MEET THE LEADERS

Our leaders are highly motivated business people with a passion for helping extracurricular activities. Their leadership has provided numerous company's with a high degree of experience, knowledge, skill and expertise. Who better to apply experience and vision to an association that is dedicated to providing the guiding direction for booster clubs across North America.

Steve M. Beden, President
Mr. Beden is the driving force behind the North American Booster Club Association. Working in the role as a booster club president, Mr. Beden helped take a Washington 4A high school and turn its struggling booster club into a well structured and run organization that oversaw 31 booster clubs.

Steve has been recognized in the Fromer's 2001, the National Registers 2002 and most recently the 2007 directories of Who's Who Among American Executives.

From 1991 through 2000 he served as the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Express Payments, a company that helped pioneer the automation of the check draft industry.

Steve brings a considerable amount of business talent and skills to NABCA. He has worked with domestic and international company's assisting in the areas of start-up business and marketing development. Steve played a key role in assisting one of his clients in establishing itself as the fastest growing company in Washington State. This company was listed as number 166 on Inc. Magazine's 1987 list of fastest growing U.S. companies. He directed the company to an overwhelming 1300% increase in sales. Mr. Beden has served on many advisory panels and held positions on various boards. Many non-profit organizations and special interest groups have recognized his involvement, leadership, and development skills with the public sector.

J. Reed Porter, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Porter is a chartered accountant who brings over 25 years of financial and general management experience to the company. He is a talented and proven manager with developed abilities in problem identification/resolution and task organization/delegation, which will make a positive contribution to the net income of the company.

Reed has been responsible for the successful start-up of a number of companies including a $250,000,000 packaging company where he, as Corporate Controller, assisted with its first two public offerings which raised $75,000,000 in eighteen months. Mr. Porter oversaw the systems for corporate reporting (including quarterly reporting and financial preparation and review of the annual report to shareholders), monthly financial and operational analysis, cash management (arranged and administered up to $110,000,000 line of credit) and other daily operations were established. He also was responsible for international taxation (savings ranged from $100,000 to $2,000,000) and acquisition analysis where he analyzed four companies a month for three years where he was responsible to recommend to the President prospective companies to acquire. These companies' purchase prices ranged from $100,000,000 to $300,000,000 and included Lilly Tulip, American Can Canada, Winpak and others. As VP Finance for a Customs Brokerage firm, Mr. Porter negotiated a reduction in an agreed purchase price of $1,400,000 for a related company down to $400,000 in thirty days. As corporate controller he analyzed all aspects of an operation which was losing $1,000,000 annually. Proposed a profitable recovery plan that concentrated on specific product lines, which required a 50% reduction in employees. Worked on strategic planning committees to enhance company growth. Mr. Porter was successful at negotiating many cost reductions and favorable volume discounts which added to the bottom line.

Bobby Jones, Sr. VP of Operations; King & His Court
Mr. Jones was born in Enid, Oklahoma and grew up most of his life in Kansas. Bobby started his booster club career early having always been very active in sports, becoming a letterman in 3 high school sports. Bobby attended college in Waco, TX and received his BBA from Baylor University.

Upon graduation form Baylor University Bobby went to work for Continental Can Company and was responsible for the sales, marketing and servicing of a 10 state territory. He consistently worked with the Executive Management of numerous Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies ensuring the successful delivery of client products to the marketplace. He was later recruited away from Continental Can Company to work for Xerox Corporation.

After leaving Xerox Corporation, he went back to school in Kansas City at the Nazarene Theological Seminary.

Since then Bobby has created a tremendous track record in growing businesses from inception. He has a breadth of experience in multiple industries; having been involved with everything from a photography business he created that served primarily large college campuses where he grew annual revenue by 30% to a dining loyalty program that included 42 restaurants in the state of Arizona. In his first year with AFLAC, Bobby became one of the top 75 agents in the entire United States and qualified for AFLAC Presidents Club.

Bobby is married to his “best friend”, Jan who had been left with six very active athletic sons. He and Jan were very active in the sports programs including coaching and serving as president of the booster club for two separate high schools. Bobby has a daughter and son from a previous marriage.

Bobby has always excelled in building relationships. He has never met a stranger and has a network of business associates and friends all over the country. His ability to network, his background in booster clubs and his knowledge of fundraising will be a great asset to the NABCA family.

