CLEVELAND – Along with our program sponsor, Anthony Travel, CABMA is excited to have completed a successful third year of the Emerging Leaders Growth & Inclusion Program   during 2025-26. Through everyone involved, we were able to further establish this new program and its impact on CABMA and the program participants.  A highlight was establishing Wellsquest leading the programming, which proved to be a major benefit to the program. The program was created to recognize contributions to CABMA, and to facilitate individual growth and inclusive leadership.

We are very proud of the commitment and energy displayed from our third-year participants listed below:

• Jacques Wells, Senior Associate AD for Business Strategy, Bradley University
• Domenica M. Jones, Associate AD Career Development, University of South Florida
• Aly Hinton, Associate AD Business Operations, Drexel University
• Tiffany Howard, Associate Director of Travel Management, NCAA

"Since partnering with CABMA to launch the Growth & Inclusion Program in 2023, we have had the privilege of supporting 10 emerging leaders through this experience. Investing in the next generation of collegiate athletics professionals is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to the future of our industry, and we are proud to see the program continue to grow and create lasting impact." - Griffin Jaques, Vice President, Business Operations - Anthony Travel

Each participant was provided with a stipend to travel to a location of their choice to meet with staff and leaders at other institutions and organizations in college athletics. Programming was provided throughout the year by Wellsquest (Dr. Janelle Wells and Dr. Doreen MacAulay), CABMA Past President Dr. Omar Banks, and Anthony Travel founder, John Anthony. To cap it off, all of the participants were able to connect further at the 2026 Convention in Las Vegas.

Going into our 4th year, we are excited to build on the momentum and foundation established.  One focus will be to expand the network for participants through regular involvement from industry leaders and CABMA Past Presidents. Thanks to Anthony Travel, we will be able to provide the same financial support and experience as the first three years. During the Convention we announced our 2026-27 class listed below and we are eager to kick off the program:

• Jailyn Wilson, Assistant AD Finance/ Special Assistant to AD, University of Memphis
• Josh Lockhart, Financial Analyst, University of Arizona
• Sarah Aly, Associate AD Business & Internal Operations/ SWA, East Texas A&M
• Gordon Shouler, Assistant AD Business & Finance, SMU

Additionally, we announced Jailyn Wilson as the 2026 winner of the CABMA Emerging Leader award.

We hope this is one of many ways that CABMA can impact its members. As we continue to call on our members during the upcoming year to serve and grow CABMA into the future, we leave you with quotes from last year's participants on their experience:

"The Growth and Inclusion program provided me with an incredible opportunity and experience. I was able to really stretch my mindset and think about how I show up daily. I leaned further into my DiSC assessment amongst other tools to help prepare me for my next steps as a leader and mentor." Jacques Wells, Bradley University

"Being selected for CABMA's Growth and Inclusion Program was both an incredible honor and a transformative experience. The opportunity to learn from industry leaders, visit world-class athletics organizations, and build meaningful relationships broadened my perspective on leadership and the future of college athletics. I'm deeply grateful to CABMA and Anthony Travel for investing in my professional growth, and I look forward to bringing these experiences and ideas back to USF Athletics while continuing to support and elevate our industry." Domenica Jones, University of South Florida

"The CABMA Emerging Leaders Program was an incredibly valuable professional development experience. The cohort sessions and self-guided networking trip gave me the opportunity to learn from leaders across collegiate athletics, exchange ideas, and bring back practical strategies. My networking trip to North Carolina was a highlight of the program. Having the flexibility to customize the experience around my own interests and professional goals created a learning opportunity unlike traditional conferences or workshops. The relationships I built, the firsthand exposure to different approaches to athletics business operations, and the willingness of CABMA members and athletics professionals to openly share their experiences reinforced both the strength of the CABMA community and the value of collaboration. I'm grateful to CABMA for creating this opportunity, to WellsQuest for facilitating such an engaging program, and to Anthony Travel for sponsoring an experience that will continue to benefit my professional growth for years to come." Aly Hinton, Drexel University

"The CABMA Emerging Leaders Growth & Inclusion Program provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with respected leaders across collegiate athletics and gain insights that will shape my leadership for years to come. I am deeply grateful to CABMA, Anthony Travel, and the many leaders who generously invested in my development through their time, guidance, and shared experiences. Most importantly, this experience reinforced the value of stepping outside your comfort zone to build authentic relationships—often with exceptional leaders right in your own backyard. Great leadership is not only about achieving results, but also about creating meaningful connections that help others learn, grow, and thrive." Tiffany Howard, NCAA

About Anthony Travel
Anthony Travel is the nation's leading provider of university and sports travel management services. Anthony Travel partners with over 100 university athletic departments and 25 university campuses to provide travel management solutions. Anthony Travel also provides comprehensive travel solutions to amateur and youth sports organizations at more than 300 events annually. Additionally, they create unforgettable experiences for fans, alumni, and donors traveling around the world to marquee events. Anthony Travel is a division of On Location, a premium experiential hospitality business. For more information, visit anthonytravel.com.

About CABMA: CABMA is an organization devoted to the establishment, maintenance and implementation of the highest standards of integrity and efficiency in the scope, policies and procedures involved in the management and administration of business in the athletics departments and associations of colleges and universities. For more information about CABMA, please visit www.cabma.com. CABMA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 62nd year. For more information on NACDA and the 19 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.