Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to 5 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in 172 countr...

Non Profit

Special Olympics

Emily Klinger is Vice President Organizational Excellence at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) where she oversees a team focused on leadership development and internal operational excellence including planning and project management.

Prior to this role, Emily served in multiple departments within [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) including global development, government relations, grant management and community impact. Emily has been in the [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) movement for 25 years participating as a youth partner, volunteer, coach and volunteered with several state and country [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) Programs.

Her prior experience includes working at [Peace Corps](/org/peace-corps) where she was a Special Education Volunteer in Grenada and worked in inter-governmental affairs and partnerships office at [Peace Corps](/org/peace-corps) Headquarters managing a USAID multi country grant agreement. She is also a former Special Education teacher with Chicago Public Schools and Leadership Consultant.

Emily received her Master’s Degree in International Training and Education from [American University](/org/american-university) and her undergraduate degree from [Vanderbilt University](/org/vanderbilt-university) majoring in Special Education and Human & Organizational Development.

Emily Klinger

Hamchetou Maiga-Ba

Her leadership focuses on addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities to be productive citizens in their communities, which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society for all.

Davis started with Special Olympics soon after college as a local program volunteer and coach. Since then she has served in a series of leadership roles, helping create our first-ever Regional games, the 1985 Special Olympics European Games, working to build a powerful national Program as CEO of Special Olympics Ireland, and helping globalize the movement as CEO of the first Special Olympics World Summer Games held outside the U.S, which were the 2003 Games in Ireland. For eight years she served as President & Managing Director of Europe Eurasia.

Mary Davis

David Evangelista is currently the Regional President & Managing Director, Europe Eurasia at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics). Prior to this, they served as the Director of Program Development and Analysis at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) from January 1999 to December 2011. David has been with [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) for over 20 years and has been a driving force in the organization's success. David is a highly respected leader within the company and is known for their dedication to the [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) cause.

David Evangelista has a Master's degree in International Business from Universidad Intercontinental de la Empresa, a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and International Development from [American University](/org/american-university) School of International Service, and a BA in International Relations and Development from [American University](/org/american-university).

Their manager is John Dow, Chief, Regional & Program Operations. They work with Greg Epperson - Acting Regional President & Managing Director, North America, Charles Nyambe - Regional President & Managing Director, Africa, and Claudia Echeverry - Regional President & Managing Director, Latin America.

David Evangelista

Steve Borrelli is currently the CHRO at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics). Prior to that, they were a Leadership Development Consultant at [Sesame Workshop](/org/sesame-workshop) from January 2011 to June 2014. There, they provided leadership development and management coaching for mid to senior level executives identified within the organization as "exceptional contributors". Steve also conducted career management seminars for a broader audience designed to promote personal accountability, emphasize goal setting, and provide a blueprint for individuals to develop a plan for their careers. In addition, they implemented personality type assessments using the Myers Briggs Type Assessment Instrument (MBTI).

Before their work at [Sesame Workshop](/org/sesame-workshop), Steve Borrelli was a partner at We Are Pet Nation Inc from January 2011 to December 2013. Steve was one of two majority partners in an internet start-up designed to celebrate the unique bond that exists between a pet and their owner. In less than six months, they achieved the milestone of 40,000 Facebook fans.

Steve Borrelli has also served as President of Borrelli Consulting, LLC and as an Account Executive - IT Recruiting & Staffing at [Lancaster Systems Inc](/org/lancaster-systems-inc) from January 2005 to December 2007. In their role as financial representative at Northwestern Mutual Life from January 2003 to December 2005, Steve helped individuals and businesses secure their financial futures.

Steve Borrelli has a computer science degree from [Baruch College](/org/baruch). Steve is certified as a practitioner in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest Inventory from CPP, Inc.

They are on a team with Louis Lauria - Chief, Sport & Competition, Jacqueline Jodl - Chief of Global Youth & Education Officer, and Loretta Claiborne - Chief Inspiration Officer. Steve Borrelli reports to Mary Davis, CEO.

