National Headquarters
Positive Coaching Alliance
1001 N. Rengstorff Ave., Suite 100
Mountain View, CA 94043
Toll Free #: 866-725-0024
FAX #: 650-969-1650
pca@positivecoach.org
Jim Thompson
Executive Director
O: 650-210-0803
E: jim@positivecoach.org
Jim Thompson is founder and Executive Director of Positive Coaching Alliance, a non-profit formed at Stanford University with the mission to create a movement to transform the culture of youth sports so that all youth athletes have a positive, character-building experience.
For more than 10 years, Jim was director of the Public and Global Management Programs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he also taught courses in leadership and non-profit issues. US News named Stanford’s Public Management Program the top nonprofit business management program in the nation in 1992.
He has a degree in elementary education from the University of North Dakota, a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Oregon, and an MBA from Stanford.
Since its founding in 1998, Positive Coaching Alliance has developed a network of more than 130 trainers across the U.S., who have delivered 5,000 workshops for youth sports leaders, coaches, parents and athletes. Jim was named one of the Top 100 Sports Educators in the U.S. by the Institute for International Sport in October 2007. Dan Doyle, IIS Executive Director, described PCA as “the finest organization of its kind in the United States.”
In March 2004, Jim was named an International Fellow by Ashoka: Innovators for the Public - an organization that recognizes outstanding social entrepreneurs.
He is the author of four books: The Double-Goal Coach, Positive Coaching, and Shooting in the Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership, and his most recent, Positive Coaching in a Nutshell.
Jim is a member of the faculty in Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program where he teaches courses in coaching, leadership and sport and spirituality.
Tina Syer
Associate Director
1004 B O'Reilly Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94129
O: 415-202-0905
Fax: 415-202-0716
E: tina@positivecoach.org
Tina is responsible for all strategic business development activities for PCA. Prior to assuming her current role, Tina served as Director of Development and before that as Director of PCA's Partner Programs. She produced PCA's "Double-Goal Coach Workshop CD-ROM," as well as two videos for PCA: "Phil Jackson on Positive Coaching" and "Honoring the Game: A Vision of a Positive Youth Sport Culture." Her work for PCA has also included keynote presentations for organizations such as US Lacrosse, USA Water Polo, AYSO, Special Olympics and US Sailing. Tina played Division I field hockey at Stanford University, where she graduated with Honors in Psychology and was named an Academic All-American. Tina's coaching experience includes seasons at the high school, college and Olympic Development levels.
Heana Simpson
Deputy Director
O: 650-210-0802
E: heana@positivecoach.org
Heana serves as PCA's Deputy Director. She joined PCA in November 2001 to direct and manage the operations growth of the organization. She oversees the functions of finance, human resources, information technology and sales and general operations. Heana spent more than 16 years managing and leading several Silicon Valley-based information technology companies prior to joining PCA. She previously held the positions of President of Reliant Integration Services, COO and President of Masters Institute, and General Manager of Ciber, Inc. and ONEWORLD Software Solutions. Heana has a BS degree in Computer Engineering from University of The Pacific, and has attended Stanford University's Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Growing Companies.
David Shapiro
Director of Partner Development
T: 916-930-9686
E: david@positivecoach.org
David grew up in Boonville, CA, a small town in Northern California. He captained his varsity baseball, basketball, and football teams, and went on to play college baseball at the University of California at Davis (UCD). David’s work experience includes positions with the AAA baseball team in Sacramento (the Rivercats) and with the California Community College Commission on Athletics.
David’s coaching experience includes time spent in Germany being a player/coach for a Professional Baseball Club. While in Germany, he also taught English and coached baseball at a local high school. David also developed a 5th and 6th grade basketball program in his hometown of Boonville, CA, so he is very familiar with the challenges that youth sports organizers face today. In addition to being the Director of Partner Development for Positive Coaching Alliance, David is currently the Assistant Varsity Baseball coach at Rio Americano HS in Sacramento.
Joe Scally
Director of Training
4611 N. Ravenswood Ave., Suite 207
Chicago, IL 60640
O: 630-395-9145
Fax: 773-506-2955
E: joe_scally@positivecoach.org
Joe Scally is responsible for ongoing national recruitment and development of PCA’s corps of elite trainers who provide world-class workshops. Joe's earlier career as a lawyer and child clinical counselor focused on improving the lives of children and families, including stints with the Children and Family Justice Center of Northwestern Law School, the Institute for Juvenile Research, and the ASSETS Clinic of the University of Chicago Hospital. Joe holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, an MA in child clinical psychology from DePaul University, and a JD from the University of Illinois.
