Media & Brand

Brent Richard’s vision as CEO of IMG Academy is to transform IMG Academy into the world’s most impactful education brand, with life-changing experiences, available to any student-athlete who believes in the power of sport as a platform for life. He is passionate about the value of holistic education through the lens of sport and improving and growing IMG Academy’s heartbeat boarding school experience, while simultaneously creating new student-athlete experiences online and internationally. Through its suite of connected sports education experiences, all under the powerful IMG Academy brand, all benefiting from IMG Academy’s half-century of expertise, IMG Academy is now helping families and student-athletes all around the world.

Since joining IMG Academy in 2020, Richard has built a world-class on-campus and online team, focused on executing this vision. IMG Academy has developed over recent years from a campus-only brand and experience serving 1,000 boarding school student-athletes, into a global brand with a suite of connected education experiences, ranging from boarding school, to camps, to online coaching and recruiting. Today, IMG Academy, with the help of digital scale, is serving over 150,000 student-athletes and 40,000 coaches each year, and its heartbeat boarding school in Bradenton stronger than ever, adding new sports, facilities and improving outcomes for its families.

In 2023, with a focus on ensuring that IMG Academy would be owned by a group that could bring significant expertise and value to IMG Academy families and student-athletes, Richard hand-selected Nord Anglia and EQT and led the sale of IMG Academy by Endeavor (NYSE: EDR) and subsequent transition and carve-out processes for IMG Academy.

Richard has also overseen the development of the IMG Academy Foundation, including $40M annually that IMG Academy is able to give-back via financial aid, discounted or free online coaching services, and community charity.

Before joining IMG Academy, Richard was the Chief Corporate Development Officer at Endeavor. In his role as Chief Corporate Development Officer, he led Endeavor’s strategy and investing activities, including 50+/$5 billion+ in capital transactions, including IMG, UFC and On Location Entertainment.

Prior to Endeavor, Richard co-founded and helped develop The Raine Group, now a leading sports and entertainment merchant bank with over 150 employees, a global advisory business and over $2 billion in investing capital under management.

Richard began his career at Goldman Sachs after attending Vanderbilt University, where he majored in Engineering and Economics and played for the men’s soccer team.

Richard has held board director or observer roles for organizations such as On Location Entertainment, Zumba Fitness, Nitro Circus, Reigning Champs, and non-profit Shorecrest Preparatory School.

Mike Milliron is President of IMG Academy Campus, where he leads the strategic direction, financial performance, growth and operations of IMG Academy’s 600-acre campus in Bradenton, Florida. His responsibilities span the organization’s boarding school, sport camps, events, professional athlete and team training, hospitality, Legacy Hotel and IMG Academy Golf Club. Milliron was named President in October 2026.

Throughout his tenure, Milliron has played a central role in shaping IMG Academy’s growth and evolution, driving business growth, elevating the customer and team member experience, and building a culture centered on innovation, organizational alignment and operational excellence.

As Chief Operating Officer from 2024-2026, Milliron compressed a decade of reinvention into two and a half years, transforming IMG Academy’s culture, footprint, programs and experience. He accelerated the pace of innovation and expansion, launching four new sport programs – Softball, Boys Volleyball, Wrestling and Swimming – in just 18 months, compared to one in the preceding decade.

Milliron also led Project E2G: Evolve to Grow, the largest capital expansion initiative in IMG Academy’s history, overseeing nearly two dozen projects that expanded capacity and enhanced athletic facilities, academic environments and campus infrastructure. He further led development of the campus’s five-year strategic growth plan, aligning investment, operations and organizational priorities around its long-term vision.

Central to Milliron’s leadership is a belief that organizational culture and exceptional experiences are fundamental drivers of business performance. As Senior Vice President of Product Operations from 2021 to 2024, he established IMG Academy’s first enterprise-wide Experience Division, integrating consumer insights, customer success, product innovation and employee experience. Through initiatives such as Mission UCX, his leadership helped drive record-level customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores (NPS), improved student retention, and all-time highs in team member engagement and retention.

