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 Abramovich, Executive Director
In 2001, Jessica
started with AYF as Public Relations Director and conducted several 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 successful niche marketing and promotion company, and has worked on the football
field as an intern for her University Head Football Coach and for clubs in the CFL. Among other
notable academic achievements, Jessica was honored with the Dean's
Fellowship from New York University in the Masters of Sports Business
Program, from which she holds a Masters degree. Jessicas' email is ja@americanyouthfootball.com
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 assists with
interpretations and conducts research in supporting AYF President Joe Galat. Jims' email is ayftaft@aol.com
Kristin Walker, Director Events and Marketing Communications
Prior to joining AYF, Kristin held various roles at General Electric, the United States Tennis Association, the Boston Red Sox, the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League and Octagon Worldwide. Her event experience includes a variety of sports-related functions, including MLB’s 2005 All-Star Weekend and charitable 5k road races for the United Way. Kristin is a graduate of NYU’s Sports Business Master’s program and completed her undergraduate work at Boston College. Kristins' email is kwalker@americanyouthfootball.com
William Brown, Football Commissioner
Over the past 14
years, William Brown has held the following positions: High School Football Coach, Connecticut Coaching Academy Director,
Connecticut High School Coaches Association Nike Coach Of The Year Clinic
Director, Youth Football League Conference Vice Commissioner and League Association President, Football Summer Camp
Director, Football Clinic Speaker, Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Youth
Ministry Leader. Bill is a successful entrepreneur,
who is committed to helping his community through donations and educational seminars. His 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 HS coach, and that which was modeled for him by
his father. “How you touch kids’ lives
and how they see change in themselves for the better is what makes a coach
successful. Bills' email is bill@americanyouthfootball.com
Elizabeth Bray, AYC National Cheer Director & Member Communications
Starting in 2009 Elizabeth was appointed AYF Communications Director and quickly made great progress in the strategic developement of AYC, as a result, Elizabeth has been named AYC National Director and coordinates all AYC Cheer and Dance Programs. Elizabeth holds a BA in Business Communications from The University of Michigan. She brings much experience, humor and passion from her past positions in public relations, marketing, and management. She held these positions at Ford Motor Company, Marketing Associates, Valassis Communications and Woodland Paper. Elizabeths' email is ebray@americanyouthfootball.com or cheer@americanyouthfootball.com
Diedrea Willis, National Step Coordinator
In 2008 Deidrea was AYC's acting Southeast Regional Representative, but during the Annual Leadership meeting she introduced AYC to STEP, and we never looked back. Step has added a new exciting dimension to AYC nationwide and is in line with AYCs goals of being inclusive to all youth cheer/dance programs and staying on the cutting edge of whats happening in our communities. Diedrea resides in Tampa, FL and remains in charge of the AYC Step Program. Deidreas' email is step@americanyouthfootball.com
Shannon Shy, Membership Coordinator
Shannon has been involved in youth football as both a coach and an administator in Northern Virginia where his associations teams won 4 AYF championship titles and engaged in substantial Giving Back projects. Shannon has been involved in AYF on a national level since 2005 when we helped establish the Virginia AYF Alliance. Since 2007 Shannon served as AYF's National Membership Coordinator assisting new member organizations in the U.S and internationally to either join existing AYF organizations or start new AYF organizations. Shannon is a senior civilian attorney with the Dept of the Navy and a retired Marine Corps Reserve Lieutenant Colonel. Shannons emails is shannon@americanyouthfootball.com
Faye Katz, Human Resources Director
Faye
brings twenty years of experience in the publishing and marketing field and has held
management positions in working with Price-Waterhouse and Holt Renfrew. Faye now overees AYF Staff and Personnel.
Paige Stermer, National Administration and Registration Coordinator
Paige has been serving AYFs members and executive board since 2005. Paige holds her Masters in Education and shares her passion of scholarship and education with the participants of the AYF Community. Paiges' email is forms@americanyouthfootball.com
Andre Bankston, Commissioner of Referees and
Officials
Andre has a passion for the stripes. In 2006, Andre joined the AYF Team and continually provides guidance to AYF Referees. Andre is charged with the difficult tasks of providing the best Refs in youth football for the 140+ games played during National Championship week.
Lauri Harris/Jennifer Duckworth/Courtney Carrell, UCA/AYC Representatives
Lauri, Jennifer and Courtney are the UCA representatives behind AYC and UCAs partnership. AYC and UCA have a goal of providing AYC's hundreds of thousands of cheerleaders with the exceptional training, education, guidance and event experiences that only the pioneer of the sport can. UCA Representatives work directly with AYC National Director Elizabeth Bray.
