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!

Hello! My name is Bill Hammond, and I’m just the-most-humble-bestest-nerdy-coder guy around. I graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Technology. Most of my time is spent hiding from my children (they both have nerf guns), attempting to work out and watching Marvel movies. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the person right above or beside me!

If you could have one superpower what would it be, and how would you use it to change the world?
Telekinesis – to move the slow drivers out of the fast/passing lane on the highway. In theory, this should change the world. World peace would finally be achieved.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Pizza – the pizza box is recycle-able, it makes my kids happy and it makes my kids happy. Happy Kids also equals world peace. Don’t tell them I said this. They are always watching.

Hello! My name is Bridget Norris. I grew up and currently live on the Southside of Chicago. I recently graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in marketing and management. On top of work, I am also a tutor that helps kids strengthen their math skills and comprehension. Outside of work, you can find me golfing with my boyfriend, going to concerts with my friends, or spending time with my family and our dog, Louie.

What sports did you play growing up?
I played soccer and volleyball in high school. In soccer, I played as a forward and midfielder. In volleyball, I played as an outside hitter.

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?
Learn how to surf
Visit all 50 states
Go on a European cruise

Hi! I’m Carrie. I’ve lived all over the U.S., but Northeast Tennessee has been my home since 2013. I was always the new kid growing up and I loved it! Even now, as an adult, there’s just something so exciting about packing everything up and going somewhere brand new. I’m an introvert, so I spend a good amount of my free time reading, shopping online, and drinking excessive amounts of coffee.

What is your most overused phrase?
It’s probably “Oh my gosh!” Also, I say “awesome” and “amazing” more than anyone my age should.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Sandwiches! They’re quick and convenient and you can make them with anything.

My name is Christine and I am thrilled to join the Athletx team to continue my passion in sports. As a former athlete, many of my favorite memories were found on the “playing field” and I love that I get to pay-it-forward to the next generation of athletes. Let me share a little background…I was born and raised in the great state of Michigan and my athletic career is what brought me to Louisville in 2004. I competed for the University of Louisville’s Track and Field program as a high jumper and heptathlete…and I may or may not have tried my hand in the hammer throw a time or two :).

Directly following my time as a student-athlete, I spent 12+ years wearing many hats as I advanced into senior leadership roles within Louisville’s athletic department. To experience first-hand the many life lessons and values learned through athletics and the impact sports have on the people of all ages is something special. I am extremely grateful to have benefitted from it AND to get to help others do the
same.

I am also a mother to two beautiful boys – Joey (6) and Jake (3) – who keep me on my toes. They are both pretty awesome, spunky and adorable. Joey is about as athletic as they come and has a better golf swing than most adults I know (fingers crossed for a scholarship in the future!!) and Jake is full of personality and keeps up quite well with his big brother. Watch out ladies…he’s also quite the charmer!

When I am not working or chasing my boys, I love running and spending time with my family and friends. I have a passion for traveling and eating really delicious food. In fact, I think that in another life, I would have gone to culinary or cosmetology school. If someone gives me the opportunity to cook for them or make them look glam, I am all over it!

What sports did you play growing up?
Being from Michigan, it was only natural that I figure skated. I wasn’t the most graceful of skaters, but I LOVED being on the ice and it translated well into both my volleyball and high jumping careers. Additionally, I ran track and field, cross country and swam. My parents wanted me to participate in everything—versatility is key!

What’s the wisest thing anyone has ever told you?
My father would always tell me, “If you worry, why pray and if you pray, why worry?” Also, when I was in my sophomore year of college, a sports psychologist told me a Yoda quote that has been my mantra ever since…”Do or do not, there is no try.”

Hello! My name is Jama and though I currently live in Louisville, I grew up in Southern Indiana. In high school, I was a member of the softball team and played most of my younger years as well. After high school, I began studying Graphic/Web Design at Indiana University and Indiana Southeast Purdue where I received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Technology. I now have over 27 years of experience in both fields of Web Development and IT. When I’m not at Athletx I enjoy evenings at home woodworking and playing pickleball.

What sport(s) did you play growing up?
Basketball, Softball

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Tacos, There are so many different flavor combinations!