EXECUTIVE BOARD & COMMITTEES

 GARY R. ADLER is CEO/President and Founder of Pro Players Association, a non-profit organization of professional athletes, media and entertainment personalities, and associate members whose mission is to raise funds for charitable causes and provide community service.

He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, William Patterson University, Juilliard School of Music, The New School University at NYU and Red Rocks Community College. In 1983 while attending Fairleigh Dickinson University, Gary was instrumental in organizing and implementing the Adult Education Learning Experience Credit Division. He was a member of its Organizing Committee. Gary was commended by the Dean of the University for his taking a lead on the committee.

Gary grew up in New Jersey. He founded the American Cancer Society Juniors in 1970, a national branch of the American Cancer Society comprised of youth volunteers raising funds through a variety of activities for the cause. He was appointed at the age of 11 to the National Board of Managers of the American Cancer Society and served as a manager on the local Passaic County Board. Gary was very active in the community as a volunteer for emergency services and the Office of Emergency Management. He had been a past member and officer of the Wayne First Aid Squad, NJ Forest Fire Service, NJ Search & Rescue, NJ State Police Office of Emergency Management, and Wayne Flood Control. Gary volunteered as an American Red Cross CPR Instructor and assisted in teaching American Red Cross emergency childbirth at Wayne General Hospital for many years. He served as a Law Enforcement Officer and Communications Specialist with the Wayne Police from 1980-1986, 1988-1992. Gary served as Secretary of the Wayne Police Officers Association for two years. He was among some emergency responders who were presented with the Wayne Citizen of the Year Award for saving lives during Hurricane Gloria and the subsequent flooding disaster by Wayne Mayor Walter Jasinski in 1985. 

NJ Motor Vehicle Services in Trenton and Wayne employed Gary as an assistant administrative law judge and the NJ State Assembly appointed him as a Notary Public Officer in 1988. He was honored by NJ State Attorney General Cary Edwards for leading a team to reorganize the NJ Motor Vehicle Customer Service Division in 1989. 

Gary had also worked as the Assistant Director of the Office of Emergency Management for the County of Marin, and as a Communications Specialist for the Marin County Sheriff's Office in California from 1986-1988. During that time, he was project manager for Marin County's mobile command unit; having designed the conceptual plans and then implementing a fundraising effort for the construction of the vehicle. With the financial assistance of major corporate sponsors who Gary solicited such as Lucas Film, Pacific Bell, Macy's California and Kaiser Permanente, the unit became reality in early 1989. Its arrival was just in time for the Loma Prieda Quake of 1989, where the mobile command unit served as the primary command and communications post for all of the bay area during the disaster and for weeks to follow.

From 1974 - 1983 Gary followed his dream of working in the music industry. Introduced into the music business by his mentor, Wayne Valley HS Band Director Gerald Tedesco while Gary was his student. Tedesco taught Gary how to operate the reel-to-reel to record the school band. Always fascinated with audio recording, Gary picked-up on the techniques in no-time. He quickly became a pro behind the controls and was referred to many music professionals for their recording services. At the age of 17, Gary was contracted to provide recordings to Warner Brothers Music Publishing for their demo discs services. He regularly recorded the Musician's Union Local 248 Big Band NY/NJ Chapter for the Warner demos. In-turn, Gary was introduced to many well-known members of the music industry. He went on to record and engineer sound for such artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Gerry Mulligan, Sir Roland Hanna, George Mraz, Odetta, Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, The Tokyo String Quartet, Mary Travers, James Brown, Livingston Taylor, Don McLean, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Spyro Gyra, Jackie Cain & Roy Kral, U.S. Navy Commodores, and several more.

Gary then understudied at the New School/NYU with Concert Impresario Sid Bernstein who was best known for bringing the Beatles to the USA. Gary changed his work format to concert production and promotion. His first concert production was for the classical consort 'Simoroc' at Montclair State University. Gary went on to work in association with concert promoters John Scher in NJ and Ron Delsner in NY on several productions. 

Gary did his stint over the years in retail management and sales of records and tapes, audio/video equipment at consumer, pro and esoteric levels. He was employed by Korvettes, Campo stores Macy's, A&S, and Bloomingdales, and Conklin's Audio/Video. He also was employed by both Sam Goody and Harmony Hut stores in management, promotion and sales. 

