The beginning of this year has been fast, full, and a whole lot of fun.

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to travel across the country, meeting with each of our regions. These conversations have been invaluable — listening to feedback, understanding what’s working, where we can improve, and how we continue to evolve Pop Warner into the best possible experience for our student-athletes, volunteers, and families. There’s a shared passion across every corner of this organization, and it’s clear that our future is being shaped by the people closest to the game.

I also had the chance to connect with many of our partners at the Super Bowl — from the NFL, USA Football, and NFL FLAG to Panini America, Riddell, and others — discussing the future of youth football and how we can continue creating more access and opportunity for young athletes. Those conversations continued at the NFL Combine, where we spent time thinking about the long-term growth of our sport and Pop Warner’s role in it.

And as we look ahead, we’ve begun early discussions on how we will celebrate a major milestone: Pop Warner’s 100th anniversary in just two years. It’s an opportunity not only to honor our history, but to define what the next century looks like.

But without question, one of the most meaningful moments of this year so far was attending my first All-American Scholars Banquet, which was back in person for the first time in seven years.

Together, we celebrated the more than 5,000 student-athletes named 2025–26 Pop Warner All-American Scholars, and through our national and regional banquets collectively awarded over $200,000 in academic scholarships. We welcomed an extraordinary inaugural class into the Pop Warner Hall of Fame, recognizing the selfless volunteers who built the foundation of this organization. And we honored inspiring leaders who serve as role models for our athletes. (You can read more about the celebration here). 

Of everything that night, the moment I’ll carry with me the longest is the look on the faces of our student-athletes and their families — the smiles, the pride, and the joy of being recognized not just for athletic performance, but for who they are becoming. That’s what Pop Warner is all about.

As we move into spring, our focus turns toward the upcoming season — from enrollment and planning to ensuring every league has the support it needs for a successful year. There’s a lot of work ahead, but there’s also a lot of excitement about what we’re building together and I can’t wait to do it with all of you.