Joint Conference

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Jedidiah Collins: Founder and CEO, Your Money Vehicle

Jedidiah Collins CFP - Former NFL player who after being cut 12 times became the #1 ranked Fullback. Jed became a Certified Financial Planner, wrote a best-selling book Your Money Vehicle, and taught as an adjunct professor on Personal Finance. Today he is the founder and CEO of the mission driven company Money Vehicle where they provide high schools a time saving, standard aligned, and age-appropriate financial literacy curriculum.

Dana Shuler: Senior Director of Player Affairs with the NFLPA

Dana Shuler, Senior Director of Player Affairs with the NFLPA, is responsible for the strategic design management of programs and resources to help players transition into and throughout their playing careers; these programs include financial literacy and security, professional skill development, career counseling, continuing education and wellness initiatives.

A 30+ year veteran of the NFLPA, Dana has served in numerous roles including Director of Financial Programs where she had direct oversight of the Financial Advisor Registration Program and legal manager where she administered a $110 million settlement fund for over 2,000 recipients.

Under Dana’s leadership, the NFLPA has been the recipient of many awards for its financial education initiatives including the Pension and Investment’s Eddy Award, Benefits Leadership in Retirement Award and the PSCA Signature Award for financial wellness. In addition, Dana assisted in the development of the NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisors Program, which is the first of its kind in professional sports.

Dana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in legal studies from the University of Maryland, University College; a master’s degree in personal financial planning, from the College for Financial Planning and a graduate certificate in Strategic Leadership and Management from Michigan State University. Dana is a doctoral candidate with an anticipated graduation date of December 2023! Fun fact about Dana, she loves to travel and has visited six continents. Antarctica is next on the list to check this goal off of her bucket list.

Dr. Bassey Akpan: Senior Wellness Manager | NFLPA

Dr. Bassey Akpan is the Senior Wellness Manager at the NFL Players Association and earned her doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology from Springfield College (MA). In her role as Senior Wellness Manager, she helps curate mental health resources and programs for all active NFL players.

 Brian Francis: Benefits Manager | NFLPA

 Brian Francis is the NFLPA Senior Benefits Manager and has been with the PA for over 12 years. As Senior Benefits Manager, Brian protects the collectively bargained rights of all NFL players regarding pension, disability, 401(k), and other benefit plans while ensuring stakeholders are knowledgeable and aware of these plans to maximize their NFL experience and long-term financial future.

Chase Hansen: Investor, Co-Founder & CEO, Real Estate Developer & Former NFL Linebacker

 Chase Hansen served a church mission in Australia for 2 years after high school. He went on to graduate from the University of Utah in financial planning, all-while becoming an All-American linebacker and receiving the Tom Hansen Conference Award, which is given to the institution's most outstanding student-athlete, comprising athletics, academics, and leadership. Chase then went on to play for the New Orleans Saints for four years while simultaneously taking courses through the NFL in Real Estate Development, leading to his current career in real estate development.

Dr. Anderson J. Franklin: Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Consulting Psychologist

Dr. Anderson J. Franklin is the Honorable David S. Nelson Professor Emeritus of Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology at Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development and Past Director of the Nelson Chair Roundtable on Networking Community Based Programs. He is also Professor Emeritus of Clinical and Social Personality Psychology at The City College and Graduate School of The City University of New York. He is Honorary Professor at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Femi Ayanbadejo Sr.: Founder + CEO | HealthReel, Inc. & Former NFL Player

 Femi is a technologist & consultant. His focus is on individual health strategies. He played 11 years in the NFL and has an MBA from Johns Hopkins.

Hannibal Navies: Vice President of Development, United Charitable & Former NFL Player

 Hannibal Navies is an accomplished NFL veteran and seasoned business executive with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Following a 9-year NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers, Hannibal transitioned into the business side of sports, leveraging his expertise in sports program development, consulting, public speaking, community outreach, and sports academy operations. During his 7-year tenure as the Director of Engagement and Outreach for The Trust powered by The NFLPA, Hannibal successfully executed numerous high-profile events involving NFL players, agents, and executives. His initiatives led to thousands of days of training, job placements for 536 athletes, millions of dollars in scholarships, and enrollment of over 5,000 players. In addition to his work at the NFLPA, Hannibal founded the 360⁰ Sports Academy aimed at youth leadership development through athletics, which continues to thrive. He also serves as the Vice President of Development for United Charitable and Athletes Charitable, further solidifying his philanthropic network. In this role, he provides leadership, strategic direction, and creative partnership opportunities that fuel the growth and sustainability of both United Charitable and its wholly owned subsidiary Athletes Charitable. United Charitable grows and supports each charitable journey by providing simple customized vehicles to fulfill companies and individual’s philanthropic endeavors. While Athletes Charitable is a concierge non-profit membership offering specifically designed by and for professional athletes. A dedicated lifelong learner, Hannibal holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder (1999) and is working on his Executive MBA from George Washington University. As a true leader in the sports industry, Hannibal Navies continues to make a lasting impact on athletes, businesses, and communities alike.

Jacinta Gauda: Principal and Chief Strategy Officer | The Gauda Group

 Jacinta Gauda is the principal and chief strategy officer at The Gauda Group, a New York-based strategic consulting firm specializing in helping organizations strengthen their brands, engage their employees, and deepen their relationships with the communities they serve. The Gauda Group works with a range of high-profile clients, including Fortune 100 companies, world-renowned philanthropic organizations, and leading academic institutions. Jacinta is a longtime advisor and friend of the NFLPA

 Registered Player Financial Advisor program, who continues to offer communications guidance and insights in support of the program’s mission, growth, promotion, and evolution.