A member of the World Champion Honor Guard three-years consecutively of the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum & Bugle Corps, Gary was honored to have marched with the drum corps legends form 1990 - 1993. Thehonor guard were selected to open and lead the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade All-Star Drum & Bugle Corps in 1992.

Gary arrived to Colorado in 1992 and pursued a career as a pro sports, media and entertainment photographer and digital imaging artist.

He attended digital imaging classes in NYC and studied under the prominent and internationally renowned photographer Douglas Kirkland in 1993. At the conclusion of his studies, Mr. Kirkland composed a letter of reference and high regard for Gary’s talent addressed to the Colorado State Rehabilitation Division. Gary was awarded a $35,000 grant for digital imaging equipment to assist him toward a career although he was legally blind. The Division was convinced by Mr. Kirkland’s recommendation; this was the first time a photographic related award was made for a visually disabled individual by the Division.

Gary's subjects have ranged from Pope John Paul to Muhammad Ali to Bruce Springsteen. He was the personal photographer to Mayor Wellington Webb of Denver from 1993-2001. Gary was one of the lead photographers for ‘World Youth Day 1993’ for Pope John Paul. He was the chief photographer for the ‘Summit of the Eight’ held in Denver 1997 and was selected as one of two still photographers from the ‘World Pool’ to be a photo escort to First Lady Hillary Clinton and the other world leaders wives.Many of his photographic works have been widely published and adorn the walls of museums, governmental buildings and sports venues around the country, including the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and the Frank Lloyd Wright Marin Civic Center. Gary is legally blind and photographs under the name, "Blind Images".

Appointed as a member of the Colorado Rockies Prospector Club from 1993-1998, he helped promote Major League Baseball to the Rocky Mountain Region. The Colorado Rockies awarded Gary for obtaining "#1 in Number of Seasons Tickets Sold" and "#2 in Ticket Sales Revenue" for the 1994 season.

Gary reorganized the NFL Alumni Rocky Mountain Chapter in Colorado. He held positions as the Media Relations and Membership Director for the Alumni from 1999-2002. During the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Gary was the Media Relations Director for the United Women's Professional Football League. In the 2004 and 2005 minor league football seasons, he temporarily filled the position as the Vice President of Business Operations for the Colorado Lightning Semi-Pro Football Club.

A member of the Coors Field, Pepsi Center and Denver Center for the Performing Arts Access Advisory Boards, and Consultant to the NFL for Super Bowl, he was instrumental in the design of the disability accesses at these venues. In 1993 Gary was appointed to the RTD Access-a-Ride Program Development Committee. The committee organized, planned, and launched a program providing accessible public transit options to the disabled community, a first of its kind in Colorado. Gary was one of the first three disabled RTD clients to be certified to use Access-a-Ride. Following the Access-a-Ride launch, he was appointed and served as a member of the Denver Mayor's Commission for Older Persons and People with Disabilities, 1994-2003, and the Colorado Governor's Commission 1994-1999. In 2012, Gary was appointed to a commission reviewing disability rights issues at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs.

The Mayor of Denver appointed Gary as a member of the Emergency Planning Commission for the City & County of Denver in 1996. Shortly after, he was elected by the state board of emergency management to be the Representative-at-Large to the City & County of Denver representing the Commission on the Transportation of Hazardous Materials. Gary organized Statewide Emergency Management Response/Denver Search & Rescue in 1996, now a community service special project of the Pro Players Association. The fire chief of the Wiggins Rural Fire District on the eastern plains of Colorado appointed Gary as an Honorary Member for providing emergency management assistance which saved life and property during a 1998 flooding disaster in their community. The Salvation Army Intermountain Regional Headquarters elected Gary to serve as a board member to their Emergency Disaster Services committee in 1999, following his three week volunteer coordination of resources at the Columbine High School Shooting Tragedy. The Mayor and Town Council of Castle Rock appointed Gary to a two-year term as a Public Safety Commissioner for the Town of Castle Rock, 2004-2006. During his term, Gary attended the Castle Rock Citizens Police Academy and was a member of its first graduating class. 

