10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN BREAKING BARRIERS IN SPORTS INDUSTRY

NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH:

Presentation by Carole Argo

THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH THEME FOR 2016 HONORS WOMEN WHO HAVE SHAPED AMERICA’S HISTORY AND ITS FUTURE THROUGH THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH IN MARCH

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10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

▸ Although often overlooked and undervalued, collectively they have dramatically influenced our public policy and the building of viable institutions and organizations.

▸ From championing basic human rights to ensuring access and equal opportunity for all Americans, they have led the way in establishing a stronger and more democratic country. Image source: www.public.navy.mil

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THIS 2016 YEAR MARKS A SPECIAL TIME IN WOMEN’S HISTORY AND SPORTS.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH IN SPORTS

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HERE ARE 10 INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN MAKING HISTORY IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY:

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD MO'NE DAVIS WAS THE FACE OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES IN AUGUST 2014 AFTER SHE BECAME THE FIRST GIRL TO WIN A GAME IN LLWS HISTORY.

1. MO’NE DAVIS

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#1: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

MO’NE DAVIS

▸ With a 70 mph fastball, she led her Philadelphia team, the Taney Dragons, to a 4-0 victory over Nashville, Tennessee.

▸ She was later named the youngest-ever AP Female Athlete of the Year, and was selected as Sports Kid of the Year by "Sports Illustrated" -- among many other accomplishments.

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MISSY FRANKLIN EMERGED ONTO THE NATIONAL SWIMMING SCENE AT THE 2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS AT JUST 13 YEARS OLD.

2. MISSY FRANKLIN

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#2: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

MISSY FRANKLIN

▸ While she failed to qualify for the 2008 Games, she would quickly become a global force in the pool.

▸ In 2010, Franklin won multiple medals at the world championships -- her first podium trip in international competition.

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#2: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

MISSY FRANKLIN CONTINUED…

▸ A known power by the 2012 London Olympics, Franklin took home an astonishing four gold medals and a bronze, setting the world record in the 200-meter backstroke and 400 medley relay.

▸ Her five-medal total was the most by any female competitor in London and second overall behind fellow American swimmer Michael Phelps with six.

▸ In 2013, she became the first woman to win six gold medals at a single world championship.

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AT THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS, THEN-16-YEAR-OLD DOUGLAS BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN GYMNAST IN OLYMPIC HISTORY TO WIN THE ALL-AROUND TITLE & FIRST AMERICAN GYMNAST TO TAKE HOME GOLD IN BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND & TEAM EVENTS.

3. GABBY DOUGLAS

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#3: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

GABBY DOUGLAS

▸ Later that year, she became just the fourth gymnast to be named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

▸ Her story was immortalized in her 2012 bestselling autobiography "Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith" and in a TV movie released earlier this year.

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DANICA PATRICK BURST ONTO THE INDYCAR SCENE IN 2005 AND INSTANTLY CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF THE SPORTS WORLD.

4. DANICA PATRICK

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#4: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

DANICA PATRICK

▸ In her debut at the Indianapolis 500, she became the first woman to lead a lap at the historic race, and her fourth-place finish was the best ever for a female driver.

▸ While her star continued to rise both on and off the track, Patrick cemented her place in history when she became the first woman to win an IndyCar race after topping the field at the Japan 300.

Image source: www.danicapatrick.com Source: http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/slideshow/10533618/7/ann-meyers-drysdale

#4: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

DANICA PATRICK CONTINUED…

▸ Today, Patrick competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series where she became the first woman win a pole at the 2013 Daytona 500.

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WITH 89 WORLDWIDE WINS AND 72 LPGA TITLES, ANNIKA SORENSTAM IS WIDELY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST WOMEN TO EVER PLAY GOLF.

5. ANNIKA SORENSTAM

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#5: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

ANNIKA SORENSTAM

▸ The Swedish-born golfer was named the Rolex Player of the Year a record eight times and held the lowest seasonal scoring average six times in her 14 years on the LPGA Tour.

▸ Sorenstam won 10 majors and earned a record $22 million in her career.

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#5: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

ANNIKA SORENSTAM CONTINUED…

▸ In 2003, she made history at the Colonial tournament when she became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945.

▸ She missed the cut after shooting 5 over par after the first two rounds but set the stage for other women to follow in her footsteps.