Steve Borrelli

Sharon Bollenbach is the Director at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics). Sharon was previously the Senior Vice President, Sport and Strategic Initiatives at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) Canada from September 2007 to December 2013. Prior to that, they were the General Manager for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007 in Toronto from May 2006 to September 2007. Sharon has also been the Manager, Fund Raising Events at the [Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada](/org/multiple-sclerosis-society-of-canada), Ontario Division from January 2001 to December 2004. Sharon's experience also includes being the Event Manager at Skate Canada from January 1993 to December 2001 and the Coordinator, Provincial Summer Games at Alberta [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) from January 1992 to December 1993. Sharon started their career as the Technical Director at Manitoba [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) from January 1988 to December 1991.

Sharon Bollenbach's educational career includes a Bachelor's degree in Recreation Studies from the [University of Manitoba](/org/university-of-manitoba).

Sharon Bollenbach

Benjamin Haack is the current Director at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics). Benjamin was previously the Director at Gold Coast Recreation and Sport.

Benjamin Haack attended Robina High School.

Benjamin Haack

Shawn Ferguson currently serves as Vice President of Government Relations and Chief of Staff to Chairman Timothy Shriver at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics). In his dual role, he works closely with the Chairman on executive leadership of the organization and is the head of [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics)’ interaction with governments in the United States and around the world. Since he began leading Government Relations, Ferguson has overseen an increase in U.S. federal funding by nearly $12 million USD to a total of $31 million USD per year for education and health initiatives.

From 1999 to 2010, Ferguson served in U.S. Senator Kent Conrad’s (D-ND) office, eventually becoming the Senator’s Senior Advisor. During his time in the Senate, Ferguson was the lead staffer on two pieces of enacted veterans’ legislation, a $25 million USDA transportation research program authorization in the 2008 Farm Bill, and a federal matching share for a $35 million dollar state veterans’ home. Later, Ferguson served as Legislative Director for Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA), functioning as the lead policy analyst and advisor to the Congressman, directing a six-person legislative staff, and representing the Congressman at legislative strategy meetings with US House Leadership staff. Prior to joining [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics), Ferguson was a personal assistant to Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins NFL Football Club, and Lead Director of the Redskins Executive Office.

Shawn Ferguson

Louis Lauria is part of the team that leads the global development of sport, manages the Special Olympics World Games, and serves as a resource hub of strategic support for additional competitions. He has over 24 years of international sport and major event experience from multiple industry perspectives, including roles within the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and [International Olympic Committee](/org/international-olympic-committee) (IOC).

Lauria started his career with the Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committees of Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Salt Lake 2002 in a range of roles in Sport and Venue Operations. He then went on to work for the IPC in Games Planning, before moving to the IOC where he worked on the Television and Marketing Services team managing global partnerships such as [Lenovo](/org/lenovo), [General Electric](/org/general-electric), and Schenker. Lauria was then named Vice President, Bid Consulting at Helios Partners, a boutique global consulting firm where he worked on a range of projects, including the successful Russia 2018 World Cup and PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games; multiple Olympic sponsorship projects like Dow, [Deloitte](/org/deloitte), and Lloyds TSB; and international federation projects for FISU, FIAS, and others.

Louis Lauria

Claiborne is truly an amazing woman who has not only touched the lives of hundreds of thousands, but has changed the lives of all whom she's met. She is a woman of faith who shares her personal story to promote hope and tolerance for all people around the world. In 2000, Walt Disney Productions created "The Loretta Claiborne Story" about her inspiring life.

Claiborne is a world-class runner and gifted motivational speaker who happens to also be a Special Olympics Athlete and a person who has an intellectual disability. She has received two honorary doctorate degrees (Quinnipiac University in 1995 and [Villanova University](/org/villanova-university) in 2003); completed 26 marathons (she finished in the top 100 women of the Boston Marathon with her best time 3:03); received the 1996 ESPY Award-Arthur Ashe Award for Courage; has a 4th degree black belt in karate; is an inductee into the Women in Sports Hall of Fame and into the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.

She is an accomplished public speaker, who introduced President Clinton at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games and appeared twice on the Oprah Show, communicates in 4 languages, and is fluent in American Sign Language.

