LOUISE WAXLER….Founder of Headers For Hope and long-time soccer sports industry veteran Louise Waxler created the Foundation in loving memory of her good friend who passed away after her two-year battle with cancer. By combining her passion for sports and her passion for helping those win their fight against cancer, Headers For Hope was born. Waxler is widely recognized and respected for her experience running youth and professional sports and soccer events. She served as Director of the Washington Area Girls Soccer Tournament; Director of Operations for the WUSA Washington Freedom from 2001-2003; Director of Operations for the WPS Washington Freedom in its inaugural season of the WPS and led the Philadelphia Independence of Women’s Professional Soccer as the General Manager in 2010. In 2006, Waxler was elected as the 58th President of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the largest soccer coaches’ organization in the world serving as only the third female president in the 69 year history of the organization. She is a 2010 recipient of the NSCAA Women's Committee Award of Excellence that recognizes those who have brought honor and distinction to women's soccer. In October 2011, Waxler was inducted into the Howard County Maryland Recreation and Parks Hall of Fame for her personal contributions and achievements in respect to community sports.
MARCIA MCDERMOTT….has had a long and rich career in soccer as a player, coach and leader. In 1994 she began the soccer program at Northwestern University and took the team to the NCAA tournament just three years later. She left Northwestern in 2001 to coach the Carolina Courage in the professional league, WUSA. In 2002 the Courage won both the regular season and the post-season championship, known as the Founder’s Cup. She moved into the front office in 2003 and served as the Assistant General Manager of the Courage. In 2006 she joined the Executive Committee of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America; she served as President in 2010 and will conclude her service as Past-President at the end of 2011. From 2008 through 2010 she led the Chicago Red Stars of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) serving as the General Manager. In 2011 she was appointed as an Assistant Coach to the United States Women’s National team; the team won the silver medal at the Women’s World Cup in Germany. An accomplished soccer player in her own right, McDermott was a member of three National Championship teams at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in the 1980s. She also served as the team Captain and was an All-American. And, she represented the US as a player in 1986 and 1988. She has also worked in consulting for the Chicago based firm Inteflex.
MIKE CHANDLER....is well-known for his extensive work with USA Volleyball, having served as Managing Director for 13 years, leading all operations for the USA National Team tours, International Tournaments and the USAV Championship events. Chandler began his professional career as the Volleyball Commissioner in 1984 for the Wisconsin Badger State Games and continued his career as the Regional Commissioner for USVBA Lakeland Region, Wisconsin. Additionally, Chandler served as President, Director and Head Coach of Gulf Coast Juniors, a non-profit junior volleyball club located in Clearwater, Florida he founded in 1991. Chandler is dedicated to helping give back to communities through sports and serves as the sports industry consultant of Headers for Hope.
TIFFANY BERLS….is an experienced PR/marketing professional with a concentration in the sports industry. Berls has been responsible for developing and managing marketing campaigns to build corporate, brand and product awareness for leading industry companies and currently oversees the marketing department of a new national sports association. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and is an active volunteer within her community. Berls serves as the PR/Marketing consultant of Headers for Hope.
