Board of Directors & Officers

General Powers. The affairs of USA Cheer are managed and governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has primary responsibility for the programs of USA Cheer by determining strategy and policy and exercising oversight related thereto, and approving actions of any committees it appoints to administer or implement these programs.

Board Makeup. The Board consists of fifteen individuals. Members of the Board may consist of both males and females, and shall be selected without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex or national origin.

Election. The current Board of Directors is composed as follows, and elected or appointed to represent the constituencies set forth below:

Kaitlynn Vollmer is in her 5th season as an Oklahoma State University cheerleader and STUNT athlete. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2022 and will graduate with a Master’s in Accounting in the spring of 2023.

Vollmer participated in all-star cheerleading as a member of Twist and Shout Obsession (2016-2019) and earned a silver medal at The Cheerleading World Championship in 2019. During her time at Oklahoma State (2018-present), she has won one NCA College National Championship, three College STUNT National Championships, and one College Group Stunt National Championship. Vollmer was also a member of Team USA All-Girl in 2019 and 2020 and is a 2019 ICU silver medalist.

She worked as an NCA instructor in 2021 teaching college cheerleading camps across the country. She also served as Assistant Coach for Stillwater High School Cheer/STUNT in 2020 and 2021, and Head Coach in 2022. She joined the USA Cheer Board of Directors in 2022 and is currently working in the Accounting Department of Oklahoma State Athletics.

Oklahoma state 2009-2015
USA Cheer National Team 2013-2022
5 time NCA College champion
2 time Allstar World champion with Twist and Shout Genesis 2012 and Cheer Athletics Claw 2018
10 time gold medalist and 1 time silver medalist with USA Cheer

Ben Schreiber is in his 8th season as the head coach and head of the spirit program at The Ohio State University. Schreiber, who cheered for the Buckeyes from 2004-07, came to Ohio State after spending five years as head cheerleading coach at the University of Delaware, where he led the Blue Hens to the 2014 UCA Division I Large Coed National Championship, along with second-place finishes in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. In addition, Schreiber added an all-girl team in the fall of 2011, expanding the Delaware cheerleading program to two teams.

Since returning to Columbus, Schreiber has led the Buckeyes to top 8 finishes in the highly competitive 1A Large Coed Division at the UCA Collegiate National Championships including a 2nd place finish in 2019- the highest for the program since 2001 and two 3rd place finishes in 2018 and 2022.
Ben was a staff member with the Universal Cheerleaders Association for 11 years including 9 years teaching college camps across the US and at the international level.

After arriving at Delaware in 2007 for graduate school, Schreiber served as a graduate assistant for the cheerleading team. As a cheerleader, he helped lead UD to two second-place finishes at the UCA College National Cheerleading Championships and in 2008 placed first out of 42 couples in the UCA College Partner Stunt qualification.

In the 2010 Schreiber was a member of the 2010 USA Coed National Cheerleading team that successfully won the 2010 International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships. In 2011, he placed second in the NCA Collegiate Open Partner Stunt National Championship. In 2015 Ben was again on the US National Coed Team.

A native of Ohio, Schreiber earned his bachelor’s degree in sports humanities from Ohio State in 2007 and received his master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Delaware in 2011.

Ryan Martin O’Connor is currently the head coach of the University of Kentucky Cheerleading and Mascot Program. She comes to Kentucky after building up the spirit programs at both Ole Miss and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

O’Connor is a former University of Kentucky Cheerleader (2008-2009) and a former University of Alabama Cheerleader (2009-2013) where she was a part of the 2011 UCA National Championship team. O’Connor was also a member of Team USA Coed in 2011, 2012 and Team USA All Girl in 2013 and took home three gold medals from the ICU World Championships.

In high school, O’Connor was a member of Paul Laurence Dunbar High school’s cheerleading team that won 4 UCA National Titles, 5 KAPOS State Championship titles and one UCA Group Stunt title.

O’Connor is a Lexington, KY native and is married to Kyle O’Connor and has two sons, Michael and Noah.

Asia Chatman grew up in Central Florida where her passion for cheerleading began. She participated in all-star cheerleading at Orlando Allstars, formally known as Top Gun Orlando while Simultaneously being a varsity athlete at Winter Park High School. In 2020, Asia was nominated to be inducted in Winter Park High School’s Sports Hall of Fame for Competitive Cheerleading.

