Spring’s All About Growth –Both New and Continued

Why do we have such a love affair with the spring season? For many it’s because spring is always that wonderful break from the cold, dark days of winter. Spring is when those seeds and roots that have been growing unseen during the winter months, use their gathered strengths to burst into colorful blooms that we can ooh and awe over.

Growth and renewal in its showy “seen” version is something we tend to celebrate, often waxing rhapsodic about it. While in contrast, we tend to overlook the unseen growth process that requires hard work and dedication … and sometimes, an indomitable will. But in this issue we offer stories of both new AND continued growth

This issue highlights Andrew Dort’s new business venture as the owner of Pride Lending as well as Martin Stark’s multi-year journey to finally hold the first ever World Gay Boxing Championships. And let’s not forget Compete Sports Diversity’s latest adventure, the exciting new partnership extension with Northstar Meetings Group’s TEAMS Conference and Expo that now enables TEAMS’ business and individual event organizers to meet with our destinations, venues and suppliers that are interested in LGBTQ+ sports events.

On the continued growth side, you’ll find stories such as the Gay Polo League’s (GPL) annual Lexus International Gay Polo Tournament presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate. GPL founder, Chip McKenney held his first tournament in 2010; Compete became involved not long after the league’s inception. Today, Wellington, Florida proudly hosts polo players and worldwide aficionados thanks to Chip’s dream. Another wonderful story highlights a continued community need for the presence of Aunt Rita’s Foundation’s ongoing work to end HIV and introduces you to its new executive director, Stacey Jay Cavaliere.

In terms of career reinvention, we share the story of Deana Garner, Director of Diversity and Deputy Title IX Officer for Arizona State University, who recently accepted Compete’s invitation to join its leadership board. She’s had quite the upward career path; her last position was with the NFL. Another wonderful story is that of Joe Marquart, the volunteer president of the Arizona AARP chapter. After spending his career as a human resources and organizational development executive, he now dedicates his time and talents to Arizona AARP and it’s important and growing list of resources (it’s not your grandparents’ AARP anymore!).

I hope you’ll enjoy these wonderful stories and offer to share them with your colleagues, inviting them to learn more about Compete Sports Diversity and the work that you and the rest of us are doing to foster Compete’s IDEAL Principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equality/Equity, Acceptance and Leadership. It’s now more important than ever! •

As always, with lots of hugs and kisses,

Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT • SHE | HER