Loretta Claiborne

As Chief Financial Officer, Jim Barbee is responsible for all finance and accounting functions and leads a dedicated, professional team in the areas of financial planning and analysis, grants management, financial reporting, government and regulatory compliance, and business decision support. Barbee joined [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) in 2018 as Vice President of Finance & Controller and assumed the CFO role in April of 2021.

Barbee brings 35 years of progressive experience to [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) having led teams in both corporate and nonprofit sectors. After four foundational years in public accounting, Barbee led the finance teams for two privately held companies in North Carolina. Being drawn to do work that had a bigger purpose, Barbee made a move that led him into the nonprofit sector, where he served as Director of Accounting for an international anti-slavery organization. Prior to that, Barbee was Director of Financial Operations for a large international relief and development NGO for nine years. He also served for 15 months as the NGO’s Country Director after a natural disaster in the Philippines. There Barbee gained a much deeper understanding of the many challenges facing vulnerable people who live in challenging places.

Barbee received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/org/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill) and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He and his wife, Laura, live in Northern Virginia and have 4 grown children, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren. In his free time, Barbee enjoys hiking, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends. He also volunteers with an organization he co-founded, serving as senior advisor to Side by Side Alliance, Inc., a small nonprofit doing poverty alleviation work in some of the most vulnerable areas in the Philippines.

Jim Barbee

Jacqueline Jodl is the Senior Vice President of Global Youth and Education at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics), where she is responsible for youth leadership and education programming across the globe.

Prior to her role at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics), Jackie was an Associate Professor at the [University of Virginia](/org/university-of-virginia)’s School of Education and Human Development focusing on education innovation, EdTech, and race and education. More recently, Jackie was the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, where she oversaw the strategic planning, financial management, and operations for one of the Institute’s most critical endeavors in education. Her early career began at Unilever PLC in marketing management where she led both established brands and new product innovation. In 2016, Jackie was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow, a leadership program for advanced degree professionals in public policy and was awarded the Alumni of Notable Achievement Award from the [University of Minnesota](/org/university-of-minnesota).

Jackie earned her undergraduate degree from the [University of Minnesota](/org/university-of-minnesota); MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago; a master’s degree in politics and education from Teachers College, [Columbia University](/org/columbia-university); and a PhD in education policy and social analysis from [Columbia University](/org/columbia-university).

Jacqueline Jodl

Shrey Kadian is a softball gold medalist from the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015. As a 13-year veteran athlete from Special Olympics Bharat, Shrey has undertaken a variety of roles. Currently, he serves as Chairperson of the Program’s National Athlete Input Council. He also served as a member of Special Olympics Asia Pacific’s Regional Athlete Input Council from 2018 to 2019.

He was a member of the core organising committee that led Special Olympics Bharat’s very first National Youth Summit in 2019 for 250 participants. Shrey is a conscientious learner who constantly seeks to develop new skills.

To develop himself as an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, Shrey is also an active YouTuber who creates online content to inspire and engage fellow athletes.

Shrey Kadian

Heidi is an athlete from Alberton Prince Edward Island, Canada. She has been involved with Special Olympics for the past 14 years. She has participated in golf, bowling, bocce and snowshoeing. But golf is her favorite sport.

She finds it is a privilege and her right to speak up for herself and be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.

Over the past few years she has had many leadership opportunities serving on different disabilities organizations boards and committees like People First of Canada PEI People, Special Olympics Canada Athletes Leadership Council and as part of the Global Athlete Leadership Council.

Heidi volunteers and visits seniors who live alone in the community. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Heidi Mallett

Kiera Byland is 22 years old and she has been a Special Olympics Great Britain athlete since 2014. Kiera has numerous learning disabilities; despite them, Kiera has been able to achieve so many wonderful things and she is a true leader and ambassador for inclusion.

Kiera helped to create a pilot called "The Kiera Project", to inspire other children and young people with an intellectual disability to never assume you cannot achieve, to always hold onto your dream and that it can come true. Kiera has been on regional and national TV, interviewed at local and regional radio stations and newspapers, switched on the Christmas lights in her hometown, delivered numerous presentations to a variety of audiences and had the opportunity to ask a question to the Children's Minister for Great Britain.

