 Medical Director |
Dr. Richard J. Emerson,
D.O., F.A.O.A.O. |
| Dr. Richard Emerson graduated in 1969 from the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri and began his surgical training at the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center at Lackland AFB, Texas. He then pursued an aerospace medicine career as an Air Force Flight Surgeon, and that included one year serving with an F4 squadron in DaNang, Vietnam. This was followed by five years of surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine training in Phoenix, Arizona and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Emerson has been practicing medicine for more than 30 years in the Valley of the Sun and was named in Phoenix Magazine 2005 Top Doc, Orthopedics. Many of Dr. Emerson's visionary and highly successful efforts began in the trenches with high school and college athletes and weekend warriors, and then progressed to include professional teams. He spent 17 years as the orthopedist for the Phoenix Suns, ten of those as the head team physician. Dr. Emerson's patients and successful surgeries include many world-class athletes and All Stars Charles Barkley, Walter Davis, Dan Marjerle, Kevin Johnson, Penny Hardaway and Tom Gugliotta and many other professional athletes in football, golf, and track and field. Today Dr. Emerson is the Emeritus Team Physician to the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Rattlers and Phoenix Mercury, and currently serves as a consultant to the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL).
In addition to his practice, Dr. Emerson has published many award-winning articles on a variety of sports medicine and orthopedic topics. He has served as President of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine and also the American Osteopathic Orthopedic Sports Medicine Division. He served as a visiting Professor at Arizona State University for five years. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery, is a Fellow in the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgeons (AOBOS), is a Founder and Fellow of the Association of Professional Team Physicians (PTP) and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine. Dr. Emerson also received the Distinguished Service Award by the Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administration (AIAAA) and the Sports Medicine Award for outstanding service to the Arizona Coaches Association.
Dr. Emerson's leadership of the SportExcel Project is yet another tribute to his vision and commitment to health and human performance. | |
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| Certified Physician Assistance Specialists |
Becky Mapes,
PA-C, MPAS |
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| Becky Mapes received her Bachelor’s of Science from Grand Canyon University with a double major in Exercise Science and Human Biology in May 1997, graduating Magma Cum Laude and inducted into Alpha Chi. She received her Master's of Physician Assistant Studies from Arizona School of Health Sciences in August 2002. She is currently certified by The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and licensed by the state of Arizona. | | |
Shelley McClellan,
D.P.T., M.S., P.T., C.S.C.S |
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| Shelley McClellan is a licensed physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist, as well as the lead physical therapist at SportExcel Health and Human Performance. In March of 2003, she completed her studies and earned a doctorate in physical therapy, DPT. She has published and presented at the National Conference of Physical Therapists original research about objective measurement systems used for shoulder evaluations. She is dedicated to patient care and improving human performance at all levels. | | |
Mary Emerson,
Office Manager |
| Mary Emerson continues to be an asset to Emerson ProSportsMedicine and SportExcel. She has helped grow both businesses and currently holds the position of Office Manager at Emerson ProSportsMedicine. | |
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| Alan Halling, |
| SportExcel COO |
| Alan Halling is an enthusiastic, results-oriented professional with over 25 years of combined patient care and management experience, and demonstrated ability to develop and implement plans to successfully accomplish multiple objectives. He is a licensed physical therapist and retired certified athletic trainer. Alan has spent time in vice president roles for national healthcare companies and also spent several years as an assistant athletic trainer for the San Diego Chargers Football Club. He has proven expertise in: Product/Business Development, Operating Efficiencies/Productivity Enhancement, Budget Preparation and Profit/Loss Responsibility, Financial Analysis and Forecasts, Proposal and Contract Negotiations, Facility Design and Management, Acquisition and Start-up Operations, Patient Care, Health and Fitness Programs, Sports Programs and Sports Medicine | |
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| Division of GolfSportsMedicine |
Kerry Graham
Class A Golf Professional |
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| Kerry Graham has worked in the golf/sports business since 1970. Kerry’s work in the industry began as a golf professional in golf clubs in the Phoenix area in positions ranging from teaching to club management. In 1990, Kerry founded KRG Enterprises, a sports and golf consulting company.
From 1987-1993, Kerry served as National President of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professional Division. In that role, she directed the establishment of the current LPGA Teacher Education Program and founded the Women’s Golf Summits, LPGA Girls Golf Clubs, and the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Programs. For her leadership in sports, Kerry has received numerous awards including the 2000 LPGA Commissioner’s Award, Women’s Sports Foundation President’s Award, the Patty Berg Award and the National Golf Foundation Graffis Award for Contribution to Education. She currently serves as President of the Board of the Junior Golf Association Foundation of Arizona and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Safeway PING LPGA Tournament. Kerry earned both a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Learning Psychology from Arizona State University and played on the intercollegiate golf team while at ASU. | | |
| SportExcel Golf Professional Associates |
Colleen Esslinger
LPGA Class A |
| Colleen Esslinger began her golf career in Arizona. She attended Xavier College Prep in Phoenix, Arizona and was awarded the Arizona Republic's Outstanding Senior Arizona Athlete of the year. Colleen earned a golf scholarship to San Diego State University and served as Captain of the Women's Intercollegiate Golf Team. Since that time she has competed as a professional golfer in the U.S., Japan and Australia.
