Caroline Acosta
Marketing Services Coordinator
Caroline Acosta joined USA Water Polo in February of 2011 as Marketing Services Coordinator. In this role, she will support the Marketing Department by maintaining and renewing new and existing sponsorship agreements, and managing the brand experience. Caroline graduated from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Sport Administration and a minor in Coaching.
Prior to coming to USA Water Polo, Caroline was an intern in the Sponsorship Department at UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) in Las Vegas, and prior to the UFC was a Compliance Department intern at Stanford University’s Athletic Department. While in college, Caroline played volleyball for 3 years for the Lock Haven Eagles and was the Student Assistant Coach for the Lock Haven Women’s Volleyball Team for 1 year. She is excited to join the USA Water Polo team.
Jennifer Adams
Women's Senior National Team Manager
Jen Adams joined USA Water Polo in November of 2009 as the Women’s Senior National Team Manager. In this role, Jen is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Women’s Senior National Team. She works closely with the Head Coach, Assistant Coaches, and athletes in the areas of calendar management, travel, scheduling facilities, events, fund raising and compliance. Jen serves as liaison for the National Team to the other departments within USA Water Polo and functions as Team Leader and Head of Delegation on all international and domestic trips.
Jen earned her B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Irvine and recently completed her MBA and MS Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. While attending UMass, Jen got the opportunity to work on projects with Octagon and Major League Baseball. Prior to working for USA Water Polo, Jen was an intern with the Los Angeles Galaxy and a sales specialist at Recreational Equipment, Inc. Outside of work, Adams enjoys the outdoors, photography, and cheering on the Angels and Chargers.
Guy Baker
Director of Olympic Development
Guy Baker has served as the Director of Olympic Development at USA Water Polo since October of 2008. In this new role, he is in charge of planning and administering USA Water Polo’s system of elite athlete, coach and referee development. In addition to improving performance, Guy has been charged with fostering a culture of “service to the sport” that includes new resources and professional development opportunities for coaches at all levels of USA Water Polo. Prior to this position, he served as Head Coach and Director of USA Water Polo Women’s Program since 1998.
Since the 2000 Olympic Games, under Guy’s guidance, as the Head Coach or Director, USA Women’s Water Polo has won ten FINA major championship medals, three Olympic Game medals, three World Championships, three Junior World Championships, and one World Cup. The results are unprecedented; ten medals in thirteen events with thirteen consecutive medal round appearances and nine gold medal game finals. In addition, Team USA has won four medals at the five World League Super Finals for a total of fourteen medals in the eighteen FINA events over the eight year period. As well as the three consecutive Olympic medals; his coaching highlights would be two World Championship gold medals (2003 and 2007), two Pan American Games Gold Medals (2003 and 2007) and three World League Super Final titles (2004, 2006 and 2007).
Recently named the 2007 USOC National Coach of the Year, Guy began his coaching career in 1985 as an assistant to Ken Lindgren at Long Beach State University, where he was a former star player. After six years with the 49ers, Guy moved on to UCLA, where he was named men’s head coach in 1991. In his first year, Guy coached the men’s team to a second-place NCAA finish and finished his ten year UCLA Men’s Team career with four NCAA titles in six years; 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000.
UCLA added women’s water polo in 1995, prompting Guy to tackle head coach double duty from 1995-1998. In that time, the UCLA women’s team notched three consecutive collegiate titles in 1996, 1997, and 1998; the men’s team won two NCAA titles in 1995 and 1996. Guy was the first coach in history to lead both a men’s and women’s collegiate team to NCAA titles in the same year (1995-96). He went on to duplicate the double win the following year. Guy was hired to be USA Women’s Water Polo Senior National Team Head Coach in March of 1998. Prior to being named the women’s Head Coach, Guy was an Assistant Coach with the Men’s Senior National Team from the 1997 World Cup to the 1998 World Championship. The 1997 team won the gold medal at the World Cup. In January of 2001, USAWP named Guy as the full-time Women’s Director of National Teams and Senior National Team Head Coach.
Sarah Bennett
Development Coordinator
Sarah Bennett joined USA Water Polo in October of 2011 as the Development Coordinator. Sarah administers the charitable giving program for USA Water Polo and oversees the stewardship of donors, gifts, and prospects. She also acts as an ambassador for USAWP in the philanthropic community and assists in fundraising efforts for the organization.