Kiera has attended full time college and has achieved a BTEC level 2 in Sport, a Level 2 [British Cycling](/org/british-cycling) qualification and a level 2 swimming teaching assistant qualification. Kiera also launched a pilot project enabling very young children with intellectual disabilities to learn to ride Strider balance bikes, so they can start to enjoy sport from an early age.

Kiera is truly an inspiration to not only her peers but to children and adults alike. She is a fantastic trainer and the children love her. The success of this project led to Kiera becoming a Strider Balance Bikes Ambassador with Greater Sport. In addition to being part of athlete committees, Kiera recently became a Board member for Special Olympics Great Britain Board of Directors.

Kiera Byland

Prianka Nandy oversees a team focused on digital transformation and data initiatives, corporate and external digital product development, and IT network operations.

Nandy’s career has been built on optimizing the powerful intersection of digital and data in the U.S. federal government and international development sectors. She is experienced in leading technical and business teams in the delivery of digital solutions with a focus on data lake/integration technologies, open data, GIS, CRM, web/mobile applications. This includes designing digital and data governance structures and implementing change management for complex programs that align business objectives with enterprise IT strategy.

Prior to joining [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) in late 2020, Nandy served as the first Chief Data Officer for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) based in Rome, Italy, leading its data engineering, analytics, and data governance practice across its global operations. She was also responsible for implementing WFP’s multimillion-dollar corporate data and analytics partnerships within its digital transformation services team. From 2008 to 2017, Nandy held several roles within the World Bank Group, including leading development data and GIS initiatives for products such as data.worldbank.org and doingbusiness.org, content strategy and digital product governance for worldbank.org, and supporting online communications products and campaigns for development economics blogs and publications such as the “World Development Report,” and “Development and a Changing Climate.”

Prianka Nandy

Brandon M. Fitzgerald leads the Legal Department. He is responsible for the full range of functions handled by the Department including governance, compliance with U.S. and international legal requirements, risk management, contracts, trademarks, exempt organization tax law, sponsorship and fundraising matters, litigation, and accreditation of Special Olympics Programs.

He began his career in private practice by working at several large law firms—including Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. During his time in private practice, he focused on transactions, securities, and corporate governance.

Fitzgerald served as in-house counsel at both Choice Hotels and US Foods. In those organizations he practiced in an array of areas including governance, compliance, treasury and finance, advertising, global trademark management, and information technology. He then became Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association—a nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of diversity in the legal profession. He handled all legal matters at MCCA.

Subsequently, Fitzgerald worked almost eight years at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF)—the largest and most effective U.S. nonprofit dedicated to the college education of underserved populations. He served as Associate General Counsel and was responsible for a wide portfolio which included governance, contracts, tax, trademarks, grants, and privacy. Fitzgerald helped spearhead an effort to reassess UNCF’s governance structure

Fitzgerald is active in the in-house bar. He serves as the Membership Chair for the Nonprofit Organizations Network of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and as one of the Co-Chairs of the Corporate Scholars Program for the National Capital Region Chapter of the ACC (ACC NCR). Since its inception in 2003, the Corporate Scholars Program has provided summer internships and awarded over $1.85M in stipends to almost 200 diverse law students. ACC NCR recognized him in 2019 for his service to the chapter.

Fitzgerald received a B.A. in American History from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Brandon M. Fitzgerald

Chang-Woo Soh is the Chairperson of SOEA RLC.

Chang-Woo Soh

Prof. Alford considers himself blessed to have been involved with Special Olympics for the past two decades. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics International since 2005 and now serves on its Executive Committee. In his life apart from SOI, Prof. Alford is Henry L. Stimson Professor at Harvard Law School, where he also serves as Vice Dean for the Graduate Program and International Legal Studies, Chair of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability (HPOD), and Director of East Asian Legal Studies. His academic work is focused on: China and its effort to develop its legal system; China’s engagement with the world community; on disability issues; and on international law. HPOD works in China, Bangladesh, South Africa and many other nations to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in a culturally appropriate manner.

