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SquashSmarts Afterschool Youth Program
ABOUT DONATE NEWS & EVENTS STORIES CONTACT

SquashSmarts Staff
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Stephen Gregg
Executive Director
since May 2004
215-221-6860
e-mail
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Steve joined SquashSmarts
in May 2004 after four years at the United States Squash Racquets Association
as its first Director of Junior Development. Prior to the USSRA, Steve
gained valuable coaching, administrative and leadership experience as a
teaching pro and NCCA Division I college athlete at Trinity College in
Hartford, CT. “I consider myself fortunate to lead a program whose
mission provides opportunities for children to become passionate about
sports and education.” A four-year
varsity squash player at Trinity, Steve is a founding director of the National
Urban Squash Association, a former member of the USSRA Junior Committee
and an active member the Philadelphia Squash Association, the Racquet
Club of Philadelphia and various other civic organizations. Originally
from Pittsburgh, PA, Steve’s credentials include:
- U.S. Squash Racquets Association, Director
of Junior Development - Bala Cynwyd, PA
- New York Racquet & Tennis Club, Teaching
Professional - New York, NY
- U.S.
National Skill Level Champion, Squash - 5.0 Division
- New Haven Lawn Club, Head Squash Professional - New
Haven, CT
- Self-contained
cross-country bicycling expedition - Virginia
to Oregon
- Trinity College
- Hartford, CT
- The Taft School
- Watertown,
CT
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Jeanie Shanahan
Executive Assistant
& Office Manager
since July 2007
215-221-6860
e-mail
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Jeanie Shanahan joined SquashSmarts in July 2007 after
working for the United States Squash Racquets Association for six years
as the Office Assistant and Office Manager. The USSRA introduced her to the game of
squash. “I am honored to work with
the students of SquashSmarts and interact and help with the growth of the
SquashSmarts community” With a city wide high school dropout rate of over
50%, Jeanie feels strongly that “SquashSmarts will enhance the high
school and college student graduation rates and help the students develop
into solid citizens and community leaders in Philadelphia.” Jeanie resides in Haddon Heights, New Jersey,
is a mother of five children and has five grandchildren.
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Katie Bicknese
Program
Director
West
Philadelphia
since November 2007
215-221-6860
e-mail
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Katie joined
SquashSmarts in November of 2007 after spending two years with City Year
Greater Philadelphia where she first served as a corps member at Overbrook High School
in West Philadelphia providing classroom
assistance and running after-school programs. She then worked in the Development
Department raising money so that the next group of young idealists could
continue to make a difference in Philadelphia’s
communities. Katie discovered her
passion for community involvement at Penn State
where she served hundreds of hours with Alpha Phi Omega, a national
co-educational service fraternity.
Of all the community work she's done, Katie is most thrilled when
she sees a student's face light up after learning something
challenging. "After-school
programming is what made me enjoy my childhood and find a place for
myself. Nothing makes me happier
than being able to give such an incredible opportunity to today's
youth." Originally from Pittsburgh but most recently from Chester County,
Katie's credentials include:
- Development
Associate and Corps Member for City Year, Philadelphia, PA
- Community
Service Instructor for Summer Study, University Park, PA
- Member of Alpha
Phi Omega National Co-Educational Service Fraternity
- Penn State
University, University Park, PA
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Dana Sanders
Development Director
since July 2009
215-221-6860
e-mail
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Dana joint
SquashSmarts in July 2009. Prior to SquashSmarts, Dana spent six years
with Comcast at their corporate headquarters, most recently as Senior
Federal Contract Compliance Analyst for the entire enterprise. He was
responsible for responding to U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal
Contract Compliance Programs’ audit requests and related requirements,
including preparing and submitting annual reports and filings. His
underlying passion for technology led him to create several solutions for
Comcast, including a system redesign that saved Comcast over $100,000
annually and reduced turnaround from 90 days to 24 hours. A native
Philadelphian, Dana is an alumnus of the Community Scholars Program of
Germantown Friends School, which provides students with financial
assistance to attend the private Quaker school. This opportunity gave
Dana the access and focus he needed to attend Emerson College
in 1989. “Being a community scholar at GFS taught me the value of service
and giving back through works and deeds.” Dana’s energetic personality
and strength as a writer and organizer will serve him well in his new
development role at SquashSmarts.
