Powerhouse Lineup Includes Adapted Sport Trailblazers, Global Influencers, and Paralympians
DENVER — Oct. 6, 2021 — The second annual Adapted Sport Leadership & Business Symposium (LABS), presented by All In Sport Consulting, today announced its full lineup of sessions and speakers for the free, two-day virtual conference slated for Oct. 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT each day. With nearly 70 percent of its speakers representing the disabled community, LABS connects leaders, athletes, and influencers from the adapted sport industry and beyond for authentic, progressive sessions and meaningful conversations aimed at advancing the adapted sport movement and expanding its impact. Registration is open at www.adaptedsportlabs.com.
LABS 2021 is highlighted by keynote speakers Caroline Casey, founder of The Valuable 500, and Sam Schmidt, co-owner of Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar Racing Team. In addition, the dynamic speaker and panelist lineup features adapted sport leaders from Toyota, USA Triathlon, and EY, among others, and current and former Team USA Paralympians including two-time track and field Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, two-time goalball Paralympian John Kusku, and three-time wheelchair rugby Paralympian and medalist Chuck Aoki. Aoki served as the flagbearer for Team USA at the Opening Ceremonies in Tokyo and was featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Paralympic issue. Sessions include (full agenda including descriptions and bios available at adaptedsportlabs.com/schedule):
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 20
- 9 a.m. MT – Keynote: Driving to New Heights in the Movement
Sam Schmidt, Co-Owner, ARROW McLaren SP IndyCar Racing Team - 10 a.m. – Just Do It! Activating on Inclusion
Daniel Gale, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Adaptive Action Sports
Dorian Kail, Professional Athletes Lead, New York Road Runners
Joel Rosinbum, Board President, USA Triathlon - 11 a.m. – Innovation = Inclusion
Sarah Klecker, Sports Product Designer, The Velox Project
Mike Schultz, Owner, Biodapt & Team USA Paralympian, Para Snowboard
Trish Wall, Racing Development Engineer, Toyota - 12 p.m. (Noon) – Elevating the Whole Athlete
Chuck Aoki, Team USA Paralympian, Wheelchair Rugby
Femita Ayanbeku, Team USA Paralympian, Track and Field
John Kusku, Team USA Paralympian, Goalball
THURSDAY, OCT. 21
- 9 a.m. MT – Keynote: Elevating the Business Case for Adapted Sport
Caroline Casey, Founder and Creator, The Valuable 500 - 10 a.m. – The Movement’s Value Proposition
Ian Cropp, VP, Global Sponsorships, Citi
Dedra Marie DeLilli, Group Manager, Sponsorship Strategy, Integration & Activation, Toyota
Kate Gordon, Sr. Director, Olympic and Paralympic Sponsorship Marketing, Visa
Ryan Neiswender, Manager, Strategy and Operations Global Risk, Visa & Team USA Paralympian, Wheelchair Basketball - 11 a.m. – Adapted Sport as a Springboard to Professional Success
Diana Codispoti, Director of Corporate Stakeholder Engagement, DisabilityIN
Kristy Ingram, Global Leader, Athlete Programs, EY
Kari Miller Ortiz, Manager of Outreach for Veterans & People of Color, Maximus & Team USA Paralympian (retired), Sitting Volleyball - 12 p.m. (Noon) – Elevating the Narrative – Sustaining Critical Conversations and Progress
April Holmes, Co-Founder and CEO, HeroHangout & Team USA Paralympian (retired), Track and Field
Karin Korb, Disability/Public Health Consultant & Team USA Paralympian (retired), Wheelchair Tennis
“Recently, we have seen some great progress and positive strides across the adapted sport movement, including more and better TV coverage of the Paralympic Games, notable corporate sponsorships of Paralympic athletes from companies like Toyota, and more inclusion of disabled athletes in various events,” said Dawna Callahan, founder and CEO of All In Sport Consulting and LABS. “Still, we know there is much more work to do when it comes to equality for disabled athletes. LABS 2021 is focused on continuing this momentum, keeping our foot on the gas pedal to change the paradigm of the adapted sports industry with the goal of creating more opportunities, and ultimately achieving equality, for athletes with disabilities. Our theme this year, ‘The Time is NOW,’ says it all.”
LABS 2021 builds on the inaugural LABS conference in 2020, which drew more than 850 people for eight sessions led by 28 speakers. LABS is founded, led by, and highly focused on including people with disabilities, including Callahan and LABS advisory board members, who bring lived experience to its mission and programming. The 2021 theme, “The Time is Now,” reflects the adapted sports movement’s mission and energy to bring about real change and more opportunities for athletes with disabilities. LABS 2021 sponsors include Sports Richmond, VA. For more information or to register, visit www.adaptedsportlabs.com.
About All In Sport Consulting
All In Sport Consulting is a Denver-based consulting firm that leads organizations in creating life-changing opportunities for people with disabilities through adapted sport. Through strategic planning, adapted sport program management and implementation, and training and education, All In Sport helps organizations ensure they are in the best position to create opportunities for all who want to experience the power of sport. For more information, visit http://allinsportconsulting.com/.