Gary, along with his good friend and now fellow PPA Board Member Bob McCaslin, founded the Colorado Foundation for Diabetes Research at Colorado State University in 2004. Bob and Gary visited the Biomedical Labs at CSU to witness a demonstration of a study done by the renown researcher Dr. Douglas Ishii. The research was regarding the Systemic insulin-like growth factor-I administration which prevents cognitive impairment in diabetic rats, and brain IGF that regulates learning/memory in normal adult rats. This discovery at Dr. Ishii's labs at CSU could lead to a cure for latent diabetes. A fundraiser to assist in the research funding was held by Pro Players Association at the Wynkoop, Denver.

In 2009, he founded CYMBAL- Colorado Youth in Music Benefits Academic Learning, a project of the Pro Players Association. In affiliation with several local music professionals, a music academy for youth is being developed which will offer an introduction to music and teach instrumental lessons to underprivileged, disabled, and at-risk youth. The programs will help to get those kids acquainted and familiarized with musical possibilities through discipline, respect, responsibility, and success.

Pro Players Association Radio Network's 'Sports in Perspective' hit the airwaves in 2010. Gary was the executive producer, director and owner of the weekly radio show broadcast on Mile High Sports Radio AM1510/FM93.7 and streamed globally on the Internet. The show was co-hosted by former CU Buff and AFL Quarterback Bobby Pesavento and former NFL Defensive End Ebenezer Ekuban, and interviewed guests from around the world of sports, media and arts & entertainment. As the show was frequently pre-empted by major league sports broadcasts and the studio was relocated, PPA's board decided to conclude broadcast in late 2011.

'Sports in Perspective' made a comeback on ESPN1580AM Colorado Springs with Gary as the Show Owner/Producer/Director/Co-Host and Barry Helton, 2X Super Bowl Champion SF 49er as co-host. SIP made it on to the Drive Time Show, Monday-Friday 4pm-6pm and then moved to the NFL Pre-Game Show, Sunday mornings just prior to the ESPN NFL Game of the Week broadcast 2013- 2014.

Gary is Pro Players Association's expert in certifying the authenticity of sports, entertainment and celebrity collectibles. He coordinates PPA's Auction Assistance Program providing fundraising opportunities to other non profit charities. He is a member of the Colorado Auctioneers Association.

In 2012, Gary was appointed to the Advisory Council of the Denver Salvation Army. A very honorable position among several other esteemed members of the community; he has been reappointed each year since.

Gary volunteers as a certified severe storm spotter with SKYWARN/National Weather Service/Department of Homeland Security, and as the Director of Denver Search and Rescue/Statewide Emergency Management Response. Gary plays a key role in seven Northeast Colorado Counties, he bonds the fire and law agencies, supports the emergency management community, handles logistics for regional incident management, and SKYWARN. Added to this list would be coordination of communications and networking assignments, presence on regional government and non-profit advisory committees, and he coordinates resource management through donations in disasters, and information flow between all responding agencies. He received a diploma in 2017 through the Department of Homeland Security from Texas A&M University Engineering Department in Wide Area Search.

Regional Field Manager at the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Kevin Kuretich stated, "Gary provides a stable environment for emergency management that promotes awareness, preparedness and prevention in our communities. As his abilities have expanded emergency management through his proven expertise and unselfishness, emergency management planning that has been non-exist in some rural communities are fortunate today for Gary's dedication, planning facilitation and volunteerism".

Gary is single and resides in Colorado, where he works on organizing, producing and coordinating a variety of small to large-scale fundraising events through Pro Players Association. In his spare time, he enjoys many outdoor activities including camping, hiking, water and snow sports.

Throughout his fundraising career, Gary's efforts, often with the assistance of his celebrity friends, have generated over 100 million documented dollars for community service projects and charitable causes. 

