USA Roller Sports
Office Staff and Advisors
USA Roller Sports
National Headquarters
4730 South Street
Lincoln, NE 68506
Fax: 402-483-1465
Main Phone Line: 402-483-7551
Extensions:
Confidential Compliance Reporting x201
Conference Room & Meetings x202
National Museum of Roller Skating x203
Accounting & Financials x204
Speed & Figure Skating General Questions x205
Hockey, Roller Derby, Freestyle, Sanctions
Certificates of Insurance, & Accident Reporting x206
Membership Services x207
Social Media Communications x212
Support Services x209
Media, Press & SafeSport x210
Speed Advisor x211
Technology and Website x212
USA Roller Sports Office Staff Bios
Name: Eric Steele
USARS Title: Executive Director
Email: ESteele@USARollerSports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551 x210
USARS Year Debut: 2018
Hometown: Punxsutawney, PA
Hidden Talent: Winning at the video game NHL ‘94
When not at USARS, you can find me doing: Spending time with my significant other Candi, working on antique projects, watching Penn State Football, Traveling & Cooking.
Coolest Desk/Office Item: A Lego Mini Figure of Cobra Commander
Favorite USARS Memory: The third Friday on the job….I was in the groove of work, things were clicking, and it just hit me that I knew I found a great career and organization to align with.
What makes USARS great: The membership’s passion for their sport, a supportive professional staff and the commitment of the leadership from the Board of Directors and Committee Chairs.
My ultimate dream for USARS: Significant membership growth, communication to our members, and of course the Olympics!
Coolest Item in the Roller Skating Museum: The early 1900 speed skating uniforms, with the classic letter stitching on them!
Favorite USOC sport, that is not a USARS sport: Rowing
5 Fun Facts about me: 1. That I hold 2 degrees from Edinboro University 2. I’ve never had a cavity 3. I once held a world record for knot tying 4. I’m an Eagle Scout 5. Use to be the mouse at Chuck E. Cheese
Name: Peggy Young
USARS Title: Director of Support Services & Corporate Secretary
USARS Year Debut: Hired briefly in 1975 by the United States Amateur Confederation (now USARS), then responsibilities in the shared headquarters were for the Roller Skating Rink Operators Association (now RSA), and back to USARS full-time since 1988.
Email: PYoung@USARollerSports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551 x 209
Hometown: Ithaca, NE
Hidden Talent: I like to grow flowers.
When not at USARS, you can find me doing; Family history
Coolest Desk/Office Item: Small antique skate pen holder
Favorite USARS Memory: Working for George Pickard...such a good and intelligent person who gave his all to the sport and the skating business. He was my supervisor for 25 years, and a friend for more than 40 years.
What makes USARS great: The wonderful people involved.
My ultimate dream for USARS: Of course Olympic participation is an ultimate dream because that recognition could bring a lot of good things to USARS, but another of importance is that the good work done by so many volunteers is widely recognized and appreciated.
Coolest Item in the Roller Skating Museum: There isn’t just one...or two...or three... I really like the skates used in an opera on a simulated pond with blades that turn up, and the Plimpton skate that has interchangeable wheels and swan blades, the Ritter Road Skate with hinged splints that strap to the leg knee-high, and the display case with vaudeville memorabilia...and the one with the history of the Skating Vanities...and the one with the tent rink information...and, and, and...
Favorite USOC sport, that is not a USARS sport: Ice speed skating, because so many successful members of their team started on roller skates.
5 Fun Facts about me: 1. I grew up riding a motorcycle and was a bit of a dare-devil. 2. I like to make cloth dolls and craft, time permitting. 3. I enjoy reading. 4. Most people believe I have straight hair, when it is actually very curly! 5. I’ve taken a recent liking to country music songs because they tell stories and are sometimes amusing.
