GET TO KNOW OUR LEADERSHIP
As well as being one of the premier personal trainers in the country, Carlos brings over 25 years of experience working with student athletes, preparing them for college and life after college as an Executive Vice President of ISAA (International Student Athlete Academy). Carlos is a graduate of Wake Forest University where he played football and achieved All-American status. After graduation, Carlos played 6 years in the NFL.
John “Ziggy” Zeglinski stands as a prominent figure in the world of sports and business, serving as the Co-Founder, Board Member, and CEO of SAFR Sports. With an impressive career spanning over 40 years, John has consistently demonstrated his leadership acumen and business acuity. Notably, his most recent role as the VP of National Sales Development for Defend Your Head attests to his commitment to innovation and excellence in the sports industry.
John attended Wake Forest University, where he excelled as a multi-sport athlete, making significant contributions to both the football and baseball teams. Ziggy’s outstanding performances in both sports have etched his name into the annals of Wake Forest University’s Athletic Hall of Fame, a testament to the indelible mark he left on the institution.
Armed with a solid foundation in sports and a keen business sense, John embarked on a professional journey that would see him contribute significantly to the growth and development of various ventures. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a nuanced understanding of the sports industry, enabling him to navigate its challenges with finesse.
In his role at SAFR Sports, John brings a wealth of knowledge and a strategic vision that aligns with the company’s mission. Under his leadership, SAFR Sports has thrived as a dynamic force in the industry, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance the safety and performance of athletes. John’s commitment to excellence and passion for protecting athletes have been the driving forces behind SAFR Sports’ success.
Terry Athas is a graduate of Wake Forest University where he received a football scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Mr. Athas has worked in the Insurance Industry since his graduation from Wake Forest in 1977 and founded his own agency in 1983. In 1988 he merged his business into Mesirow Financial, Inc. became a shareholder and began expanding his efforts into the broader financial services world becoming one of the firm’s leading generators of revenue in multiple areas including the Private Equity, Fixed Income, Alternative Strategies Hedge Funds and Wealth Management Divisions. Eventually he left the Insurance Division and worked directly under the Firm’s Chairman working with the firms dozens of divisions to assist in revenue growth. In his 28 years at Mesirow the firm grew from $25 Million of Revenue to $500 Million. In 2016 Alliant Insurance Services, a top ten Insurance Broker, purchased Mesirow Insurance Service’s and Mr. Athas elected to re-join the Insurance Division as an Executive Vice President and shareholder. He also is an active investor in private companies of all sizes. Mr. Athas has and does serve on numerous charity and business boards, including being Chicago past President of the City of Hope’s Insurance Industry, Treasurer for SOS Children’ Villages and as an appointee of Illinois Governor Jim Edgar to a committee examining Illinois potential in expanding and attracting Private Equity to the State.
David is the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Ridge Companies and its subsidiaries and is responsible for the strategic planning and overall vision of the company. While working closely with Blue Ridge’s project development teams, David has actively developed over $600 million worth of financed projects and has supervised the construction of over $800 million in residential units through Blue Ridge’s General Contractors division. Prior to forming Blue Ridge, David was co-owner of Easter & Eisenman, Inc., a commercial real estate firm based out of High Point, NC. With a focus on land assemblage and development, David assisted in the development of the Piedmont Centre, a 1,100-acre business park that currently houses 170 companies and 11,000 employees. David is a graduate of Wake Forest University, where he holds his B.A. in Economics and Spanish. Additionally, David is a CCIM designate through the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute and has served on the Guilford County Planning and Development Committee as well as the Council on Community Planning and Development. David played both baseball and football at Wake Forest University and was drafted by the Oakland A’s. David serves on numerous boards including Wake Forest Deacon Club and High Point University. David’s generosity to his alma mater was recognized when they named their baseball stadium in his honor, David F. Couch Baseball Park.
Mac was born in Michigan and raised in Greensboro NC. He attended Wake Forest University from 1976 to 1980 where he worked as an athletic trainer serving all sports. He moved to Fayetteville NC after his family bought a beverage business. He has since bought his Father out an owns and operates Fayetteville’s only beverage wholesale business. Healy Wholesale covers a ten County area in South-Eastern North Carolina focusing on beer, wine and energy beverages. Mac functions as President and CEO. He has been involved in numerous non- profits in Fayetteville and around the state of NC. He and wife Linda reside in Fayetteville. Mac is very active in the community and serves on numerous boards, including Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Methodist University and First Citizens Bank of Fayetteville.
Sam is a Vice President and Head of Gift Solutions at Fiserv, leading the company’s gift card and prepaid solutions. Most recently, Sam was the Head of the Restaurant Segment, leading the SMB restaurant segment strategy and working cross-functionally with product, strategy, and go-to-market teams to drive growth across the portfolio. Most recently, he led the acquisition and integration of BentoBox, a vertically integrated software platform to further enhance the verticalized offering and accelerate the growth objectives in the restaurant vertical. Prior to Fiserv, Sam was a member of the Corporate Real Estate group at J.P.Morgan Chase & Co. working on global acquisition opportunities for the firm. Sam holds an M.B.A from Columbia Business School and a B.S. in Finance and Real Estate from Syracuse University.
Mr. Perry Mandera, a Chicago native, graduated from Tuley High School in 1975 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, where he gained experience in transportation. In 1981, he founded Accurate Air Express and later The Custom Companies, Inc., a comprehensive transportation and logistics provider headquartered in Northlake, IL. The company serves a wide range of clients and operates nationwide with over 500 employees.
Mandera was elected as the Republican Ward Committeeman for Chicago’s 26th Ward in 1984, becoming the youngest person to hold the position. Named among the “Top 100 American Transportation Executives of the Millennium,” he serves on the Illinois Transportation Association’s Board of Directors.
A dedicated philanthropist, Mandera supports numerous charities focused on children, veterans, and cancer research through The Custom Companies, Inc. and Custom Cares Charities. He has donated transportation and supplies for disaster relief and has managed youth sports teams and professional boxers. Mandera remains actively involved in his community, church, and family life, emphasizing education and support for veterans and underprivileged youth.
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WARNING:
No helmet, helmet accessory or the SAFR Helmet Cover can prevent all head or neck injuries to a player. Do not use the SAFR Helmet Cover to spear an opposing player. This violates football rules and can result in severe head or neck injuries, paralysis or death to you and your opponent. Immediately report any dizziness, headaches, blurred vision or nausea to your coach, trainer, medical professional and parent. Do not return to play until you gain medical clearance from a qualified medical professional. Ignoring these warnings can result in more serious brain injury and could lead to lifetime impairment. The results of certain independent scientific test indicate that the SAFR Helmet Cover, when properly installed, worn and used as intended and in accordance with product instructions, had the potential to reduce the likelihood of head trauma to the wearing player. Football, however, is a contact sport and no device, including SAFR Helmet Cover, can completely eliminate the risk of concussion or other head or neck injuries. By using and wearing a SAFR Helmet Cover, the player is assuming all the risks of injury inherent with playing football. Ignoring this warning may lead to another more serious or fatal brain injury. We are not liable for any injury that may happen during the use of the SAFR Helmet Cover which must be used along with a properly fit and maintained football helmet. The SAFR Helmet Cover is not intended for any other use other than with a fit and maintained football helmet and is not intended to be used when riding a bicycle, motorcycle or in any other activity.
