Staff
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Stephen Gregg
Steve joined SquashSmarts in 2004 after four years with the United States Squash Racquets Association as its first Director of National Junior Development. Prior to the USSRA, Steve gained valuable coaching, administrative and leadership experience as a teaching professional 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 graduate and four-year varsity squash player at both Trinity and The Taft School in Connecticut, Steve's civic engagement and leadership include: co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative; co-founder of The National Urban Squash & Education Association; member of the Board of Governors & Squash Chair of The Philadelphia Cricket Club; speaker and host delegate for the Beyond Sports Summit & Awards; past co-President of The Trinity College Alumni Club of Philadelphia. Steve is an active singles and doubles squash player and a member of the US Squash and the Philadelphia Squash Association. |
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Jeanie Shanahan
Jeanie Shanahan joined SquashSmarts in 2007 after working with the United States Squash Racquets Association for six years as its 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 nine grandchildren. In every way, Jeanie is the heart-and-soul of SquashSmarts. She embodies the core values of honesty, compassion, integrity and hard work. She build personal, meaningful relationships with every member of the program, taking time to greet every child who enters SquashSmarts with a smile and a hug. |
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Dana Sanders
Dana joined SquashSmarts in 2009 after six years with Comcast at their corporate headquarters, including time as Senior Federal Contract Compliance Analyst responsible for relations with tge U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance. 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. |
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Nabilla Ariffin
Nabilla joined SquashSmarts in 2016 and brings passion, energy and focus to her job every day. Her incredibly unique background and skill set are perfectly suited to help drive the program's presence, visibility and story of impact within the community. Her credentials include: top-level international junior squash player; graduate and urban studies major at The University of Pennsylvania; market and research analyst with U3 Advisors, Athenian Razak and The City of Philadelphia. Building partnerships at every level and in every arena -- from corporate to civic, squash to education -- she is a central spokesperson and ambassador for the organization. In addition, Nabilla manages SquashSmarts volunteer recruitment efforts as well as it's group volunteer engagements including hallmark outings like Squash Night @ The Philles and our partnership with the US Open Squash Championships at Drexel University. |
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Alix Cummin
Alix joined SquashSmarts after serving as lead instructor for Tech Impact, a nonprofit empowering communities and nonprofits to use technology to better serve the world. She also founded a consulting and volunteerism service that helped families in Greater Philadelphia navigate the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and implement appropriate Learning Disability (LD) services for students in area public schools. Her straight-forward, organized approach to developing both group and individual curricula for our high school team members that engages, excites and challenges our 9th-12th graders. At the same time, she coordinates SquashSmarts college guidance process. From research, to tours, interviews, to applications, essays to financial aid, Alix tailors to each 11th and 12th graders process to their strengths and weaknesses and their family's interests and needs. |
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Joe Millman
Joe joined SquashSmarts ibn 2017 after serving as Assistant Squash Professional at Berwyn Squash & Fitness, the oldest squash club in the United States open to public membership. Joe hails from rural England and first discovered squash at the relatively late age of 15 years old. After immersing himself for three years in junior squash, Joe spent five years traveling and competing on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tour. Coaching and junior development have been his passion and full-time career for the past 10 years, and he is thrilled to be working with girls and boys of all levels and ages from Philadelphia's public schools. As the Director of High School Squash & Fitness, Joe instructs 9th-12th students who have graduated from SquashSmarts Middle School Programs, plays a lead role in the squash curriculum development, assists with college placement, and plays a lead role in in developing well-rounded student-athletes who are prepared for college and career. |
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Quinetta Bowden