ADVISORY BOARD

Kira Au
Kira is the current Head Certified Athletic Trainer at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California. She holds a Master of Science degree in Athletic Training from Indiana State University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from the University of La Verne.

As a former high school and collegiate athlete, Kira is dedicated to providing athletes with the best quality health care possible. Kira truly understands the importance and benefits of having access to a Certified Athletic Trainer and firmly believes that all secondary schools should seek to employ a Certified Athletic Trainer as the health and safety of athletes should be a top priority in all athletic programs.

From 2000 to 2002 Kira coached high school athletics. She served as an Assistant Water Polo and Swimming Coach at St. Lucy’s Priory High School and Claremont High School, both in southern California. Kira was very involved with the Water Polo and Swimming Booster Club at Claremont High School. She has a strong awareness and appreciation for the the value that a well organized booster club can bring to a extrecurricular program.

As a Certified Athletic Trainer, Kira has worked in a multitude of athletic environments. She has professional experience in both public and private secondary schools, Division I and Division III NCAA athletics, and youth sport organizations. While at the University of California, Irvine and Indiana State University Kira was responsible for injury care and prevention, coordinating medical referrals, providing rehabilitation for minor injuries to post-surgical procedures, organizing pre-participation medical evaluations, and assembling medical care for hosted tournaments and other various athletic events. At Indiana State University, Kira coordinated medical tent services at the 2004 NCAA Division I Cross Country Pre-National & National Championship.

Kira's experience in working with parents, booster clubs and athletes and her understanding of the importance of health and safety in athletic programs will assist NABCA in providing the highest level of educational awareness possible.

Kenneth Cherry
Ken Cherry was born in February of 1935 “depression days” and raised on a farm in Massachusetts. He graduated from Norfolk County Agricultural School in 1953 and went on to Stockbridge School of Agriculture in Amherst, Massachusetts graduating in 1955. He is a wild life enthusiast and a thirty-year member of the Connecticut Water Fowlers, a conservation group.

Ken spent 11 years working with Sealtest Dairies working his way up from the bottom. While with Sealtest, Ken was responsible for managing 550 can tankers for 4 milk processing plants in the greater New York milk shed. Kens ability to identify areas of improvement and streamline operations enabled him to save Sealtest millions in transportation costs.

After leaving Sealtest Dairies, Ken accepted a position with Hagar Food Company that eventually became what is known today as American Frozen Foods, Inc. Ken Cherry has held every position in the company from door to door salesman all the way up to his present position of Chairman of the Board. American Frozen Foods achieved one million dollars in revenue in first year, and at one point Ken grew the business to nearly 100 million dollars in revenue. American Frozen Foods grew to encompass 44 sales office and employee 1500 employees. Forty-one years at the job and “I still love it!” claims Ken.

Ken has always been active in several other organizations, but his favorites were being on the Board of Director for the American Association of Meat Processors and the Guenster Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center. The American Association of Meat Processors is the largest meat organization in America. Ken served on the board for 4 years and still remains an active member and speaker of the association.

Also dear to Ken’s heart is his work with the Guenster Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center. Ken has been involved with the Center for over 30 years having served as Chairmen of the Board for more than 4 of those years. While with the Guenster Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, Ken established a rehabilitation program that provides repeat drug, alcohol and parole offenders with housing, work and education. This program was named after Ken and operates today as Cherry Homes. This successful program has experienced a 90% rehabilitation success rate.

Ken is married to his wife Joanne and they will celebrate 52 years of marriage this year. They have three adult children and ten grandchildren ranging from 4 to 25 years of age. Ken’s extremely excited about taking part in the North American Booster Club Association and clearly shares the passion and vision of the Association. Ken knows it will help young people all over America obtain a much better education through experiences with extracurricular activities sponsored by their schools.

Keith "Sparky" Clark
As Regional Sales Manager for American HealthNet, Keith helps rural community and critical access hospitals with their challenge to budget, plan and implement software systems helping their patients receive the best quality healthcare. Keith's track record in healthcare includes a start up company offering electronic personal health records and a patient smart card, which is how he met Eddie Feigner, founder of the King and His Court, on a personal level. Eddie understood the importance of good patient care for athletes, their families and fans. With an Industrial Engineering background, Sparky's sales and marketing experience includes working with many US national accounts.

