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Compiled by Erik Spanberg, Xavier Hunter and Wes Sanderson

U.S. Soccer Foundation

President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Soccer Foundation

As the top executive at the foundation for the past 15 years, Foster-Simeon has focused on bringing soccer and soccer equipment to low-income neighborhoods. The foundation, working over the past five years with partners such as Musco Lighting, has built 500 mini-pitches hard-court soccer fields the size of a basketball court and including goals, markings, fences and lighting in neighborhoods across the U.S. Partnerships with pro teams, organizing committees and groups, including the Black Players for Change (made up of MLS players, coaches and staff who are Black) and Black Womens Player Collective (made up of NWSL players who are Black), have convinced Foster-Simeon that the foundation can reach its goal of 1,000 mini-pitches by 2026. E.S.

NBA

Associate Vice President, Youth Basketball, National Basketball Association

Since joining the NBA in 2017, Harper has been responsible for the launch and implementation of Jr. NBA Leagues, a new national network of youth basketball leagues in 10 markets across the country that has reached approximately 14,000 youths across nearly 40 organizations. Through the new leagues, NBA and WNBA teams offer exclusive experiences and resources such as a curriculum library, coaching clinics led by pro coaching staffs, potential meet-and-greets with athletes, and in-arena experiences for youth teams on game days. Accessibility is an important focus for Jr. NBA Leagues following the disruption and decrease in community-based sports providers caused by the pandemic. X.H.

Youth on Course

Chief Executive Officer, Youth on Course

Since its launch in 2006, Youth on Course has provided over 2 million rounds of subsidized golf to kids across the U.S. Heieck credits his work through a USGA-funded internship at the Northern California Golf Association as a great introduction and education into how Youth on Course would operate and how to properly scale the organization. He said the organization is expanding its footprint, recently going international in Australia along with its markets in Texas and Florida. Youth on Course also is looking to bolster its largest fundraiser, the 100 Hole Hike, which runs on various days and courses across the U.S. from June to November, all with the goal of playing and walking 100 holes of golf and raising money for youth access to golf. W.S.

Ripken Baseball

Chief Executive Officer, Ripken Baseball

Since joining Ripken Baseball in 2019, Kenney has worked to make the Ripken experience stretch further than the participant, making it rewarding for the whole family. Kenneys goal is for every tournament participant to feel like a major leaguer for a day and create connective memories, an effort that draws off his time with the Harlem Globetrotters, an organization thats transcended generations. Ripken Baseball continues its mission to grow the game by hosting the Baseball For All national tournament July 12-16 in Elizabethtown, Ky., and launching the All-Ripken brand, which focuses on individual elite-training performance for youth athletes starting with the All-Ripken Games July 27-30, also in Elizabethtown. W.S.

3STEP Sports

Chief Executive Officer, 3STEP Sports

King brought an extensive rsum of company-building experiences and executive roles in strategy, compliance and legal matters when she accepted an offer in November to become CEO of the Massachusetts-based youth sports company. 3STEP has become a power in youth sports by acquiring leagues and events, now covering 43 states and 3.2 million participants in nine sports. The companys portfolio includes facilities management, video and media content, sponsorship sales, travel services, and custom team gear and uniforms. Kings previous role as operating adviser at Juggernaut Capital Partners included shepherding the sale last year of nostalgia-friendly sports apparel brand Mitchell & Ness to Fanatics. E.S.

LeagueApps

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, LeagueApps

Litvack is an entrepreneur who has built a mission-driven company that offers a comprehensive software platform with tools, training and resources for successful management of youth sports programs. He is a founder and board member of the FundPlay Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides free software to more than 400 community sports organizations. With over 100 FundPlay partners, such as America SCORES, PeacePlayers and Harlem Lacrosse, it has enabled sports opportunities for more than 550,000 children. This year, Litvack aims to develop more tools for coaches, parents and players through the LeagueApps Play app. X.H.

NBC Sports Next

Senior Vice President and General Manager, Youth and Recreational Sports, NBC Sports Next

MacKinnon combines both his experience in tech and passion in youth sports at NBC Sports Next. The company recently announced a partnership with US Youth Soccer that will see NBCSNs SportsEngine youth sports management platform create a digital network for USYS to deliver content to its 54 state associations and members. That includes more than 10,000 clubs and leagues, and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches and volunteers. Through the acquisition and integration of livestreaming outfit Rapid Replay in 2022, the company is focused on creating the preeminent video and streaming solution for youth sports. X.H.

