Adaptive Sports New England is led by Joe Walsh, a native of Braintree, MA, and a graduate of Dartmouth College and UMass Amherst. He is a two-time Paralympian in cross country skiing, and former Managing Director of Paralympics for the United States Olympic Committee. Joe served on Team USA’s delegation staff at six Paralympic Games and as Chef de Mission at two Parapan American Games. He coached youth cross country skiing for 13 seasons, served on the founding staff of the C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth, and was the first Paralympic athlete representative elected to the United States Olympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council and Board of Directors. Joe also currently serves as Vice President of the International Blind Sports Federation and as a director of Move United.

John Marchiony is the Executive Director of PRO New England, the Professional Remodeling Organization, and Managing Director of Fair To All Partners, a consulting firm focused on revenue generation and growth programming for non-profits, mission-driven organizations, and small businesses. He followed Joe Walsh at Dartmouth College into many activities and adventures and may have learned the most valuable lessons atop the 35-foot tall snow sculptures he helped build. John lived in the same dorm as Diana Golden, who was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame with a citation that read: “She persuaded the ski world to treat all athletes the same, regardless of ability or, in her case, disability.” This perspective, along with Adaptive Sports New England’s mantra of “more sports, more often, closer to home” guides John’s engagement. Additionally, he has served diverse nonprofits, including Liberty Science Center, The Computer Museum, FIRST, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and NCAM/WGBH.

Mike is the CEO of the FIFA World Cup Boston Host Committee. He has severed as VP of Strategic Initiatives for Kraft Sports + Entertainment, Chief Operating Officer for the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, as well as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the 2015 European Games in Baku. Mike also was the Director of Readiness, C3 & Event Services for the 2012 London Olympic Games, working closely with the UK and London governments at the highest level. He was awarded the International Olympic Committee’s “Olympic Order” for his role in these games, the highest honor given to an individual by the IOC.

Craig is a member of the Tax Group and of the New England Not-For-Profit & Education Practice and is solely dedicated to serving not-for-profit organizations. Craig has more than 30 years of experience in the tax industry with deep expertise in not-for-profit and education taxation matters. He works with educational institutions, health and human services providers, foundations and other complex not-for-profit organizations. Craig assists his clients with their tax service needs, including preparation and review of tax returns, advice and planning regarding unrelated business income, transactions, and issues related to tax-exempt status.

Deborah’s career has focused on serving the Disability Community, during which time she has developed a deep commitment to accessibility and inclusive opportunities. Her personal journey as an athlete, combined with her professional advocacy for accessibility, has fueled her passionate support for adaptive sports—a dedication manifested through volunteering, working with adaptive athletes, and publishing research on the topic.

With an MA in International Affairs and an MA in Disability Studies, Deborah contributes a unique perspective that strengthens ASNE’s mission of expanding opportunities for participation in sports for youth and adults with disabilities across New England.

Heidi Stanish is a Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences at UMass Boston and holds an adjunct faculty position at the UMass Chan Medical School – Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center. She has been a Fitness Advisor for Special Olympics International since 2018. 

Dr. Stanish has expertise in Adapted Physical Activity with particular specialization in exercise and fitness promotion among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her work is focused on developing strategies to meet the unique physical activity needs of individuals with disabilities in order to promote successful lifelong participation in inclusive, community settings. 

Jill’s journey into the realm of adaptive sports began in 2012 when her eldest daughter, who is visually impaired, took up competitive swimming. She witnessed firsthand the transformative power of adaptive sports within her daughter’s life and the broader community. This firsthand experience not only deepened her understanding, but also fueled her dedication to empowering individuals with disabilities through sports.

In her professional capacity as a nurse practitioner at Mount Auburn Geriatrics Outreach, Jill brings a unique perspective to her work with patients, particularly those who may benefit from adaptive sports. Her educational background, including a Master’s degree in Nursing from Boston College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University, equips her with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the holistic health benefits that participation in adaptive sports can offer.

Joe is the Vice President of Development and Major Gifts at the National Braille Press. He has worked with them for over 14 years, coordinating fundraising and creating an impact in the visually-impaired community. A graduate of Boston College, Joe also serves as the head coach of Adaptive Sports New England’s Beep Baseball program, which he helped start in 2022.

In addition to playing beep baseball, in which he is one of the all-time scoring leaders in the northeast, he is an avid runner and represented the United States in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics as well as completed two Boston Marathons. In 2017 Joe was inducted into the Cambridge Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2021 the Carroll Society as the blind employee of the year in Massachusetts. Joe is also the first Vice President of the Woburn Host Lions Club, and Co-President of the Board of Understanding Our Differences, an organization that teaches school-age children about people with disabilities.

Kate Vareika works in Finance & Operations for Vareika Construction, Inc. Prior to joining the family business, Kate worked at Boston Children’s Hospital and Alumni Ventures Group in fundraising, marketing, and operations roles.

Kate received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College where she also competed on the women’s basketball team. Passionate about sports, Kate enjoys volunteer coaching youth basketball in her spare time.

Osayi Erhabor joined the Board of Adaptive Sports New England (ASNE) in 2023. His connection to ASNE spans nearly seven years, inspired by the profound impact the organization has had on the life of his son, who has physical disabilities. Through ASNE, his son discovered a passion for adaptive sports—a journey that deepened Osayi’s commitment to the organization’s mission.

Osayi is a dynamic technology consultant, entrepreneur, and educator with over 19 years of experience in business ownership, consulting, curriculum development, and leadership. As the Founder and Co-Owner of Steadfast Solutions, he has built a thriving consulting firm dedicated to bridging the digital divide by delivering technology access and training to low-income communities across the Greater Boston area and beyond. Under his leadership, the company has grown to manage over 12 technology centers and continues to drive innovation in digital literacy, workforce development, and community empowerment.

Armed with a dual degree from Northeastern University—a Master’s in Engineering Management and a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering—Osayi brings a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and community commitment to every project he undertakes.

Paul is the founder of disABLED Life ALLIANCE (dALA), a public benefit corporation focused on improving the lives of the disabled community.

Paul joined this community on December 1, 2020 when he underwent a groundbreaking, bilateral below-the-knee amputation procedure known as the Ewing Amputation. Prior to the procedure, Paul was active in Crossfit, triathlons, ocean swimming, surfing and competitive sailing. Post-amputation, he has returned to many of those pursuits, including running the 126th Boston Marathon where Paul raised six figures for Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation and the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital President’s Fund.

Most recently, Paul announced he will pursue a Paris 2024 Paralympic Triathlon campaign to push his boundaries and knowledge further.

Philip Mason has served on the ASNE board since spring 2024. Phillip has worked for over 20 years in fundraising and events management, and has extensive experience supporting programs focused on inclusion of helping people with disabilities in the domestic and international spheres. He is currently the Vice President of External Affairs for Breaktime, headquartered in Boston.

Among his most memorable work experiences was with the Disability Rights Fund, where he advocated for a campaign to raise awareness for the enjoyment of human rights for people with albinism – something he also lives with. When he learned about ASNE work in Boston, he decided to jump in and help.