Name: Brent Benson
USARS Title: Hockey, Derby & Freestyle Director
USARS Year Debut: 2010
Email: BBenson@USARollerSports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551 x206
Hometown: Minden, NE
Hidden Talent: I can play pool left handed and right handed
When not at USARS, you can find me doing: Golfing, playing hockey, watching Netflix, attending Nebraska Football and Basketball games
Coolest Desk/Office Item: Photo of 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Championship Game
Favorite USARS Memory: My first Rink Hockey National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah
What makes USARS great: The People- the skaters, the coaches, the officials, the volunteers, and especially the staff.
My ultimate dream for USARS: For USARS to have its own indoor and outdoor arena/training facilities/office/museum in one big location in Lincoln
Coolest Item in the Roller Skating Museum: The first “RollerBlade” inline skate, my first pair of inline skates were RollerBlade brand.
Favorite USOC sport that is not a USARS sport: Golf
5 Fun Facts about me: 1. I have been growing my beard for 1 year. 2. I own close to 50 pairs of shoes 3. I have been golfing since I could walk 4. I have only missed attending about 10 home Nebraska football games in my life. 5. I play in an adult ice hockey league.
Name: Megan Schuller
USARS Title: Speed and Figure Skating Coordinator
USARS Year Debut: 2016
Email: MSchuller@USARollerSports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551 x205
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Hidden Talent: I can sing the French Alphabet, but can't speak any French
When not at USARS, you can find me doing: spending time with my dog, shopping for some new shoes, cheering on the Huskers
Coolest Desk/Office Item: my bright green sticky notes
Favorite USARS Memory: Working nationals and getting to meet everyone
What makes USARS great: I love the passion that goes along with sports, and USARS definitely has that from all aspects of the organization
My ultimate dream for USARS: Olympics!
Coolest Item in the Roller Skating Museum: Tara Lipinski's display
Favorite USOC sport, that is not a USARS sport: Curling
5 Fun Facts about me: 1. I graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Hospitality Management Degree, and a minor in agricultural communications. 2. I studied abroad in the United Kingdom. 3. I love Disney, and collect all things Piglet & Pooh. 4. I had my front teeth knocked out playing softball. 5. I love tomatoes, and I eat one almost every day for breakfast
Name: Frank Joutras
USARS Title: Technology and Website Coordinator
USARS Year Debut: 2018
Email: fjoutras@usarollersports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551 x212
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Hidden Talent: Hot Sauce collector - Looking to develop "Hot Planet" website & Youtube Channel to travel the world rating hot sauces :-)
When not at USARS, you can find me doing: Developing and running Protonics Biomechanical Balance Systems - www.protonics.info.
Coolest Desk/Office Item: USA Olympics Banner.
Favorite USARS Memory: USA Nationals and meeting a whole spectrum of individuals and athletes.
What makes USARS great: The excitement of the sports.
My ultimate dream for USARS: Create Team USA training site in Lincoln, NE with all the latest hi-tech gadgets and components.
Coolest Item in the Roller Skating Museum: Pig on Skates and Hi-Tech Rollerblades.
Favorite USOC sport, that is not a USARS sport: Snowboarding.
5 Fun Facts about me: 1. I'm Fast...Fast Frank that is :-). 2. Love Hot Sauce...except for the next morning. 3. Enjoy Scouting and Camping. 4. Into developing the future. 5. Laughter is the cure!
Name: Tina Brendle
USARS Title: Membership Services Director
USARS Year Debut: 2018
Email: TBrendle@USARollerSports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551 x207
Hometown: Reading, PA
Hidden Talent: Is sarcasm a talent?
When not at USARS, you can find me doing: Exploring Lincoln, spending time with my dog, cooking, baking, traveling, shopping, spending entirely too much time on Facebook, reading or sleeping.
Coolest Desk/Office Item: Since I haven’t yet made my desk my own, I’ll go with my spiffy new laptop
Favorite USARS Memory: July 23, 2018 – my first day on the job!
What makes USARS great: The passion an dedication of everyone involved.
My ultimate dream for USARS: Olympics!
Coolest Item in the Roller Skating Museum: After having lived in Texas for the past 13 years, I’m going to have to go with the Cowboy Boot skates.