Sparky has a passion for how sports and teamwork help teach youth and adults positively throughout their lifetime. Sparky discovered the sport of fast pitch softball at age 8 and has continued to be involved as a pitcher, organizer and leader and has touched many individuals in the softball community. Sparky is involved as a media specialist for the Broken Bow Gremlins, a three time World Championship men's fast pitch softball team based out of Nebraska. He also works with the Nebraska Barons, a three time national champion wheelchair softball team; and with ALLPLAY Foundation who is building an wheelchair softball field and Miracle League baseball field in a barrier-free sports complex for disabled youth and adult athletes in Omaha, Nebraska.

David Jack
David has a true passion for Sport and Fitness and he currently spearheads a sports and fitness division of Indoor Sports/Teamworks. In this capacity, he manages several sports training facilities and fitness centers and manages exercise programs and protocols for people ranging from 8-adult, both competitive athletes and the general fitness population alike.

Before his role at Indoor Sports/Teamworks, David was a co-founder and principal stockholder of Ultimate Energy, Inc., a health and nutrition company. He still serves as its Vice President, Treasurer, and member of the Board of Directors. David helped to incorporate the company in 1997 and played a critical role in Ultimate Energy becoming the first company to do a nutritional product trial with the NFL Players Association. He will continue to work closely with strategic partners and the company’s endorser athletes to ensure that its products gain national marketplace recognition.

David has had experience working with various professional teams, athletes, organizations and professional players associations including NFL, MLB, IMG (International Management Group), NASCAR, the Boston Red Sox, Arena Football and the New England Revolution.

He has assisted in the development and application of innovative athletic and activity-based training protocols and facilities, such as the Competitive Athlete Training Zone, (and a division of the company which he helped create, the Completely Active Training Zone), Teamworks Fitness, Indoor Sports, and Train Boston. In addition, David has been interviewed by various magazines, featured on shows dealing with fitness and wellness, and has been named a national expert advisor by Men’s Health magazine/Rodale.

His experience includes:Training experience with NFL, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers off-season training 2007, Working with professional athletes from various sports, including off-season training and nutritional programs for the New England Revolution, and several schools and teams throughout New England, Program design and coaching for Arena 1 pro football team the Austin Wranglers, Providing Nutritional products and information to various clients including, the Boston Red Sox, Co-creating and instructing a curriculum for students in schools known as “Sports and Life,” offering kids tools to be leaders in their community, live to their potential, and make healthy, positive decisions to succeed in sports and life. David currently resides in Lancaster, MA with his wife Wendy and his daughters Ava and Ella.

Paul Krupin
Paul J. Krupin, is President of Direct Contact Services, Inc. and operates Direct Contact PR (formerly IMEDIAFAX - The Internet to Media Fax Service), a custom publicity service. Now a retired federal government scientist (over 27 years) and once-upon-a-time attorney, and an author of over 25 books including the book Trash Proof News Releases, and The Magic Search Word series. Paul helps people get publicity and find the information they need to improve their lives. Paul has been described as a long time PR Guru who has developed sure-fire proven strategies for getting publicity. Paul also have a US Patent on a specialized search engine technology that helps people create better search queries to get better search results.

Paul specializes in working with individuals, companies, and organizations all over the US and Canada, helping them write effective news releases and copy, select and deploy the right tactics, to reach the right media. Paul currently sends out over a million news releases each year, on behalf of hundreds of inventors, authors and publishing companies.

Cathy Noel
As President and CEO of Choice Events, Cathy has helped organizations raise millions of dollars and touched many individuals who have participated locally, nationally and internationally in events she has produced and managed. Organizations include: Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Parent Support Services, The Red Cross, BC Lions Society, Provincial Sport Organizations and National Sport Organizations. Events include: Commonwealth Games, University of British Columbia Intramural Sports Program, Royal Victoria Marathon, the Times Colonist 10k (the 2nd largest 10k in Canada), Do it for Dad for Prostate Cancer, Canary Soap Box Derby, Arthritis Research Golf Classic and many more.

With two young girls in grade-school Cathy is actively involved with her girls’ school not only to help raise money, but to help build community. In addition, Cathy has been active in the development of a youth fitness and healthy eating tracker program that has over 10,000 children in the Greater Victoria area involved. Cathy believes that education, giving back and getting involved is extremely important to children, their families and their overall future.