Sarah earned her B.A. in Communications from California State University, Long Beach where she was also involved in Opera and Vocal Performance. Sarah spent her junior year studying International Studies in Australia. While attending Long Beach State, Sarah interned at Vox Entertainment Event Productions, Pure Media Public Relations, and the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club. After her time with the Ducks, she took the role of Community Relations Assistant for a season with the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball Club. Outside of work Sarah attends numerous sporting events, especially Ducks and Dodgers games, listens to all genres of music she can get her hands on, attends concerts, and loves traveling to Australia, Europe, and New Zealand.
Jim Callahan
Director of Finance
Jim Callahan joined USA Water Polo on October 14, 2010 as the Director of Finance. In this role, Jim will oversee financial operations and human resources.
Jim graduated from California State University, Fullerton and was with the public accounting firm of Windes & McClaughry from 1977 through 1983. Jim then served as Chief Financial Officer and Controller with two defense related manufacturing concerns, Howden Airdynamics and Dense-Pac Microsystems.
In 1990 Jim was appointed as the Director of Finance with Mater Dei High School and managed a $9 million budget. From 1991 through 1996 Mr. Callahan served as Controller with Auto Photo Systems, Inc. In 1996, Jim joined Money Mailer, a nationally recognized direct marketing and franchise company, as Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2000. His responsibilities included finance, strategic and corporate planning, human resources, purchasing, facilities, legal services and information services. Money Mailer’s annual revenues were in excess of $120 million.
Jim is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California.
Jim and his wife Kathy live in Westminster, CA. In addition to being a sports fan, Jim is an avid reader with a heavy emphasis in American and European history.
Claudia Dodson
Associate Director of Competition
Claudia Dodson joined USA Water Polo in January of 2011 of Associate Director of Competition. Claudia is no stranger to the game of water polo having played age group, high school, college and masters water polo. She also has served as a water polo referee, coach, and club administrator. Outside of water polo she swam competitively in college and high school and was first introduced to the sport of water polo through swimming.
Professionally she has taught in the Los Alamitos Unified School District, conducted private tutoring, and worked as an independent consultant and project manager for nearly 20 years. Claudia earned a BS in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego. She has been married to Keith Dodson for nearly 25 years and is mother to two water polo playing daughters, Kaley, a freshman at Stanford and Cory a high school senior headed to Stanford next fall.
Fay Hu
Finance Coordinator
Fay Hu started out as an intern in the summer of 2008, and in September 2009 she became the finance coordinator at USA Water Polo. Fay earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Royal Holloway, University of London in 2007 and Master’s Degree in Sport Management from University of San Francisco in 2009.
Prior to joining USA Water Polo, Fay was a student administrative assistant in Sport Management program office at University of San Francisco. Additionally, she worked as a sales intern with Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion based in Santa Monica. Fay also had sport event experiences with professional tennis tournaments in Southern California and US Soccer Sport Development Academy.
Mai Lam
Executive Assistant to CEO
Mai Lam joined USA Water Polo in November 2009, as Executive Assistant to Christopher Ramsey. In this role, Mai assists Chris with day-to-day operations of USA Water Polo in addition to supporting in the operation of key USA Water Polo events such as the Annual Meeting and ongoing fund raising programs.
Prior to working for USA Water Polo, Mai dedicated 15 years to El Modeno Gardens, Inc. In her early years there, Mai worked in information technology as assistant manager. Because of her uniquely acquired skill sets, she was moved to key accounts where the position of Senior Sales Analyst was created for her. Mai retrieved, analyzed and organized sales data which immensely aided the company and ushered in an era of explosive growth.
A graduate of the University of California, Irvine Mai earned her Bachelor degree in Social Sciences and Psychology. In her spare time, Mai is an accomplished photographer specializing in dance & children and helps raise her three sons, Kennedy, Tyler and Reagan. Her eldest son Kennedy dances for the LA Clippers on the Jr. Jam Squad.
Jeanine McDougall
Video Production Coordinator
Jeanine McDougall (formerly Baca) has been with USA Water Polo since
March 2009 as the Video Production Coordinator. Jeanine films and edits
various videos for the USA Water Polo website, as well as posting videos
on our YouTube channel. Jeanine has a background in journalism,
holding a Bachelor's Degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Minor in
Marketing from Bowling Green State University. Prior to her time at USA
Water Polo, Jeanine was the Box Office Supervisor at Staples Center,
Sports and Entertainment Center of the World. Additionally, she has
worked/interned with Adelphia Cable, (now Time Warner) and WGTE-TV,
Toledo's PBS affiliate in Toledo, Ohio.
