Robert Griffin III

"RG3"

 Student Athlete Mentorship

• Heisman Trophy Winner
• 2nd Pick in the NFL Draft
• NFL Rookie of the Year
• RG3 was born to U.S. Army sergeants Robert Jr. and Jacqueline Griffin while they were stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
• He grew up in Copperas Cove, Texas, where he excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and track and field.
• As a standout track athlete, Griffin was a world-class hurdler, winning multiple accolades in high school and college.

College Career

• University: Baylor University (2008–2011)
• Achievements:
• Led the Baylor Bears to a resurgence in college football.
• Won the Heisman Trophy in 2011, becoming the first Baylor player to receive the award.
• Set multiple school and NCAA records, excelling as both a passer and a runner.
• Graduated early with a degree in political science and pursued a master’s degree in communications.

Griffin was known for his incredible dual-threat ability, combining pinpoint passing with elite speed and agility.

NFL Career

• Draft: Selected 2nd overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins (now Commanders).
• Teams Played For:

1. Washington Redskins (2012–2015)
2. Cleveland Browns (2016)
3. Baltimore Ravens (2018–2020)

Rookie Season (2012):

• Griffin had an electrifying rookie season, leading Washington to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
• Named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
• Set records for rookie quarterbacks, including the highest passer rating (102.4) and lowest interception percentage.

Post-Football Career

• RG3 became a football analyst and commentator for ESPN, offering insights on both college football and the NFL.

Kofi Nartey

Executive Director | Real Luxury Division North America

Kofi Nartey is a leading authority in luxury real estate and business, renowned for his expertise in representing affluent clientele, celebrities, and professional athletes worldwide. As the Executive Director of Real Luxury, and as the CEO of GLOBL RED, his private real estate firm, Kofi has overseen billions of dollars in sales over his 20-year career, delivering unparalleled service and discretion. His industry insight has made him a trusted media expert, with appearances on outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, CNBC, Fox Business News, ESPN, HGTV’s Selling LA, Bravo's Million Dollar Listing, and Netflix's Selling Sunset. Kofi played football as a scholarship athlete at UC Berkeley and went on to sign with the Raiders as a free-agent before his sports career was cut short by injuries. He went on to have a successful 10 year acting career, acting in shows like Modern Family, True Blood and Psych, as well as movies like Fast and Furious and Kick-Ass. He would later complete his MBA at Pepperdine University. Kofi has leveraged his sports, entertainment, and business experience to become a prominent impact speaker and consultant to business professionals, Fortune 500 companies, and professional sports teams. He is fueled by his desire to unlock and unleash his own potential and the potential of those he encounters, and continues to do so in his industry and beyond.

Monty Buckley

Basketball: National Player Development & Recruitment

Monty Buckley is a highly regarded former basketball player, coach, trainer, and mentor. Buckley was born and raised in Sacramento California, where he attended Christian Brothers High school. He was heavily recruited by colleges all over the country, but ultimately, he decided to stay close to home so that his mother and grandparents would be able to see him play. Buckley attended The University of California, Berkley where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. It was also there that he was part basketball history-Cal beat Duke in the second round of the NCAA Sweet 16 Tournament—a game that is still discussed today. During his time at Cal, he built lifelong bonds with his teammates. After college, he played professionally overseas in Taiwan, Italy, Philippines, London, CBA, and Venezuela. He later went on to coach in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks, under Head Coach Jason Kidd, his lifelong friend and former teammate from Cal.

When he retired from professional basketball, he dedicated his time and energy to coaching different AAU teams and developing players. Coach Buck, as he is commonly referred to, is known to give his time and knowledge to anyone willing to put in the work to get better. He has made it his life’s mission to develop the next generation of players. He is known to focus heavily on the fundamentals of the game and strives to teach kids the correct way to play. Buckley shares his journey with the youth that he works with and expresses the importance of education. He acknowledges that basketball is how he was able to attend Berkley and receive a free education, as well as open doors for him professionally. His mission has led Buckley to help the at-risk youth achieve their goals and become productive members of society. He creates a safe space for the kids to come and learn the game, receive tutoring, as well as help with housing, nutrition, and anything else they may need.

ERIC PRICE

Director of West Coast Basketball Athletes

Eric Price, the visionary owner of Sneakersteal.com and SneakerSteal Hoops, is a distinguished entrepreneur with notable successes in both business and sports. Leveraging his extensive experience off the court, Eric has skilfully guided his basketball teams to triumph in prestigious tournaments across the nation, including the Nike EYBL and MadeHoops tournaments. Renowned for his sharp talent identification and strategic prowess, Eric has cultivated a reputation for mentoring young athletes to achieve excellence at the collegiate level and beyond. His coaching philosophy, rooted in hard work, discipline, and teamwork, creates a nurturing environment for player development. Beyond coaching, Eric's commitment encompasses scouting, training coordination, and community engagement, all aimed at fostering the growth of youth basketball.