After high school, Asia moved to Carrollton, Georgia to continue her journey as a cheerleader at the University of West Georgia. During her time, she won two UCA College National Championships and became a member of the All-Girl U.S National Team in 2018 and 2019. She also worked as an UCA instructor teaching both high school and college cheer camps across the country. She had the honor of being a member of the core staff that trained other UCA staff instructors in different regions. After her time as an athlete, Asia took a full-time position with V!ROC choreographing routines, heading skills camps, and more.

Asia immediately transitioned into an all-girl cheerleading coach at the University of West Georgia. She has led the all-girl team to a back-to-back win at the UCA college national championship. Because of the team’s success, during COVID, they were chosen to represent the USA in the 2021 ICU Virtual Championship. Two short months later, Asia was asked to join the U.S National Team coaching staff as an assistant coach for the premier all girl team. Asia continues to share her knowledge in the cheerleading industry as the Georgia state director for UCA and NCA, as a coach, choreographer, and instructor.

Rhonda Blanford-Green has been a transformative leader and performer since her early days as a stand-out, beginning with field day through her representation on several High School, National Collegiate (NCAA) Championship and USA Track and Field teams. Rhonda’s diverse background includes participation and integration with club, high school, collegiate and/or the professional levels in student leadership, cheer/dance, track and field, volleyball, coaching, sport’s administration, non-profits, motivational speaking, corporate relations, and board representation.

Rhonda was the first black female in the history (101 years of high school athletic and activity association) to lead a state organization on the national stage. She follows that as the first, woman and of color to serve as the President of USA Cheer. She has served on and/or chaired several committees including the inaugural USA Cheer, the National Federation of High School (NFHS) Spirit, Track and Field, Appeals, Citizenship/Equity and Middle School. She has represented at the table for organizational policy formations, revisions, and implementation at all levels from middle school, high school, collegiate, non-profit, and professional. She was the first honored recipient of “The Ronnie Carter-National Spirit Administrator” award.

She currently serves as the USA Cheer-President, Executive Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Educational Opportunities for SchoolToday, a member of the Executive Board of Global Community of Women in Sports, the Executive Board of Safe Sport Zone, along with other advocacy impact organizations.

Co-Founder and Executive Director – ParaCheer Spirit NFP – December 2017 to Present
Board of Directors, USA Cheer – 2020- present
Safety and Education Committee for Peoples with Disabilities, International Cheer Union (the
Global Governing Body for Cheer). – 2017- present
Safety, Events and Education Committee, Special Olympics International and North America –
2018- present
US Adaptive Abilities Nationals Team Head Coach 2018-present
Instructor and Territory Manager-UCA-December 1994-2008
30 years in Cheerleading Industry
Safety and Panel Judge
American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors Safety Certifier
National Federation of High Schools Credentialer USASF Credentialer
STUNT Official and Judge (2013 and 2022)
ICU Rules Comprehension Course
ICU Judges Education Course
ICU Coaching Skill Credentialing Programme

1st AID and CPR Certified

NFHS Athlete Concussion Awareness in Sports
NFHS Coaching an Athlete with a Disability
USA Cheer Safety and Risk Management
USA Cheer and Special Olympics Background Checks
USA Cheer Maltreatment Training

Bill Seely is a graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where he received a degree in sports management and was a four-year letterman. Bill is a husband and father of four and currently serves as President of Varsity Spirit. Bill was on the founding board for the USASF, helped to create USA Cheer, the US National Teams and STUNT the Sport. Bill served as the inaugural Executive Director of USA Cheer, then as the President of the Board and currently serves on the board of directors. In addition, Bill commentates for ESPN and CBS Sports.

Bill is very active in the Memphis community as well. Bill founded Crosscheck Athletics, a Christian youth sports organization in Memphis that develops the total athlete and provides programming for at risk youth. He is chairman of the board for the Leadership Empowerment Center, a youth leadership program in Memphis, has served 8 years as the President of the Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association, Chairs the Memphis Youth Mentoring committee for the city of Memphis as a Chairmans Circle Member of the Chamber of Commerce and was recognized by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) as the West Tennessee Community Leader of the Year.