William Alford

As one of the most successful football (soccer) players of all time, Didier Drogba has earned worldwide acclaim both as a professional sportsman and champion for peace in his native Côte d’Ivoire. Born in Abidjan, Drogba moved to France at an early age, becoming a global football player and leading the world-famous Chelsea club in London to multiple championships, including the world-renowned Champions League trophy. Drogba is still Chelsea’s most successful European goal scorer. Altogether, he scored 157 goals in 341 appearances with Chelsea, and helped the club to four English Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups. Drogba stands tall as one of the most powerful sports stars in Africa, twice named African Footballer of the year in his 104 caps for Côte d’Ivoire, amassing a record 65 goals and leading the national team in three World Cups.

Earning acclaim for his humanitarian efforts when the ongoing civil war ravaged Côte d'Ivoire in 2006, Drogba led the nation’s football team in prayers for peace. After the World Cup qualifying games, he called for an end to the war, with his efforts in unifying the country around sport eventually helped to bring about a cease-fire.

Didier Drogba

As Chief Marketing, Communications and Development Officer at Special Olympics, Zehra Sayin leads the team responsible for corporate, foundation, individual, and digital giving; direct marketing initiatives; and the organization’s global branding, communications, and celebrity ambassadors.

Sayin spent seven years as CEO of Special Olympics Belgium where she established a sustainable long-term financial and operational strategy. Prior to that, she served in several roles within the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Regional office. As the Marketing, Communications, and Sponsoring Director of the 2014 European Summer Games featuring 58 countries, she launched the first awareness campaign that raised a record sum of € 11 million in less than a year.

Zehra Sayin

Greg Epperson oversees program operations in 23 countries in North America, the Caribbean and northern South America providing strategic direction and engagement with the public and private sector to raise awareness and gain support. He also leads fundraising efforts for the region.

Greg has been involved with Special Olympics since 1986. Beginning as a volunteer coach, he has served as Training Director for a local Special Olympics program in North Carolina, Director of Sports Management for Special Olympics Delaware and Vice President of Sports for the 1999 Special Olympics World Games. In October 1999, Greg accepted a position with Special Olympics International and most recently served as the Vice President, Sports and Business Operations for North America.

Greg is a graduate of [East Carolina University](/org/east-carolina-university) with a degree in Physical Education and Therapeutic Recreation.

Greg Epperson

Wallace is entrusted with several legal fields focusing primarily on employment law, contracts, diversity and inclusion initiatives, trusts and estates, trademark, and general compliance matters. Wallace supports the revision and enforcement of [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) General Rules and similar policies that uphold the mission of [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) U.S. and international Programs, Games, and other events. Her responsibilities continue to expand as she supports the Chief Legal Officer with litigation, charitable registration, and Regional affairs.

Wallace obtained her Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center and a Master of Public Policy degree and Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Southern University and A&M College. Wallace previously served [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) as a law clerk for two consecutive summers and clerked for tech conglomerate Cisco Systems, Inc., for seven months before joining [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics) full-time.



Arnedia Wallace

Kurland works in the Special Olympics legal department in several practice areas including commercial contracts, corporate governance, charitable registrations, OFAC/sanctions compliance, intellectual property, risk management, and data privacy regulation while assisting all Special Olympics regions globally. His objective is to serve the organization and help advance its critical mission of inclusion by safeguarding its legal interests and increasing its spirit of goodwill across the world.

Kurland has been practicing for over 15 years with private firms and in-house in the Washington, DC, and Florida regions including Nixon Peabody and CNL, a public Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree from [Emory University](/org/emory-university). He is a former board member of the DC Lawyer Assistance Committee and volunteer for the Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program that focuses on the wellness and mental health of legal practitioners across the Washington, D.C. region. He regularly speaks at local Universities to promote the program and has also served for years as a volunteer at Suburban Hospital’s co-occurring disorders unit.

Daniel Kurland

Candy Wong is 21 years old and is from Special Olympics Hong Kong. She is currently a member of the Special Olympics East Asia Youth Digital Engagement Committee enabling her to discuss with other youths, with and without intellectual disabilities, the tools and methods to keep promoting Special Olympics through digital and creative ways.

Candy participated in Special Olympics in 2011 for the first time. She started as a speed skating athlete and earned one silver and one bronze at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria. Though she is a fast learner, she has always been humble to others’ opinions so that she can continuously improve herself. Apart from her sports achievement, she also has been an athlete leader since 2014 and was selected to be a Special Olympics East Asia Regional Messenger for 2016-2017. As an athlete leader, she takes every valuable opportunity to share her Special Olympics experiences, acted as emcee in Special Olympics Hong Kong events and also helped organize athlete leadership related activities.