Melissa Balocca
Legal Advisor

Melissa is the managing attorney at Balocca Law, where she specializes in corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, and general commercial transactions. Prior to her current role, Melissa served as an honors extern with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as a corporate associate at K&L Gates LLP. 

Melissa also serves as the Los Angeles County Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the 4th District, as well as a Los Angeles County 'Measure A' Advisory Board Member. 

Melissa received her juris doctorate from UC Berkeley School of Law and her bachelor's degree from UCLA. 

Troy Samuels

Leadership Counselor

With more than forty years of coaching and training experience. Troy has shared his experience as a collegiate runner at the University of Southern California, California State Stanislaus, and a two-time Olympic Trials Qualifier to create premier Track and cross-county training programs for high school, collegiate, and Olympic hopefuls. He combines science-based strategies with a competitive focus and passion for education. He uses this platform to promote self-confidence, excellence, discipline, dedication, and leadership skills.“Once the opportunity arrives, it’s too late to prepare.”

Rick Gibson
Professional Business Coach

Rick Gibson is a professional business coach with 28 years of experience at Pepperdine University serving as Pepperdine’s senior vice chancellor. Rick was charged with expanding business partners and Pepperdine’s visibility, relevance, and influence in Los Angeles and other cities where Pepperdine is active.

Gibson develops relationships with philanthropists, business partners, and corporate, government, religious, and community leaders, focusing his efforts on expanding Pepperdine’s network. 

Before his role as senior vice chancellor, Gibson served as vice president for public affairs and church relations and chief marketing officer, building and leading a world-class, business Before his role as senior vice chancellor, Gibson served as vice president for public affairs and church relations and chief marketing officer, building and leading a world-class business and marketing and communications team to share Pepperdine’s brand story with an ever-widening audience.

Russel Jenkins 

Power & Speed Sports Performance 
 
He is the owner of Muscle by Russell, a fitness studio in Granada Hills, CA. He has over 20 years of experience in fitness training and a degree in kinesiology from Cal State Northridge. He ran track and field and played football for the Matadors. Athletics has always been a part of me. Working with athletes day after day allows me to be part of sports and gives me the opportunity to help mold and shape our young people!

Merryll McElwain

Wealth Management Counselor

Merryll McElwain, SE-AWMA, CEPA

Merryll is a Senior Wealth Advisor for Wilmington Trust, where she works closely with individuals, families, and their advisors to help her clients meet their current needs and their long-term objectives.

Merryll a Sports and Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor and helps educate and advise athletes and those in sports and entertainment industries on opportunities to help grow, preserve, and transfer their wealth. She is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor and helps educate and advise entrepreneurs before, during, and after the sale or transition of their companies.

Merryll holds an MBA from East Carolina University and a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, where she played collegiate golf and was recently inducted in the ASU Hall of Fame. She also played four varsity sports in high school, where she was also inducted in the Hall of Fame.

Merryll serves as former president of the board for Braemar Country Club and is a board member of the Los Angeles Sports Council and Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games.

https://www.wilmingtontrust.com/

Darrell Jones

Athletic Performance Coach Bay Area

We are thrilled to announce that Darrell, a seasoned athletic performance coach and recruiting manager, has joined ConNEXTions Fund. Darrell brings a wealth of experience from his illustrious career in sports management and athletic development, and he is poised to make a significant impact on our mission.

 With a background that includes running a successful athletic performance training facility, Darrell is a world class coach very known for making athletes explosive. His dedication to supporting athletes at every level of their journey aligns perfectly with ConNEXTions' mission to empower underrepresented young men and women to translate their athletic potential into success across all facets of life.

 Darrell’s role at ConNEXTions will be twofold. As an athletic performance coach, he will focus on enhancing the physical and mental prowess of our athletes, providing them with the mentorship and training needed to excel. In his capacity as recruiting director, Darrell will leverage his extensive network and keen eye for talent to identify and sign promising athletes who can benefit from ConNEXTions' holistic support services.

Join us in welcoming Darrell to the ConNEXTions family. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries, inspire ambitious ideas, and elevate our athletes to new heights.

Antonio Scott
San Francisco Bay Area Talent Scout

At Evolve Sports Group, we believe in the boundless potential within the realms of sports and entertainment. We understand that pursuing these opportunities can be daunting and overwhelming, but that's where we step in. Our mission is to simplify the process, guiding athletes and entertainers at every level to achieve their dreams, even the most ambitious ones.

Founded by Darell Jones and Antonio Scott, Evolve boasts a meticulously chosen team of leaders from sports, entertainment, healthcare, and business. This award-winning team is dedicated to inspiring our elite roster of athletes and entertainers, helping them realize their full potential. We demystify endorsements, contracts, and deals, ensuring that every decision they make is the right one.