Jeanine was new to the sport of Water Polo, but is no stranger to high
level athletics. While attending BGSU, she was a four-year starter on
the Women's Softball Team. Athletics has always been a huge part of her
life and she is very excited to continue that trend by working with USA
Water Polo.
Rick McKee
Team Leader,
Men's Senior National Team
McKee was named Team Leader in 2007 after many years as a water polo coach and referee in the Southern California area. McKee was head coach at Tustin High School from 1995-2001 and Laguna Beach High School from 2002-2006. In addition he’s served as a referee since 2000. A graduate of Anderson College, McKee starred for Buena Park High School, garnering MVP and All-American honors. McKee resides in Tustin, CA, with his wife and four daughters.
Christy Medigovich
Membership Manager
Christy Medigovich joined USA Water Polo as Membership Manager in January, 2011. Christy, a 4-year letter winner in Women’s Water Polo at University of California Santa Barbara, was most recently a Conference Services Specialist with the Governance Institute, a membership-based publishing company, specializing in education for non-profit hospital board members and C-suite executives across the country. Prior to that, Christy was Director of Operations for the San Dieguito Boys and Girls Coast Volleyball Club program managing more than 1000 athletes and 34 teams per year. She has also served as Head Goalkeeper Coach for San Diego Shores and continues to play with the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club Women’s Masters team.
A University of California, Santa Barbara graduate, Christy earned her Bachelors degree in Sociology, with a minor in Sports Management. Christy continues to serve as co-chairperson for Springboard; a San Diego based non-profit philanthropic group and volunteers for events throughout California.
Greg Mescall
Associate Director of Communications
Greg Mescall joined USA Water Polo as the media relations manager in July 2007 and was promoted to Associate Director of Communications. In this position he serves as the main media relations contact for USA Water Polo as well as webmaster for the corporate website, editor of the USA Water Polo magazine, Skip Shot. In addition Greg is the main reporter/host on a variety of USA Water Polo produced video segments and broadcasts.
Prior to USAWP, Greg served for two years in the sports information department at Wagner College on Staten Island, New York. While at Wagner he was responsible for women’s water polo and swimming, along with men’s and women’s track and field. He also served as the play-by-play broadcaster for Wagner football and basketball from 2003-2007.
Outside of Wagner College, Greg served as a sports producer at WWOR-TV and WCBS-TV in the New York City market. Other experience includes work with The Tim McCarver Show and the New York Giants. He earned a BA in communications from Monmouth University and a Masters in education from Wagner College. A winner of basketball crowns in MYAA and the MFB, Greg was selected as a CYO All-Star for St. Agnes in the mid 2000s. Originally from Leonardo, New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York his hobbies include basketball, movies, sports broadcasting and DVR.
Ashley Papenbrock
National Teams Events Coordinator
Ashley Papenbrock has been with USA Water Polo since March 2009 and serves as the National Teams Events Coordinator. In this role she is responsible for submitting appropriate sanctions and certificates for National Team events, manages all National Teams’ event logistics including staffing, volunteers, hospitality, merchandise, concessions, supplies, equipment, signage, rosters, etc. Ashley is also responsible for overseeing the event day operations and serves as on-site contact and processes ticket sales through our Contact Management Database to ensure proper income and data is recorded and reported.
Ashley is originally from Worthington, Ohio. She moved to Southern California to attend Whittier College, where she graduated with a bachelor degree in Recreation and Sports Management and a minor in Business Administration. Ashley was also a 4-year letter winner in both the Swimming and Water Polo programs.
Prior to her time here at USA Water Polo she worked as a receptionist with TBWA/Chiat/Day, a worldwide advertising company, and interned with the LA Sports and Entertainment Commission.
Christopher Ramsey
Chief Executive Officer
Chris is responsible for carrying out the mission of USA Water Polo domestically and internationally. His work includes oversight of Olympic and national team programs, sport development (including membership services), marketing and brand identity, international relations, along with finance and administration. His goals for the federation are sustained competitive excellence and national growth of the sport. He is committed to leading the federation by ensuring a stable and transparent financial base, a compelling brand identity and an ethical foundation for its work.
Prior to joining USA Water Polo in 2006, Chris was one of three principal administrators for the New York City Ballet, where he was responsible for the company’s earned and philanthropic income as well as its endowment initiatives. His areas of oversight included development, marketing and communications, educational programs, special media such as film and publishing, online media, research, editorial and archival services, volunteer and program resources, and retail operations.
Before joining New York City Ballet, Chris was a senior administrator for MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, which produced The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour on PBS along with a number of other special series for public and commercial television, including The Story of English and Learning in America. Chris is the editor of several books on ballet including Tributes: Celebrating Fifty Years of New York City Ballet (Morrow & Company) and Balanchine 100: a Commemorative Journal.
