OUR TEAM

Executive Team

Jim Haddaway

Co-Founder & CEO

Aaron Flaker

Co-Founder & Chief Business Development Officer

John Ruby

Co-Founder & Chief Digital Officer

Matt Roberts

Partner & Chief Media/Marketing Officer

Rich Janor

Partner & President of GameDay USA

Tom Davidson

Partner & President of Pastime Tournaments
& Mid-America Baseball

Rick Goff

Partner & President of TravelBall Select

Event Team

Chelsea Ancona

Senior Director of Events & Operations

Ryan Rosmonowski

Senior Director of Events & Operations

Mike Moyzis

Director of Operations & Event Personnel

Kyle Cornett

Assistant Director of Operations
& Senior Event Director

Jeanni McCallum

Purchasing & Retail Manager

Laura Rusenovich

Event Coordinator

Kirbey Johnson

Manager of Events & Operations

Brent Miller

National Director Pastime Tournaments

Tate Thoreson

National Director Mid-America Baseball

Landon Hutchison

National Scouting Coordinator
& Regional Director

Recruitment Team

Allison Honkofsky

Director of Fastpitch Softball

Alicja Wolny

Recruiting Coordinator & Brand Development

Alex King

Director of Player Development & Recruiting

Tyler Fitch

Recruiting Coordinator

Taber Klinglesmith

Baseball Youth Recruiter

Jacob Metry

Versus Recruiting Coordinator

Team Relations

Alex Kerber

Team Relations Manager

Laura Rusenovich

Event Coordinator

Karen Pugliese

Team Relations Manager

Brendan Bystry

Logistics Coordinator/Office Administrator

Aubree Muse

Team Relations Assistant & Event Planner

Marketing Team

Bill Hammond

Director of Web Development & IT

Rachel Wells

Graphic Designer

Jama Gibson

IT & Website Manager

Jacob Hockemeyer

Social Media & Operations Coordinator

Anthony Grassi

Director of Content Strategy

JT Murphy

Digital Media Strategist & Team Relations Assistant

Accounting/Finance

Rebecca Haddaway

Director of Accounting/Finance

Group Housing Team

Kristen Altman

Director of Group Housing

Ryan Evans

Sourcing Specialist & Group Housing Coordinator

Emma Littrell

Sourcing Specialist & Group Housing Coordinator

Rachel Piotrowicz

Sourcing Specialist & Group Housing Coordinator

Emily Alford

Sourcing Specialist & Group Housing Coordinator

Jim Haddaway

Co-Founder & CEO

800.559.ATHX (2849)

Hey there! My name is Jim, born in Baltimore, MD, but lived in Louisville, KY since I was 6. I’ve been a serial entrepreneur ever since I was old enough to work, starting with my own breakfast/omelet stand not very cleverly called OmHad’s! My stand was in a sectioned off, by a large blanket :), part of my mom & dad’s kitchen where my only clients were my parents and all my brothers and sisters, but hey, it was a big family and they loved my omelets! Hint : use lots of cheese, I mean lots!

Previous companies that I’ve founded, managed and later sold include a web development and web hosting firm specializing in web design, website storage solutions, domain services and more. We designed and hosted many prominent local and national businesses’ websites during the dot COM boom in the mid to late 90s. I also founded, owned and later sold an online retailer of shipping supplies and postage scales primarily for the eBay community during the initial growth of the online auctions/e-commerce giant in the mid to late 90s, where my company became one of the largest suppliers of shipping supplies for eBay sellers! Pretty cool, huh? I also started, managed and later sold a computer sales and services company specializing in web development, computer networking, cabling and hardware/software support as well as a separate internet marketing and advertising firm helping companies improve visibility in search engine results and website traffic. As you can see, the companies I’ve been a part of have always centered around technology and marketing, the two cornerstones of knowledge I’ve used my entire business life, and what I studied at the University of Louisville (Go Cards!).

People say I’m somewhat unique since I’m a little bit of a computer nerd, but yet an extrovert socially! I can still make my awesome daughter, Meghan, laugh so at least she makes me feel like I’m somewhat funny! I played multiple sports in high school, but basketball was my best and favorite and if not for a major knee injury between my junior and senior year at a basketball camp, I likely would’ve moved away from Louisville to play college basketball somewhere! That was not in God’s plan and I look back now and am grateful He steered me in a different direction!

The inspiration for Athletx came from my experiences as a travel baseball coach traveling the country with my two amazing sons, Tyler and Logan, and entrepreneurial brain. It’s my favorite endeavor to date, by far! I love what I do and feel blessed to have such great people around me every day!

What is the wisest thing anyone has ever told you?
Success is not measured in the amount of dollars you make, but the amount of lives you impact!

What is your favorite fun fact?
Reno, Nevada, one of our favorite event destinations, is actually farther west than Los Angeles!

Aaron Flaker

Co-Founder & Chief Business Development Officer

800.559.ATHX (2849)

It’s “Flake” here! Lifelong “Louisvillian” and love everything about our “little big town!” Louisville and what it offers is a big part of who I am…constantly employing a blue-collar work ethic, pride in offering great hospitality/friendship, loving sports and all that if offers us, appreciating all that is good in life and celebrating our acceptance of diversity and just a flat-out appreciation for the uniqueness of the human spirit.

