An experienced head coach who has successfully developed amateurs into professionals, professionals into champions, and grassroots clubs into trailblazing programs. Currently the Head Coach of UCI Esports for 3 years now, previously worked with Florida Mayhem, Boston Uprising, and Team Canada 2018 & 2019 in Overwatch.

Sonja Stills is entering her 19th year at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and her first year as the Chief of Staff/Chief Operating Officer after serving as the Senior Associate Commissioner for Administration & Compliance for seven years. She is also in her 14th year as the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) for the conference. She has recently been assigned as the Director of the newly formed MEAC eSports Community. She previously held the positions of Assistant Commissioner for Administration & Compliance, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, and Director of Compliance.

David P. Hedlund, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor, the Graduate Program Director, and the Chairperson of the Division of Sport Management at St. John’s University in New York City. At St. John’s University, Dr. Hedlund is also the Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Sport Research, Co-Director of the Sports Analytics Seminar, and a faculty advisor for esports. Dr. Hedlund earned his Ph.D. and a certificate in Measurement and Statistics from Florida State University. He has more than 20 years of domestic and international experience in sport, esports, coaching, business, education and analytics.

Bea Hinton is a Digital and Technology Associate at Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLP, a full-service integrated professional services firm. In this capacity she, among other things, negotiates and advises clients on content development, production, licensing and distribution deals across digital and traditional media platforms. Bea also regularly represents clients, including in the esports and gaming industry, in the structuring and negotiation of business alliances such as joint ventures, sponsorships, co-promotions and collaborations, brand and media integrations, influencer programs, live and virtual events, and talent endorsements.

Freelance writer and analyst covering the esports industry. Skills include writing, editing, interviewing, hosting, and marketing.

David P. Hedlund, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor, the Graduate Program Director, and the Chairperson of the Division of Sport Management at St. John’s University in New York City. At St. John’s University, Dr. Hedlund is also the Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Sport Research, Co-Director of the Sports Analytics Seminar, and a faculty advisor for esports. Dr. Hedlund earned his Ph.D. and a certificate in Measurement and Statistics from Florida State University. He has more than 20 years of domestic and international experience in sport, esports, coaching, business, education and analytics.

Cody Elsen first started gaming competitively in 2007 playing a game called Gears of War. In 2015 Cody Founded Fable Esports and also worked with CycloneGG. Cody worked for a few year in the golf industry, even having his PGA Tour credentials working for an equipment manufacturer. Cody launched the Northwood Esports program at the end of 2018 and has grown the program into a powerhouse varsity team.

Former student chairman of the College Esports Expo, the biggest collegiate esports conference in the world. Connected the music industry to esports and gaming, creating profitable partnerships and networks, all before my 21st birthday. Recently graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Sports Communication. Traditional sports background, now actively working in online events for Misfits Gaming Group.

Tobias Scholz is an assistant professor at the University of Siegen. He is in esports since 2001 and started as a journalist. He is the co-editor of the eSports Yearbook since 2009 and is the founding chairperson of the Esports Research Network. His research focuses on organization theory, human resource management, big data, digitalization, and esports. His most recent book is "eSports is business - Management in the world of competitive gaming".

Jeff White serves on the NJCAA National Office staff as the Vice President for Legal, Diversity, IT, & Resources. White spent three years as the Vice President of Student Experience and Human Resources and Director of Athletics at Hocking College, an NJCAA member school in Region XII. White also served as the Director of Human Resources at the Supreme Court of Ohio.

In September 2019, the NJCAA announced the creation of NJCAA Esports, the national governing body for two-year college esports. Spearheading the creation and growth of the new association, White oversees all aspects of the operations as the Executive Director for NJCAA Esports

EVP Partnerships, Chief Esports Officer; Leader in Sports Events & Marketing. Esports innovator and event planner. Educator. Dedicated professional in the area of sports events planning and marketing. Skill sets to provide full event planning and hosting capabilities for all sports at the local youth level to collegiate all-star games. Collegiate esports event organizer. Developed 1st in NJ, Esports collegiate curriculum about the esports industry. 

