U.S. Association of Blind Athletes Announces Newly Appointed 2025 Board Members

U.S. Association of Blind Athletes Announces Newly Appointed Board Members, Strengthening Athlete Representation and Leadership

Colorado Springs, CO – March 18, 2025 – The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) proudly announces the appointment of its newly elected Board of Directors, reinforcing its commitment to strong leadership and athlete representation as the organization continues to expand blind and visually impaired sports across the country.

Mark Ackermann is returning as Board Chair for a second term, ensuring continuity in USABA’s strategic direction during a pivotal time for the organization.

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as Board Chair for another term,” said Ackermann. “USABA is at an exciting stage, with the rapid growth of blind soccer and continued international success of our athletes. Our newly appointed board reflects a strong commitment to athlete leadership, expertise in sport governance, and gender representation—ensuring a broad range of perspectives to guide USABA’s future.”

Ackermann also expressed appreciation for the contributions of outgoing board members:
“I would like to personally thank Jennifer Demby, OLY, Eliana Mason, PLY, and Calahan Young, PLY, for their outstanding service and dedication to USABA. Their leadership has been instrumental in advancing our mission, and we are grateful for their impact on the organization and our athletes.”

This year’s appointments include a significant milestone for blind soccer, as Charles Catherine, an advocate for adaptive sports and Vice President of Corporate and Government Relations at the National Organization on Disability, has been named to the board. With the USA Blind Soccer National Team internationally ranked and preparing for its Paralympic debut at the LA28 Games, Catherine’s appointment ensures that the sport is represented at the leadership level.

The USABA Board now includes strong gender representation, with women serving in key leadership roles, including Secretary, Athlete Directors, and Independent Directors. This balance reflects USABA’s ongoing effort to ensure diverse voices contribute to decision-making and long-term strategy.

The newly appointed board members have expertise in sports governance, business, and community engagement. Their leadership will be instrumental in advancing USABA’s mission and expanding sports opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

USABA Board of Directors 2025-2028

• Mark Ackermann – Board Chair, At-Large Director, Freehold, NJ
• Skye Arthur-Banning – Vice-Chair, At-Large Director, Pendleton, SC
• Gary Remensnyder – Treasurer, At-Large Director, St. Augustine, FL
• Amy Wasson – Secretary, At-Large Director, Camarillo, CA
• Zach Buhler, PLY – Athlete Director, El Paso, TX
• Charles-Edouard Catherine – Athlete, New York, NY
• David Cohen – At-Large Director, Aliso Viejo, CA
• Cody Colchado Jr. – Constituent Director, Linn-San Manuel, TX
• Mindy Cook, PLY – Athlete Director, Columbus, OH
• Brian Eaton – Independent Director, Colorado Springs, CO
• John Kusku, PLY – Athlete Director, Team USA AC Representative, Commerce Township, MI
• Matthew Simpson, PLY – Athlete Director, McClean, VA
• Eve Wright Taylor – Independent Director, Atlanta, GA

USABA Committees & Team USA AC Representation

Ethics and Judicial Committee

• Brian Darcy – Chair
• Jennifer Armbruster, PLY – Athlete Representative
• Spencer Higgins – Member

 Nominations and Governance Committee

• Erika Petach – Chair
• Jennifer Demby, OLY – Athlete Representative

 Team USA Athletes’ Commission Representation

• John Kusku, PLY – Team USA AC Representative
• Ali Lawson – Team USA AC Alternate

 About the United States Association of Blind Athletes

The mission of USABA is to empower Americans who are blind or visually impaired to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation, and physical activities, thereby educating and inspiring the nation. A member organization of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and US Soccer, USABA is certified by the USOPC as the national governing body for the Paralympic team sports of goalball and blind soccer. Since its founding in 1976, USABA has reached more than 100,000 individuals through its multi-sport programming in eight sports. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes; it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. As USABA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the organization continues to build on its legacy of expanding sports opportunities for athletes who are blind or visually impaired.

For more information about USABA and its initiatives, visit www.usaba.org.

About USA Goalball

Goalball is the most widely played team sport for individuals with vision impairment or blindness in the United States, with thousands of participants in schools for the blind and adaptive sports organizations. Unique in its design, goalball has no Olympic counterpart yet and is played in 112 countries worldwide. Since 1976, U.S. Goalball Teams have earned 12 Paralympic Games medals (Women: 7 medals, Men 5 medals) and 11 World Championship medals (Women: 8, Men: 3).

About USA Blind Soccer

The USA Blind Soccer National Team was internationally ranked for the first time in November 2024, marking an essential step in the sport’s development ahead of its Paralympic debut at LA28. Bringing blind soccer to the United States is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and USABA has taken on the challenge of building the sport from the ground up. As the National Governing Body for Blind Soccer, USABA is developing an elite USA National Team and creating a grassroots network to introduce more athletes to the sport. By establishing a strong foundation, USABA ensures that future generations of blind soccer players can access competitive and recreational opportunities, helping athletes across the country experience the thrill of the world’s most popular game.

For USABA media inquiries, please contact:

Lance Sarabia, Integrated Marketing Manager | lsarabia@usaba.org | (719) 553-6784

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