Louisville has def been a great place to build my life and family for sure. Married Ashley Williams (now Flaker!) back in 1999. Ashley owns a youth dance training facility, 360 Dance, that has served the Louisville dance market for nearly 40+ years. We have two amazingly-awesome boys…Braxton, my uber-smart and girl-charming son, and Tyce, my life-loving, adventurous little daredevil and outdoorsman. The thing they have in common the most…they both LOVE BASEBALL (surprise, surprise)! Braxton plays for a multi-time State Champion program, St. Xavier High School, and Tyce plays for a nationally-ranked travel team that I also coach, the Louisville STING (a not-for-profit, travel baseball program I created back in 2010). Blessed beyond imagination with these three in my life!

As far as sports goes for me, I grew up playing baseball and basketball, but years later I keep finding that baseball has a way to weave itself in and out of my life. As a kid, I played rec ball (yeah, so old I pre-existed travel ball!) at Beechmont Youth Sports and played high school ball at Louisville Male High School (both of which have produced MLB talent!). Received a scholarship to baseball and had a short stint at Western Kentucky University (WKU) back in 1990-1991. Returned home to attend the University of Louisville (UofL), and yearned to be around sports so much that I earned the job as the UofL Cardinal Bird Mascot, which lasted from 1991 to 1996. While at UofL, earned an undergraduate degree in Marketing in 1994 and finished my graduate work with an MBA in 1998. Somehow found a way to coach baseball as well during college and have continued to do so on and off over the last 25 years of my life.

Parleyed my education and sports background into a multitude of entrepreneurial business endeavors from 1995 on including being a Co-Founder of a national sports traveling entertainment show, the ZOOperstars! We performed at 250+ venues annually (mostly minor league baseball, but also MLB, NHL, NBA, corporate events, etc.). At the same time, was a Co-Founder of a cheer and dance events company, JAMfest. Poured 20 years of my heart and soul into that business. We ran 150+ events annually in over 30 states, employed 60-90 people, created a parent company (The JAM Brands) and merged and acquired nearly 10 other cheer and dance event, apparel and camp companies along the way. JAM grew into the 2nd largest in that space in the world, and we eventually sold the company in 2015 to Varsity Brands. Retired for 6-9 months (that didn’t last long!) and baseball once again came back into my life in 2016, when I joined the ownership group here at Athletx! Love being able to follow my ultimate passion for baseball, and really enjoying the ride with the great business partners I have and the amazing people I work with at Athletx Sports Group!

If you could change one thing about the game (baseball) what would it be and why?
Add the Designated Hitter (DH) rule to the National League PLEASE! Tired of watching automatic strikeouts, bad attempts at sac bunts and pitchers batting a buck to a buck-fifty! Oh yeah, and keep doing whatever to SPEED UP THE GAME! Kids don’t have the attention span to watch it on TV or in person, and it is becoming too slow to even play the game for a lot of kids. Oh wait, that was two things! Oops…just getting my money’s worth while I had open ears!

What is the wisest thing anyone has ever told you?
We, as humans, and everything around us are always GROWING or DYING. There’s no such thing as “standing still” or “staying the same.” We should be on a constant journey in search of ways to better ourselves and everything around us (i.e. our kids, our relationships, our companies, etc.). If we don’t, there’s no doubt that someone else is out there getting after it more than we are. OK…let’s GROW!

John Ruby

Co-Founder & Chief Digital Officer

800.559.ATHX (2849)

To start this company bio, I Googled ‘the perfect company bio’ but you had to pay to read the examples and I didn’t think it was worth it so I’m just going to wing it. Here goes nothing…

My name is John Ruby but most just call me Ruby. I’m the resident Athletx “In-office” house Dj known for blaring my music inappropriately too loud for an office setting yet keeping office life from growing stale with my Friday afternoon dance parties.
If you listen closely, you may even hear some drumming, rapping, and singing coming from my corner office. I use to think everyone enjoyed it but perhaps that’s why I was put in the corner office and ordered to keep my door shut. Alone. Just a man and his music.

I’m a Western Kentucky University Graduate currently working towards an MBA with an emphasis in fantasy football. It’s looking like I’m going to graduate with honors. I thought about listing fantasy football in the special talent section but that was quickly vetoed by Athletx staff as not counting as an actual talent. But I digress…

Father to two wonderful amazing kids, I’m lucky to have both a boy (Austin) and a girl (Brooke) who keep me cool and hip or at least that’s what they’ve been telling me as they laugh hysterically at how quickly ‘Dad’ dies while playing Fortnite. They tell me I’m getting better. I’m starting to think they are mocking me. But I love them still!

In my free time, I’m an avid skier and you’ll likely find me out west cruising down the side of a mountain somewhere November through April.

What sports did you play growing up?
Jim and I always use to joke when we were starting Athletx, what do you get when you partner an all-state basketball player with an all-state football player? A baseball company of course. Makes total sense right?

