The JVA is pleased to announce that Emily Hawthorne has been re-elected to the JVA Board of Directors, and Steve Sack has been elected to the JVA Board of Directors for a three year term to begin January 2021.
“Steve’s resume and accomplishments bleed advocacy and serving others. He was instrumental for our organization over the past year as the Chairman of the Financial Committee as he looked for areas to save and areas to bring in revenue. Thanks to Steve’s guidance, we have been able to keep JVA viable and moving forward. But Steve didn’t just do this for JVA, he assisted many clubs across the country. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him represent the JVA membership on the Board of Directors” shares JVA Executive Director Jenny Hahn.
As a member of the JVA for the past eight years, Steve has become a leader in the junior volleyball community, and someone other directors could rely on. He has been an owner and manager of Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy since 2010, turning a 60 team, financially distressed organization into a successful 150 team organization, which offers a full complement of programs across 6 locations, including club teams, camps, lessons, power leagues and tournaments. This summer Steve played an important role in the PLAY Coalition Grassroots Committee, spending countless hours working with individuals locally and nationally to advocate for a Congressional bill to provide support for the volleyball and youth sports industry, including several meetings with Congressional Representatives to discuss the bill and advocate for their support. During the pandemic he spent countless hours assisting clubs with questions ranging from PPP loan applications to disinfecting and cleaning protocols as well as other club operational issues, all while presenting on webinars and participating in numerous calls for the JVA and LeagueApps.
In addition to these contributions, Steve also organized a local group of over 20 club directors that have been meeting virtually during the pandemic to assist each other and stay connected. He currently serves as the JVA Finance Committee Chairman, and is a member of the JVA Education Committee and a Mentor in the JVA Club Mentor Program.
“I joined JVA because of my belief in their mission to support junior clubs across the country. I hope to bring a wealth of experience in assisting small and large volleyball organizations with the business of building and operating a successful volleyball club. I truly enjoy working with clubs across the country, sharing best practices and discussing how to improve all aspects of a club’s operations. My diverse set of experiences in youth sports provides me with a valuable perspective into the unique issues associated with running both small and large organizations” shares Steve.
Emily Hawthorne has served on the JVA Board since 2018, and during that time, she has supported the staff and members by assisting with programming, providing resources, serving on committees, and mentoring other club directors. She is the Club Director of The Academy Volleyball Club and has been a member of the JVA for the past 10 years. Emily was most recently named the 2020 AVCA Club Director of the Year.
“My passion is in helping other clubs and directors grow and manage their organizations, so I’d love to assist with grassroots marketing and mentor programs. With the current climate in youth sports, COVID-19, and the world right now, it is harder than ever to run a club and small business. I would love to do what I can to help other directors be successful!” shares Emily.
“We are happy to welcome Emily back to the JVA Board. She is always eager to help in any way that she can, and has really stepped up for the JVA and our members during the past year when we needed her leadership the most” adds Jenny Hahn.
About the JVA Board of Directors
The members of the JVA Board of Directors serve a 3 year term, beginning January 2021. The JVA Board of Directors governs, assures financial stability, develops policy and sets a course for the future, maintaining focus on the mission and guiding principles.
It is important to the JVA that we shape a board with a broad base of leadership capabilities and one which represents our JVA member base. The overall growth of youth and junior club volleyball continues to be exciting and brings many new opportunities and challenges to our membership primarily comprised of club directors and coaches. The JVA staff with the support and guidance of the JVA Board of Directors is committed to serving as a vital resource to support that growth.
About the Junior Volleyball Association
The Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) is a non-profit organization that promotes the growth of youth and junior volleyball through program and resource development, education and events. The organization was formed in 2006 with a primary focus of being a voice for junior volleyball club directors and coaches, and to this day with nearly 1,300 member clubs, is the only organization that is focused entirely on youth and junior volleyball.
