AOL Sports, Time Warner Cable, Time 4 Media and Warner Brothers Licensing. The group focused on cross-company sports initiatives for Time Warner.

Previously, Lynn was the Advertising Manager for Home Team Sports, the CBS-owned regional sports network serving the Mid-Atlantic Region (TV partner of the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals) and the Promotion Manager for WLTT-FM, the CBS-owned and operated station in Washington, D.C.

Lynn has been actively involved in philanthropy and community service over the past 15 years.Lynn was one of the 2006 recipients of Time Warner’s most prestigious public-service prize, the “Andrew Heiskell Community Service” award. This award is given to employees who exhibit outstanding leadership and accomplishment in voluntary public service, human rights and/or equal opportunity efforts. Lynn also was recognized in 2008 by Greater DC Cares as one of Washington DC’s top 10 rising leaders in philanthropy; as one of City Year’s “Idealists of the Year”; and by Year Up as an “Urban Empowerment” award winner. In 2010, he received an award from Washington, DC Mayor Fenty for outstanding community service. Lynn is a board member of the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy.

Lynn is a full-time faculty member of Georgetown University’s Sports Industry Management graduate program, where he also serves as the “Special Advisor.” Lynn received the “Dean’s Outstanding Service” award in 2010 and the “Faculty Service” award in 2014. He is also a member of the Adjunct Faculty in Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He has a B.A. in Public Communication and an M.B.A. in Marketing from American University.

Tom McMillen

Tom McMillen has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the LEAD1 Association, previously the Division 1A Athletic Directors' Association, since September 2015. The association, is a not-for-profit membership organization comprised of the directors of athletics at the 130 NCAA Division 1A institutions.

Previously, Mr. McMillen served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Timios National Corporation, a real estate services company. He also served on the advisory board of Clean Energy Systems, a clean coal technology firm.

Mr. McMillen has had a highly diversified and successful career in the fields of sports, business, and politics. He served three consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (4th District, MD). Mr. McMillen began his involvement with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1970 as a high school senior when he was selected by President Nixon to become the youngest member of the Council. He was named by President Clinton to co-chair of the Council from 1993-97. He was the original architect of the legislation that enabled the National Foundation on Physical, Fitness, Sports and Nutrition to be created, and was the founding chairman.

Mr. McMillen was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the best high school player in America. He was a three-time All-American and academic All-American at the University of Maryland, holds the all time career scoring average, and was a member of the controversial 1972 Olympic Team. Mr. McMillen is the first University of Maryland student to be awarded a Rhodes scholarship. In the 1974 National Basketball Association draft, he was the first selection by the Buffalo Braves. He subsequently played for 11 years in the N.B.A., with the New York Knicks, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Washington Bullets.

In Congress, Mr. McMillen served on the Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. He was unanimously elected as President of the Democratic freshman class of the 100th Congress. While in Congress, he held the Maryland record for consecutive House floor votes, casting 2,050 votes in a row during his first five years in office. He served as Chairman of the Congressional Chesapeake Bay Caucus, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Biotechnology Caucus, and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Government Task Force.

In 1988, he was inducted into the first Capitol One  Academic All-American Hall of Fame as a charter member. From 1991-2003, he served on the Knight Foundation’s Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics investigating abuses within college sports. Also, Mr. McMillen is the co-author of Out of Bounds, a book on sports and ethics in America. In 2002, he was chosen as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Top 50 players of all time. In 2010, McMillen was inducted into the University of Maryland Alumni Hall of Fame and in 2013, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mr. McMillen serves as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland College Park’s School of Public Affairs and the University of Maryland College Park’s Center for American Politics and Citizenship. He is a member of The Economic Club of Washington, DC and serves on the board of Nexstar Media Group.

Pat Cunnane

Patrick Cunnane is the President & CEO of Advanced Sports International, a privately held company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that owns five bicycle brands – Fuji, Kestrel, Breezer, SE and Oval Concepts.

Mr. Cunnane was recognized by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News’ as “Executive of the Year” in 2010.  Mr. Cunnane began his career in the bicycle industry when he was 12 years old, sweeping floors and fixing flats at a local bicycle shop. He soon moved on to sales, working for wholesaler District Bicycle Supply, and then to Ross Bicycles, where he became one of the youngest national sales managers in the industry. 

After an assignment as sales manager at Giant, Pat started two businesses in 1992 – Cunnane Bicycle, a marketing and distribution company, and Bicycle Surplus, an internet business that he sold in 2001. Mr. Cunnane became President of Advanced Sports International in 2001. Since then, he has grown the company presence in more than 50 countries and 1,100 U.S. independent business dealers.

In 2003, the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association awarded Mr. Cunnane the “National Advocacy Award,” and in 2006, he was awarded the “Bicycle Industry Leadership Award” by the League of American Bicyclists. He serves on the boards of Bikes Belong, the Cadence Cycling Foundation, and the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (past president, current treasurer). He is also a former board member of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

A graduate of Temple University, he is above all a cyclist. In 1979, he rode his bike from Pacific City, Oregon to Atlantic City, New Jersey in 29 days. He now regularly commutes to work by bike. Pat is married with three children with his oldest son serving in the White House as a communications specialist.