Adam Laufer, General Counsel
Marissa Stermer, Executive Administrator
Karl Gaston, National
Motivational Speaker
Dave Bickle, National Director of Giving Back
Regional Board Chair Persons
Atlantic Region - Mike Fairfax
Southeast Region - Orlando Gudes
Big East Region - Sam Barnes
Midwest Region - Bill Otte
Southwest Region - Fred Sanders
Pacific/Desert Region - Rhett Turner
Northwest/Mountain - Mike Piha
New England Region – Rick Pelletier
*NOTE: Only American youth Football, Inc.'s President, Executive Director, and its Executive Vice-President & General Counsel are authorized and permitted to enter into agreements on behalf of American Youth Football. Regional Board chairpersons, commissioners, directors and persons holding other positions
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.
The Largest Youth Football & Cheer Organization in the
Country
In 2001, Jessica
started with AYF as Public Relations Director and conducted several 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 successful niche marketing and promotion company, and has worked on the football
field as an intern for her University Head Football Coach and for clubs in the CFL. Among other
notable academic achievements, Jessica was honored with the Dean's
Fellowship from New York University in the Masters of Sports Business
Program, from which she holds a Masters degree. Jessicas' email is ja@americanyouthfootball.com
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 assists with
interpretations and conducts research in supporting AYF President Joe Galat. Jims' email is ayftaft@aol.com
Prior to joining AYF, Kristin held various roles at General Electric, the United States Tennis Association, the Boston Red Sox, the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League and Octagon Worldwide. Her event experience includes a variety of sports-related functions, including MLB’s 2005 All-Star Weekend and charitable 5k road races for the United Way. Kristin is a graduate of NYU’s Sports Business Master’s program and completed her undergraduate work at Boston College. Kristins' email is kwalker@americanyouthfootball.com
Over the past 14
years, William Brown has held the following positions: High School Football Coach, Connecticut Coaching Academy Director,
Connecticut High School Coaches Association Nike Coach Of The Year Clinic
Director, Youth Football League Conference Vice Commissioner and League Association President, Football Summer Camp
Director, Football Clinic Speaker, Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Youth
Ministry Leader. Bill is a successful entrepreneur,
who is committed to helping his community through donations and educational seminars. His 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 HS coach, and that which was modeled for him by
his father. “How you touch kids’ lives
and how they see change in themselves for the better is what makes a coach
successful. Bills' email is bill@americanyouthfootball.com
Starting in 2009 Elizabeth was appointed AYF Communications Director and quickly made great progress in the strategic developement of AYC, as a result, Elizabeth has been named AYC National Director and coordinates all AYC Cheer and Dance Programs. Elizabeth holds a BA in Business Communications from The University of Michigan. She brings much experience, humor and passion from her past positions in public relations, marketing, and management. She held these positions at Ford Motor Company, Marketing Associates, Valassis Communications and Woodland Paper. Elizabeths' email is ebray@americanyouthfootball.com or cheer@americanyouthfootball.com
In 2008 Deidrea was AYC's acting Southeast Regional Representative, but during the Annual Leadership meeting she introduced AYC to STEP, and we never looked back. Step has added a new exciting dimension to AYC nationwide and is in line with AYCs goals of being inclusive to all youth cheer/dance programs and staying on the cutting edge of whats happening in our communities. Diedrea resides in Tampa, FL and remains in charge of the AYC Step Program. Deidreas' email is step@americanyouthfootball.com
Shannon has been involved in youth football as both a coach and an administator in Northern Virginia where his associations teams won 4 AYF championship titles and engaged in substantial Giving Back projects. Shannon has been involved in AYF on a national level since 2005 when we helped establish the Virginia AYF Alliance. Since 2007 Shannon served as AYF's National Membership Coordinator assisting new member organizations in the U.S and internationally to either join existing AYF organizations or start new AYF organizations. Shannon is a senior civilian attorney with the Dept of the Navy and a retired Marine Corps Reserve Lieutenant Colonel. Shannons emails is shannon@americanyouthfootball.com
Faye
brings twenty years of experience in the publishing and marketing field and has held
management positions in working with Price-Waterhouse and Holt Renfrew. Faye now overees AYF Staff and Personnel.
Paige has been serving AYFs members and executive board since 2005. Paige holds her Masters in Education and shares her passion of scholarship and education with the participants of the AYF Community. Paiges' email is forms@americanyouthfootball.com
Andre has a passion for the stripes. In 2006, Andre joined the AYF Team and continually provides guidance to AYF Referees. Andre is charged with the difficult tasks of providing the best Refs in youth football for the 140+ games played during National Championship week.