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.
Jeanine Baca
Video Production Coordinator
Jeanine 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 is 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.
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.
Whitney Collins
Membership Services Manager
Whitney Collins recently joined USA Water Polo in December 2009 as Membership Services Manager. In this role, Whitney will manage and oversee all aspects of membership acquisition and services for USA Water Polo. She is also charged with providing members of the organization proper information, feedback and customer service.
Whitney is a graduate of University of Kentucky and also earned her Masters in Education with a concentration in Sports Administration at University of Miami. While studying at the University of Kentucky, Whitney played NCAA Division I college tennis. In addition, Whitney played an integral role in the Williams' Sisters Tour.
Her background includes work on the Sony Ericsson Open for two years in PR, operations, and player management as well as Director of Marketing of ePULSETrak where she developed acquisition strategies for new customers as well as CRM programs for existing customers.
Marcy Crouch
Associate Director of Olympic Development
Marcy Crouch joined USA Water Polo in September 2009 as Associate Director of Olympic Development. She works closely with the Men’s and Women’s National Teams in regards to budget, planning, fund raising, and a variety of other areas. She also supervises the Senior National Teams Managers, National Teams Coordinator and Olympic Development Program Manager.
Marcy is a native of Huntington Beach, where she was a standout student-athlete at Marina High School in volleyball, soccer and softball. She earned All-American honors as a softball player at Stanford University, graduating in 1999 with a degree in American studies and minor in Psychology. Marcy also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business, as well as a Masters in Education from Boston University with an emphasis in counseling sport psychology.
In addition to her experience as an athlete, Marcy has also been a successful coach. As the Head Softball Coach at Santa Clara University for five years, Marcy turned the program around, guiding the Broncos through a milestone season in 2003, as the team set a new single-season mark for wins. She followed with her second-straight 30-win season in 2004 and was named Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004. She also served as an Assistant Softball Coach at Boston University while earning her Masters in Education.
Most recently, Marcy worked in the financial field for Edward Jones Investments as a Financial Advisor for three years where she ran her own branch office. Prior to Edward Jones, Marcy worked for the Stanford Athletic Department where she assisted with the overall business, marketing and implementation plan for the new Stanford Football Stadium.
Liz Grimes
Associate Director of Sport Development
Liz Grimes joined USA Water Polo as the Regional Director of Sport Development in June 2007 and was recently promoted to Associate Director of Sport Development. In the new role Liz will be responsible for encouraging the growth of water polo across all age levels and playing abilities primarily through programs and events. Grimes started with USA Water Polo as a national team player in the 1980s, then became a Team Leader in the 1990's before starting her coaching career in the Northeast (Harvard and NYAC).
Prior to her time at USA Water Polo Grimes was a credentialing manager for Major League Baseball in New York, NY. In this role Grimes was responsible for the online credentialing process MLB Jewel Events such as The All-Star Game, World Baseball Classic, League Championship, and World Series.
Outside of work Grimes enjoys running. She is a 1990 graduate of Long Beach State and holds a masters degree in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy.
Inge Hergenrather
Fundraising Consultant
Inge Hergenrather joined USA Water Polo in January 2010 as a fundraising consultant. In this role she will research potential sources of funding, sustain the current supporters and cultivate new donors. She will also help develop events that continue and encourage future gifts. Prior to joining USA Water Polo, Inge was a player marketing intern for Leigh Steinberg Sports and Entertainment and she also interned with The Giving Back Fund in Los Angeles. She has done freelance for events such as the ESPN X Games, the ESPYS and The Giving Back Fund’s Super Bowl XLIII Party.
Inge graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Marketing. While attending the school, she worked as the student administrative assistant for the USC Water Polo and Swimming teams in the athletic department. She is excited to take her water polo experience from the collegiate to the national level.
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.
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.
Greg Mescall
Associate Director of Communications
Greg Mescall joined USA Water Polo as the media relations manager in July 2007 and was recently 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 earlier this decade. 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.
Ulises Sam
Controller
Ulises Sam joined USA Water Polo in February of 2008 in the position of controller. In this role Ulises is responsible for finances and human resources. He came to USA Water Polo from Konoike Pacific where he served as Chief Financial Officer. During his nearly 14 years with Konoike, Ulises directed accounting and financial reporting activities, and was responsible for information technology and human resources.
From 1991 to 1995, Ulises managed accounting operations of multiple subsidiaries under Australia New Zealand Direct Line. A graduate of Pepperdine University, he earned his MBA from Chapman University.
Sarah Stern
Marketing Relations Coordinator
Sarah Stern joined USA Water Polo in September 2009 where she serves as the receptionist. In this role she answers and directs phone inquiries. Sarah also contributes to market research, creative design, and provides overall marketing, membership and event support. Prior to joining USA Water Polo Stern was a marketing intern for the AHL Portland Pirates and the Orange County Flyers.
Outside of work, she coaches Girls Basketball and Softball at Corona del Mar High School. Stern graduated in 2008 from Bowdoin College where she played and captained the Varsity Softball Team.
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.
Scott Tanner
Director of Sport Development
Scott Tanner joined USA Water Polo in August 2009 as the Director of Sport Development. He is responsible for the growth of the sport through the creation of new programs, member support and services, and national events. Scott comes to USA Water Polo following a 27 year career at The Walt Disney Company where he served in a variety of sales and marketing executive roles and helped to launch the west coast Disney Sports group. He has extensive experience in youth sports volunteerism through his work with AYSO and US Youth Soccer as a coach, referee, team manager, competition committee member, and board member over a 15 year span. Scott has also had leadership roles in a variety of tourism associations, the most recent as Chair of the California Travel Industry Association.
Scott is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and an avid fan of all things “Volunteer”. He and his wife, Marcy, reside in Lake Forest, CA and have two daughters, Morgan and Bailey. He enjoys sports of all kinds and typically can be found vacationing in our amazing National Parks.