“When I found i9 Sports and heard of their philosophy of rewarding players for teamwork or determination…ALL children deserve a safe, comfortable, and fun place to play!”

What inspired you to become an i9 Sports owner?

I was in an IT career for over 20 years and enjoyed the work, loved my team, coworkers, etc. but I also had a longing for something more meaningful and impactful. I put off a career change because nothing stood out to me until the i9 Sports opportunity appeared and I knew in my heart that it was a good fit.

When I found i9 Sports and heard of their philosophy of rewarding players for teamwork or determination instead of MVPs and winning at all costs it made me think every child should start their sports journey this way. This approach creates a foundation of teamwork and fun, helping young athletes never forget the reasons they play the game even if they are destined to move on to the elite levels. While most children are not going to rise to that elite level, but ALL children deserve a safe, comfortable, and fun place to play!

What do you love most about your job?

My favorite part of this job is seeing the players learning and having fun on game day! But I also really love that what we do is good for the entire community. Yes, we provide a fun and healthy outlet for kids and parents, but we also offer full-time and part-time jobs for people in the community, along with rental income for schools, parks departments, and churches. It is just an overall feel-good career!

I also love collaborating with the full-time team daily. We are serious when we need to be to work toward our goals and we laugh with and at each other to keep it light and fun in the office, too.

What do you think is the most important skill that a successful franchisee should have?

Multi-tasking and team building. This is not a job where you can follow a set procedure of step 1 do this, step 2 do that. You wear many hats when you start – accounting, marketing, HR/hiring, purchasing, inventory, communications, operations(rosters/divisions/schedules), training staff, recruiting volunteer coaches, etc. They all must be done in parallel to be successful, so the ability to multi-task is important. If a franchisee has a long-term vision of growth, then finding, training, and retaining a good team becomes the most important thing.

“There is no need to reinvent the wheel – lots of people have proven that if you just run good leagues, train your staff well, and follow the plan it'll work!”

What was something that came up as a franchise owner that you did not anticipate?

One of the negatives was new hires not showing up for their 1st shift! Opening Day of my first season was a disaster because I hired a lot of people who seemed awesome in their interviews, but they just didn't show up – it was super stressful! My preseason planning was nothing without the helping hands to pull it off. It was mind-boggling that anyone would do that to kids!

Despite the initial experience, I didn't realize there would be such a supportive group of fellow franchisees to ask advice from and lean on for support. We have an amazing network! Between the home office support and the franchisee network, I feel truly blessed and lucky to be a part of i9 Sports!

Beyond the above, I wasn’t anticipating being able to utilize as much of my IT background as I have. My technical knowledge has allowed me to efficiently and effectively navigate the digital side of the business.

If you had one piece of advice to give to new franchisees, what would it be?

Follow the advice of the home office rather than trying to put too much of your spin on your business. I tried to be creative early on – unnecessary equipment and processes that just wasted time and money. There is no need to reinvent the wheel – lots of people have proven that if you just run good leagues, train your staff well, and follow the plan it'll work! I also highly recommend attending all home office virtual calls, and conventions and gathering phone numbers of other owners.

“Women are so creative and resilient; we find ways to lead with strength and heart, no matter what!”

How do you feel as a female entrepreneur in a primarily male-dominated industry?

It’s more frustrating than intimidating, but I’ve learned to roll with it. I know I have a strong foundation in this industry, a solid business mindset, and great ideas, all aimed at helping kids, families, employees, and volunteer coaches. The challenge? If I were a guy, I’m pretty sure my ideas and leadership style wouldn’t be questioned half as much. As a woman, any act of assertiveness seems to get me labeled as “evil” (let’s skip the other word). I recently watched Ellen’s last stand-up special, and she made a brilliant point about how she got fired for being “mean.” She had the crowd laughing, but there was a deeper message about how women in leadership are often seen as bossy or harsh, while men get a free pass. I didn’t even know what her show was about when I tuned in, but I was able to relate to strongly.

I’ve never been considered “mean” in my life—whether in childhood, college, or my 20+ years in IT. I was raised to be kind, courteous, and a good listener. But as a small business owner, I’ve learned that sometimes a soft approach just doesn’t cut it. When results are on the line for the whole team, I’ve got to be more assertive. And every time Ido, I hear the whispers: “She’s being so mean.” I’m still working on finding that perfect balance of assertiveness without crossing into “mean” territory...something men rarely must worry about. But hey, that’s why women are so creative and resilient; we find ways to lead with strength and heart, no matter what!

What excites you the most about the next two years?

I have recently expanded beyond my original territory and I'm very excited to crack the code of multi-unit ownership. I have and will continue to use my advice of leveraging the home office and franchisee network to get advice and guidance in this space. I'm also very excited about expansion within the existing territories with things like Tennis, Nike Kids Camp, All-Girls Programs, Discovery Programs, Athlete Development, Beginner and Advanced Clinics, After School Programs, etc.! There is so much opportunity to bring more programs and more fun to children in our communities. Every child is different. Not every child or parent is looking for a league, so we will be allowing them to choose from a list of more customized and comfortable programs.