Quinetta is a seven year graduate of both the SquashSmarts middle school and high school programs. She is also a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where she was a member of the English Honor Society’s. Quinetta joined SquashSmarts after completing an intensive two-year educational training program with City Year Philadelphia. Her understanding of the culture and traditions of the program as well as the challenges and opportunities present by the neighborhoods and schools that SquashSmarts partners with are valuable assets to building a successful, intentional middle school education program. As the leader of SquashSmarts' West Philadelphia middle school academic program, she organizes daily student instruction, manages high school placement, and helps maintain a strong relationship with Drexel University and it's faculty and undergraduate resources. |
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Tempest Bowden
Tempest is a seven year graduate of the SquashSmarts middle and high school programs. She is a graduate of Simon Gratz High School, the Wolfeboro Summer Boarding School in New Hampshire, and of Mercersburg Academy (PG year). She has completed an intensive one-year training course through City Year Philadelphia and Up2Us/CoachAcrossAmerica before joining SquashSmarts staff. Like here sister, Quinetta, she is a seven-year graduate of both the middle school and high school SquashSmarts progams was serves as captain her senior year. As the leader of SquashSmarts West Philadelphia squash and fitness program, she organizes daily student instruction in court to develop squahs-playing ability as well as the basic fundamentals of physical literacy. In 2016, Tempest was humbled to be named Philadelphia Youth Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Coaches Conference as well as 2016 National Coach of the Year by Up2Us Sports. |
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Debby Dowlin
Debby joined SquashSmarts in 2017 after serving as Middle School Site Director & Academic Coordinator for the Tenacity after school youth enrichment program in Boston, MA. Debby earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology & Spanish from Wellesley College and her Masters Degree in Education from Temple University. A native of West Philadelphia, Debby is well-versed in the strengths and challenges of Philadelphia's school system having served as a Spanish Teacher for several years at Parkway Northwest High School, as well as Harding Middle School, Logan Elementary School, and Girls High School for student teaching. Before teaching in the School District of Philadelphia, Debby spent one year teaching English in Ecuador, and served as an Assistant Pre-K Teacher at Belmont Academy Charter School. She is also an active political and non-profit organizer and advocate who's not afraid of events and fundraisers. As the leader of SquashSmarts' North Philadelphia Middle School Academic Program, she organizes daily student instruction, manages high school placement, and helps maintain strong relationships with our families and partner schools in the Hunting Park neighborhood. |
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Ross Bolling
Ross joined SquashSmarts in May 2017 first a volunteer and then after a few short months as a member of the full-time staff. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Ross majored in Entrepreneurial Studies & Business Marketing. Ross grew up playing squash in Wilmington, DE and was the former #1 squash player at the Westminster School. During his squash career, Ross served as a brand ambassador for Prince Sports and Black Knight while playing competitive amateur-level squash. His enthusiasm, leadership and charismatic personality combine to drive our students to the top of their game. As the leader of SquashSmarts' North Philadelphia middle school squash and fitness program, he organizes daily student instruction, assists with high school placement, and helps maintain strong relationships with our families and partner schools in the Hunting Park neighborhood. |
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Marcedes Kennedy
Marcedes is a seven year graduate of SquashSmarts middle and high school program. She is a graduate of Bloomsberg University and an active member of the Army National Guard. Marcedes is currently blazing a new trail as the first SquashSmarts alumna to participate in "Operation Coach" a program that allow her to earn a Masters Degree in Sport Coaching Leadership through Drexel University while completing an intensive two-year coach-mentor training through Up2Us/CoachAcrossAmerica where she coaches and mentors student-athletes in West Philadelphia. |
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Dewon Flythe
Dewon is a seven year graduate of SquashSmarts middle and high school program. After graduation, Dewon complete in the 2016 United States Squash Skill Level Championship where he was crowned 4.5 division champion. He is currently entering the second of a two-year intensive training program through Up2Us CoachAcrossAmerica where he will coach and mentor students from our North Philadelphia middle and high school program. |
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Rabbi Awsan
Rabbi is a seven year graduate of SquashSmarts middle and high school program and a graduate of the intensive Up2Us CoachAcrossAmerica training program where he spent two years working as a coach-mentor to SquashSmarts 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in West Philadelphia. A native of Bangladesh, Rabbi assists with SquashSmarts weekend practices in North and West Philadelphia while pursuing his degree in data management and technology from the Community College of Philadelphia. |