HONORARY/MEMORIAL BOARD MEMBER

STORM JACOB ADLER (2001-2015) was the executive assistant to the CEO. Double-degreed in Service and Search & Rescue. Storm was the official mascot of the Pro Players Association and was named the official mascot of Sam's Club. He didn't let the fame get to his head and fulfilled his roles like an ambassador. Storm's favorite food was french fries, but please don't tell his vet ;)

Storm passed away on June 17, 2015 after a 4-month battle with a gastro-intestinal disorder. He eventually passed due to fluid in one of his lungs. He fought hard to stay at the side of his service partner Gary R. Adler, PPA CEO, but unfortunately the medical issues were not resolving. He was totally devoted to Gary as his Guide/Service Dog for almost 14 1/2 years. His presence and guidance is incredibly missed.

Storm's Bio as seen on ESPN1580.com: STORM J. ADLER a Yellow Lab Retreiver, double-degreed as a Guide Dog and a Search & Rescue Dog, adds his bark to the show. A staunch fan of all the Colorado pro-teams, Storm’s canine approach takes a bite into sports. For biscuits to bacon he gets down and dirty especially on subjects like Michael Vick, and his all-time arch rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Storm was crowned show mascot on ‘SIP’ at Mile High Sports in 2010 and 2011. So throw him a treat and get his growling ‘perspective’. Woof!

 

MASTER FELIX CLAUDIO, owner/master instructor of JC Taekwondo and Kickboxing Academy, Jersey City, NJ and owner/instructor at Ride Like A Pro advanced motorcycle skills and safety training school, Monument, CO. Felix started training in Taekwondo in 1976; He founded JC Taekwondo and Kickboxing Academy, in 1992. While he attended Saint Peter's College he founded the Collegiate Martial Arts Team. Felix was a gold medalist in the 84', 86', 87', 90', 92' US National's. He took the 6th Dan award at the World Taekwondo Federation. Felix was the 2004 Inductee into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He was elected the Vice President of Colorado State Taekwondo Association in 2018 and Vice President of the NJ Taekwondo Association. He serves on the US National Tournament Committee. Felix is the US Olympic Committee Licensed Master Instructor. He was the USA Head Coach, 2000 PSTA Goodwill Games, Bejing, China, the Tournament Director for the Taekwondo X-Games. He also had a law enforcement career as a former Essex County NJ Deputy Sheriff Sergeant assigned to the motorcycle unit and a Douglas County CO Sheriff Deputy assigned to the motorcycle unit from which he retired in 2020. While in NJ, he was a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Essex County Police Academy. As a motor officer, he holds the "Top Gun" award for his motor class, and has won multiple motorcycle championships across the country. Felix has supported several of our past events with gift certificates for his Ride Like A Pro Advanced Motorcycle Training Class. He also brought in PPA to become an integral part of the Ride Like A Pro Police Motorcycle Challenge Event last year and has extended our involvement with the event even more so in next year's upcoming event. Felix volunteered time to participate in last year's Golf Tournament for the Highland's Ranch STEM School and participated with PPA event support at the Tailwinds of Hope Tournament in August 2020. He was elected to the Executive Board in October 2020.

 

 

KURT HANSEN, whether behind the wheel or behind the microphone or in front of the Television Camera, Kurt Hansen is accustomed to the fast track. The California native and Denver resident has parlayed a two-decade career as a professional driver and team owner into an award-winning broadcast career, earning praise as one of the most knowledgeable and entertaining personalities in motor sports radio and television. Kurt was also a commentator for the Oakland Raiders Radio Network while living in CA. He has been very active with PPA over the years. He often promotes our organization and events on his TV and radio shows. Kurt was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army in 2012 along with other PPA members. He was elected to the Executive Board in 2007.

 

TIM MASEK, Field Training Specialist, Advanced Auto Parts. Tim has been active as both a volunteer and corporate sponsor for 15 years with PPA prior to his board nomination. Prior to his employment at Advanced, Tim worked at Pep Boys as their Trainer for many years. He sponsored our Road Rage and Motormania Shows through Pep Boys and then Advanced. Additionally, he ahs supported many of our other fundraising events. Tim worked with youth as a volunteer on the Boy Scouts of America Council in Colorado for many years. Tim was elected to the Executive Board in January 2017.