Favorite USOC sport, that is not a USARS sport: Gymnastics
5 Fun Facts about me: 1. I am always up for a trip – road, train, plane or boat. It’s all about the adventure and the people you meet along the way. 2. I hate wearing shoes of any kind and am barefoot as much as I can be 3. I’ll consider you weird if you don’t like cheese or chocolate 4. I have saltwater in my soul and I find solace at the beach 5. I have McDonald’s money and caviar dreams.
USA Roller Sports Advisor Bios
Name: Ricci Porter-Kmetz
USARS Title: Speed Advisor
USARS Year Debut: 2007
Email: speedadvisor@usarollersports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551 x211
Hometown: Cheyenne, WY
Hidden Talent: If you create a cheese and chocolate eating contest, I will probably win!
When not at USARS, you can find me doing; Spending time with Jaxton and Kevin, skating, and at the gym.
Coolest Desk/Office Item: Porter-family photo collage
Favorite USARS Memory: Wow - just one?!?! One favorite is Pensacola nationals with my family and team.
What makes USARS great: The passion the members have for their sports.
My ultimate dream for USARS: On-point communication and messaging, tremendous growth at the entry level, and so much more, but it all starts with communication, messaging, and entry-level growth.
Coolest Item in the Roller Skating Museum: Gloria Nord's Skating Vanities traveling trunk.
Favorite USOC sport, that is not a USARS sport: Short track or long track ice speed skating
5 Fun Facts about me: 1. I only have two things left on my Life is for Living list - Tokyo and the Kentucky Derby (time for an update!). 2. I’m the current USARS March Madness Champion! 3. I love to travel, and actually love being in airports! 4. I am fascinated by real estate. 5. I started loving fashion the moment I was old enough to pick out my own outfits.
Name: Pat Jacques
USARS Title: Figure Advisor
USARS year Debut: 2019 in this position; 1973 as a Coach
Email: FigureAdvisor@USARollerSports.org
Phone: 402.483.7551x208
Hometown: Andover, MA
Hidden Talent: Handling tense situations with honesty and humor
When not at USARS, you can find me : Playing with my grand kids, reading books, shopping,
Coolest Desk/Office item: World Skate flag from the first conference in Rome, I took one as a motivator and reminder of this turning point in the sport and it sits on my desk.
Favorite USARS memory: Being selected to the Coaches Hall of Fame, I never considered I would be on that level with so many of the great coaches I admired.
What makes USARS great: The people! We have the most dedicated coaches, who work way over their pay grade to reach a public that would never know this sport without that local coach who brings them into it. The volunteers who give so much to support the skaters, teachers, operators who need help! The support staff of referees, tabulators and mostly judges who never receive a dime to show up first thing in the morning and stay through the last event at night to make a competition possible. And let's not forget the office staff and Board who do their best with limited resources to keep this sport running under the ever changing requirements of this country, the World Skate group, the USOC standards and the many questions and issues from the membership.
My ultimate dream for USARS: To be financially solvent so they can have the staff they need to do the job they want without the pressure of too much work and not enough help.
Coolest item in the Roller Skating Museum: The band organ that was donated a few years ago. Each time we go to Lincoln, we visit to see and leave a donation. First with our kids, now with our grandkids. Each time we are there I see kids and adults alike spending the most time at the organ. It is a piece of time and history that the electronic age has replaced, but what a glorious sound when you walked up to a roller rink and you could feel the vibrations and hear the music before the door even opened!
Favorite USOC sport, that is not a USARS sport: Gymnastics, male and female, the beauty, strength and dedication to their sport is incredible to watch.
5 fun facts about me:
I. I love to exercise but not in a gym
2. I love going to movies, theatre and dessert
3. I will take the two weeks after Nationals and read almost non stop to recharge
4. I love playing with my grandkids, making up stories, basketball with them, time spent at the pool. It is my "happy time and place in life"
5. I love my job as a skating teacher, and I love to coach anyone who wants to learn
