The concept of SportsBoard originated on the sidelines of sports fields in Marin County, CA in 2003 as Gregg watched his youngest son tryout for U-9 club lacrosse and soccer teams. He keenly noted that coaches were frantically scribbling notes about players on a clipboard and wondered if software running on a clipboard-like device could replace the clipboard. But back then all that existed was the Palm, the Handspring, and an early version of the Blackberry, none of which were feasible devices for this purpose. So Gregg shelved the idea.
When the first iPad was released in January 2010, Gregg didn't even consider it; Apple launched the iPad as a couch device for doing email, browsing the Internet and reading e-books. But a year later when all of the Android tablets were announced, Gregg had his Eureka moment, realizing that tablets were going to get used in business environments and that the tablet could be the digital clipboard for sports coaches. SportsBoard, a "clipboard for sports", started taking shape in June 2011 and with feedback from college and travel team coaches, became a reality in March 2012. Now more than 300 colleges, high schools, travel teams, and sports camps across the U.S. and Canada are using SportsBoard on their iPads and iPhones.
A serial entrepreneur with close to 20 years of experience in enterprise software, Gregg has specialized in identifying paper-driven processes that could be re-engineered using mobile and server-based technology. He led software development teams, mainly in the transportation industry, to design solutions, bringing those solutions to market and scaling those businesses for acquisition.
Transitioning from transportation to sports was easy for Gregg, a life-long sports fan and competitive tennis player. As he embarked on his SportsBoard venture, he knew from prior software experience that the key to success was continuously enhancing the product. And that philosophy has resulted in SportsBoard's functionality increasing by close to 500% since inception, providing coaches with the tools to assess and evaluate players on a year-round basis, rather than just while recruiting.
SportsBoard's latest version, "Chameleon", offers fully-customizable metric and stat data models that support virtually limitless needs of any coaching staff at any level of any sport. And it is Chameleon, combined with the enhancements that were made to the cloud, that are fueling SportsBoard's tremendous growth and adoption rates.
Although running SportsBoard has been all-consuming, Gregg loves talking about his creation and the impact it is having on sports -- just ask his wife, Valerie. However, when Gregg does shut down for a few hours on weekends, he loves eating out with his wife, hanging with close friends, talking business and politics with his older son, Scotty, and playing golf with his younger son, Matt.
Gregg's real solstice, though, is spending two weeks every summer on west shore of Lake Tahoe.
Pierce's first project at SportsBoard was an iPad-based draft simulation tool called Draft Machine for the Dallas Cowboys, which helped them prepare for the 2011 draft. In September 2011, Gregg then hired a team of web developers and shifted Pierce's focus to developing our first-ever mobile- and cloud-based player assessment solution. SportsBoard entered the market in March 2012 for soccer, basketball and lacrosse.
After much early success and the adding of nine more sport-specific apps in iTunes, Pierce and our web developers re-tooled SportsBoard into a single App that supported user-based customization of metric- and stat-based data models. We completed SportsBoard version 2.0, called Chameleon, in October 2013 and now we are supporting all varsity sports played at the collegiate, high school and travel team levels.
When Pierce isn't building apps, he can usually be found mountain biking, fencing or taking long walks on the beach with his dog, Jessie.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"An atmosphere where anything is possible."
One thing you may not know about Pierce:
"I can Turkish Get-up 100 pounds."
Stephen became SportsBoard's first full-time employee in July of 2011. His love of sports and desire to work in a fast-paced environment made him a natural to join SportsBoard early on. Before joining SportsBoard, he worked in Inside Sales at MindBody Online in San Luis Obispo.
A graduate of University of San Francisco, Stephen is SportsBoard's "utility infielder", moving seamlessly between Business Development, Marketing, Operations and Client Relations. He even added "company realtor" to his duties, discovering SportsBoard's sparkling new office in Sausalito and helping negotiate their extraordinary lease terms. In his free time, Stephen loves to fish, play pick-up basketball and explore his favorite city, San Francisco.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"No two days are the same. Intriguing sports conversations, innovative product ideas, team bonding, and overall company growth are experiences I enjoy and learn from every day; weekends too!"
One thing you may not know about Stephen:
"I am a dual citizen of the United States and Hungary."
Kris is an accomplished competitive athlete and skilled communicator who thrives in the fast-paced environment of a startup. As a basketball player at UCLA, he achieved the ultimate goal of every college athlete -- winning an NCAA Championship in 1995.
In his Strategic Alliances role at SportsBoard, Kris has expertly leveraged his on-court relationships to connect the company to corporate brands, high-profile NCAA basketball programs and national sports federations. One of the first to join SportsBoard's team in 2011, he also provides support for media relations and new business initiatives.
After his playing days ended at UCLA, Kris played professional basketball in Europe, the Middle East and China. He has remained close to the game as a cable television commentator for college and high school basketball games and as an assistant coach for his son's high school basketball team in the Los Angeles area. When he's not on the court or in the business arena, Kris loves to swim, spend time with his three children and go wine-tasting to prepare for his next career as a sommelier.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"Being part of a team of talented and enthusiastic individuals."