BILLY VAN HEUSEN, retired Denver Broncos wide receiver and punter, 1968-1976. Prior to the NFL, Billy attended and graduated from the University of Maryland where he was a member of the football team. He has been a charter member of PPA. Prior to the organization of PPA, Billy served in the capacity of Vice President of the Rocky Mountain NFL Alumni Chapter. He has volunteered often for several fundraisers including celebrity bartender nights and golf outings. He is currently a member of our golf tournament committee. He currently is a agent with the Billy Van Heusen Team, Colorado's #1 Concierge-Style Real Estate Team. Billy was elected to the Executive Board in February 2020.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

 

 

Charley Adams 

Sam Adams 

Gary R. Adler

Priest Adler

Joe Amato MSHOF

Bobby Anderson 

Jim Armstrong

Steve Atwater„

Garry Ballman Honorary Memorial Member

Kyle Bannister

Angela Bastean

Ernie Banks MLBHOF Honorary Memorial Member

John Barefield 

Tiny Barge

Warwick Bashford

Jason Bates

Don Baylor  Honorary Memorial Member

Sanjay Beach

Zane Beadles

Jerry Bergeson

Raymond Berry NFLHOF

Lionel Bienvenu

Steve Beuerlein

Greg Boyd

Mike Boyle

Tyrone Braxton

Chris Brewer

Marques Brigham

Marlin Briscoe

Bubby Brister

Lou Brock Honorary Memorial Member

Erica Brown

Irv Brown Honorary Memorial Member

Larry Brunson„

John Burke

Bobby Burnett Honorary Memorial Member

Glenn Cadrez

ED.C. Caldwell

Nick Carlson

Orlando Cepeda

Don Champion

Frederic Chaslin

Al Chesis

Darrin Chiaverini

Ryan Chiaverini

Kevin Clark

Shellenne Cockrell

Toi Cook

Mark Cooper

Eric Crabtree

Ron Cramer

Jim Crone

Gary W. Cruz

Terrell Davis NFLHOF

Frank DeAngelis

Lynn DeBruin Honorary Memorial Member

David Diaz-Infante„

Leroy Dilka

Bucky Dilts

Jerry DiPoto

Michael Ditchfield„

Dale Dodrill

Jimmy Doogan

Reuben Droughns

Ron Egloff

LaPhonso Ellis

John Elway NFLHOF

Patrick Emerine

Terry Erwin

Tom Ethington

Larry Evans

Tony Exum Jr.

Tony Exum, Sr.

Malcolm Farley

Greg Feasel

Barry Fey Honorary Memorial Member

Alan Fey

Geoffrey Fey

Jeremy Fey

Tyler Fey

Brian Fisher

Whitey Ford MLBHOF Honorary Memorial Member/HOF

Lee Frank

Jim French

Roman Gabriel III

Nelson Garcia

Fred Gayles Jr.

Chuck Gavin Honorary Memorial Charter Board Member

Kevin Geraghty

Joe Girardi

Judy Hillhouse Glaser

Alabama Glass

Gary Glick

Rich G-Man Goins

Goose Gonsulin  Honorary Memorial Member

Ruben Gonzalez

Glenn Goodson

Goose Gossage MLBHOF

Steve Gottsegen 

Mark Grace

Randy Gradishar„

Tom Graham  Honorary Memorial Member

John Grant

Chris Green

Mandy Green

Ed Greene 

Quentin Griffin

Howard Griffith

Troy Guard

Dan Haggerty Honorary Memorial Member

Darryl Hall

Steve Hamilton

Shane Hamman

Kurt Hansen

Mike Harden

Carroll Hardy Honorary Memorial Member

Bill Harris   

Joe Harris

Jon Harris

Mike Harris 

Richard Harvey

Scott Hastings

Lee Hauenstein 

Shayne Heap

Phil Heath

Michael Heitman                  

Barry Helton

Dwight Hicks

Derek Hines

George Hoey

Bobby Holik

Mike Horan

Don Horn

Paul Howard Honorary Memorial Member

Jeff Hudson

Devin Patrick Hughes

Molly Hughes

Corey Jackson

Mark Jackson„

Myron Jefferson

Myron Jefferson Jr.

