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From the court to the classroom.

We use the fundamentals of sport, health, and education to build healthy, empowered, life-long learners.

Our Story

Building Brilliant Futures is a foundation of expertise-driven organization born from our individual successes in athletics, education, and health excellence.

Our team works with the athletic and educational departments in urban colleges to deliver meaningful programming to 5th-8th graders to promote health and education, and the possibility of a more brilliant future for at-risk youth.

Today, over 10 million children in the US are considered at-risk. Youths without support and redirection are far less likely to have opportunities to live successful, fulfilling lives.

Who are at risk youth?

Research has shown that children under 18, who live under the federal poverty line, or have poor access to personal resources and education are considered at-risk. These children are more likely to drop out of school, fail to obtain stable employment, earn low or have no income, experience significant food instability, and have less access to quality education. 

Our Mission

We believe that young people who are surrounded by a variety of opportunities and positive encounters demonstrate significantly higher rates of success in transitioning into adulthood.

We work to create a world in which demographics do not limit a child's potential.

Our Goals

By December 2025, we aim to have 30 colleges and university working together through our national program to:

Create lifelong learners
Support communities
Use sport as a driver for learning
Address nutrition and safety
Build an educational living lab

*A national research network for education departments in our program,using BBF as a living lab for working with middle schoolers from underserved communities.

Why Volleyball?

As the fastest-growing high school and college sport, and the largest team sport in women’s college sports, volleyball has wide appeal and is readily accessible, transcending the barriers of many other sports. Our founders and leaders have successful careers in Olympic, collegiate and professional volleyball.

The sport of volleyball provides unique opportunities to teach:

  • Teamwork
  • Collaboration
  • Discipline
  • Relationships and Social Networking
  • Patience & Perseverance
  • Leadership
  • Positive habits via repetition
  • Responsibility
  • Self-Awareness
  • Tolerance
  • Stress Management
  • Healthy Competition
  • Problem Solving
  • Healthy body/healthy mind empowerment

Board & Advisors

Building Brilliant Futures is proud to be guided by a diverse and accomplished board of leaders from sports, business, and education. Our board members bring a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for empowering underserved youth.

Together, our board plays a key role in guiding BBF’s mission to create lasting impact through sport, education, and community engagement.

Staff

Mark Fishman

CEO + Founder

Professional Beach Volleyball Coach,  former CEO and CIO of Aesir Capital Management

Mariah Whalen

Staff

Assistant Coach, Cal Poly Mustangs Beach Volleyball, NCAA Champion

Marlee Rice

Director of Operations

AAU Southern Pacific District Chair, Volleyball

Victoria Corcoran

Content Creator

NCAA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Athlete, University of New Orleans

Mark Fishman

CEO + Founder

Professional Beach Volleyball Coach,  former CEO and CIO of Aesir Capital Management

Mark Fishman

CEO + Founder

Professional Beach Volleyball Coach,  former CEO and CIO of Aesir Capital Management

Board of Directors

Jenny Hahn

President

Former JVA Executive Director, current Director of Special Programs + Initatives

Denny Lennon

Vice President

Commissioner of AAU Beach Volleyball, President of Sports Stories, Inc.

Kevin McCollach

Treasurer

Chief Operating Officer,  Volleyball Life

Diannne Peranich

Secretary and Education Coordinator

Coach, Beach Nation

Patty Dodd

Co-founder, Curriculum Director

US National Team & Beach Nation Head Coach

Todd Rodgers

Co-founder

Olympic Gold Medalist, International Volleyball Hall of Fame Inductee

Emerson Lovell

Legal

J.D., Howard Unviersity School of Law

Deana Garner-Smith

Program Development

Senior Associate Athletic Director, Title IX & Inclusive Excellence, ASU

Langley McClay, P.hd.

Program Development

Director of Pre-College Programs, LSU

Heather Furman

Brand + Marketing

Board Member, International Volleyball Hall of Fame

Matthew Thornton

Brand + Marketing

Founder & Brand/Strategy Innovator, is + at

John Speraw

Senior Advisor

President and CEO, USA Volleyball

Karch Kiraly

Brand Ambassador

Head Coach, USA Men's National Volleyball Team, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist

Kristen Rohr

Member

Head Coach – Beach Volleyball, Grand Canyon University

Todd Rodgers

Co-founder

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Kristen Rohr

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Emerson Lovell

Legal

NEED CREDENTIALS

Karch Kiraly

Brand Ambassador

Head Coach, US Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team

Board of Advisors

Molly Alvey

BBF Advisor
Former Head Coach, University of Cincinnati

Lee Becker

BBF Advisor
Co-founder, The Boomer Esiason Foundation

Alexis Conaway

BBF Advisor
Director of Operations, LSU Beach Volleyball

Ian Cropp

BBF Advisor
Head of Global Sports Sponsorships, Citigroup

Ryan Djabbarah

BBF Advisor
Managing Director, Global Head of Sponsorship & Experiential Marketing, Citigroup

Roger Fisher,  M.Sc.

BBF Advisor
Director of Outreach, Arizona State University

Wade Garard

BBF Advisor
Chief Advancement Officer, USA Volleyball Foundation

Kristen Glattfelder

BBF Advisor
Head Coach, ASU Sun Devils Women's Beach Volleyball

Bernie Headley

BBF Advisor
Founder + Executive Director, 360 Sports Academy

Beth Van Fleet

BBF Advisor
Head Coach, Beach Volleyball – Georgia State University

John Kessel

BBF Advisor
Sport Development Director, USA Volletball (ret.)

Al Lau

BBF Advisor
Chief Strategy Officer, AVP

Trevor Ragan

Director of Education
Founder and Head of Education, The Learner Lab

April Ross

BBF Advisor
Three-time Olympic Medalist, USA Beach Volleyball

Blake Rus

BBF Advisor
Global Marketing Director, Wilson

Chrissy Jones Schoonderwoerd

BBF Advisor
Assistant Coach, University of Minnesota Volleyball

Sharon Smith

BBF Advisor
Vice President of Education Outreach Partnerships, Arizona State University

Charlie Sullivan

BBF Advisor
Coach, Springfield College Men's Volleyball

Beth Van Fleet

BBF Advisor
Head Coach, Beach Volleyball – Georgia State University

Erin Virtue

BBF Advisor
Head Coach, University of Michigan Women's Volleyball

Emma Weinert

BBF Advisor
Associate Marketing Manager for Team Sports, Wilson

Kristen Glattfelder

BBF Advisor
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Chrissy Jones

BBF Advisor
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Megan Kennedy

BBF Advisor
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