During Milliron’s tenure, IMG Academy has continued to set new standards in academic and athletic achievement, celebrating its largest graduating classes, vastly increasing the number of graduates attending Ivy League and U.S. News & World Report Top 25 universities, and capturing multiple national championships annually across its sports programs.

Milliron joined IMG Academy in 2011 as a Lacrosse Student-Athlete Advisor and Program Manager, and has since held leadership roles spanning nearly every major function of the organization, including Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President of Product Operations, Interim Head of School, Chief of Staff and Director of Sales.

Milliron earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from Penn State University, where he competed on the varsity baseball team before being selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. He also holds a Master of Business Administration and a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University.

Fred Santarpia joined IMG Academy as President of IMG Academy Online in October 2026, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience in digital media, technology, business transformation and operations.

Throughout his career, he has led organizations through periods of significant growth and transformation, with a focus on building innovative digital businesses, developing high-performing teams and driving sustainable growth.

Prior to joining IMG Academy, Santarpia served as President of Endeavor Streaming from 2020-2025, where he oversaw all aspects of the business and led a global team of more than 500 employees. During his tenure, he successfully transformed the business, returning it to profitable growth, expanding its portfolio of sports and media clients and overseeing its acquisition by Deltatre and Bain Capital.

Before Endeavor Streaming, Santarpia spent more than six years at Condé Nast from 2012-2018, serving as Chief Digital Officer and previously as Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of Condé Nast Entertainment. In these roles, he spearheaded the digital transformation of the century-old publishing company, expanding its digital audiences, developing new revenue streams and establishing its digital video business. Under his leadership, Condé Nast evolved into a majority-digital business generating hundreds of millions of dollars in digital revenue.

Earlier in his career, Santarpia was a founding member of the leadership team at Vevo from 2008-2012, where he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager. He helped build the global music video and entertainment platform from its inception into a business generating approximately $300 million in annual recurring revenue. He also held several senior finance and technology leadership roles at Universal Music Group.

He is a graduate of Villanova University and holds a Master of Science in Finance from Boston University.

Ciaccio joined IMG Academy in 1997 and for 26 years, he has been working on growing the business into the leading sports education brand it is today. As Chief Commercial Officer of IMG Academy, Ciaccio oversees sales, marketing, brand and exploring commercial opportunities domestically and globally for IMG Academy’s campus and digital operations.

While in his role he has led several significant initiatives, including moving the brand from a training facility with a collection of licensed names – including the likes of Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, David Leadbetter Golf Academy, and Madden Football Academy – into one of the world’s most important sports education brands today, IMG Academy.

With a passion for helping student-athletes achieve their personal goals through the lens of sport, Ciaccio led the efforts to grow the brand internationally, expanding IMG Academy’s presence and reach into Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Mexico City, Mexico; Beijing, and Shanghai, China and has plans to continue to grow it the future.

He has led the innovation of IMG Academy’s world class sports camps, which allow athletes an opportunity to develop a custom training experience. More recently, Ciaccio has helped expand IMG Academy’s state-of-the-art campus to unlock greater opportunities for female student-athletes, including the launch of Volleyball and Softball boarding school, and camp programs. Ciaccio has played a key role in the development of IMG Academy’s newest product IMG Academy+ which brings the elite coaching usually only available at the Academy to athletes everywhere through a digital platform and companion app.

Prior to working for IMG Academy, Caccio worked for the Olympic Games early in his career and the University of Georgia where he also received his undergraduate and master’s degree. Caccio was a college basketball and baseball athlete and routinely shares that playing sports shaped him into the leader, father and spouse he is today.

Ciaccio plays an active role in the Tampa Bay business community where he sits on several boards and has been recognized for his contributions for driving economic impact and business growth including being named to the 40 under 40 businesspeople and awarded the volunteer of the year award for the Tampa Bay Region by the Florida Economic Development Council.

He has two daughters, Brooke and Brynne, with his wife, Leigh and resides in St. Petersburg, FL.

Ben Hansen is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at IMG Academy. He is responsible for managing and optimizing the organization’s financial strategy, operations, and long-term fiscal health. With a track record of steering financial success across several industries, Hansen brings over two decades of experience in finance and operations leadership to the role.