Our talented, passionate, and committed team offers round-the-clock support, relentlessly pushing our athletes and entertainers to overcome obstacles and build lasting legacies. At Evolve, we do it for their last names, not their first. Together, we help them create a legacy that will stand the test of time.

https://evolvesportsgroup.com/

Laura M Wilde

Sports Mindset Counselor

Laura M. Wilde is a Holistic Mental Performance Coach and served as the mental performance coach for the LA Clippers for three seasons. She speaks and consults for the NBA and other elite Organizations.

A thought leader in mental performance, Laura blends epigenetics energy medicine with quantum physics to help her clients reach peak performance and play their best games.

After her struggles with depression, angst, and not feeling like a successful athlete and coach she knew she could be, she was determined to unravel the mind fog and find the solution for greatness. From that search, she created her proprietary zone solution formula, which helps athletes and artists alike reach the peak state so they can perform in the zone and be happier and healthier. Wilde works with NCAA, WNBA, NBA, NFL, and MLB athletes, staff and coaches, and corporate CEOs and GMs.Her clients and past clients include NBA Champions, Super Bowl Champions, WNBA Champions, and Unicorn (billion-dollar company) CEOs.

Laura has been featured in Sports Illustrated En Fuego, David Meltzer’s “Office Hours” on Apple TV, The Doctors (CBS), CBS LA, and other local Los Angeles news shows and numerous, podcasts and radio pieces.

She is the Author of three books, including Making the Team, The Cosmic Athlete, and Sports Energy Medicine, and her upcoming book, The Unshakeable Athlete, is set for release next year. Most athletes have yet to play their best game. Wilde helps athletes be mentally and physically resilient so they can get in the zone to be consistent, outstanding, and prone to excellence. This, Wilde says, is how you make your game magical.

Wilde is a member of the American psychological Association and the Association for Applied Sports Psychology

Socials: 

Instagram: @lauramitchellwilde | TwiXer: @lauramwilde1

Website: Lauramwilde.com | Email: laura@lauramwilde.com

Laura M. Wilde—Make Your Game Magical

What the Pros Say About Laura

George Mumford: “Laura has taken my work even further”

Shaq: “Laura has a special gift for helping people be great.”

Jerry West: “Laura is intriguing and has a unique brand of mind.”

Eliel Swinton Coach "E"

Director of Operations

Stanford University - 4 year started in football- captain in '97

Co Start "Varsity Blues" Wendell Brown #33

Founder of Carpe Diem Sports Academy

NIKE SPARQ trainer 6 years

NCSA National Scout 2 years

Current Sierra Canyon HS Speed & Agility Coach 12 years

VP of Sales QPS Marketing

Travis Crittenden
Sports Performance

Celebrating a Decade of Success with Strength and Conditioning Coach Travis Crittenden 

In the world of professional football, strength and conditioning coaches are a crucial part of a team's success. Over the past decade, no coach has been more successful than Kansas City Chiefs' Strength and Conditioning Coach, Travis Crittenden. From his humble beginnings working in the equipment business, Travis quickly rose to prominence as he took the helm of the Chiefs' strength and conditioning program in 2013. 

Since then, under Travis's guidance, the Chiefs have experienced an unprecedented level of success - recording multiple Pro Bowl appearances and AFC Conference Championships, culminating in a decisive Super Bowl LIV victory. 

But Travis's success is not limited to the NFL. Over the years, he has also helped prepare hundreds of athletes for the NFL, MLB, and NBA drafts, as well as assisted numerous veteran players in their off season training for upcoming seasons. Additionally, in the past 2 years, his invaluable guidance has been extended to various teams and international organizations across all levels of competitive athletics, significantly enhancing their athletic potential.

It's no wonder that Travis is so highly regarded and respected in the strength and conditioning community. With a decade of success under his belt, it's safe to say he has made an indelible mark on sports history. His commitment to athlete empowerment, dedication to excellence, and passion for helping others succeed are truly inspiring. As he

continues to elevate the abilities of athletes and strengthen their abilities, he remains an inspiring force for greatness in the world of sports. 

In recognition of his decade-long journey to success, Travis was recently honored with a prestigious “Best Strength and Conditioning Coach” award from the National Football League. This is just one more indication that when it comes to professional football strength coaching, Travis Crittenden is the go-to man.

Ted Lim
Financial Literacy & Strategies

Ted Lim is currently a Director of Corporate Strategy at Amazon Prime Video and Studios, where he manages strategy, finance, and operations for MGM's theatrical film business, MGM+ (a wholly owned SVOD service), and other parts of Amazon's entertainment portfolio. He was previously EVP of Strategic Planning & Corporate Development for MGM Studios, where he helped lead the company's acquisition by Amazon in 2022 and led all strategy and M&A for the studio.