“I'm very excited to crack the code of multi-unit ownership…There is so much opportunity to bring more programs and more fun to children in our communities.”

Who are some of your biggest influences?

At i9 Sports – Scott Read, Steve Cox and his PD Anthony Valenti, Jeff Mackey, and Micah Nisley. All them are generous with their time and willingness to share ideas that work well for them! I can't thank them and the home office enough for the support they've given me over the years.

In my personal life – my family, specifically my mom and dad. They're the best parents anyone could ever ask for! They gave us all that we needed and most of what we wanted without spoiling us – they taught us how to work hard to get what we wanted but to never have our hand out expecting anything. My brother, sister, and I are all hard workers and good people with good hearts who help each other and would help a friend or even a stranger in need, the way our parents taught us to be. I feel blessed to be a part of such an awesome family!

Have you found yourself becoming a mentor? If so, in what ways has your support improved the development of your mentees?

I recently took a call from good friends of mine who are looking into owning a franchise in a different industry. I also take calls from i9 Sports prospective franchisees to answer their questions and provide as much guidance as possible. Aside from this, I do not currently pay forward the mentoring because I've been busy with the expansion into multiple territories. Once things settle down, I plan to get back to participating in the network and would be happy to mentor a new owner or friends/family outside the industry.

Can you recall an experience that made an impact on you?

I am a former Division 1 player who missed out on a childhood dream to play in the NCAA Final Four because I forgot the whole reason why I started playing basketball was for the love and fun of the game.

As a kid, I loved summer basketball camp so much that my dad drove me from one camp to another all summer, and I wouldn’t have traded it for a typical break. While my friends had posters of New Kids On The Block, my walls were decorated with Women's Final Four and Olympic basketball posters. But as I progressed in the sport, winning championships and MVP awards, I lost sight of that original love for the game. By high school, I was more focused on accolades than enjoyment, and a devastating injury caused by overtraining to secure an All-American bid and prepare for college, kept me sidelines my entire senior year.

I had signed early with Notre Dame, but when I arrived in South Bend and doctors finally cleared me to play, I struggled athletically and saw little playing time. I felt average and unimportant, despite being part of a prestigious team. If I had remembered why I started playing—just for the love of the game—I would have celebrated by cutting down the net with my teammates when they went to the Final Four in my sophomore year. Instead, I had quit the team earlier that year, thinking I would transfer somewhere else to be a star. When Notre Dame made the Final Four, I watched from home, fighting back tears so my family would not know how much it hurt.

I ultimately returned to Notre Dame, and while we never made it back to the Final Four before I graduated, I look back with pride on my role as a supporting teammate—giving my best at practice, taking elbows, and even a black eye to help prepare the starters. I had the privilege of playing alongside incredible women like Ruth Riley (Hallof Famer, Olympic gold medalist, WNBA MVP), Danielle Green (ESPY winner and Purple Heart recipient), and Niele Ivey, our witty point guard who is now the head coach of Notre Dame after Muffet McGraw's retirement. I will always wear my Fighting Irish gear with pride! This experience had a major impact on me, and it is one of many reasons why I love the approach i9 Sports takes to youth sports.

“If I can inspire even one girl to believe in herself, it makes me happy.”

What is a cause that you are passionate about?

Equality, both for women and other under-represented people. Equal treatment and support are essential to breaking down the remaining barriers between women’s and men’s sports. As I think about this, I recall when a woman introduced herself and her daughter to me at the field. When she told her daughter I was the league owner, the mom said, "You should look up to her. One day, you can be the leader of whatever you choose!" It warmed my heart because, while I don't have a glamorous careerlike some of my former teammates, if I can inspire even one girl to believe in herself, it makes me happy.

Moving beyond the world of sports, I feel the best way we can help move the needle is by continuing the conversation about women’s rights and equality for all. The causes of this will not go away unless they are addressed, and I do not feel this will be possible if they fade into the background. Furthermore, as someone who is creating a positive environment for young sports players, it is important to make sure those from under-represented demographics have better opportunities in their future.

What is something surprising that people might not know about you?

• If they never met me, then it is almost always a surprise to find out that I'm 6'4.

• I have 1 son, Aaron, who is 12 years old and the best kid ever (not biased at all)! He is already 6 ft and he is in a Chinese Immersion program (half of his school day is taught in Mandarin).  He is taking the AP exam for college credit at the end of this year (7th grade!!).  And, while he doesn't share my passion for sports, he plays the piano and flute and is trying out for the All-State band.  Whether he passes the AP test or makes the cut at auditions doesn't matter - I'm proud of him for being brave enough to try!

• We love animals and have 2 cats, Mittens and Mouse! Mouse has talent, such as opening doors!

• I taught myself how to juggle (during downtime from the injury in HS)

Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.

Beyond DIY projects around my house and traveling with my son, I was in a pottery class with my former teammate, Danielle Green. We used to go to the studio beyond class time to make pots, blow off steam after practice, etc. It was so fun and a huge stress relief. I would love to find a studio (and free time!!) to revisit this therapeutic hobby and even teach my son how to throw pots (make pots on awheel, not break things haha!).