One thing you may not know about Kris:
"My dad Marques was the first winner of the John R. Wooden Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate basketball player, and he's a member of College Basketball's Hall of Fame."
Deanne joined SportsBoard after working for Gregg in two prior ventures, becoming the second member of the Business Development team in 2011. Based in Dallas, Deanne has combined her passion for sports and her background as a competitive athlete to develop solid relationships for SportsBoard with the college and youth sports communities.
Deanne was born into a sports family, her father played college baseball for Texas A&M; and her step brother was a kicker for Texas Tech University. So it was no surprise that she tried about every sport imaginable as a youth before concentrating on soccer in high school. Naturally, she passed her love of sports down to her children. Her son plays club lacrosse and recently earned a Division I college lacrosse scholarship to Virginia Military Academy. Her daughter is a dancer.
When she isn't working or shuttling her kids off to practice, Deanne is probably involved in some aspect of real estate--renovating her house or one of her friends' houses or finding a hidden gem on the market that is worth restoring.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"Bringing together two things I truly love, sports and an entrepreneur's vision. Being a part of this movement within sports has been a real treat."
One thing you may not know about Deanne:
"I have a design patent on a portable place mat for toddlers."
Dave joined SportsBoard's team in 2011 after an award-winning, two-decade career covering sports and news for the Los Angeles Times. With the Times, Dave covered nearly every sport imaginable, from traditional sports--baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, and tennis--to the non-traditional—indoor lacrosse, badminton, Gaelic football, skim boarding, lawn tennis and even Frisbee golf.
Over the course of his career, Dave developed hundreds of strong relationships with coaches, athletes, journalists and government officials from around the country. As SportsBoard's media relations specialist, Dave has relied on his natural gifts as a writer, his knack for knowing how to grab a reporter's attention and his vast network of media connections to push SportsBoard onto the front pages of sports and tech publications around the world.
Dave is a diehard and frustrated fan of Cleveland's sports teams, now 50 years removed from its last title. He is an avid golfer and gym rat. And most weekends, he is on a basketball court, soccer field, softball or baseball diamond, coaching his son or his daughter's teams.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"Being part of a dedicated and passionate team of professionals driven by a singular purpose, to make coaches lives easier through technology."
One thing you may not know about Dave:
"I've attended the NCAA Basketball Tournament each of the past 35 years and counting. So yes, I'm a little bit of college basketball nut."
Drawing on his athletic upbringing, Jack has been an integral part of the SportsBoard since becoming the company's second full-time employee. He joined SportsBoard a year after graduating from UC Berkeley, where he somehow managed to play on four soccer teams a semester and officiate the few games he wasn't participating in.
At SportsBoard, Jack has done a little bit of everything, generating marketing content for customers, leading hundreds of on-line product demonstrations and researching, developing and finalizing Business Development opportunities. When he isn't playing soccer or working, Jack loves to explore new eateries around San Francisco.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"I love how agile and responsive we are in working with customers, helping them benefit from all aspects of SportsBoard, and being able to draw from my interest in and passion for sports with coaches everyday. It's very gratifying to help them do their jobs better."
One thing you may not know about Jack:
"I attended the 2006 World Cup in Germany."
A three-sport athlete in high school and life-long technology enthusiast, Spencer found a home at SportsBoard after bouncing around between the retail and financial sectors for a few years. He began his SportsBoard career in Business Development, and recently transitioned to Client Relations, where SportsBoard benefits from his deep knowledge of the product, affinity for technology and teaching.
Like many in the office, Spencer is a die-hard fan of the 49ers, Giants and Warriors. Growing up, he played football, basketball and volleyball at Marin Catholic High School. He now spends much of his free time fine-tuning his jump shot during pickup ball and recreational leagues, traveling to concerts or uncovering the latest and greatest Korean restaurant.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this movement to create an enormous positive change in sports through technology."
Something you may not know about Spencer:
"I had to perform the "Haka" dance at a celebratory BBQ after my high school graduation."
Marilou is a life-long college sports fan, competitive athlete, experienced entrepreneur and Business Development and marketing exec with a proven track record of generating growth for start-ups and established brands. She met Gregg through their kids who were friends at The Branson School.
After selling her last start-up, Vivo Girls Sports, an online community for teenage and college female athletes, and a brief foray back into the corporate world, Marilou was lured back into the unique and thrilling experience of our start-up. She has catalyzed SportsBoard's paperless revolution across an entire industry she cares deeply about.
SportsBoard benefits from her passion for sports, drive for efficiency, and strong relationships around the country with coaches, administrators, tournament/camp operators as well as other efficiency-minded tech companies. If she's not cheering for her Tar Heel daughters playing soccer somewhere, you'll find her on college campuses, in athletic departments, on the fields and courts everywhere sharing the magic of SportsBoard and being inspired by coaches of all levels. She loves to run, swim, sweat through hot yoga, enjoy good food and wine, and spoil her black lab Poppy, who goes with her everywhere. Her unique competitive background, as former D1 athlete, wife and mother of D1 athletes, gives her the work ethic, team spirit, positive energy and boundless optimism necessary to win big - with lots of fun and laughter along the way.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"Seeing coaches eyes light up when they see what SportsBoard does, when they realize they no longer have to lug around a bunch of paper or enter a bunch of data into the computer, ever again."