 Prior to MGM, Ted had senior roles at both Participant Media and the Walt Disney Company. Ted has an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA from Harvard University. 

Sandy Dunkley

Broker -Commercial Real Estate Advisor

Having worked in the public and private sectors in business and finance Sandy brings a broad experience in Real Estate, Business Development, Marketing and Sales. She also brings exceptional experience in event planning and public relations.

Branch Broker, Realtor, Senior R.E. Advisor with Equity Real Estate, Los Angeles/Beverly Hills.

Sandy handles real estate for a diverse client base investing in real property or buying their first home.

Skills include that of being an excellent real estate professional/Expert, with integrity first, educating her clients on current market and trends, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy, effective

negotiation skills and a high-quality professional network, all of which are hallmarks of how she works.

As Principal of Charing Cross Capital, an independent consultant, that coordinates private financing for Her diverse client base from the average person to the high net worth individual, nationally and Internationally.

While Sandy was at International Mortgage Company, a company at that time, with over $30M in monthly revenues, 

Sandy managed and trained 30 Agents on sales and business development, while maintaining personal production quotas in procuring loans. Sandy was the number one money earner in their Southern California office for 24 consecutive months, an increase of over 70% compared to the previous 2 years all while reporting to the President of the company on leadership, performance and company growth.

Principal of Canterbury Event Productions, an independent consultant that provides Business Development, Event Planning, Public Relations, and Fundraising for diverse clients including political campaigns, private businesses and non-profit groups.

Sandy has a degree in Business & Finance, from Harrow College (UK).

Hassan Bash

Social Media Expert

Hassan is a highly accomplished Saudi-American high-performance coach, consultant, and scalable business advisor with expertise in system thinking. With a proven track record of helping founders and companies increase productivity and profits. 

Hassan is a sought-after expert in his field. He has been featured in several reputable media outlets, including Fox News, USA Today, CNBC and has been the youngest speaker at business conferences like Digital Marketer, Sigma Dubai and Sigma Malta. 

Hassan is passionate about fostering personal development through a healthy growth mindset and leaves a lasting impact on his client's personal and professional lives. He focuses on helping executives, entrepreneurs, and teams from diverse backgrounds, including the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.

Jeff Pippin

Private Equity Investments

Mr. Pippin earned his BBA in accounting (Magna Cum Laude) from Abilene Christian University and an MBA from Pepperdine. He is also a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California, but currently not practicing as such.

Prior to Pepperdine, Mr. Pippin worked for Arthur Andersen and Co, a big 8 accounting firm, and Halliburton Services, a global oil field services company.

From 2000 to 2012 Mr. Pippin was on the governing board of Commonfund, a $30 billion registered investment advisor to endowments and other non-profits. During that span he chaired the Governance Committee and also was a member of the Executive  and Audit and Risk Committees.

He has also served on the board and investment committee of Alliance for the Arts, the supporting organization for the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, California, was a member of the California State Treasurer’s Investment Advisory Committee under Treasurer Matt Fong, and the Investment Committee for the West Coast Athletic Conference and the Milken Global Capital Markets Advisory Council in Los Angeles.

Mr. Pippin recently joined the board of Atlas Powerlifts, Inc., a private company that manufactures and sells mobility solutions for E-bikes.

Mr. Pippin has also been active in professional associations and a frequent speaker, panelist and moderator at professional conferences. In 2014-2016 he  served as co-chairman of the NMS Fall Endowment Conference in Washington, DC, the per-eminent endowment industry group.

He has been married to his wife Nancy for 43 years and has two daughters, Kelly (husband David and daughter Pippa (2) and Carly, who are both graduates of Pepperdine University. 

Charles Huang

Head of Business Development and Sponsorships

Graduate School: Harvard Business School (MBA) & Harvard Kennedy School of Government (MPA) Class of 2009/2010, Bill George Fellow & Scholar | Published author of 3 HBS healthcare case studies with Prof. Regina Herzlinger, HBS HIAA Alumni Board Member

College: Johns Hopkins University (BA 3.5 GPA in 3.5 years, Public Health - Health Policy & Management & Economics, Art History Minor), Men’s Varsity Soccer and still Top 5 Record Holder (Season GAA: 0.96, Total Shut-outs in a Season: 17 and Consecutive shut-outs: 16)

Current Company

Lynchpin Technologies & Lynchpin Capital Partners: CEO & Founding Managing Partner, 2015 - present | Los Angeles, CA

Post-College/Professional: Hellas Verona and Boston Gunners, Massachusetts Adult Premier League, league, regional and national champions for men’s open adult league, US Open Cup Champions | Atletico Juniors, Massachusetts Central American Soccer League (CASL) league and regional chamions, semi-professional | New England Revolution, MLS Reserves Team contract, professional