Leaders in sport and business play a key role in guiding the work of the Center
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center) today announced the election of new board members, representing leaders in sports, health, and business. The Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is governed by a board of directors that advises the Center on core business functions, long-term sustainability, strategic planning, and regularly evaluates the Center’s performance through its outcomes and metrics. The board also approves the annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions, ensuring all legal and fiduciary requirements are met.
April Holmes, interim CEO and four-time Paralympian, said: “We welcome an impressive slate of new members to the board of directors who bring with them a wealth of expertise from various sectors, an athlete viewpoint, and a shared commitment to protecting athletes.” With a nationwide search underway for the Center’s new Chief Executive Officer, April Holmes stepped away from her duties as board chair to serve as interim CEO. Julie Fabsik-Swarts is serving as Lead Independent Director of the board during the transition.
The following board members started terms beginning March 7, 2025:
- Craig Bradley, Vice President, Finance, Arizona Diamondbacks (term started beginning January 1, 2025)
- Lee Ford-Faherty, Paralympian and Parapan American Games gold medalist, coach and motivational speaker (recommended by Team USA Athletes’ Commission through a nomination and voting process)
- Dr. Shakira Henderson, Dean, College of Nursing-Chief Administrative Officer, University of Florida & System Chief Nurse Executive, UF Health, PhD Clinical Research & DNP Nursing Practice (term started beginning January 1, 2025)
- Liz Prince, Associate Athletics Director, University of Utah
- Mark Scott, Former Senior VP, Intrado
The following member has been added to a board committee role beginning March 7, 2025:
- Dr. Brittany Connor, Director, Corporate Partnerships, United Way of Greater Kansas City, and PhD Sport Management
The new members join current board members Matt Cenedella, Chief Financial Officer at the National Association of Realtors; Chicka Elloy, Senior Vice President of Sales at the Pearl Lemon Group; Julie Fabsik-Swarts, MS, CFRE, CAP, Chief Executive Officer at the Employee Assistance Professionals Association International; Kimberly Fields, Senior Vice President of Partnership Development & Operation at the National Football League; Katy Spaulding, Chief Operating Officer at Method Communications; and Pamela Wheeler, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at NFP.
About Craig Bradley
Craig Bradley enters his 29th year with the D-backs and 19th as VP, Finance. He works closely with executive management, oversees all Club financial operations, and is a member of the Risk Management and Dominican Operation Committees. Joining the team in September 1997 as Business Manager of Baseball Operations, Bradley worked with baseball leadership in setting up the Minor League system, Dominican Academy, scouting, and Major League operations. In 1999, he devised, implemented, and managed an injury/workers’ compensation claim management program that is used throughout MLB to this day. Moving from baseball operations to finance in 2004, Bradley became the Controller where he has improved systems, expanded analysis, improved Foundation accounting, and improved cash management. Recognizing his leadership abilities, he was promoted to VP, Finance in 2006. In 2012, Bradley created the D-backs Give Back League (DGBL) where over 100 employees formed nine teams, with each team creating a plan to reach into the community. The DGBL’s impact was tremendous, and Bradley was awarded the D-backs’ first-ever Innovation Award. Bradley graduated from Arizona State University in 1988, playing baseball for the Sun Devils from 1983-85, and earning a junior varsity letter. Bradley is an active board and committee member for several organizations. He has two daughters, Cecilia and Olivia.
About Lee Ford-Faherty
From the time Lee Ford-Faherty was a child, she was fascinated by the Olympics. With dreams of competing in speed skating, injuries related to her disability—and eventual diagnosis with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), a condition that makes it easy for her joints to dislocate—held her back. Despite this, Ford-Faherty was incredibly active throughout her life. She started shooting bow and arrows with her dad, Ray Ford, from the age of 7. She became a prima ballerina, and eventually a professional belly dancer. She was also one of the first professional female fire performers, traveling all around the Southeast and teaching seminars to dancers to impart what she knew. Along the way, she became a mom, got a bachelor’s in three-dimensional design, and a paralegal degree. Then, she got severely injured, and partially paralyzed, thanks to EDS, which turned her world completely upside down. But, after being re-introduced to archery by a friend in 2008, Ford-Faherty set her sights on the Paralympics and represented her country in the 2012 London Games. Now, Ford-Faherty is one of fewer than 350 Level 4-NTS archery coaches nationwide and takes pride in the successes of her students. She volunteers for Mid GA Archery Club and competes in the Masters Ladies category. Ford-Faherty is proud of being on both Para teams and able-bodied teams, winning outdoor and indoor international gold medals.
