E-mail: Improve@GoBeyondTheGame.org
MEET OUR TEAM
ELIJAH DESMOND
VICE PRESIDENT
Guys With Ties
Elijah Desmond is founder of Ladder of Life and from a young age, was inspired by community outreach and understood that youth are the future. Elijah shares his own motivational message to high school students in hopes of positively influencing their lives.
Devin Jordan
PRESIDENT - GUYS WITH TIES
Devin Jordan is founder of Beyond The Game and has a passion for enriching the lives of young people and giving back to the community. As a former student athlete, he understands that a kids first experience with sports is vital.
Elijah Desmond
VICE PRESIDENT - GUYS WITH TIES
Elijah Desmond is founder of Ladder of Life and from a young age, was inspired by community outreach and understood that youth are the future. Elijah shares his own motivational message to high school students in hopes of positively influencing their lives.
Kent Hamilton
LEADER - GUYS WITH TIES
Kent is a driven young professional that inspires everyone he works with. He also goes above and beyond to reach all students and in 2016, created the Guys with Ties program in the Plain Local Schools with the help of Community Liaison Michi Thomas.
Barb Ewing Cockroft
LEADER - GIRLS WITH PEARLS
Barb holds over 35 years of classroom experience as well as a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. The inspiration for what she does and for who she is comes from God, whom she credits for her many successes.
Michele Thomas
LIASION - GUYS WITH TIES
In 2016 Michele along Kent Hamilton saw a need in their school to help further educate their students beyond the classroom. They established Guys with Ties, a program to ensure the development of well-rounded students.
LaToya Briscoe
TREASURER - BEYOND THE GAME
LaToya holds 19 years of Payroll, Payroll Tax and Human Resources experience and is set to obtain her B.A. in Human Resource Management early 2022, from Franklin University. She currently works as Senior Payroll Specialist for LifeStyle Communities and works with Beyond The Game in her spare time.
Ashton Knappenberger
LEADER - GIRLS WITH PEARLS
Ashton Knappenberger started with Beyond The Game as a student intern while attending Perry High School where she played volleyball and also traveled. She currently attends Mount Union University where she is studying Middle School Education. Ashton says "Beyond the Game has provided me opportunities to grow professional skills while creating community bonds... all before graduating college. Girls with Pearls, specifically, is close to my heart. Little girls are some of the world's biggest dreamers and I love helping them acquire the confidence and personal skills to reach them!"
Lester Sanders
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER / PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Lester Sanders helps students, student-athletes, and young adults excel by providing college, career, and life strategies. Lester is a National Speaker, Student Communicator, and Adversity Strategist.
Carrie Wucinich
LEADER - GIRLS WITH PEARLS
Carrie Wucinich is a Registered Dental Hygienist and has been in the dental industry for over 15 years. Carrie’s personal motto is “Helping Children in More Ways than One.” Girls with Pearls is the perfect fit for Carrie as she is able to empower and teach children to follow their dreams as well as, persevere through the challenges they may face.
Ryan Boyd
LEADER - GUYS WITH TIES
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Ryan Boyd is a native of Massillon, OH and has lived in Columbus, OH since 2009. Since 2009, Ryan has made a career for himself in Sales and is currently working in the logistics industry. Ryan has a background in mentoring and establishing relationships while helping the growth and development of children. "To be able to work with Beyond The Game is truly a honor. I have a passion to change the lives of young men facing adversity for the better, forever. I am excited to for the future with Guys with Ties and the many lives we will bless along the way."
Neeko Longshore
LEADER - GUYS WITH TIES
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I'm Neeko and what it means to be a part of Beyond the Game and Guys with Ties starts with my own childhood. I can not express enough how important it is to set a good, respectful path for young men and women to better set themselves up for the future. My hope is that with 'Guys with Ties', that my small influence is able to change a young man's life and or perspective on how we should carry ourselves as men.
Brett Marshall
FOUNDER - OHIO TIGERS ACADEMY
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Brett Marshall is the founder of The Ohio Tigers Academy and a native of Massillon, OH. He started The Ohio Tigers Academy because of his passion to not only coach and compete at a high level on the football field, but more importantly to positively shape today's youth through developing personal relationships, mentorship, and community outreach. His goal with The Ohio Tigers Academy is to build champions on the field and in life, by instilling an elite mentality into all the kids who participate in the program. "I am grateful and excited to work with the Beyond The Game team to provide more opportunities to reach and impact as many of our young people as we can, these kids are the future!"
STUDENT INTERNS
Helping Young Athletes Go Beyond
One of our main missions at Beyond The Game is to inspire student-athletes to become more than an athlete , so we have created a high school student internship that will be help us with our digital design, marketing and social media! These internships allows for growth in professional areas that they are passionate about. It also provides another avenue for them to serve their community.
Ryan Maxim
DIGITAL EDITS & DESIGN
“I’m Ryan Maxin and I’m a student intern for Beyond the Game! My primary sport is golf, which I’ve played for all four years of high school, but I’ve also played baseball and ran cross country in years passed. I plan to pursue a degree in graphic design after high school and I’m very excited for all of the design opportunities that working with Beyond the Game will provide for me!”
ANTONETTE LACKEY
MARKETING
“Hi! I’m Antonette Lackey and I am an upcoming senior at Massillon Washington High School. In high school, I have been honored with the opportunity to take part in extracurriculars such as drama club and HOSA. I also am the president of the National Honor Society. After high school, I plan on going to college and studying nursing.“
LILLIAN WHITCOMB
PROJECT MANAGER
Lillian Whitcomb is a class of 2024 student of Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. She plans to study Business Administration and German as well as Spanish. It is her goal to improve the environment through project management of environmental campaigning. She played 16 seasons of soccer in her career as well as three seasons of travel archery. Lillian desires to see a future that blends body positivity and health-consciousness to create an environment young women can truly flourish in.