Houston, Texas March 3, 2022…Hilliard Solutions announced today that the highlight of its Women in Athlete Development Symposium and Networking Event this spring is the addition of keynote speakers Edniesha Curry, Assistant Coach of the Portland Trailblazers and Dr. Renae Myles Payne, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration, Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Miami. This exclusive and engaging annual professional development and virtual networking experience will take place on April 6-7 from 10:00am to 4:00pm Central Time. The three previous events were widely recognized for preparing women to achieve leadership positions in the growing field of athlete development.
Dr. Janice Hilliard, President and CEO of Hilliard Solutions, shared her excitement at the addition of Edniesha Curry and Dr. Renae Myles Payne as keynote speakers.
“Edniesha Curry is one of the best kept secrets in the NBA and in all of professional sports. Her impressive background as a college basketball student-athlete, professional athlete in the WNBA and internationally, first woman assistant basketball coach for an NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball team, and vocal advocate for gender equity is nothing short of amazing. We are excited for her to share her career journey, life’s lessons and inspirational message.”
Dr. Hilliard also commented on Dr. Myles Payne who she has known since they both began their careers in student-athlete academic support over 25 years ago. “She is a trailblazer, innovator, trendsetter, and no-nonsense athletics administrator who is highly respected in the industry and passionate about developing women sports leaders, student-athlete welfare, and diversity and inclusion. Our audience will be captivated by every word of what will be an entertaining, real-talk presentation.”
Coach Curry expressed her enthusiasm for the event. “I am honored for the opportunity to share how to be bold and authentic change agents and my journey with women leaders at the upcoming April Symposium. I intend to remind each attendee that your journey will come with many trials and tribulations, but along the way, you must never forget that you always hold the “Power Pen” to each chapter of your life. It’s up to you to write your story!”
“I am extremely excited to address current and future leaders in athlete development at the Symposium in April,” said Myles Payne. “Dr. Hilliard has laser focused her legacy on advancing women in the profession, and I am here to support that whole-heartedly. As the Notorious RBG said, ‘Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.’ The Symposium is about preparing and equipping women to be decision-makers and leaders in sports. I cannot wait to share the challenges and victories of leading in this industry.”
For the first time, participants will experience increased opportunities to engage with each other, speakers and industry professionals prior to, during, and after symposium sessions. Participants can also expect to establish mentoring relationships necessary to achieving a successful career working with athletes.
The full list of symposium presenters include Sheridan Blandford, University of Washington, Brittany L. Collins, PhD., University of Missouri, Elliott Daniels, Ashton Henderson, Michigan State University, Cassidy Buchholz, Montana State University, Taylor Wells Maberry, Major League Soccer, LaShea
Davis-Williams, The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA), Cindy Miller Aron, Ascend Consultation in Health Care, Inc, Shelley Lyle, University of Florida, and Janelle E. Wells, Ph.D., University of South Florida. Event sponsors include Athlete Transition Services, Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Maximum Achievement Coaching, University of Florida Online Master of Science in Sport Management, and SP Athletics.
About Hilliard Solutions: Hilliard Solutions is an education and sports consultancy firm that focuses on helping those professionals charged with helping athletes succeed. Through her company, Dr. Hilliard, and her accomplished team of associates, provide consulting, career coaching, athlete life skills programming and professional development solutions for sports leaders, athlete development professionals and educational and community organizations. Hilliard Solutions is centered around a proprietary 360-degree Athlete Development Model that uniquely integrates the key disciplines impacting athletes’ life experience while also providing direction for their comprehensive development. Working within that powerful model equips sports leaders with the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to prepare their athletes for successful experiences during and beyond their sports careers helping to ensure a more successful transition.