One thing you may not know about Marilou:
"I grew up playing Rainbow Soccer in Chapel Hill and had a poster of Pele on my wall when I was 12."
Cal joined SportsBoard's Business Development team shortly after graduating from the University of Denver, where he played on the lacrosse team. Acclimating quickly to the often frenetic atmosphere of a startup, he has forged partnership deals with several elite lacrosse, football and ice hockey camps and academies on the college and club levels.
Cal is also an entrepreneur, launching his own strength training business last year, and a coach, heading the lacrosse program at The Branson School in Marin County. Though he has fallen in love with the Bay Area and its lifestyle, Cal is a little out of his element on the West Coast. Born and raised just outside of Boston (Concord, MA), he misses the snowy New England winters, shivering with his buddies at Patriots' games and not having to wear a wet suit while swimming in the ocean in the summertime. When he's not working, you'll find him working on his backhand volley on the tennis courts or his slap shot on the ice.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"I don't have to conform to old standards here. I get to pursue and develop my own business relationships and clients. In fact, these might be the best working conditions I could have ever asked for."
One thing you may not know about Cal:
"I love sugary cereals, candy, left-over pizza and Cheetos."
The latest addition to the SportsBoard team, Carmen is a recent graduate of UC Davis, where she studied communications and excelled on the water polo team as a two-time MVP. Carmen was born and raised in Marin County, but she moved to Southern California last summer to train and compete full-time with the USA Women's Water Polo Senior National Team.
Since joining SportsBoard, Carmen has been working in Business Development. She closed her first deal, naturally, with the UC Davis' Women's Water Polo team. When she isn't in the office, Carmen is likely swimming, hiking, going to the beach or playing with her dogs, Bonnie and Lucy.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"The people. Every day I come into a positive atmosphere, surrounded by hardworking people who make every day productive as well as enjoyable. There's an incredibly cohesive team culture at Sportsboard that's rarely found in a workplace and I'm so lucky to be part of it."
One thing you may not know about Carmen:
"I won a gold medal at the Global Championships in Brisbane, Australia with the USA Junior National Water Polo Team."
Dom's sales experience, background as a competitive athlete, and love of sports made him a perfect fit to join a sports tech startup like SportsBoard. After graduating from Arizona State University, he had stints selling wine at a Sonoma winery and working in Business Development for a credit card processing company. Dom started at SportsBoard in Business Development, but became a logical choice to be the company's first Client Relations Specialist because of his easy-going nature, tireless patience, and strong communication skills.
Dom grew up in Sonoma as one of five children, playing basketball, football and baseball and following the Giants, 49ers and Warriors religiously. He was in the stadium when the Giants won their first World Series in 56 years and he frequently travels all over the country to sporting events. You'll also find him swinging away on the golf course or in a recreational softball league with his buddies.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"Being able to touch and be a part of so many different sports, half of which I had little interest in prior to coming to SportsBoard."
One thing you may not know about Dom:
"I've started making wine with a few childhood buddies and my Dad, with its release slated for this fall."
Bryant initially joined SportsBoard in September 2011 when we first starting building our web-application and serves as a Director of Product Development. As a Full Stack Developer, he has worked on every layer of our web app.
Bryant graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelors degree in business, specifically entrepreneurship, and a Masters degree in Computer Science from Fresno State. He graduated earning the Outstanding Graduate Student for Computer Science award and was a Dean’s Medal nomination.
In his spare time, Bryant plays badminton and is an e-sports enthusiast. He’s also a bit of a news junkie, reading The Economist magazine, browsing reddit.com or listening to National Public Radio.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"I love that I can provide a number of solutions to our client’s business challenges. It’s a great feeling to help them meet their goals and know our solutions made their jobs easier."
One thing you may not know about Dom:
"I started my own business fixing and teaching people how to use computers in junior high."
Our most recent hire, Alex joined SportsBoard’s Business Development team and has been focusing on our initiatives with The First Tee golf organization, camps, and college/high school football programs across the country.
Alex graduated from University of Arizona, where he studied agribusiness economics & management and played football for the Wildcats for two of those years. Whether it was playing football in college or going to a baseball game with his friends, sports have always been an integral part of Alex’s life. Starting a career in sports has always been his goal and he is thrilled to be at SportsBoard.
Outside the office, Alex enjoys golf, pick-up basketball and following his fantasy teams.
Favorite aspect of SportsBoard:
"I love that I can provide a number of solutions to our client’s business challenges. It’s a great feeling to help them meet their goals and know our solutions made their jobs easier."
One thing you may not know about Alex:
"I did a post graduate year at Bridgton Academy in Maine, playing on the football and tennis teams."