As an experienced athlete leader, Candy does not hesitate to contribute what she has learned to help fellow athletes develop the skills needed to become a leader. She is now working in a convenience store when she can show her leadership abilities. Her thoughtfulness and dedication towards the development of athlete leadership will help the Special Olympics movement to achieve more goals in the years to come.

Candy Wong

Álvaro Brochero Carreño is an athlete from Special Olympics Venezuela. He is 28 years old and is studying Industrial Engineering at the Universidad Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre in his country.

Álvaro has participated in national and regional games representing Venezuela with great pride. In 2020 he was elected as President of the Special Olympics Latin America Regional Athlete Leadership Council.

Álvaro Brochero Carreño

Boniface Kimeu was born in Malindi town in coast province, Kenya. He is a third born in a family of four with two boys and two girls. His family is very poor and this made his childhood hard. He had poor health and difficulties in communicating. This posed learning difficulties for him, such that when he reached class four, he could not keep up with pupils in his class. It was then that his teacher transferred him to a special education unit at Kambi-Mawe primary school near his home.

He became interested in sports and started participating in school games. His initial participation in Special Olympics games was in the year 2009. He participated in local handball competitions and was selected to compete at the National level in the same year.

Since then, Boniface has received a lot of support from his family and the community at large. Boniface continued to train and play to develop his talent further. In the year 2010 he was selected to participate in the Unified Soccer National competition. His performance was excellent. He was the selected together with 9 other athletes to represent Kenya in the Africa Unity Cup football seven-a-side competition in South Africa. Boniface believes this was a turning point in his life, as he had never imagined he could achieve so much within such a short time. His family and community were happy and joined him in the celebrations.

Special Olympics turned his life around and he could feel he was a new person. In 2012, he was selected to attend an Athlete Leadership Training in Nairobi. There he learned how to be a leader and how to give speeches in front of a crowd. He gained a lot of courage through the training and is now a very confident person. In May 2014, he was elected the chairperson of Athlete Input Council for the Kenya program. He also serves on the Regional Athlete Input Council (2018-2022) and captained the SO Kenya football team that participated in the 2020 first ever PAN-Africa games. He was recently selected to be the regional representative on the Global Athlete Leadership Council (2021-2023).

Boniface Kimeu

Youssef Ramadan is 32 years old. He spent most of his life determined to show the world that people with intellectual disabilities are capable of everything and anything. As a young boy, Youssef saw his friends beaten and bullied, then he himself was beaten and bullied just because they were perceived as ‘different’. In his early years, he had trouble talking, which made him shy and took away his self-confidence. Even his parents refused to tell anyone that he had a disability, to avoid society’s lack of acceptance. Yet, instead of giving up, this aspiring change-maker tirelessly trained as a Special Olympics handball and basketball athlete. He set out to prove that people with intellectual disabilities are capable of anything.

He became a Special Olympics assistant coach. He has worked at a multinational company since 2007 where he worked in various roles within the organization, from archiving, to insurance, payroll, database, and supply chain. He now leads a team of 25 people with intellectual disabilities.

Starting in 2021 and for four consecutive years, Youssef will serve his term working with the Global Athlete Leadership Council and train more athletes to become leaders like himself.

Youssef Ramadan

Moratti is Vice Chairman of SARAS S.p.A. The Group works in the energy industry and is a leading Italian and European crude oil refiner. Mr. Moratti is a member of the Board of the Inter Milan Football Club, the 2010 Champions League winner and five time consecutive winner of the National Championship.

Mr. Moratti is Vice Chair of Special Olympics International; and also serves as President of Special Olympics Italy; and Vice President of Associazione Amici del CentroDinoFerrari, a research organization examining neurodegenerative diseases founded by EnzoFerrari in memory of his son Dino.

Angelo Moratti

Yang Lan

Dikembe Mutombo

Shi Derong

Bobby Shriver

Mark Shriver

Natalia Vodianova

Shriver leads the International Board of Directors and serves together with over 5.6 million Special Olympics athletes in 172 countries to promote health, education, and a more unified world through the joy of sports.