Christa Grizzle Sanford cheered at the high school and college level, attending Raceland High School in Raceland, KY and then cheered on the all-girl and coed squads at Morehead State University. She then coached at Morehead and Shelton State Community College, both resulting in multiple national titles. Christa currently serves as the head coach for the University of Alabama coed program as well as assistant coordinator for all of the UA spirit programs. Christa has coached the USA Cheer Coed National Team since 2014 to multiple gold medal finishes!

Justin Carrier is a former high school and all star cheerleading coach and choreographer. He worked for Cheer Athletics in his early years and has been with NCA/NDA/Varsity Spirit since 1995. He was ranked as the Top Rookie Instructor, Top Veteran Instructor, NCA Head Instructor of the Year and won the NCA/NDA Legacy Award in 2005. He has served in many different positions with his company and is currently the Varsity All Star Vice President of Customer Experience. Justin speaks at numerous Coaches and Cheerleading conferences around the country and developed the original Varsity All Star Scoring System in 2010. Justin co-authored the book, Complete Cheerleading, available through Human Kinetics. Justin holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and serves on various committees, including the USASF Rules Committee and National Advisory Board. Justin was inducted into the USASF Hall of Fame in 2010, and he joined the USASF Board of Directors in 2011.

Celia Kiogima is in her ninth season as head coach and twelfth season overall with the Davenport Cheer and STUNT programs.

Kiogima led the Panthers to the 2015, 2016, 2017 NCA DIII National Championship. She also led the team to 2022 and 2023 NCA DII National Championship! In addition, Kiogima and the Panthers captured the STUNT National Championship in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and recently in 2023. She has also led the Panthers to the Varsity STUNT National Championship in both 2018 and 2019.

She previously served as an assistant coach for Davenport for three years in which the team won the 2013 and 2014 NCA National Championships. In addition, they captured the STUNT National Championship in 2014.

Kiogima serves as the senior director at Champion Cheerleading and is a member of Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan. She was named STUNT Coach of the Year in 2018 and serves as the Communications Chair of the College STUNT Coaches Association.

Bob Dunsheath comes to USA Cheer with a broad range of experience, specializing in finance. Since being appointed in 2011, Bob currently works for the Shelby County Trustee’s Office in Memphis, TN. He has worked as a business consultant, stock trader, real estate investor, and financial consultant after leaving Varsity Brands in 1996. Bob has served as a secretary/treasurer for multiple organizations including Elevate Athletics, Have a Standard Foundation, and Crosscheck Athletics.

Jeffrey R. Dugas, M.D., treats all types of orthopedic sports injuries, including injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee. He maintains a special interest in throwing athletes, since much of his research concentrates in this area. He is board certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and the sub-specialty of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Dugas has contributed significantly to the research of sports medicine. He has published articles and textbook chapters related to injuries of the shoulder and elbow in throwing athletes, vascular injuries in throwers and rotator cuff injuries. He has also published manuscripts on the treatment of knee ligament injuries and the treatment of cartilaginous defects of the knee.

Following his orthopedic training, Dr. Dugas accepted a fellowship in sports medicine at the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) in Birmingham, Alabama, under the direction of James R. Andrews, M.D., and William G. Clancy, Jr., M.D. He was then invited to become a member of the Alabama Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. After its dissolution he became a partner in the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. Additionally, he serves on the Board ofTrustees at ASMI and the American Baseball Foundation (ABF). As a Fellowship Director at ASMI he takes part in clinical and basic research and assists in the instruction of the ASM I sports medicine fellows.

Dr. Dugas holds memberships in numerous medical societies including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
American Medical Association. He is also a member of the NCAA committee for the Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS).

Dr. Dugas is the co-medical director for WWE. He also participates as a team physician for Troy University, Miles College, Vestavia Hills High School, Hoover High School, Spain Park High School, Cordova High School and Bessemer Academy. Dr. Dugas also provides sports medicine assistance for the
Birmingham Barons, the AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, USA Cheer, and the Alabama Ballet.

Dr. Dugas and his wife, Tracie, have a son, Christopher and a daughter, Caroline. They are both avid sports fans and enjoy time together with their children and their families.