I am an experienced curriculum developer in higher education with a background being a lecturer and assistant professor in graduate universities in Asia. On the gaming side of things I have competed at a high level in both Counter Strike and Hearthstone. I did my undergraduate work here at Akron in Secondary Education and my M. ED work at The University of Southern California with a focus in Linguistics.

Captain, Johns Hopkins Lacrosse
All-Star, Major League Lacrosse
High School Teacher, East Baltimore
Founder, CEO, Next One Up (Full-time since 2015)

Joseph Yi is a producer/editor at Team Liquid who has been passionate about esports since 2014. At Emerson College, Joseph played a role in the creation of Emerson Esports's video production team and regularly travelled to esports events and expos across the country while representing Emerson Esports. As a part of Team Liquid, Joseph continues to share his passion for esports. He has shot and edited a variety of different projects, such as the Team Liquid CSGO Vlogs, the TL X Naruto collaboration video, the Liquid+ launch trailer, and many more.

Esports professional with focus on training, development, and growth. 

Esports management specialist focusing in talent development and organizational foundation building 

Josiah is the former Strategic Partnerships Manager at Enthusiast Gaming. He was the partnerships manager at Omnia Media before the company was acquired by Enthusiast Gaming. He managed a sponsorships and branded partnerships for a portfolio of esports teams, content creators and fan communities.

Sky Kauweloa is a PhD candidate, who does research on collegiate esports. After spending 2 years doing ethnographic work of UCI's program, his dissertation work is focused on understanding the lived-experiences of collegiate players, the pressures they face, and their development as students, His is now leading the development of his university's esports program, and curriculum development.

Dr. Stephanie Orme is an Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Emmanuel College in Boston. Her teaching and research is on the gaming and esports industries and culture. She was been involved in esports curriculum planning and development at several northeastern US institutions.

Jeff has put his love of gaming to work at Lenovo, where he has developed and led global engagement strategies for Lenovo’s PC gaming brand, Lenovo Legion. In 2019, sales teams identified an increased demand in esports within schools, so Jeff was brought in and has been instrumental in designing and building Lenovo’s end-to-end Esports Solution for Education, partnering with educational institutions who are either in the first stages of building out their programs or looking for help on expanding their current esports programming.

Dan Coonan took over as CEO of the ECAC in January of 2017. In a multi-faceted career, he has served as Athletic Director at Santa Clara University for eleven years, Assistant Commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, practiced law, ran a Congressional campaign, taught law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco, and served as Chairman of the Board of the largest homeless shelter network in the Bay Area. In the spring of 2018 he started ECAC Esports, which now boasts over a hundred schools, 400 teams and 3000 participants playing ten games. In 2020 he wrote a highly acclaimed novel, Presidential Spirits.

Working in esports since 2013. Started as a tournament organizer. Moved to college esports as a head coach and director. Built an online following and fell in love with the high school esports community. Got a job at HSEL as a content producer and worked my way up to Commissioner of the High School Esports League.

Founder & Former CEO Karmaloop, Founder Future Boston (Non-Profit), Former President and Co-owner FaZe Clan, Inc - Current CEO & Co-Founder XSET Gaming 

Entertainment executive with experience in entrepreneurship, management, finance, public relations, business affairs, broadcast coordination, marketing, and client/partner navigation. Extensive knowledge of the esports and gaming industries as well as substantial experience in the TV and music industries. Strong experience in event production and execution paired with brand connections.

Mike started his journey at Williams College where he was a four year starter on the basketball team and went to two Division III Final Fours. After college, he received his Master's from Northwestern University while working for the Men's Basketball Team as a Graduate Assistant. His combined experience at Northwestern and working the G League/NBA Draft combine will help continue his goal of becoming a prominent name in the professional basketball world. 

Former Defensive End and Student Coach at Syracuse University. Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Master's Degree in Sport Management. SponsorUnited New York City Lead.