JJ Wilcox: Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, Philanthropist & NFL Player

 James “JJ” Wilcox is a 8 year NFL veteran who graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor degree in Business Management and Administration. If you were to ask James JJ Wilcox what made him the man that he is today, he would tell you without a hesitation “ God, family, and football. The humble small town hero of Cairo, Georgia is the proud son of James & Marshell Wilcox. A philanthropist who has hosted over 7 annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drives as well as 5k runs for the Memory of his mom. James JJ Wilcox has also established his own foundation “The Will Too Foundation” which gives back to overlooked communities and is a proud advocate of Lupus awareness.

Kelly Mehrtens: Executive Director | The Trust

 Kelly Landry Mehrtens is the Executive Director of The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA). The Trust’s mission is to support NFL players as they live their purpose beyond football.

 Kelly is responsible for managing and marketing a wealth of services organized as pillars. She works with a dedicated staff and world class providers to connect players to these top-notch services. Kelly and her team continue to create hugely successful engagement events to further build upon an unrivaled holistic approach with members of The Trust. Prior to her ascent, she served as Managing Director, a position she assumed in 2016.

Lloyd Howell Jr.: Executive Director | NFLPA

Lloyd Howell was elected as the fourth executive director of the NFL Players Association in June 2023. Prior to this, Howell spent more than 34 years at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., where he held a variety of leadership roles, most recently as its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Additionally, he led the company’s Civil and Commercial Group.

Howell serves on the boards of Moody’s Corporation and General Electric Healthcare and is a Trustee at the University of Pennsylvania. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Ovie Mughelli: President of Business Development, Wellvana Health & Former NFL Player

Randall M. Kessler: Founding Partner | Kessler & Solomiany, LLC

Randall M. Kessler is the founder of Kessler & Solomiany, LLC., a domestic relations law firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Kessler is the author of many family law books including Divorce: Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future, The GA Library of Family Law Forms, and How to Mediate a Divorce. He is also an adjunct professor of Family Law Litigation at Emory Law School and has served as the Chair of the Family Law Sections of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia and the Atlanta Bar Association. Mr. Kessler has represented some of the highest profile clients in the country including judges, national and local politicians, professional athletes, TV Stars and other celebrities, entertainers and artists. He has a true passion for representing athletes, especially NFL players and former players and helping them navigate family law issues. He is a friend of the NFLPA and is honored to be able to assist the NFLPA and its members in any way he can

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Stanley Wakefield: Senior Manager, Player Services & Data Acquisition | NFL Players Inc.

Stanley joined the NFLPA in 2017 and currently serves as the Senior Manager of Player Services & Data Acquisition. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Miami (FL). Stanley’s experience within the industry lies in experiential marketing, emerging technology, and athlete relations/athlete marketing. He primarily oversees the digital & gaming vertical along with the department’s player marketing data strategy.

Tim Christine: Director of Security | NFLPA

Mr. Christine is currently the Director of Security for the National Football League Players Association in Washington, DC. Prior to this, Christine was the Chief Security Officer for the National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) Inc. and the Washington Redskins. Mr. Christine managed and directed physical security operations for 17 of the top 20 sporting events held annually in the United States during his tenure at NASCAR. Mr. Christine has a broad background in Public Safety and Homeland Security resource management, international security operations, executive protection, major event security, workplace violence emergency response planning, business continuity and emergency management coordination. Security Magazine named Mr. Christine to the prestigious list of "Security's 25 Most Influential Executives for 2006". Mr. Christine also served as the executive chair representing the interests of the Major Professional Sports Leagues before the US Department of Homeland Security. In addition to his extensive corporate security experience, Mr. Christine is a 20-year veteran of the United States Secret Service where he managed multiple investigative field offices, supervised federal interest criminal investigations, Presidential and dignitary protection and technical security initiatives. Mr. Christine served as a supervisory advisor to the Attorney General’s Joint Terrorism Multi-Agency Task Force. Mr. Christine is a graduate of the US Department of Education and US Secret Service "Safe School Initiative" for preventing targeted violence in academic institutions. Mr. Christine also was named "Outstanding Officer of the Year" by the United States Department of Justice (1992). Mr. Christine is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University “Ethics and Integrity in Law Enforcement” program. Mr. Christine earned a bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University.

Tom DePaso: General Counsel | NFLPA

 Tom DePaso has been an attorney with the NFL Players Association since 1984. His current title is General Counsel. Tom's responsibilities include representing players in collective bargaining negotiations, overseeing the NFLPA Legal Department, serving on the CBA’s Salary Cap Committee, and writing and enforcing the agent and financial advisor regulations. He also serves as the attorney for the Professional Athletes Foundation, a 501 C (3) organization that assists former pro athletes in financial and medical distress. He sits on the Board of the Sports Lawyers Association, an organization promoting sports and the law. Tom has a degree in Accounting from Penn State University, where he also played football, and a law degree from Catholic University. After graduating from Penn State, he was drafted and played linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1978 and 1979.

Neville Gallimore: Defensive End, Miami Dolphins

After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys; Neville Gallimore recently signed with the Miami Dolphins. Neville is also a former third-round pick out of Oklahoma University and is originally from Ottawa Canada.