Prior to joining IMG Academy, Hansen was the CFO of CPS from 2019 to 2024, where he played a key role in driving financial growth and organizational efficiency. His leadership extended beyond traditional financial duties, guiding the company's strategic initiatives and growth plans. Before CPS, Hansen served as both CFO and Chief Operating Officer at Avaap, where he was instrumental in overseeing not only the financial operations but also ensuring operational excellence, facilitating scalability, and managing cross-functional teams.

Hansen’s extensive experience includes more than a decade at Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global leader in scientific research services. He held a series of high-impact roles, including Vice President of Finance, Director of Finance, and Global Controller, and more, where he led critical financial initiatives and drove significant improvements in financial performance.

Hansen holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Franklin University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Lawson serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Corporate Relations at IMG Academy, where she leads key enterprise partnerships and drives the development of new business initiatives, including IMG Academy+ and IMG Academy Elevate.

With nearly two decades of experience across corporate strategy, partnerships, and operations, Lawson plays a vital role in expanding the reach and impact of IMG Academy’s purpose. Since joining IMG Academy in 2006, Lawson has held several leadership roles across the organization, including with IMG Academy Online and NCSA College Recruiting.

At NCSA, she pioneered the Strategic Partnerships division as its first team member, building the function from the ground up and helping to shape a new chapter in the organization’s growth. She has served as Vice President of Commercial Operations, Strategic Partnerships, Event Team Operations, and Partner Development—consistently recognized for building meaningful relationships and delivering innovative, scalable solutions across the youth sports ecosystem.

A proud graduate of Ohio University, Lawson is based in Columbus, Ohio, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is also an active member of IMG Academy’s Women’s Resource Group, where she is passionate about championing women in leadership and fostering opportunities for the next generation.

Mike Lovecchio is the Senior Vice President of Communications at IMG Academy, where he oversees the comprehensive communications and community relations strategy for the brand. With a background in media relations, public affairs, and brand management, Lovecchio is dedicated to elevating IMG Academy’s profile and effectively conveying its mission to a global audience. His leadership ensures that IMG Academy’s achievements, values, and innovations are communicated clearly and compellingly, fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, media, and the broader community. Under Lovecchio’s leadership, IMG Academy has donated over $50 million in total giveback.

Lovecchio brings over 15 years of experience delivering results for brands across the sports, entertainment, travel/tourism, and restaurant/hospitality industries. Before joining IMG Academy in 2022, he was an account supervisor at &Barr, a full-service advertising agency partnering with national and global brands, where he was responsible for the success of multiple client accounts across various industries and brands including AAA, Florida’s Space Coast, Rosen Hotels Sonny’s BBQ and more.

From 2017 to 2019, Lovecchio served as the Manager of Communications for the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) in Daytona Beach, Fla. In this role, he devised and implemented media relations strategies across national, regional, and local platforms. Lovecchio’s efforts successfully secured high-profile media coverage in leading publications such as Inc. Magazine, Sports Business Journal, Forbes, and Front Office Sports, enhancing the visibility and reputation of IMSA, a NASCAR company.

Lovecchio began his career in 2011 as the Senior Coordinator of Racing Communications with NASCAR’s Integrated Marketing Communications team in Daytona Beach, Fla. There, he played a key part in the award-winning communications team by delivering extensive media relations, event planning, and crisis management support.

Mike holds a journalism degree from Florida International University and a communications degree from Daytona State College.

A progressive and business-minded attorney in the sports and entertainment industry for over 20 years, Dan Malasky, Esq. joined IMG Academy as its Chief Legal Officer in November 2023.

Malasky’s mindset of empowering student-athletes to win their future led him back to youth sports following five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where Malasky was an executive team member of the first club in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium. Malasky quarterbacked the Legal, Facility Security, and Government Affairs departments, and played an instrumental role in the club's rise to prominence during this storied period.

