SFIA Launches Emerging Leaders Program
SFIA Launches Emerging Leaders Program
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has officially launched the SFIA Excelerator Program, an emerging leaders program for young professionals from diverse communities employed in the sports and fitness industry. The pilot program is a six-month initiative that will run from May through November 2023 involving seven high-performing young professionals (“associates”) from SFIA member organizations, including Clarks, BSN Sports, Brooks Running, Nevco, New Balance, Rawlings and Riddell.
The Associates will participate in an immersive program that includes various SFIA industry events, professional development workshops, a “Lunch ’N Learn” series, career coaching sessions and a collaborative webinar presentation to the industry. The Venn Collective, a Preferred Partner of SFIA that works with organizations to build healthy cultures, strong leaders and high-performing teams, will help facilitate the Excelerator program content.
“SFIA is committed to working with our member companies to accelerate the careers of exceptional young professionals from diverse backgrounds,” explains Tom Cove, SFIA president and CEO. “We must invest in the next generation of emerging talent and empower them to be the future leaders in this industry. I’m proud of our DEI Committee’s leadership in forging this opportunity.”
The SFIA DEI Committee includes Adidas, Brooks Running, Clark’s, McLendon Foundation, New Balance, NFL, NHL, Nike and Riddell.
The SFIA Excelerator Program Associates for the first cohort include:
• Kassi Farmer: National Account Demand Planner, Rawlings Sporting Goods
• Michelle Kalupski: Associate Sales Manager, Consumer Products, Riddell
• Erin Kelly: Area Sales Manager, BSN Sports
• Tyler Klostermann: Regional Sports Video Consultant, NEVCO
• Jordan Johnson: Associate Product Manager/Designer (Collaboration & Energy), New Balance Athletic Company
• Brian Morrison: Recruiter, Brooks Running
• Kweku Quansah: Global Social Media Specialist, Clarks
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