Lisa joined the JVA Staff in December 2013. She has a solid volleyball background at all levels. After completing her volleyball career at Purdue University, she served as the Student Assistant Coach followed by three seasons as the Assistant Volleyball Coach at Samford University where her responsibilities included recruiting, aiding in day to day team training, managing community service functions, and coordination of camps. In 2011 she helped guide the program to its first NCAA appearance.
Message of the Week
Message of the Week
One of the things I’ve come to value most in this role is the relationships we build within this space. This industry is built on competition, but more importantly, it’s built on people. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to form relationships that go beyond business. Some start professionally, but a few turn into genuine friendships, and those are the ones that make the volleyball community so special.
Last week brought a number of intense conversations and meetings. I’m going to be honest, by Friday, I was exhausted. Not just physically, but mentally. The kind of exhaustion that comes from navigating hard conversations, weighing difficult decisions, and constantly trying to do what’s right in situations that aren’t always clear.
But I also think that matters. Because if you’re not feeling that weight at times, you’re probably not as invested as you need to be.
Those types of moments have a way of resetting you. You start to ask yourself: who is really here to move the sport forward? Who is here for their own interests? Are we on track in the right direction?
Those questions matter. Because the people you choose to align with both personally and professionally shape not only your experience, but the future of the sport itself.
At JVA, our purpose is clear. We exist to support clubs, to grow the game, and to do what is best for the athletes and the community as a whole. That doesn’t mean every decision is easy. In fact, some are very difficult. There are times when neutrality is necessary, especially within your own regions and among close clubs. But just like you do every day in running your own organization, those decisions have to be grounded in what is right, not just what is easy.
As I start this week, I’m trying to do so with a clear head and a fresh perspective, but also with a renewed sense of conviction. I encourage you to do the same. Listen to the conversations happening around you, but take a step further. Ask whether those ideas truly align with the mission of your organization. Or for JVA, the long-term health of the sport.
And don’t lose sight of the relationships that matter. Know who supports you. Know who is aligned with doing what is right. Those are the people who will continue to push this sport forward in the right way.
At the end of the day, stay grounded in what is best for your club, your athletes, and the game we all care so deeply about. That’s what drives us at JVA, and it’s a big part of why I love what I do.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
One of the things I’ve come to value most in this role is the relationships we build within this space. This industry is built on competition, but more importantly, it’s built on people. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to form relationships that go beyond business. Some start professionally, but a few turn into genuine friendships, and those are the ones that make the volleyball community so special.
Last week brought a number of intense conversations and meetings. I’m going to be honest, by Friday, I was exhausted. Not just physically, but mentally. The kind of exhaustion that comes from navigating hard conversations, weighing difficult decisions, and constantly trying to do what’s right in situations that aren’t always clear.
But I also think that matters. Because if you’re not feeling that weight at times, you’re probably not as invested as you need to be.
Those types of moments have a way of resetting you. You start to ask yourself: who is really here to move the sport forward? Who is here for their own interests? Are we on track in the right direction?
Those questions matter. Because the people you choose to align with both personally and professionally shape not only your experience, but the future of the sport itself.
At JVA, our purpose is clear. We exist to support clubs, to grow the game, and to do what is best for the athletes and the community as a whole. That doesn’t mean every decision is easy. In fact, some are very difficult. There are times when neutrality is necessary, especially within your own regions and among close clubs. But just like you do every day in running your own organization, those decisions have to be grounded in what is right, not just what is easy.
As I start this week, I’m trying to do so with a clear head and a fresh perspective, but also with a renewed sense of conviction. I encourage you to do the same. Listen to the conversations happening around you, but take a step further. Ask whether those ideas truly align with the mission of your organization. Or for JVA, the long-term health of the sport.
And don’t lose sight of the relationships that matter. Know who supports you. Know who is aligned with doing what is right. Those are the people who will continue to push this sport forward in the right way.
At the end of the day, stay grounded in what is best for your club, your athletes, and the game we all care so deeply about. That’s what drives us at JVA, and it’s a big part of why I love what I do.
With a lot of gratitude,
Lisa