Image source: www.pga.com Source: http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/slideshow/10533618/7/ann-meyers-drysdale

BEFORE SHE WAS THE TOP-RANKED PLAYER SHE IS TODAY, SERENA WILLIAMS WAS JUST A FRESH-FACED TEENAGER FROM COMPTON, CALIF.

6. SERENA WILLIAMS

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#6: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

SERENA WILLIAMS

▸ Serena served notice in the tennis community with her doubles win with sister Venus at the French Open in 1999.

▸ But she became a national sensation when she beat Martina Hingis for the US Open title in just her second full year on the tour.

▸ She became just the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.

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#6: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

SERENA WILLIAMS CONTINUED…

▸ Starting with her breakthrough moment at Flushing Meadows, Serena has won 19 Grand Slam singles titles, 13 in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles.

▸ She is the only female player in history to have surpassed the $50 million mark in career earnings.

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Source: http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/slideshow/10533618/7/ann-meyers-drysdale

WITH 1,098 CAREER VICTORIES, PAT SUMMITT IS THE WINNINGEST COACH IN NCAA DIVISION I BASKETBALL HISTORY.

7. PAT SUMMITT

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#7: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

PAT SUMMITT

▸ Named the head coach at Tennessee in 1974 when women's college basketball was yet to be recognized by the NCAA, Summitt turned the Lady Vols into a national power.

▸ The team won its first national championship in 1987 and, under Summitt's leadership, the program won seven more titles before her retirement due to early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2012.

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#7: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

PAT SUMMITT CONTINUED…

▸ During her 38-year career, Summitt helped transform women's basketball from a club sport to one of the most popular sports in America.

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SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INTRODUCED JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE TO MAINSTREAM AMERICA IN 1987 WHEN SHE APPEARED ON THE MAGAZINE'S COVER NEXT TO A HEADLINE READING "SUPER WOMAN."

8. JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE

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#8: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE▸ The next year, Joyner-Kersee went

on to win golds in both the heptathlon and long jump at the Seoul Olympics, recording the still-standing world record of 7,291 points in the heptathlon.

▸ She retired from competition after the 1996 Games with a total of six medals spanning four Olympics.

▸ Sports Illustrated for Women named her the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century. Image source: Twitter

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IN APRIL 2015, THE NFL ANNOUNCED SARAH THOMAS AS THE FIRST FULL-TIME FEMALE OFFICIAL IN LEAGUE HISTORY.

9. SARAH THOMAS

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#9: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

SARAH THOMAS

▸ A 19-year veteran, Thomas spent the previous eight years working with Conference USA.

▸ She became the first female to officiate an NCAA football game in 2007, and has previously been a finalist for the NFL job, according to CBS.

▸ She had previously worked NFL preseason games and training camps.

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#9: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

SARAH THOMAS CONTINUED…

▸ And while she’s acknowledged as the NFL’s first full-time official, technically Shannon Eastin earned the distinction of the first female to officiate an NFL regular-season game when she worked as a replacement ref early in the 2012 season.

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IN JULY 2015, THE NFL ARIZONA CARDINALS HIRED DR. JEN WELTER AS THE FIRST FEMALE TO COACH IN THE NFL.

10. JEN WELTER

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#10: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

JEN WELTER

▸ Formerly, Welter served as an intern linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, where her time there has been defined by the bond she has fostered with the players.

▸ Cardinals Coach Brice Arians, who’s become known for his efforts to diversify the coaching ranks, downplayed the historic nature of the hiring and hailed Welter’s experience when he announced she would take the position.

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#10: 10 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN SPORTS

JEN WELTER CONTINUED… ▸ In February 2015 she became the first woman to coach in a men’s

professional football league, when she served as linebacker and special teams coach for the Indoor Football League’s Texas Revolution.

▸ Prior to that, in January 2014 Welter became the first woman to play running back in a men’s professional football season, when she signed with the Revolution.

ABOUT CAROLE ARGO:

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business leader with a passion, strength of will, and knowledge to achieve long-term goals. For the past six years, her primary focus has been on corporate execution growth strategy. She is a mother of three, wife of 32 years, volunteer, and active church member. She plays an active role in women’s leadership and business leader development. Currently, Carole resides in Baltimore, Maryland.