USA Hockey

Senior Director, Player and Coach Development, USA Hockey

Martel has over 25 years of experience in player development and was named to his current post last November. He and USA Hockey aim to create programs to provide kids free access to hockey equipment to ease barriers to entry. In addition to resource allocation, the national governing body is researching segments to enhance training experiences for youths such as drills, impact of age and growth rates, team selection, and competition structure, along with diversifying the communities for their programs. X.H.

USTA

Chief Executive Officer, Community Tennis, United States Tennis Association

During the last five years, Morris and the USTA have revamped their outreach to schools, recognizing that reaching kids where they are offers the best chance for success for winning net-minded converts. The early returns are encouraging: Over 21,000 schools have added tennis to P.E. classes since the USTA started its Net Generation push in 2017, including training for 13,687 P.E. teachers. The USTA estimates its Net Generation kits have created opportunities for 6.4 million children to play tennis, with an average of 711 kids reached in each school that receives a kit. E.S.

NFHS

Chief Executive Officer, National Federation of State High School Associations

Its fitting that Niehoff runs the nonprofit that helps guide strategy and policy for 51 state high school associations encompassing 19,500 schools. Her 33 years in education included stints as a teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal and principal, in both middle and high schools. Niehoff went on to lead Connecticuts state high school athletics association. In 2018, she took the reins at the Indianapolis-based NFHS, where, among other things, she has helped make the organization a key ally of the U.S. Department of Education promoting COVID-19 vaccines for students ages 12 to 18; established ties with the Aspen Institute to increase youth sports participation; and worked with the NFL to promote high school football and girls flag football. E.S.

LakePoint Sports

President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, LakePoint Sports

Since arriving in 2019, OBrien has led the launch of a media and tech platform and a focus on the guest experience that has resulted in 117% revenue growth from LakePoint-owned and operated events, in-house led media, technology, food and beverage, merchandise, housing, and production and sponsorships. Additionally, OBrien is meeting with best-in-industry leaders to scale a business model that would include three to six locations nationwide, along with vertical integration of sports segments, including club sport infrastructure, tournaments and camps. The model also calls for the development of training centers, hotels, restaurants, retail, and experiential real estate development. X.H.

Major League Baseball

Chief Baseball Development Officer, Major League Baseball

Since stepping into his role in 2020, Reagins has focused specifically on young people whose opportunities may have been limited by finances and availability. He helped launch MLBs Play Ball initiative, which has increased casual participation in the sport by more than 80% since its inception in 2015. On top of initiatives such as the Breakthrough Series, Hank Aaron Invitational and DREAM Series, Reagins said MLB is launching MLB The Program, which is centered around 15- to 16-year-old elite players who will travel to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., for a month to train with MLB personnel and compete in high-profile youth tournaments on weekends. W.S.

RCX Sports

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, RCX Sports

Reese played seven seasons in the NFL before transitioning into a career focused on making youth sports accessible and inclusive. RCX counts the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS as clients, working with those leagues to establish youth recreational and community programs. He has played a leading role in the NFLs flag football initiative, increasing participation to 600,000 children. Last fall, the NBA and WNBA announced Jr. NBA Leagues for kids ages 6 to 14, with a goal of having 500,000 children playing in the rec leagues by 2027. NHL Street has 32 new clubs starting this year, and MLBs Pitch, Hit & Run and Jr. Home Run Derby consist of a combined 26 events and 1,040 participants in 22 states. E.S.

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Youth Sports: Ones to Watch - Sports Business Journal

As car thefts in Chattanooga go down, more Kias and Hyundais are being stolen in the city because of information online about how to start certain models without a key, police said Thursday.

Overall, stolen cars in Chattanooga are down about 30% from this time last year, Executive Chief of Police Harry Sommers said during a media briefing Thursday.

But thefts of Kias and Hyundais are up 47% in the same time frame, Sommers said.

"That's a pretty big jump over last year," he said.

(READ MORE: Thefts prompt 17 states to urge recall of Kia, Hyundai cars)

The area including East Brainerd, Hamilton Place, Shallowford Road and Highway 58 has seen the biggest increase in stolen Kias and Hyundais, according to data from the Chattanooga Police Department. In the first four months 0f 2022, 21 of those cars were reported stolen there. So far this year, there have been 50.