Growing up in Chicago, Joe played baseball, basketball and football, including linebacker on a Brother Rice HS team that played for the Catholic League championship at Soldier Field and was ranked first in the state. Joe began coaching in college and has coached football, basketball and soccer. He is currently head coach of the Roadrunners FC high school girls team. Joe has two daughters who compete in swimming, volleyball and soccer.
Kathy Toon
Product Development Manager
T: 650-279-8879
E: kathy@positivecoach.org
Kathy serves as PCA's Manager of Product Development, drawing on her extensive experience in training, product design and multimedia production. Kathy formerly coached tennis at the University of California at Berkeley and consults with numerous Division I teams as a performance enhancement coach.
David Jacobson
Marketing Communications Manager
T: 650-210-0808
E: david_jacobson@positivecoach.org
David determines, distills and disseminates PCA's marketing messages. He draws on experience gained from running SponsorWrite and from serving in past editorial and promotional positions with The Exordium Group and IEG Sponsorship Report. David also coaches his children and other elementary school students in baseball and softball and has coached and officiated basketball and flag football. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota.
Lindsay Schedeler
Program Management Associate
1004 B O'Reilly Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94129
O: 415-202-0901
Fax: 415-202-0716
E: lindsay_schedeler@positivecoach.orgLindsay manages PCA's National Youth Sports Awards sponsored by Deloitte, Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship Awards Program sponsored by Deloitte, the National Student-Athlete Advisory Board and the Thriving Athlete Initiative. Before joining PCA she worked with Net Impact as a Conference Manager and participated in the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Lindsay also has spent time working on various election campaigns and at the United States Senate. A volleyball scholarship took Lindsay to Fordham University where she graduated with a degree in International Political Economy and Business Administration. She currently coaches with Slainte Volleyball Club in San Francisco and is an avid triathlete.
Emily Wyffels
Communications Associate
T: 650-210-0810
E: emily_Wyffels@positivecoach.org
Emily administers the "PCA Champions” grassroots volunteer corps and PCA's Web 2.0 initiatives. Before joining PCA, Emily completed a year in community service with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, gaining experience in leveraging and managing volunteers with nonprofit organizations across the country. Emily earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, where she played varsity soccer for four years and served as a team captain her senior year. Following her playing career, Emily spent two seasons as the assistant coach for Cornell Women’s Soccer and holds a United States Soccer Federation National “D” License. In 2006, Emily served as the Cornell Summer Soccer Camps Director and Head Coach as well as the soccer instructor for the Cornell University Department of Physical Education. Emily coached the Youth Development Program and U13 girls club team with the Tompkins County United Soccer Club in Ithaca, NY and has four years experience in coaching youth and college soccer camps.
Courtney Nolan
Sr. Partner Account Representative
4611 N. Ravenswood Ave., Suite 207
Chicago, IL 60640
O: 773-506-6088
Fax: 773-506-2955
E: courtney_nolan@positivecoach.org
Courtney services PCA Partnerships in the Chicago, Houston and Milwaukee regions and oversees the Account Management department at PCA. Before joining PCA in 2006, Courtney was a Broadcast Producer and Account Executive with Young & Rubicam Advertising in Chicago. She has a BA in Journalism from Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where she played soccer for four years. Courtney continues her involvement in athletics today through her participation in various Chicago adult sports leagues, including softball and soccer.
Colleen Mallon
Partner Account Representative
4611 N. Ravenswood Ave., Suite 207
Chicago, IL 60640
O: 773-506-2944
Fax: 773-506-2955
E: colleen_mallon@positivecoach.org
Colleen serves as the Account Manager for partners in our New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and out of territory regions. Through her own experience, as both an athlete and observer of her father's 30 years of coaching through the Chicago Park District, she has witnessed first hand the transforming impact of a positive sports experience. Before joining PCA, Colleen was an Account Executive at Edelman Public Relations in Chicago. She has a BA in Communications/Public Relations from Columbia College.
National Office Staff Directory
Vincent Bantilan, Database Administrator - vince@positivecoach.org, 650-210-0807
Colin Brush, Partner Account/Office Administrator - colin@positivecoach.org, 650-210-0800
Anne Craighill, Executive Assistant - Anne_Craighill@positivecoach.org, 650-210-0803
Judy Dillenbeck, Accounting Specialist - judy@positivecoach.org, 650-210-0804
Sonja Falldorf, Trainer Coordinator - sonja@positivecoach.org, 831-457-4522
Katherine Hopkins, Partner Account Administrator, katherine_hopkins@positivecoach.org, 650-210-0806
Silvia Rivas, Partnership Administrator - silvia@positivecoach.org, 408-846-9619
Hannah Rombawa, Partner Account Administrator - hannah_rombawa@positivecoach.org, 650-210-0809
Paul Yasutake, IT Application Specialist - paul_yasutake@positivecoach.org, 650-210-0811