Like Jim, I played baseball, basketball, and football but football was by far my best sport.

Any special talents?
Well since apparently fantasy football does not count…

In my former life, which my kids still do not believe, I played guitar, drums, and sang in a band for 10 years touring the country supporting 4 albums and opening for some very cool acts along the way (Collective Soul, Guster, Sister Hazel, Smash Mouth). My kids think it’s cool you can still buy our music on iTunes or listen to it on Spotify.

Tom Davidson

Partner & President of Pastime Tournaments & Mid-America Baseball

800.559.ATHX (2849)

I started Pastime Tournaments in 2006, fresh out of Indiana University, while looking for a “real” job in Eastern Kentucky. Pastime completely consumed my life for a couple of years as we went from 85 teams and 10 tournaments to double and triple those numbers over the next year or two. The growth we experienced was only possible with the friends that were a part of this “cool Summer job” from the start. Many of those guys have now moved on to “real jobs” in other spaces but they’re a huge part of who we are to this day.

My family now includes two youngsters, Mila will turn 7 in January and Gavin 4 in October, that enjoy attending sports events at Indiana University, Butler University and with the Indianapolis Colts. Both are active in sports with Mila leading the way as the most athletically inclined nearly 7-year-old that I’ve ever witnessed. From soccer to tennis, swimming, baseball, and the desire to try every sport in-between…she is a pure athlete. My little guy, Gavin, is just coming into himself as he has dreams of being a dinosaur and chewing gum every day.

My baseball days started when I was 4-5 years old playing behind one of my childhood homes by a park. We played with used baseballs, bats that were too big, and everyone shared gloves. Travel baseball had really just started when I reached high school. We were generally playing in a league, playing Babe Ruth on the weekends, and then travel ball started but didn’t encompass nearly what we see now. I was an All-State kid as a Senior at Lawrence Central High School and tested the JUCO route at Parkland College before coming back to Indiana to attend Indiana University.

Though the majority of my time is spent making every schedule you see during the Summer for Pastime Tournaments events, my passions now revolve around my kids, the golf course, and traveling. I pray for amazing weather and happy parents all Summer. Truthfully…we don’t control the rain, despite trying.

What sport(s) did you play growing up?
Sports have been a major influence in my life with baseball clearly leading the way but competition in and of itself has provided some amazing experiences along the way. I have trophies for baseball, soccer, and golf but nothing compares to the dominance I’ve experienced with inner-office competition with the friends I have on our staff. I have been crowned Tiger Woods, shooty hoops, pop a shot, and pickle ball champ for years now. Sometimes my athletic prowess brings down the office moral since I’m the “old man” in each sport.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
If I could only have one type of food for the rest of my life I’m almost certain I’d live 100 years on sushi alone. It would be tempting to create a solid breakfast sushi roll but if that can’t be done I’d roll with sushi for life. Great job if you caught the pun!

Mike Moyzis

Director of Operations & Event Personnel

630.644.GAME (2849)

With over 30 years of athletic experience at many different levels I feel I’ve got a pulse on what it takes to develop young athletes not only on the field but more importantly as young adults. When I’m not on a baseball field you can find me at my shop repurposing home furnishings. Yes, there’s a creative side!

While serving as General Manager of Baseball Operations White Sox Academies I was instrumental in launching the Chicago White Sox Academies which was an unbelievable experience. In addition to managing operations I also had the opportunity to spend time with the players and coaches, developing our curriculum. And WOW did we have FUN in 2005 winning the World Series, especially since I was a lifelong fan!

As Head Coach at Saint Joseph’s College (Rensselaer, IN) I had a chance to coach some GREAT young men. Many of which are coaching travel sports and are leaders in their communities. Because of their efforts we won five consecutive conference championships and had eight NCAA post season appearances, including two Div. II World Series appearances. One of my greatest coaching thrills was in 1996 when the “Pumas” played for the Division II National Championship.

I also had the opportunity to coach at one of the finest private schools in Chicago. As Head Varsity Baseball Coach at St. Rita High School, we had a great group of “RITA MEN” who not only brought us great success on the field but more importantly have gone on to serve as great role models nationwide. And serving as Athletic Director and overseeing so many successful programs was also a great thrill.

As lucky as I’ve been in my career, I’m most proud of my four children Elise, Evan, Mclain and Payton. They always will be the proudest moments of my life, I’m lucky to be their dad! I’m also grateful to have my partner Stacey in my life, who is truly my best friend.

The Best Part of Doing What I Do
I really enjoy seeing the interaction of parents with their families at our events. I certainly understand the competitive side of athletics but enjoy the life lesson component of athletics even more. There’s a reason why when you score a run, you go home!

Maybe One-Day
OK, so you already know I have a creative side but you don’t know I enjoy watching reality talent shows! I love seeing young talent develop the confidence it takes to become stars, just like athletes do on the field! So maybe one day you’ll see me on stage as a singer. Although, I’m currently banned from singing at birthday parties, so that may be a stretch!