Drew Mearns, Executive Director

A former NCAA Division I collegiate head coach and prior corporate counsel and officer of Mark McCormack's International Management Group, the world's largest sports management firm, Drew helped found the Alliance in 2005 along with CB Burnside and Mimi Knoop.

A magna cum laude graduate of Yale University (BA) and of the University of Virginia Law School (JD), where he was a Dillard Fellow, Drew practiced law with one of the world's largest firms, Jones, Day and was also a teaching fellow at the University of Kentucky and the University of Virginia.

President and chief executive officer of Xcite Management Group, Inc., a Virginia based special events company, Drew is responsible for finance, development, programming and administration of XMG’s proprietary sports and special event business divisions. Drew is also currently the President of Xooma Properties which handles many of the strategic planning, expansion and development projects and initiatives of the Health Network /Xooma Worldwide.

Jill Grano, Assistant Director and Athlete Liaison

A 2007 graduate of the College of William and Mary with a BA in Government, Jill has worked in the outdoor/action sports industry in a variety of capacities since 2000  for successful companies, including Outdoor Divas in Boulder, Colorado and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Virginia.  In 2003, Jill co-created and launched “Outdoor Nature Camp” for the Wakefield Park/Audrey Moore Rec Center for children ages 6-12. In 2004, Jill served as a volunteer for “Girls on the Run,” a program which encourages athleticism and self-esteem for girls in 3rd-5th grade. As a web manager, Jill has used her design skills for the College of William and Mary and the Action Sports Alliance since 2005. 

Jill began working with the Alliance as an athlete liaison and general assistant in December 2005.

Kim Broas, Content and Marketing

A strong background in journalism and communications, Kim has the ability to write for mass media situations. A 2005 graduate of James Madison University, Kim received her Bachelor's of Science Degree from the School of Media Arts and Design. She has the skills needed  in producing  publications (newspaper, magazine, radio, television or multimedia presentation) and understands how mass media businesses operate. In 2005,  Kim was the Senior Editor of the award-wining publication, Curio, the Shenandoah Valley's Feature Magazine.  Upon graduation Kim moved to London, England where she worked at a fully integrated global design agency assisting in building dynamic and cost-effective brand relations between clients and their customers. Kim is currently a Marketing Coordinator for The Health Network/Xooma Worldwide

A former two-time soccer team captain and  MVP, Kim also  lettered three years in Field Hockey and was ranked third in the TCIS conference as a forward and midfield. She has always had a love for the game, no matter what the game may be. Through her passion for sports, Kim uses her journalism talents to advocate for women's rights, focusing in particular on women in the sporting community.

Alison McGuire, Public Relations and Marketing

A skateboarder  for 30 years, Allison was part of the first generation of skateboarders when the craze first hit California. While her skating style is more “old school,” this mother of two pushes through the stereotypes as she tries to tackle the newer and evolved tricks. Allison also devotes a lot of her time to a program she has created, based on, “Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover.” This program shocks the audience as this typical GAP mom slalom's around kids on her skateboard using them as human cones.

While you do not see a lot of 40 year old woman on skateboard's, Allison will continue to live by her brother's mantra, “You don't get too old for skateboarding, you get old when you stop.”