Colleen has over sixteen years of experience as a professional golf instructor and Class A member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division. While serving as a staff member for BMW and Gillette Golf Clinics, Colleen provided all levels of instruction for their executive clients. Colleen modeled for many years in golf calendars for Golf Digest of Japan and has participated in Phoenix based Channel 3's "Inside Arizona Golf." Golf for Women Magazine recognized Colleen has one of the Top 50 Instructors in the U.S. and has featured her as a guest writer. Colleen currently provides private and semi private golf instruction at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona and hosts a segment on the Arizona Sports Report called "Colleen on the Green" which airs on Fox Sports Net. | |
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| Director of Club Fitting |
Gary Blaisdell,
CEO - Blaisdell Performance Systems |
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Gary Blaisdell has a 26-year career in the golf business. Gary graduated from the University of Wisconsin before becoming a PGA professional. He served as the Director of Golf at the Tucson National Resort and Golf Club in the early 80's. In 1986 he joined the Henry-Griffitts Golf Company, a pioneer in club fitting, and served as Vice President of Sales, Training and Development for 8 years. In the 90's, Gary joined Slazenger as Vice President and designed, built and managed the national Slazenger custom fitting club and putter system. In 2001 when Slazenger fell victim to the branding sell-off of the parent company, Dunlop-Maxfli, Gary returned to Phoenix and became President of Dimension Z Golf Company. During his 15 years of industry leadership in club fitting, Gary has given hundreds of seminars for the PGA and LPGA and fit many of the professionals on the PGA, PGA Senior and LPGA tour, including Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. He was named National Club Fitter of the Year by Golf Shop Operations.
In 2002 Gary launched Blaisdell Performance Systems in Scottsdale, Arizona where for the first time, amateurs can be fit like tour pros. BPS is a performance-based company dedicated to totally integrating golf equipment with the physical capabilities and learning modalities of the student. In 2003, Blaisdell Performance Systems agreed to be the club fitting resource for SportExcel Golf. | | |
| Nutrition Specialist |
Chrissy Barth,
RD. CFT |
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Chrissy Barth is an expert in the field of nutrition and fitness. She is a registered dietitian through the American Dietetic Association, a certified fitness trainer through the International Sports Science Association, a specialist in nutritional counseling, an author, and a speaker. Chrissy’s expertise includes sports nutrition, nutrition for exercise, the nutritional management of eating disorders and disordered eating, weight management, and nutrition for medically-related issues.
Chrissy is currently a dietitian in private practice and at the Mayo Clinic Hospital. She also serves as a nutrition consultant to several sports medicine clinics, a busy local medical practice, and various health clubs in the valley.
Chrissy received her undergraduate degree in human nutrition with a concentration in dietetics from Arizona State University and then went on to complete a highly competitive dietetic internship program through the Paradise Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, Arizona. As an RD, she is an active member of the American Dietetic Association and its practice groups of nutrition entrepreneurs and sports nutritionists. She is also active in the Arizona Dietetic Association, the Central Arizona Dietetic Association, the Academy of Eating Disorders, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the International Sports Sciences Association.
Chrissy’s philosophy and approach to nutritional counseling is unique in that she concentrates on the individual’s wants, needs, body type, and lifestyle. This is essential because every MIND and BODY is different. | |
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Tess Smith,
Public Relations and Marketing and Yoga Instructor |
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Tess Smith began her yoga training over seven years ago, exploring many forms of this ancient art form. Her practice has taken her from Los Angeles to Hawaii, Phoenix to Tucson, Jamaica, Sedona and many other locales.
Tess is currently finishing her teacher certification at Scottsdale Community College and learning about the historical and philosophical foundations of yoga. As an instructor, Tess has worked with many types of students, addressing the needs of people with disabilities while at the same time developing yoga sequences that challenge the seasoned athlete.
A Magna cum laude graduate of Arizona State University, Tess completed extensive graduate work in both Professional and Creative Writing at Arizona State and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Her professional background includes work in medical public relations, marketing and grant writing. | | |
| Director of Information Technology |
Kim Sherwood,
MIM |
| Kim Sherwood began her career in the fitness and wellness industry. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and an emphasis in Exercise Physiology in 1995. She worked as a personal trainer at the Phoenix Suns Athletic Club where she trained professional athletes, recreationalists, and patients with medical problems.
Kim then shifted her focus to business and earned her Masters in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) in 1998. She began consulting for small businesses and new ventures primarily in the fitness and wellness, technology and manufacturing industries. Kim focused on business plans, infrastructure, process documentation, financial projections, and business development. She became one of the first employees for several new companies including NetSearch, a successful and fast growing start-up in the wireless technology industry, and SportExcel. Kim rejoined the SportExcel team in 2002 as the Director of Information Technology to further develop sportexcel.com. Throughout her career, Kim continues to work in the family businesses, Sherwood Systems and Sherwood Manufacturing. | |
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