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Bios

Jon Butler, executive director of Pop Warner Little Scholars
jonbutler@popwarner.com
Pop Warner Little Scholars is the oldest and largest youth football, cheer and dance organization in the country.

Jon's background combines business and athletics—having served eight years as president of Rae Crowther Co., the leading manufacturer of football blocking sleds and field equipment, and six years as a high school assistant football coach and one year coaching CYO. He is a long-time member of the American Football Coaches Association.

Jon has always enjoyed working with children, as shown by his eight years' service as a Big Brother. For his volunteer work with fundraising and recruiting for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Philadelphia, Jon was recognized by the Chapel of the Four Chaplains. In 2006, he was selected as the Hershey’s S.T.R.I.V.E Awards’ National Youth Sports Administrator of the Year.

After several years as a director, Jon was elected vice president of the National Council of Youth Sports. He also serves on the advisory board of the National Children’s Literacy and Book Alliance and on the Board and Executive Committee of USA Football.

Sally Johnson, executive director of the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS)
youthsports@ncys.org
NCYS membership comprises the “who’s who” of the youth sports industry and represents 52 million youth participants in programs nationwide.

Sally is a founder and advisory board member of the National Center for Safety Initiatives, a solution-based company designed to take the criminal background screening burden of ethical, legal and financial challenges off youth-serving organizations, letting them focus on what they do best while helping to implement proven policies, procedures and training that will better protect the children. Sally also serves The National Task Force on Backgrounding of America, convened by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, and SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics.

Other achievements include Florida’s 2003-2006 Businesswoman of the Year, appointment to the Mayor’s and Governor’s Advisory Commissions on Women, Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) Leadership Team Award, and the National Leadership Award as Honorary Co-Chairman of the Business Advisory Committee in Florida.

Sally graduated from the nationally recognized Institutes for Organization Management at the University of Delaware and received Certified Sports Administrator designation from The George Washington University.

Scott McClure, manager of championship sports for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
smcclure@naia.org
As the administrator for Men's Soccer, Division II Men's Basketball, Wrestling, and Baseball, Scott is charged with creating and editing manuals, scripts, and contracts for championship event hosts, participating teams and support staffs. He also serves as the national office liaison to coaching bodies and constituent groups at national championships, conferences and conventions.

Scott came to the NAIA after 10 years as Siena Heights University’s Sports Information Director and Conference Media Director for the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. He also was head coach for the junior varsity men’s basketball team from 1996-2000, assistant coach of the Siena Height’s women’s basketball team from 1993-1996 and assistant coach for the varsity men’s basketball team.

Scott is involved in a number of professional organizations, including the American Baseball Coaches Association, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, National Association of Basketball Coaches, National Soccer Coaches Association of America, National Wrestling Coaches Association, USA Baseball, USA Wrestling and the National Association of Sports Commissions. Additionally, Scott has previously served on countless volunteer projects and is currently a KSHSAA Registered Basketball Official.

Scott earned a Bachelor of Art in English/Communications from Siena Heights University in 1986 and Master of Art in English Language and Literature from the University of Toledo in 1988.

Patrick Rishe, Ph.D., founder and director of Sportsimpacts.com
prishe@webster.edu
Sportsimpacts.com specializes in sports marketing research and economic impact studies for sporting events, as well as valuation analyses and litigation support.

Since founding his consulting practice in October 2000, Patrick has conducted more than 50 different studies with organizations ranging from local sports commissions and convention and visitor bureaus to city councils, pro sports teams, college athletic departments and event rights holders. He has conducted sports-related event studies for the St. Louis Sports Commission, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association and the St. Louis Cardinals; general market research studies during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 NCAA Division I Championship season; and economic impact studies for the 2006 Super Bowl (Super Bowl XL) in Detroit, 2006 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, 2006 Missouri Valley Basketball Conference Tournament, 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, 2005 NCAA Men's Final Four and 2004 Ryder Cup. In addition, Patrick conducted a 2005 feasibility study with regard to whether San Antonio could support an NFL franchise.

Patrick earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in economics from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in 1992, followed by a Ph.D. in economics from Binghamton University in 1997. His doctoral dissertation investigated whether the football betting market was consistent with efficient markets theory.

Patrick also teaches courses in the business of sports, including topics related to sports economics, sports finance, and sports marketing. He is a tenured associate professor at Webster University.

Don Ruedlinger, president and founder of Youth Basketball of America (YBOA)
prishe@webster.edu
Don established YBOA in 1989 to create and develop a unique kind of basketball organization—one open to every child who loves the game and wants to play basketball, whether on a team, in a tournament or by participating in a basketball camp or clinic. Since it was established 19 years ago, YBOA has spread the spirit of basketball and sportsmanship, growing from 5,000 youngsters to more than 300,000 basketball players across the United States and in 23 countries throughout the world.

Don has enjoyed a 46-year career in sports management, business and the insurance industry, as well as 29 years as a high school football official in Missouri, Illinois and Florida. In addition to his YBOA duties, he is currently president and founder of the South Orlando Youth Sports Association (SOYSA), a local football and basketball organization that helps support local teams in need of sponsorships. As president and founder of Sports Insurance Specialists, he oversees a full-service insurance agency in Orlando that specializes in the youth sports insurance market.

Previously, Don served as the executive director of the Seminole Youth Sports Association in Seminole County, Fla.; football director and president of the Board of Directors for the Seminole YMCA; and executive secretary for the Five State Conference from 1977-80. In 1984, Don was named AAU Basketball Outstanding Meet Director in 1984. His many positions in sports and community leadership include: AAU Junior Olympics Boys Basketball Advisor; Metro St. Louis YMCA Board Member; Red Cross Swimming & Life Saving Program Counselor and Mid-Florida Pop Warner Youth Football Commissioner and Coach. Don is also a member of the Florida High School Coaches Association.