About Dr. Shakira Henderson
Dr. Shakira L. I. Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, MBA, RNC-NIC, IBCLC is a distinguished healthcare executive, nurse scientist, and academic leader with over 20 years of experience shaping the future of nursing education, practice, research, healthcare operations, and health policy. As a second-career nurse, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her extensive academic background and leadership experience. She serves as the Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Florida (UF) and the System Chief Nurse Executive for UF Health, making her the inaugural leader to hold both roles simultaneously. Before joining UF, Dr. Henderson held a tripartite role as Assistant Vice-Chancellor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Clinical Research Integration Officer for UNC-CH School of Medicine, and System VP Research Operations for UNC Health. Born and raised on a small Caribbean Island, Dr. Henderson developed a deep appreciation for academics and lifelong learning, which led her to pursue a diverse educational background. She has held numerous influential leadership positions, including President of the National Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses. The University of Miami School of Nursing honored her as the 2023 Alumna of Distinction. Beyond her professional commitments, she enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures. In rare moments of free time, she takes joy in something all healthcare leaders aspire to—a good night’s sleep!
About Liz Prince
Liz Prince is a strategic leader focused on advancing athlete well-being, fostering cultures of respect, and implementing initiatives that drive meaningful change. She oversees the University of Utah’s Student-Athlete Well-Being Program, leads professional development efforts, and serves as a sport supervisor—creating spaces where athletes and coaches can thrive. She also contributes to broader campus initiatives, serving on the McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention advisory board. As a member of the U.S. Center for SafeSport board of directors, Prince applies her expertise in policy development, athlete advocacy, and program strategy to advance the Center’s mission of championing respect and ending abuse in sport. Drawing on her background in law and governance, she previously served as a consultant and investigator in Utah’s Office of Equal Opportunity, advising on Title IX, Title VII, and ADA compliance. Prince holds a J.D. from Western Michigan University, a master’s in sport administration from Belmont University, and a bachelor’s in communications from North Carolina State University, where she was a student manager for Hall of Fame coach Kay Yow’s women’s basketball program.
About Mark Scott
A seasoned executive with extensive leadership experience, Scott brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong passion for community service to the organization. Since retiring as an executive with Intrado, Scott leads a boutique advisory firm that serves the Private Equity industry. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to guiding organizations through complex challenges, leveraging his expertise in strategy, operations, and governance. Scott has an impressive history of serving in advisory and board roles. He has been a valued advisor at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® and the US Conference of Mayors, contributing to efforts that create meaningful impact across the nation. For 16 years, he chaired a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization and was instrumental in launching an Intrado Executive MBA program at the University of Denver for high-potential Intrado employees. Additionally, Scott served as a Trustee for the Intrado 401(k) organization. Scott resides primarily in Vail, Colorado with his wife, Jacqueline, and is the proud parent of twin daughters who live in Denver.
About Dr. Brittany Connor
Brittany Connor, PhD, is a strategic leader dedicated to mission-driven initiatives, leveraging over a decade of experience in nonprofit, sports, and entertainment. She currently serves as the Director of Corporate Partnerships at United Way of Greater Kansas City, where she builds impactful relationships, engages donors, and develops innovative solutions to drive collective change. A recent doctoral graduate of the University of Kansas’ Sport Management program, Brittany is passionate about using sports as a platform for social change. Her career has been shaped by a deep commitment to the intersection of sports and impact—whether celebrating a World Series championship with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 or leading purpose-driven partnerships in the nonprofit sector. Brittany is a champion for change and an advocate for advancement, dedicated to fostering inclusion and equity in all spaces. She also holds a bachelor’s in business management from Baylor University and a master’s in sport management from the University of Kansas.
Need for Abuse Prevention in Sport
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the nation’s only independent organization dedicated to ending sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport. The Center emerged in response to high profile cases of sexual abuse of minor athletes within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the mid-2010s. With the mission of making athlete well-being the centerpiece of the nation’s sport culture, the Center has since been setting safety policies, and receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of abuse and misconduct. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.
With the goal of ensuring athletes within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement are safe, supported, and strengthened, the Center:
- Establishes safety policies, including the SafeSport Code and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).
- Investigates and resolves allegations of abuse and misconduct and levies sanctions, including temporary and permanent bans from sport.
- Delivers comprehensive abuse prevention education within and outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
About the U.S. Center for SafeSport
The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), as the nation’s safe sport organization. It furthered the Center’s independence while underscoring its authority to hold individuals accountable. It also charged the Center with developing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct in sport.
In October of 2020, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 became law, even further strengthening the Center’s independence and oversight functions while mandating minimum funding requirements for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
The Center opened its doors in March of 2017.
Reporting and Resources
Report here to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct—inflicted by someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. You can also leave a message by calling the Center at: 833-587-7233.
RAINN’s 24/7 online hotline is available for crisis intervention, referrals, or emotional support at any time. You can also call RAINN at: 800-656-HOPE (4673).
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.
Contacts
