National Charter

Scott Shirley, Executive Director & Chairman of the Board

Scott Shirley has been the Chairman of the Board since the organization was incorporated in 2004. Shirley became the full time Executive Director during the fall of 2007. He is responsible for the strategic planning of the national charter, providing leadership and vision for the organization, managing programs and operations, developing the Board of Directors and fundraising.

Prior to joining Uplifting Athletes, Shirley was a Project Engineer with Clark Construction Group. His projects included the Liberty Center (mixed use development that includes office, retail and living space), the Kennedy-Warren (luxury DC apartments) and the Women In Military Services for America Memorial. While at Clark, Shirley was elected to serve as a member of the Innovation Steering Committee to work with the executive management and foster a spirit of continuous improvement, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Shirley is currently participating in the Kellogg Executive Scholar certificate program in Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science (2003) and Master of Engineering (2004) degrees while also playing wide receiver on the Penn State football team. He graduated as the top construction engineering student in his graduating class, was a member of Chi Epsilon (National Honor Society of Civil Engineers) and taught an undergraduate class as a graduate student. As a member of the football team, he was a winner of the Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award (given to players who consistently follow through with their responsibilities in all facets of the football program and do so in an exemplary manner), was a recipient of the Walk-on Award (given to a non-scholarship player who exemplifies total commitment, loyalty, hard work and courage) and was honored as an Academic All-Big Ten selection three times.

top of page

Matt Campolongo, Director of Marketing and Communications

Matt Campolongo serves as Director of Marketing and Communications where he is responsible for developing and implementing outreach strategies for the Uplifting Athletes national charter. He also assists university chapters with product and materials development, technical assistance, and event planning coordination.

Campolongo also works as a web designer and graphic artist in the Washington, D.C. area where he supports government contracts. His responsibilities include the design of accessible web projects, creative graphic design for conferences and events, and desktop publishing.

Campolongo earned his Bachelor of Arts studying Integrative Arts, with a Digital Media Design focus, from the Pennsylvania State University in 2005. He also holds a minior in Information Systems and Statistical Analysis (ISSA).

top of page

Lori Todaro, Director of Advocacy

Lori Todaro serves as Director of Advocacy where she is responsible for identifying and pursuing opportunities to influence policy change that will improve the situation for rare disease patients. She also assists with day-to-day operations and fundraising for the Uplifting Athletes national charter.

Todaro has worked together with members of Senate and Congress to construct and introduce Nino's Act, Federal legislation providing continued treatment for children whith rare diseases transitioned out of NIH studies through the Medicade program. She is also the founder of the Nino Fund, which helps children with a rare disease known as Periodic Fever Syndrome. Lori is the author of "The Journey," and is an inspirational speaker.

Todaro has a degree in Secondary English Education and is a certified USA Gymnastic Coach. She is the mother of four boys; Joe, Vinny, Nino and Angelo.

top of page

David Wozniak, Board Member

Dave Wozniak is vice president of corporate branding and advertising for Lincoln Financial Group. He is responsible for a wide array of initiatives that are designed to build a strong Lincoln Financial Group brand, including strategy development, business-to-business and consumer advertising programs, website development, corporate identity management and brand communications program integration across the enterprise.

Wozniak joined Lincoln in December 2003 and has broad experience in advertising and corporate branding on both the client and advertising agency sides of the business. He served as director of advertising from 1998-2003 at the Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. Prior to that, he spent ten years at N.W. Ayer & Partners in Detroit, Michigan where he was the account director on the General Motors brand advertising program. He was also the advertising manager at Barnett Banks of Florida, Inc. from 1986-1988.

Wozniak holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University and also earned his Master of Business Administration from Penn State.

top of page

Damone Jones, Board Member

Damone Jones is a marketing coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. He is responsible for corporate partner activation and youth marketing/promotions. Jones joined the Ravens in 2006, following an internship with Greater Washington Sports Alliance where he assisted with the planning and execution of the inaugural "National Marathon."

Jones earned his MBA from the DeVos Sports Business Management Graduate Program at the University of Central Florida (2005) and his B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University (2003). During his time at UCF, Jones served as a graduate assistant to the Academic Support for Student Athletes office. While at Penn State University, he was a 5 year member of the football team and earned two letters. He also won the Ridge Riley Award, Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award, and the 2002 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

 

top of page