In total, 63 Kias and Hyundais have been reported stolen in Chattanooga in 2023. There were 43 stolen in the same time last year, police said.

Data shows slightly more Hyundais are being stolen in Chattanooga than Kias 35 this year compared to 28.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga, Southern U.S. grow electric vehicle production but lag the nation so far in EV sales)

People who own models of those cars made between 2010 and 2021 should consider installing steering wheel locks or kill switches to make them more difficult to steal, Sommers said.

After information about how to start these cars began to spread on the China-based social media app TikTok, attorneys general in 17 states sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urging a recall on the cars. No Southern states signed onto that letter.

The NHTSA has tied the TikTok social media challenge to 14 crashes and eight deaths involving stolen Kias and Hyundais.

The thefts are possible in models that use a mechanical key, not a fob or push start, because the keys made during that period don't have electronic immobilizers that stop the car from starting if they're not detected inside it, according to NHTSA.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga ranks high in guns stolen from cars. The numbers are only going up.)

Both car manufacturers in February announced free software updates aimed at making their cars harder to steal. The software increases the time that car alarms go off and require the key to be inside the car before starting, a February release from NHTSA said. Hyundai also announced it would send out window stickers showing the car is equipped with anti-theft protection.

Stolen cars, if returned to their owners, are often in worse shape, Assistant Chief Jerri Sutton said following Thursday's briefing.

Sutton said the city began noticing the uptick in stolen Kias and Hyundais after the TikTok trend began making national news in February.

Contact Ellen Gerst at egerst@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6319.

Link:
Chattanooga police say thefts of Kias and Hyundais are up after ... - Chattanooga Times Free Press

The image shows an Apple watch. Pexels

An anonymous leaker, known only as analyst941, has suggested that the Apple Watch will soon be able to sync with multiple Apple devices, including iOS, iPadOS, and Mac devices.

Currently, the Apple Watch relies on a connected iPhone for various tasks, including initial setup, managing apps, and creating backups. However, the leaker provided no details on how this new feature will work or when it will be released.

Recent reports suggest that watchOS 10 will be the most significant software update for the Apple Watch since 2015. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple is working on a dedicated Health app for iPad as part of the upcoming iPadOS 17. Additionally, Apple is expected to release an AI-powered health coaching service.

In a separate tweet, the leaker mentioned that Apple is developing a "special version of iPadOS 17" for iPads with larger displays.

This aligns with rumours of a 14.1-inch iPad with Thunderbolt display support, slated to be released in 2024. If this device is launched, it will surpass the size of the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the 13.6-inch MacBook Air M2.

Apart from the ability to sync with multiple devices and the new Health app, iPadOS 17 is expected to feature lock screen customisations that were previously part of iOS 16. The release of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will be previewed at WWDC 2023, which is scheduled to take place from June 5-9.

In conclusion, the rumoured syncing feature of the Apple Watch across multiple devices is a highly anticipated development.

Additionally, the potential release of a new version of iPadOS specifically designed for larger iPad displays is an exciting prospect, and it appears that Apple is gearing up for significant updates across its various product lines.

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Rumour suggests Apple Watch will break free from iPhone dependency - The News International

May 01, 2023Ravie LakshmananMalverposting / Scam

A Vietnamese threat actor has been attributed as behind a "malverposting" campaign on social media platforms to infect over 500,000 devices worldwide over the past three months to deliver variants of information stealers such as S1deload Stealer and SYS01stealer.

Malverposting refers to the use of promoted social media posts on services like Facebook and Twitter to mass propagate malicious software and other security threats. The idea is to reach a broader audience by paying for ads to "amplify" their posts.

According to Guardio Labs, such attacks commence with the adversary creating new business profiles and hijacking already popular accounts to serve ads that claim to offer free adult-rated photo album downloads.

Within these ZIP archive files are purported images that are actually executable files, which, when clicked, activate the infection chain and ultimately deploy the stealer malware to siphon session cookies, account data, and other information.

The attack chain is highly effective as it creates a "vicious circle" wherein the information plundered using the stealer is used to create an ever-expanding army of hijacked Facebook bot accounts that are then used to push more sponsored posts, effectively scaling the scheme further.

