Kelci Stringer Founders Award
This award recognizes individuals who played an integral part of the formation of KSI.
2023
SCOTT PADDOCK
Scott Paddock is senior vice president of external affairs at Silver Cross Hospital. In his role, he has administrative oversight for the hospital’s marketing & community relations department, government affairs, guest and volunteer services, Silver Cross Foundation, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Prior to joining Silver Cross, Paddock served as president of Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway for nearly a decade. There, he oversaw all aspects of one of Illinois’ largest sports and entertainment complexes. Before joining NASCAR, he was the director of sports marketing for the Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo Inc. In that role, he was responsible for the management of the brand’s $120 million sports marketing sponsorship portfolio, including all league, team, and spokesperson relations and negotiations, while serving as a key member of the Gatorade leadership team. Paddock played an integral role in supporting the creation of the Korey Stringer Institute.
Paddock received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a student-athlete as a member of the men’s basketball program. Following graduation, Paddock embarked on a professional basketball career, which included stops in six different countries. He was a starter on the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) National Team, earning a silver medal in the 1995 Pan American Games.
He has served on a number of boards and committees over the years, including membership on USA Basketball’s Board of Directors, USA Basketball’s Executive Committee, the Athlete Advisory Council (AAC) to the United States Olympic Committee, and the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee. In 2008, Paddock was named a member of the Sports Business Journal’s prestigious Forty Under Forty class. Prior to joining the staff at Silver Cross Hospital, Paddock served on the Silver Cross Hospital Board of Directors, most recently as chairman. In addition, Paddock currently serves on the Board of Directors for Illinois Special Olympics and Will County’s Center for Economic Development. In 2019, he was appointed to the Illinois Toll Highway Authority Board.
2022
KELCI STRINGER
Kelci Stringer is a firm believer that your life’s purpose will be revealed to you – even if it’s in the midst of tragic circumstances. Her journey towards advocacy, education and prevention of sudden death in sports began on August 1, 2001 when her husband, NFL All-Pro lineman, Korey Stringer, died from the complications of an exertional heat stroke while practicing with the Minnesota Vikings at the age of 27.
Kelci met Korey when she was a freshman at Ohio State University, where she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. The two were married for four years, and during that time, Kelci gave birth to their son Kodie Drew. As a young widow and mother, Kelci struggled to decide on the best way to honor Korey’s memory, and ultimately established the Korey Stringer Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization. Through her foundation she was instrumental in developing a partnership among the National Football League, Gatorade and the University of Connecticut forming the Korey Stringer Institute. UConn was chosen because of its reputation as a leader in the study of heat and hydration issues related to athletes and the physically active.
An Atlanta, Georgia native, Mrs. Stringer’s love of community is evident in her other nationwide philanthropic contributions. She regularly assists families and children through donations, mentoring and reading at elementary schools. In 2005, she helped resettle evacuees from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to Atlanta, booking two hotels and providing food and shelter for several months, as well as grief counseling, job placement assistance, and buses for the evacuees to revisit New Orleans.
According to Mrs. Stringer, she has used the tragedies she’s faced to learn, grow and confidently walk in her purpose. As Mrs. Stringer so eloquently states: “It hasn’t been easy by any means, but I thank God for keeping me, strengthening me and giving me the courage to complete this awesome mission that He has for my life.”
JAMES GOULD
Mr. Gould is Chairman and Managing Partner of Management One, a sports management firm he founded in 1994. He has represented over 80 professional athletes in the NFL including; DeVante Parker, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Frostee Rucker, Travaris Cadet, Terry Glenn, Peter Warrick, Dan “Big Daddy” Wilkinson, John Browning, Andre Smith, and the late Korey Stringer. Additionally, he represented NBA players including Sue Bird and Gary Trent. As a partner in Avondale Management Group, Mr. Gould represented Evander Holyfield, four-time Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Mr. Gould was a founding member of the United States Football League, and became President of the New Jersey Generals upon his selling the team to Donald J. Trump. During his years in the USFL, Mr. Gould negotiated several major contracts on behalf of ownership with players Lawrence Taylor, Cris Collinsworth, Craig James, and Brian Sipe, among others.
Mr. Gould has more than 30 years of experience in private equity and over 35 years of experience in development, marketing and negotiation related to investments in companies, real estate, sports and entertainment. Mr. Gould is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Green Light Acquisitions, LLC and is responsible for the strategic direction of the Company, structuring of acquisitions and joint ventures. Mr. Gould spearheaded the legalization efforts of medical marijuana in Ohio. In 2016, he was named to the Ohio House Medical Cannabis Task Force by the Speaker of the House, assisting the State of Ohio in its legalization effort which became law September 8, 2016. He is the Owner and Chairman of CannAscend Ohio and of “The Love Company,” a multi-state medical cannabis processing company.
He was a founder and Managing Partner of The Walnut Group, a private equity fund, and he is the Owner and Chairman of Gould Management Group. Mr. Gould has served on several Boards of Directors notably Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) and Lightbox OOH Video Network, a mall digital media network.
Mr. Gould is Chairman of the Board of Advisors and a founding member of the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) in partnership with the NFL, Gatorade and The University of Connecticut, (KSI).
JEFFREY PASH
Jeffrey Pash joined the National Football League in January 1997, and is currently Executive Vice President. In that capacity, he serves as the League’s principal in-house counsel and oversees labor relations, security and internal audit. Prior to joining the NFL, Mr. Pash was Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the National Hockey League, where he served as the senior legal and policy advisor to Commissioner Gary Bettman.
He began his professional career with the Washington, D. C. firm
of Covington & Burling, where he practiced law from from 1980 to 1993, becoming a partner in the firm in 1988. While at Covington & Burling, he was heavily involved in the firm’s sports practice, and worked on a wide range of litigation, legislative, labor and other matters for the NFL and other clients in the firm. Mr. Pash has taught sports law as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law School, and as a lecturer at the University of Virginia Law School. He has also appeared on numerous programs sponsored by the American Bar Association, Practicing Law Institute, Sports Lawyers Association and other academic and professional organizations.
Mr. Pash is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Betsy, live in New York with their four children.