- Comcast, Senior
Federal Contract Compliance Analyst, Philadelphia, PA
- Member of
Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM)
- Member of
National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC)
- Member of
Epsilon Omega Psi Community Service Fraternity
- Emerson College,
Boston, MA
- Germantown Friends
School, Philadelphia, PA
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Jessica
Regetta
Academic Director
High School
Joined August 2010
215-221-6860
e-mail
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Jessica joined SquashSmarts in 2010 after spending a year and
half working with women and children of the Hispanic community in Wilmington, DE. Jessica graduated from Widener University in 2009 with a
bachelor’s degree in Spanish.
During her experience at Widener, Jessica discovered her passion
for working with children and community involvement. Jessica taught English oral
communication classes while studying in Spain in 2008 and was the
student leader of an international alternative student break in
2009. During that time Jessica was
responsible of fundraising and helping to lead a group of students to Argentina
for a 10 day community service project.
“Of all the community involvement I have done, I really feel like
working with middle and high school students; it is where you can make
the biggest impression and the most immediate difference. I’m very excited to be a part of the
SquashSmarts team and to have the opportunity to work with the great kids
in our program.”
- Member and Co-President of Alpha Mu Gamma, National
Foreign Language Honor Society
- Secretary and Treasurer of the Honors Program of General
Education
- Mental Health Aide/Student Mentor
for Delaware
Guidance, DE
- Big Brother Big Sister, Chester County, PA
- Widener University, Chester, PA
- Universidad de
Leon, Spain
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Chris
Wert
Squash & Fitness Director
since September 2012
215-221-6860
e-mail
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Chris joined SquashSmarts in August 2012 after graduating
from Kenyon College where he was a four-year member of the Men’s Varsity
Squash team. Chris was no stranger to SquashSmarts, having spent two of
his college summers working as a program intern. A Philadelphia native,
Chris began playing squash at Philadelphia Country Club and was a member
of the Harriton High School squash team. “Squash
is an integral part of my life. To play squash and be a part of a team as
a young person can be both a source of enjoyment and relief for our
students while providing them with a safe place in which to grow and
learn while the experience day-to-day success and failure.”
- Squash Instructor, International Squash Academy Summer
Camp @ Trinity College
- Volunteer, Education Foundation of Lower Merion
- International Baccalaureate & National Merit Scholar,
Harriton High School, Lower Merion, PA
- Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
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Steve
Brown
Academic Director
Middle School
since September 2012
215-221-6860
e-mail
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Steve joined SquashSmarts in September 2012 after
finishing his second term of service with AmeriCorps through Playworks Philadelphia. Steve earned his BA from Duke
University and a Masters in Reading/Writing/Literacy from the University
of Pennsylvania where he completed his student teaching with Science
Leadership Academy in Center City Philadelphia. Before graduate school,
Steve spent two years living in Los Angeles, teaching at a private school
for special needs students and CCEO Youth Build, a charter school that
provides academic courses and on-site construction training for
high-school aged youths. “I am incredibly excited to work with the staff
and students of SquashSmarts. I believe very deeply in the ability of
academics and athletics to work together to accomplish a common goal.”
Originally from Wilmington, DE, Steve’s background includes:
- AmeriCorps Member and Program Coordinator, Playworks Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of
Education, Philadelphia, PA
- AmeriCorps Member and Classroom Teacher, CCEO Youth
Build, Gardena, CA
- Member, Duke University Track & Field Team, Durham,
NC
- Duke University, Durham, NC
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SquashSmarts, c/o
Lenfest Center, 3890 North 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
Ph 215-221-6860 Fax 215-221-6866 info@squashsmarts.org
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