To slip under the radar of Facebook, the threat actor has been found to pass off the newly generated business profile pages as photographer accounts. A majority of the infections have been reported in Australia, Canada, India, the U.K., and the U.S.

The method through which the PHP-based stealer is deployed is said to be constantly evolving to incorporate more detection evasion features, suggesting that the threat actor behind the campaign is actively refining and retooling their tactics in response to public disclosures.

"The malicious payload is quite sophisticated and varies all the time, introducing new evasive techniques," Guardio Labs security researcher Nati Tal said.

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The findings come as Group-IB revealed details of an ongoing phishing operation that's aimed at Facebook users by tricking them to enter their credentials on fake copycat sites designed to steal their account credentials and take over the profiles.

In a related development, Malwarebytes unearthed a malvertising campaign that has been found to trick users searching for games and food recipes on Google to serve malicious ads that redirect them to fake websites created on Weebly with the goal of conducting a tech support scam.

Read more:
Vietnamese Threat Actor Infects 500000 Devices Using ... - The Hacker News

Lionel Bonaventure | Afp | Getty Images

Soaring investment from big tech companies in artificial intelligence and chatbots amid massive layoffs and a growth decline has left many chief information security officers in a whirlwind.

With OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Bing AI, Google's Bard and Elon Musk's plan for his own chatbot making headlines, generative AI is seeping into the workplace, and chief information security officers need to approach this technology with caution and prepare with necessary security measures.

The tech behind GPT, or generative pretrained transformers, is powered by large language models (LLMs), or algorithms that produce a chatbot's human-like conversations. But not every company has its own GPT, so companies need to monitor how workers use this technology.

People are going to use generative AI if they find it useful to do their work, says Michael Chui, a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, comparing it to the way workers use personal computers or phones.

"Even when it's not sanctioned or blessed by IT, people are finding [chatbots] useful," Chui said.

"Throughout history, we've found technologies which are so compelling that individuals are willing to pay for it," he said. "People were buying mobile phones long before businesses said, 'I will supply this to you.' PCs were similar, so we're seeing the equivalent now with generative AI."

As a result, there's "catch up" for companies in terms of how the are going to approach security measures, Chui added.

Whether it's standard business practice like monitoring what information is shared on an AI platform or integrating a company-sanctioned GPT in the workplace, experts think there are certain areas where CISOs and companies should start.

CISOs already combating burnout and stress deal with enough problems, like potential cybersecurity attacks and increasing automation needs. As AI and GPT move into the workplace, CISOs can start with the security basics.

Chui said companies can license use of an existing AI platform, so they can monitor what employees say to a chatbot and make sure that the information shared is protected.

"If you're a corporation, you don't want your employees prompting a publicly available chatbot with confidential information," Chui said. "So, you could put technical means in place, where you can license the software and have an enforceable legal agreement about where your data goes or doesn't go."

Licensing use of software comes with additional checks and balances, Chui said. Protection of confidential information, regulation of where the information gets stored, and guidelines for how employees can use the software all are standard procedure when companies license software, AI or not.

"If you have an agreement, you can audit the software, so you can see if they're protecting the data in the ways that you want it to be protected," Chui said.

Most companies that store information with cloud-based software already do this, Chui said, so getting ahead and offering employees an AI platform that's company-sanctioned means a business is already in-line with existing industry practices.

One security option for companies is to develop their own GPT, or hire companies that create this technology to make a custom version, says Sameer Penakalapati, chief executive officer at Ceipal, an AI-driven talent acquisition platform.

In specific functions like HR, there are multiple platforms from Ceipal to Beamery's TalentGPT, and companies may consider Microsoft's plan to offer customizable GPT. But despite increasingly high costs, companies may also want to create their own technology.

If a company creates its own GPT, the software will have the exact information it wants employees to have access to. A company can also safeguard the information that employees feed into it, Penakalapati said, but even hiring an AI company to generate this platform will enable companies to feed and store information safely, he added.

Whatever path a company chooses, Penakalapati said that CISOs should remember that these machines perform based on how they have been taught. It's important to be intentional about the data you're giving the technology.

"I always tell people to make sure you have technology that provides information based on unbiased and accurate data," Penakalapati said. "Because this technology is not created by accident."

Originally posted here:
Workers are secretly using ChatGPT, AI and it will pose big risks for tech leaders - CNBC