Andrés Cantero Jr. is presently an adjunct professor at the USC Gould School of Law and a real estate attorney at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where he joined the firm to help launch the west-coast real estate practice for this global law firm. Prior to his time at Willkie, Andrés has worked at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Rutan & Tucker LLP, Hanson Bridgett LLP and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. Throughout his career, Andrés has represented real estate institutional investors, owners, and developers in mortgage and mezzanine financings, joint venture, leasing and purchase and sale transactions. Andrés has worked on a variety of mixed-use, hospitality, and affordable housing projects, and has experience providing project permitting and entitlement strategy advice, as well as leading complex due diligence review and analysis of local zoning laws and related land use restrictions. Throughout the pandemic, Andrés assisted on some of the largest Chapter 11 filings, provided advice and counsel on distressed assets and supported large teams on complex debt restructuring. Andrés’ greatest legal accomplishment has been as a member of the legal team representing GLP on the largest private real estate transaction in the world, involving the sale of $18.7 billion of industrial assets.

Outside of the firm, Andrés also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Mexican American Bar Foundation, an organization raising scholarship for Latinx law students in Los Angeles. Andrés is also the co-founder and current board member of Los Angeles Room & Board, LA County’s largest nonprofit solely focused on housing young adults experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, coupled with wrap-around services to ensure these young adults can complete their higher education goals. Andrés led the organization to acquire two former motel facilities in partnership with LA County as part of the Project Homekey process to help house over 200 young adults.

Andrés earned his JD from USC Gould School of Law in 2016 and a bachelor’s degree in History from Stanford University in 2012. While at USC, Andrés was the recipient of the Order of Arête, an award representing the highest honor accorded graduate students upon completion of their academic programs, and the inaugural First Generation Professionals Program Student of the Year Award.

Before pursuing his legal career, Andrés competed in gymnastics up to level 8. In high school, Andrés focused on dance, and performed for his school’s hip-hop dance groups. During Andrés’ senior year, Andrés trained at Azarian Gymnastics to try out for Stanford’s Cheer team. At Stanford, Andrés made appearances at USA competitions, as well as performances at various sporting events like the Sun Bowl, PAC-12 Championships, Women’s Basketball Sweet 16 and Final Four Championships. While at Stanford, Andrés also danced for Ralph Lemon and Holly Johnston, focusing on contemporary, lyrical and jazz styles. Andrés also went on to compete with USC’s Competition Cheer team at USA Nationals in 2016. Andrés has also worked summer camps for UCA, and has judged for over a decade for various cheer companies, including events like Division 1 Summit, NCA All Star Nationals, Cheersport Nationals, USA Nationals and UCA Nationals. Andrés was also the former assistant cheerleading coach for the University of California, Berkeley before focusing on his legal career.

Jeff Geldien, Ph.D. is the Assistant Vice President for Academic Development and Major & Planned Gifts at Gonzaga University. Jeff Geldien oversees the major and planned gifts team for the division of University Advancement at Gonzaga. He works collaboratively with all academic deans, athletics and the Office of the Provost to drive resources to support Gonzaga’s strategic plan and University priorities through major and planned giving vehicles.

As Assistant Vice President, Geldien has helped expand the relationship between advancement and academic leadership in which deans are able to more effectively work with gift officers and University Advancement. A 14-year veteran in higher education leadership, Geldien joined Gonzaga University in 2008.

Prior to being appointed as Assistant Vice President in 2018, he most recently served as Assistant Dean of External Relations for the School of Law at Gonzaga where he oversaw all development, alumni relations, marketing, communications, and campaign efforts for the unit. In addition to his development duties, Geldien has spent the past 14 years serving on various University committees which has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the higher education enterprise as well as higher education philanthropy. Geldien holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s and Doctorate in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. He is also a 2022 graduate of the American Academic Leadership Institute’s (AALI) Senior Leadership Academy.

USA Cheer Staff

Lauri Harris

Executive Director
lharris@usacheer.org

Jim Lord

Director of Education and Programs
jlord@usacheer.org

Kaitlyn Lyday

Director of Marketing & Social Media
klyday@usacheer.org

Jessica Chatto

Director of STUNT Operations
jchatto@usacheer.org

Amy Haney

Director of STUNT Expansion – West, Mid-South, & Southeast
ahaney@usacheer.org

Karie Chard

Director of STUNT Expansion – Midwest & Northeast
kchard@usacheer.org

Ransome Harper

Membership & Event Director
rharper@usacheer.org

Board Minutes

Board minutes will be posted once approved at the following board meeting.

2023

2022

2021