The Largest Youth Football & Cheer Organization in the Country

The People Behind the Logo

Joe Galat, AYF President
 

Mr. Galat also serves as the Vice President of Sales for Fieldturf Inc. Joe played and coached at Miami University (Ohio). He was team captain and an honor student at Miami. He was named Miami University Outstanding Athlete in his final year. Joe has coached professionally with the NFL's New York Giants and the Houston Oilers. When George Allen was General Manager of Montreal, he appointed Joe to be his head coach. Joe then went on to become head coach and General Manager of the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. His stint as a college football coach was with Miami University, Yale University, University of Kentucky and Youngstown State University. In 1982 Joe was inducted into The Miami University Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into The Painesville Harvey High School Hall of Fame (along with The NFL's winningest Coach Don Shula). After his coaching days , Joe was National Color Commentator for CBC-TV SPORTS. This experience gave him the distinction of having held every position in organized football (player, coach, manager, broadcaster, and Youth Executive). Joe has participated in youth football clinics in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and throughout Europe and Russia.

 

 

Jessica Laufer, Executive Director
 

Jessica started with AYF as Public Relations Director and did research projects under the direction of Jim Taft, one of AYFs Founders. In 2003, Jessica was appointed to Executive Director. Jessica has had experience in running a niche marketing and promotion company, and has worked on the football field as an intern for her University Head Football Coach. Among other notable educational achievements, Jessica was honored with the Dean's Fellowship from New York University in the Masters of Sports Business Program.

Karen Marie Bell, Vice President of Business Development
 

Karen Marie Bell joins AYF as Vice President of Business Development after having worked for the National Football League for 10 years, most recently in their Public Relations and Community Affairs Department, where she administered the NFL Charities and NFL Disaster Relief Funds.  While at the NFL Karen worked with the 32 member clubs and the NFL Players Association on community outreach initiatives, the NFL Youth Education Town Centers on programming and educational projects, and on Player and Alumni events during Super Bowl and Pro Bowl.  

 

Faye Katz, Vice President of Marketing and Promotions

 

Faye brings twenty years of experience in the publishing and marketing field. She has worked with Price-Waterhouse and Holt Renfrew. Faye held management positions in Marketing and Advertising prior to joining American Youth Football.

 

 

 

 

Jim Taft, Chairman Emeritus

 

Jim is one of the founders of AYF and has been involved in youth football for more than 60 years. Jim serves in an advisory position and will help with interpretations and conduct research in backing up President Joe Galat.
 

William Brown, Football Compliance Director

Over the past 14 years, William Brown has held the following positions/titles in youth sports: High School Football Coach, Connecticut Coaching Academy Director, Connecticut High School Coaches Association Nike Coach Of The Year Clinic Director, Former Youth Football League Conference Vice Commissioner, Former Youth Football League Association President, Football Summer Camp Director, Football Clinic Speaker, Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Youth Ministry Leader.

Bill is a successful entrepreneur, who has applied his skills to co-found a local business networking organization formed to help mentor and promote each other’s business while supporting the community through donations and educational seminars. Bill’s experience in developing successful businesses has taught him the skills necessary to organize, grow and improve organizations. Bill's high school coach taught Bill that by focusing on the positive, people can overcome any obstacle.  Bill’s passion for coaching comes from his desire to instill the same positive life lessons, strong character values of impervious integrity, honor, discipline and respect, into today’s youth as he received from his beloved coach, and that which was modeled for him by his father.  While teams he has been associated with have won their share of trophies, Bill considers his treasury of letters of appreciation from boys he’s coached to be the ultimate trophy.  “How you touch kids’ lives and how they see change in themselves for the better is what makes a coach successful,” Bill says. A great man once said “Blowing out someone else's candle doesn't make yours burn any brighter, The room will only brighten when you can pass your light onto others”.
 

