Meet RSA’S 2019 Guest Speakers

Yael Averbuch

Yael played soccer at The University of North Carolina (UNC), where she won two National Championships (2006 and 2008), set an NCAA record with 105 consecutive starts, and scored the fastest goal in women’s collegiate soccer history. Her college jersey, number 17, was retired after her last season at UNC.

After her sophomore season of college, in 2007, she got her first cap with the U.S. Women’s National Team against England at the Four Nations Tournament in China. She was then drafted to Sky Blue FC of Women’s Professional Soccer, and played for the team for two seasons. She then played with the Western NY Flash before playing for teams in both Russia, and Sweden for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC. She also played for the Washington Spirit  in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and for Apollon Ladies FC in Cyprus.

Though now retired from competition, Yael is still involved in the NWSL, serving as the executive director of the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association.

David Blu

David Blu is a Jewish American-Israeli professional basketball who most famously played for Maccabi Tel Aviv. David Blu was born and raised in Los Angeles and played basketball at USC where he was named All-Pac-10 honorable mention.

After graduating from USC, Blu joined Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv.

On August 7, 2004, Blu was signed by the Sacramento Kings but returned to Israel and rejoined Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. Blue also played for various teams and leagues throughout Europe. He played in Russia, Italy, and France. In 2009 he returned once again to Israel and played for Maccabi Tel Aviv until 2014.

Limbpossible

Limb Possible is an organization and brand formed to bring inspiration, education, and self-wealth to communities. Limbpossible specializes in Motivational Assemblies and has spoken to over 100,000 students across the U.S.

Limbpossible has its Stand Up Amputee Basketball Team that competes all over the country and has also partnered with organizations such as Camp No Limits, The Fit Club, & The Limb Kind Foundation.

Specifically, Robert Anthony is a motivational and public speaker, professional prosthetic educator, U.S amputee soccer player, American Ninja Warrior from season 9 and the founder of Limbpossible. Since forming Limbpossible, Anthony has helped raise money to send five children every summer to a specialized disability camp.

Jonathan Fink ESPN

Jonathan Fink is an award-winning Producer, Executive producer, and Coordinating Producer. Jonathan is currently the Coordinating Producer at ESPN working on the network’s flagship program SportsCenter.

Fink attended Ithaca College from 1994-1998. After College he began as a news producer and he has worked for a variety of channels throughout his early career, including Fox Television, WABC, and WBZ. From 2006 to 2008 he was a news producer for WCBS, and in May of 2008 he was promoted to Executive Producer.

In 2013, Fink left WCBS and became the coordinating producer for ESPN working on the network’s flagship program SportsCenter. Jonathan has been with ESPN for 6 years where he has covered Super Bowl 50, the College Football National Championship, the NBA Playoffs, and College Basketball. He works closely with some of the most talented anchors, analysts, and producers in the country.

Ultimate Peace

Ultimate Peace is a growing non-profit organization that gives youth in the Middle East a chance to build friendships by playing ultimate frisbee. Ultimate Peace was established by founders Dr. David Barkan, Linda Sidorsky, and Dori Yaniv in the spring of 2008.

The idea emanated from a trip to Israel organized by David and Dori, in which an All-Star Ultimate team known as the Matza Balls taught Israeli children and promoted the sport of Ultimate. While excited by the significant momentum generated in the world of Israeli Ultimate by facilitating clinics and a tournament, the Americans were dismayed by the realization that Ultimate was not being played in the neighboring Arab and Palestinian sporting communities. Members of the team wondered what it would be like to have Muslim, Christian and Jewish children sharing the joys of throwing and catching a soaring disc, playing on a team cooperatively, and settling on-field disagreements collaboratively. This vision, led to the concept of Ultimate Peace, and the inaugural 2009 event.