Prior to joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Malasky served as General Counsel and Managing Director of Business Affairs for the United States Tennis Association’s USTA National Campus. Malasky helped lead the development and operation of the 100-court, 64-acre, state-of-the-art tennis complex located in Orlando, Fla. touted as the “Home of American Tennis”. In addition to his responsibilities at the USTA National Campus, Malasky managed the USTA’s day-to-day legal affairs for the largest annually attended sporting event in the world, the US Open and served as General Counsel to the USTA’s Player Development program and its three National Training Centers around the country.

Prior to joining the USTA in 2006, Malasky served as Senior Vice President & General Counsel of DIRT MotorSports, the largest sanctioning body for dirt track auto racing and owner of the World of Outlaws. He went to DIRT MotorSports in 2004 following several years as a commercial litigator at Piper Rudnick LLP (now DLA Piper) in his hometown of Washington, D.C. Malasky also worked for Washington Sports & Entertainment, Aspen Skiing Company, and SportsPro Management prior to attending law school.

Malasky graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and attained his J.D. from Boston University School of Law where he was recognized as an Edward F. Hennessey Scholar.

Malasky currently serves on the Board for the Florida Sports Foundation, University of Pennsylvania Sprint Football, and previously served as Chairman of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.

Malasky resides on Anna Maria Island, Fla. with his wife, Desi, and two daughters, Aspen and Brecka.

Jen Schwarz serves as Chief Technology Officer at IMG Academy, where she oversees the organization’s technology strategy and innovation across its growing portfolio of in-person, digital, and global platforms. In this role, Schwarz leads efforts to modernize infrastructure, enhance digital experiences, and ensure IMG Academy remains at the forefront of technology-enabled student-athlete development.

Schwarz brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning some of the world’s most recognizable brands. She joined IMG Academy from The Walt Disney Company, where she served as Senior Vice President of Engineering Services within Disney Entertainment and ESPN Technology. In that role, she led a global team responsible for engineering connectivity and services supporting Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN, as well as digital products across ABC, ABC News, Marvel, National Geographic, and more.

Her teams oversaw cloud and on-premises infrastructure, quality and performance engineering, ops support, code and release management, and information security partnerships – playing a critical role in powering some of the most widely used streaming platforms in the world.

Before Disney, Schwarz was Chief Technology Officer at TicketNetwork, where she directed all aspects of technology for the secondary ticketing company. Earlier in her career, she held senior technology roles at Accenture, RPX Corporation and Gap Inc. – building deep expertise in e-commerce, online marketplaces, consumer-facing products, and digital advertising and marketing.

A former Division I student-athlete, Schwarz earned her degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was a scholarship student athlete and team captain for the women’s gymnastics program.

Lisa Strasman is the Chief People Operations Officer of IMG Academy, overseeing HR, people operations, team culture, experience, and leadership coaching across IMG Academy’s on-campus and online products. Previously serving as president of NCSA College Recruiting, an online product of IMG Academy, Strasman brings more than 20 years’ experience across sports education and college recruiting to her role.

One of the first competitive female ice hockey players in Illinois, Strasman captained the women’s hockey team at Yale University and later played professional hockey in Switzerland before joining NCSA in 2004 as a recruiting coach and director.

She was Vice President, Operations in 2006, and Chief Operating Officer in 2009. In her various roles, she helped develop the process and digital platform that today guides thousands of student-athletes and their parents through the college athletic recruiting process and helps them find the right college fit. Strasman became president of NCSA in 2012, and helped the business achieve steady growth in all areas, including the number of college commitments. Under her leadership, NCSA also launched IMG Academy+ in 2022, an online extension of IMG Academy providing 1-on-1 mental performance and nutrition coaching to student-athletes everywhere. Strasman has also instilled a strong team culture, as evidenced by NCSA’s 30+ Best Places to Work awards.

In addition to her role as CPOO, Strasman is a frequent speaker and featured panelist at events including SXSW and Women in Sports and Events. She has also written articles for Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and more. Strasman is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and sits on the board of the Windy City Chapter. She also coaches youth hockey in the Chicagoland Area and serves on the board of the Falcons Hockey Association.