Sha Jefferson

Jim Jensen

Jody Johnson

Stephen Johnson

Stevie Johnson

Moses Jones

Rulon Jones

Brian Jordan

Seth Joyner

Skip Jutze

Ken Kaliszewski

Jodi Katzman

Sean Kelly

Perry Kemp

Bill Keneely

Bryan Kervin

Jon Keyworth

Kosuke Kimura

Kenny King

Mark Kiszla

Mike Klis

Earl Klugh

Bob Knepper

Frank Kostro

Tony Kovaleski 

Greg Kragen

Jon Kruger

Lee Kunz

Jesse Kurtz

Le-Lo Lang

Bob Langas

Mike Lansford

Mike Lansing

Bill Larson

Bobby Lashley

Kathy Lee

Mark Lee

Barry Lersch Honorary Memorial Member

Floyd Little HOF Honorary Memorial Member

Scott Lockwood

Michael Lodish

Tim Lollar

Vic Lombardi 

Jayson Luber

Marc Lubick

Sonny Lubick

Tim Lucas

Tim Luke

Ron Lyle Honorary Memorial Member

Fran Lynch Honorary Memorial Member

Mike Magree

Jeff Majors

Sal Mancini

Wade Manning

Steve Manshel

Tom Martino

Terance Mathis

Stan Matsunaka

Ed McCaffrey

Bob McCaslin MLBHOF

Mark McGrath

Kelli McGregor Honorary Memorial Member

Fred McHenry Honorary Memorial Member

Mark McIntosh

Carol McKinley

Ron McKinney

Ted McKnight

Karl Mecklenburg

James Mejia

Ted Mentry

Don 'Dyno' Messina Honorary Memorial Member

Hazel Miller

Red Miller Honorary Memorial Member

Eugene Mingo

Minnie Minoso MLBHOF Honorary Memorial Member

Doug Moe

Marvin Montgomery

Earl Morrall Honorary Memorial Member/NFLHOF

Bruce Morton

Haven Moses

Chad Mosher

Jessica Mosher

Wade Mosher

Fran Mullins

Tom Mustin

Chip Myrtle

Craig Nall

Calvin Natt

Robb Nelson

Gary Niebauer 

Jon Noller

Terry Nugent

Andrea Orozco

Willie Oshodin

Anthony Pace

Wanda Padilla

Ryan Palmer

Vito Babe Parilli Honorary Memorial Member

Zack Parker

Rick Parros

Mike Perez

Bobby Pesavento

Sean Pike

Angela Poe

Isaac Points

Jim Prestel

Dave Preston

Jim Primock

Tyler Polumbus

Brady Quinn

Mark Randall

Dave Reavis

Mike Rengel

Randy Rich

Joe Rico

Che’ Rippinger

Geraldo Rivera

Jim Bob Rogers

Bill Romanowski

Jon Romero

Willie Ross Honorary Memorial Board Member

Amy Van Dyken Rouen

Ellyn Rush

Justin Sandy

John Sandy Santucci

Mike Schnitker

Rich Schubauer

Rocky Selanders

Jim Sendek Honorary Memorial Member

Steve Sewell

Les Shapiro

Robert 'Shark' Sharkey

Ricky Siglar

Aaron Smith Honorary Memorial Charter Board Member

Al Smith

Lightning Lonnie Smith

Timmy Smith

Lonnie Somers

Ryan Spilborghs

Junior Spivey

Walter Stanley

Dan Stewart

Kenny Stills

Nina Storey

Todd Stottlemyre

Dave Studdard

Kasey Studdard

Jerry Sturm Honorary Memorial Member

Brian Sullivan

Ralph Tamm

Jim Tatum

Gerald Tedesco

Norm Teltow

Tom Teltow

Tom Terwilliger

Tommy Thomas

Billy Thompson

Mark Thompson

David Treadwell

Michael Turner

Billy Van Heusen

Clarence Vaughn

Ray Wallace

Reggie Wayne

Wellington E. Webb

Derek West

Frank White

Walter White Honorary Memorial Member

Gil Whiteley

Andrea Wieland

Alfred Williams

Len Williams

Ralph Williams

Shawn Wooden

Thal Woods

Eric Young

Kelsie Young

Lionel Young

Michael Young„

Vince Young

Randy Zellea

Jeff Zgonina

 

The Wayne Valley High School Band Alumni Association of Wayne, NJ are all official Associate Members of Pro Players Association.