Shannon Shy, National Membership Director 

Shannon lives in northern Virginia with his beautiful wife Debbie and three terrific children, Alex, Andrew, and Samantha.  Shannon is one of the co-founders of the Northern Virginia Youth Athletic Association (NVYAA) -- home of the Dale City Bengals and Dale City Cowboys -- and one of the founders of the Virginia American Youth Football Alliance.  The NVYAA is built upon three pillars  -- excellence in academics, excellence in community service, and excellence in athletics (three AYF national champs, one runner-up, and one third).  The NVYAA's Giving Back program has included wonderful projects such as a toy drive for Sri Lankan orphans affected by the 2004 tsunami disaster, displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina, and a field refurbishment project at a local middle school.  Shannon grew up in the St. Louis metro area.  He has a B.S. from Southwest Missouri State University  (where he lettered in wrestling) and a law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia (where he served as President of the Student Bar Association).  In his professional life, Shannon is a civilian attorney in the Office of Counsel for the Commandant of the Marine Corps in the Pentagon and is a retired Marine Corps Reserve Lieutenant Colonel.  Shannon worked with Bob Dunn in helping us stand up the Atlantic Region and also served as the announcer for our 2006 national championship games (watch out John Madden!).  If you have a question about membership, e-mail him at shannon at americanyouthfootball.com

Diane Cecchetti, National Cheer Director

Diane began her journey in youth sports in 1989 volunteering as a team mom for her daughter’s cheer squad with the Manchester Youngsville Hawks in Manchester, NH.  She enjoyed working with all the children so much she stepped up and volunteered to be an assistant coach working her way up to head coach and then becoming the spirit coordinator for the Hawks.  In 1996, Diane was nominated and elected for a position on the New Hampshire Youth Football & Spirit Conference State Board as a Spirit Director where she was able to offer guidance and her knowledge of cheerleading to several local conference member associations.  Diane’s eagerness and enthusiasm earned her the seat of NH State Cheer Coordinator in 1998. Her love for the children of NH and the sport drove her dedication to ensure the children had an exciting and safe environment during their time in youth sports. She coordinates the conference’s yearly spirit competition, one of the largest in the state which is the qualifying event for advancement to regional and national championships. She has also been the chairperson for the 2003 and 2006 Regional Cheerleading Championships. In 2006 she was the recipient of the AYF/AYC Volunteer of the Year Award.

 

Karl Gaston, National Motivational Speaker

Karl Gaston joined American Youth Football as a member of the National staff in 2000.  As our national motivational speaker, Karl draws upon his experiences as a father, Firefighter, Paramedic, In School Suspension Facilitator for an elementary preparatory school and fitness academy in Middletown, Ohio, personal trainer, and strength and conditioning coach for high school student athletes. Before addressing any group of youngsters, coaches, parents, administrators, or volunteers, Karl engages them in conversation, and creates an opportunity and a comfortable environment for them to express themselves.

 “I listen to what they have to say, and I get through to them because I talk to them and not at them. The end result is that I have accomplished what I have set out to do, which is instill in them a sense of pride, help them to understand that perseverance is the key to reaching their goals, and remind them that determination is what will keep them going. They walk away knowing that if they can visualize their goals, they can achieve them”.

 

Andre Bankston, Commissioner of Referees and Officials

Regional Board Chair Persons*

• Atlantic Region - Bob Dunn
• Southeast Region - Orlando Gudes
• Big East Region - Courtney Pollins
• Midwest Region - Bill Otte
• Southwest Region - Kam Griffin
• Mountain/Desert Region - Tim Kanavel
• Pacific Region - Rikki Kinsfather
• New England Region – Rick Pelletier
• National Director of Giving Back - Dave Bickle

*Regional Board chairpersons are not executive officers of American Youth Football ("AYF"); they do not have the authority to enter into contractual relationships on behalf of AYF or otherwise bind the organization in any legal capacity.  Please contact the American Youth Football national office with any questions in this regard.

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