Shriver joined Special Olympics in 1996. He is a leading educator who focuses on the social and emotional factors in learning. He co-founded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading school reform organization in the field of social and emotional learning. He is a member of the [Council on Foreign Relations](/org/council-on-foreign-relations), Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Social and Emotional Learning, President of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, Member of the Board of Directors for the WPP Group, LLC, and is a co-founder of Lovin’ Scoopful Ice Cream Company. Shriver earned his undergraduate degree from [Yale University](/org/yale-university), a Master's degree from Catholic University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Connecticut. He has produced 4 films, is the author of the New York Times Best Selling book Fully Alive – Discovering What Matters Most, has written for dozens of newspapers and magazines and has been rewarded with degrees and honors which he happily accepted on behalf of others. Shriver and his wife, Linda Potter, reside in the Washington, D.C. area and have five adult children.

Timothy Shriver

Dow manages the team of Regional Presidents, overseeing strategic planning, Program development, and fund-raising. Dow has more than 30 years of professional educational leadership experience.

Prior to joining [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics), he worked as a national consultant to educational and nonprofit organizations, specializing in planning programs geared toward disenfranchised and socially alienated students.

In 1992, Dow was named the Chief Executive Officer of the [National Academy Foundation](/org/national-academy-foundation) (NAF), and from 1983 to 1992, he served as the CEO of the New Haven (Connecticut) Public Schools. Dow earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology and Physical Education from [Indiana State University](/org/indiana-state-university), his master’s degree in Education with a Counseling Emphasis from [Indiana State University](/org/indiana-state-university), and his doctorate in Educational Administration from [Michigan State University](/org/michigan-state-university).

Dow has been recognized with numerous educational awards throughout his career, including the Black Businesses and Professional Women’s Association Man of the Year; and the [Indiana State University](/org/indiana-state-university) Distinguished Alumni Award. Additionally, The Executive Educator named Dow one of North America’s top School Educators.

John Dow

Gloria Torruco

Jim Clements

Dipak Natali

Anne Finucane

Jennifer Fortner

Ronak Lakhani

Ray Lane

Li Ruigang

Glenn Lyon

Carolina Picasso

Eleni Rossides

David Sable

Freda Fung

Ayman Wahab

Charles Nyambe is the current Regional President & Managing Director for Africa at Special Olympics. Prior to this, they served as the Africa Region for Special Olympics International.

Charles Nyambe works with Freda Fung - Regional President & Managing Director, East Asia, Dipak Natali - Regional President & Managing Director, Asia Pacific, and Claudia Echeverry - Regional President & Managing Director, Latin America. Their manager is John Dow, Chief, Regional & Program Operations.

Charles Nyambe

Claudia Echeverry

Jaime Alemán

Yousef Al Otaiba

Bart Conner

Yolanda Eleta De Varela

Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America


Dale Jones

James Quincey

Maria Gabriela Sigala

Károly Mirnics is currently the Director at [Special Olympics](/org/special-olympics). Prior to that, they were a Senior Fellow of Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education (VIIBRE) from July 2006 to July 2016. Before that, they were an Assistant Professor at the [University of Pittsburgh](/org/university-of-pittsburgh) from January 2000 to August 2006.

Károly Mirnics has a PhD in Biological Psychiatry from Semmelweis University, a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in Medicine from Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, and a High School diploma in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse from "7th April" Medical Gymnasium. Károly also has a High School diploma from Mosa Pijade Gymnasium and an Elementary School diploma from Sonja Marinkovic Osnovna Skola.

Károly Mirnics

Chair, Special Olympics Bharat; Attorney; Former Ambassador of Panama to the United States

Satish Pillai

The leadership team at Special Olympics has a wide range of experience in different industries and education. They have experience as partners, consultants, executives, and accountants. They have also worked in different companies such as We Are Pet Nation Inc, Sesame Workshop, Borrelli Consulting LLC, and Lancaster Systems Inc. In terms of education, the team is diverse with members having a degree in computer science from Baruch College.

Leadership Team

About

Team members

Other teams at Special Olympics

Board of Directors

CEO and Executive Team

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