Chris has published short fiction and poetry, and authored a play, Two Voices, produced by the Fitzwilliam Theater Society in Cambridge, England. He was co-producer of the feature documentary Bringing Balanchine Back with Earle Mack. Narrated by Kevin Kline, the documentary aired on Public Television in 2005 and is in DVD release. Executive producer of New York City Ballet Workout I and II in VHS and DVD formats (Palm Pictures), Chris conceived the book of the same title (Morrow). Among the special children’s media projects that he has overseen are Mary Kate and Ashley’s Ballet Party (Dualstar/Scholastic), and Barbie of Swan Lake (Mattel/ Mainframe Entertainment).
A cum laude graduate of the University of Redlands in Music and English, Chris played varsity water polo and also attended Cambridge University through an exchange program, where he also played a fair amount of basketball and contract bridge. His musical interests include Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Well-Tempered Clavier (both books), Suites for Unaccompanied Cello and Brandenburg Concerto 5, among many others, and Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Palestrina’s Missa Brevis, the improvisations of Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, and a broad swath of more contemporary music from jazz to folk to good old rock ‘n roll.
Chris earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University in Creative Writing, where he was awarded the Andrews Prize for Fiction in 1980. While at Cornell he studied with A.R. Ammons, Alison Lurie, and Richard Wilbur, later lecturing there in English Literature and Composition. He lives in Corona del Mar, CA with his beautiful wife Lynne and their three frequently remarkable sons, Colin, James and Evan.
Jennifer Rottenberg
Chief Marketing Officer
Jennifer Rottenberg joined USA Water Polo in October of 2009. In her role, Jen will oversee all marketing and sponsorship efforts of the National Governing Body while also placing a priority on promotion, branding, and new media.
Jen comes to USA Water Polo from DSNV Marketing Group, a company she founded in 2007. She began her career in the industry at IMG and has worked with a host of different sport and entertainment entities over the years, including: the US Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams, ESPN, Nike, the WTA Tour, USA Luge, the Virgin Mobile Festival, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, US Club Soccer, the US Adult Soccer Association, the Arena Football League, American Golf Corporation, and the West Coast Conference, among others.
A graduate of Princeton University and the Harvard Business School, and a well-respected executive in the industry, Jen has also served as an instructor of Sport Marketing in the Graduate Programs in Sport Management at both the University of San Francisco and California State University Long Beach.
Gayle Shanks
Human Resources Representative
Gayle Shanks joined USA Water Polo as the Human Resources Representative in September of 2011. Gayle brings 20+ years of experience in Human Resources in the areas of employee relations, training, recruitment, benefits administration, and employee/corporate development. She has served as an HR executive at Apple Computer, Silicon Graphics and Children's Hospital of the Central Valley as well as in her own consulting business.
Gayle's background also extends into education where she was an elementary school teacher. An avid supporter of youth sports, Gayle has also been involved in team administration in soccer, baseball, and lacrosse. Gayle holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Cal State Long Beach and an M.A. in Human Resources/Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.
Kate Strand
Events Manager
Kate Strand joined USA Water Polo in April of 2009, as the Events Manager. She is responsible for national championship event planning and execution. Kate plans and directs all event functions, including managing event income and fundraising programs, all event travel and logistics, host correspondence and contact as well as zone and membership communication relating to the events.
Prior to working for USA Water Polo, Kate spent 2 years working for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program, as a Campaign Manager. While there, Kate managed teams of cyclists and walkers training for endurance events as well as fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Additionally, Kate worked for an entertainment marketing company as a Talent Coordinator.
Kate has always had a huge passion for sports (re: volleyball) and is very excited to be encompassing this passion in her career. She swam competitively for eleven years and was a collegiate rower at Villanova University (where she earned her BA in Sociology and Criminal Justice). In her spare time she enjoys watching sports of all kinds, traveling, and reading.
Katie Wakefield
Membership Services Coordinator
Katie Wakefield joined USA Water Polo in November 2011, as the Membership Services Coordinator. In this role, Katie assists Chrisy Medigovich, Membership Manager, with building relationships with members of USAWP.
A graduate of California State University, Chico, Katie earned a B.S. in Business Administration – Marketing and minor in Public Relations. While at Chico State she worked for the school’s newspaper as an Advertising Sales Representative in charge of National Sales and was an intern for the Chico State Athletic Marketing Department. She is currently pursuing a M.A. in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco.