You began playing basketball at age 5, and played college ball at Columbia College and Missouri Baptist University. But what led you to the Surge?
As a young athlete, I never had any local professional female athletes to look up to as role models or mentors. After graduating college and transitioning into corporate, I really missed being around sports. The Surge was a golden opportunity to really make an impact in an untapped market. We are the first pro women’s basketball team to make a consistent impact in nearly 30 years.
Detractors may say things like ‘St. Louis already has enough professional sports teams’ or ‘St. Louis won’t support a ‘women’s’ professional sports team.’ What’s your reaction to those doubters?
It actually inspires me because we have the opportunity to create something in the St. Louis market that no one has ever seen before. We will create the evolution of women’s sports in St. Louis. We are pioneering in the community and earning every Surge fan. One of my favorite quotes to remind myself to stay focused is “It always seems impossible until it’s done”
How are you working with area business executives and civic leaders to ensure the future success of the Surge?
We are building relationships with visionary leaders that support the evolution of women’s sports. These leaders understand the impact that we make on and off the court, and want to be on the right side of history. We are positive energy surging though the community by actively engaging with our city. We also formed a special group of female influential powerhouses named Power Surge Supporters; these women are visionary leaders that support the evolution of women’s sports.
As both owner and general manager, what’s the most-challenging part of your job?
There’s so many, but if I had to narrow it down to one thing I would say brand awareness. As a start-up franchise in the St. Louis market, it’s earning the support of people that typically look past women’s sports. It’s also the credibility factor of just making sure that people understand that we’re a growing business; this is neither a hobby nor charity.
What do you envision for the Surge in the next five years?
Over the past three years we have grown exponentially. We have really created interest in the St. Louis market, now showing that we are viable and now building to be sustainable. Every fan of the Surge we have earned, and I am excited and blessed for the opportunity to make an impact in the community. I envision a successful women’s franchise growing within the market; not just in St. Louis, but nationally as well. The Surge franchise will lead by example, building successful and scalable model that will expand across the country. I also envision us packing out our arena here in St. Louis J What we are building is Bigger than Basketball.
