Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 30, 2018) – BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman is slated to speak at the 2018 USA Basketball Women in the Game conference Sept. 9-10 at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The list of expected speakers includes professionals from USA Basketball, NBA, NBA G-League, NCAA, ESPN and more.
“USA Basketball is excited to conduct a Women in the Game conference in September in Washington, D.C.,” said
Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “This is the third Women in the Game within the past year and our first on the East Coast. The response and reviews by everyone involved have exceeded our expectations. USA Basketball is really proud of this initiative, and we are grateful to the impressive lineup of speakers who will share their experiences to help other girls and young women learn about the opportunities within sport, and hopefully aid them in finding a path to a successful career.”
The USA Basketball Women in the Game initiative educates high school girls and college and professional women about career paths in the sports industry and how to turn a passion into an opportunity.
Registration is available
online.
Expected to speak at the USA Basketball D.C. Women in the Game are:
- Val Ackerman, Big East Commissioner
- Natasha Adair, University of Delaware Women’s Basketball Head Coach
- Shyra Ely-Gash, Wardrobe Stylist
- Alexys Feaster, NBA Director of Player Development
- Kathleen Francis, WISE President and Oasis Sports Ventures Founder & President
- Diane Gotua, NBA Vice President of Global Business Operations
- Joanna Lohman, Washington Spirit (NSWL) Player & Athlete Ally Activist
- JoAn Scott, NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships Managing Director
- Dr. Caroline Silby, Sports Psychologist
- Carol Stiff, ESPN Women’s Sports Programming Vice President
- Karleena Tobin, NBA G-League Official
- Andrea Travelstead, USA Basketball Manager, Youth Division
- Tanya Vogel, The George Washington University Director of Athletics and Recreation
The speakers will share their personal career journeys, essential characteristics to succeed in their roles, practical strategies to get started in the industry and how to sustain a position in a highly competitive sports industry.
The program includes lecture sessions and interactive group discussions to broaden perspectives on working in the sport industry. Attendees will meet and hear from accomplished females who excel in their careers by exhibiting positive leadership and a dedicated work ethic.
In 2005, Ackerman was elected President of USA Basketball for the 2005-08 term, leading the organization to an overall competitive record of 222-23 and gold medal performances by the U.S. men's and women's basketball teams at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She was one of the NBA's original appointees to the USA Basketball Board of Directors in 1989 and served as an organizational liaison with USAB during the early years of NBA participation in FIBA competitions, including the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and 1994 World Championships. A USA Basketball Board member for 23 years, Ackerman played a key role in the long-standing success of the U.S. women's national basketball team program, which won gold medals at the 1998, 2002 and 2010 FIBA World Championships and the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. In 2013, Ackerman was named the recipient of USA Basketball's Edward S. Steitz Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in international basketball.
USA Basketball’s Women in the Game conference offers a six-week on-going mentorship program to attendees who apply and are selected for entry. The mentorship program connects conference attendees (mentees) with experienced professionals in the sports industry (mentors) to develop personal and professional goals, gain new perspectives and advance within their current or future careers. Weekly discussion topics will guide the interaction between the mentee and mentor through phone and email communication.
Application into the mentorship program is entirely optional, and there are no additional fees should an attendee be selected into the program. All participants who register for the Women in the Game conference will receive a follow up email with instructions on how to apply into this optional mentorship program.
About USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen.
Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five and 3x3 international competitions, as well as for some national competitions and for the development of youth basketball.
The USA Basketball Youth Development Division is tasked with the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety, while promoting, growing, and elevating the game. USA Basketball is committed to providing youth throughout the country safe, fun and developmentally appropriate environments in which they can enjoy the game. Current USA Basketball youth initiatives include coach licensing and education; organization accreditation; coach academies; regional camps; youth clinics; open court programs; Women in the Game conferences; and the U.S. Open Basketball Championships.
Connect with USA Basketball
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(@usabasketball, @USABYouth,
@USAB3x3, Instagram
(@USABasketball;
@USABYouth) and YouTube (
therealusabasketball).