Leadership

2026 Special Olympics USA Games is guided by a distinguished collection of professionals and Special Olympics athlete leaders. Learn more about our Board of Directors, Honorary Co-Chairs, Executive Leadership Team, and Athlete Advisory Council.

Board of Directors
Adam_Hjerpe
Adam Hjerpe
Board Chair
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
ahjerpe@2026usagames.org
Chief Executive Officer
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
csovereign@2026usagames.org
Terry_Clark.jpeg
Terry Clark
Co-Presenting Partner
United Healthcare
jerseymikescarolinejonescreditdonnellymarks.jpeg
Caroline Jones
Co-Presenting Partner
Jersey Mike’s
Dave_Dorn
Dave Dorn
President
Special Olympics Minnesota
dornd@somn.org
Wendy_Blackshaw
Wendy Blackshaw
Chief Executive Officer
Minnesota Sports and Events
wblackshaw@mnsportsandevents.org
Jon Steadland Headshot
Jon Steadland
Chief of Staff, Office of the President
The University of Minnesota
David_Booth
David Booth
Athlete Representative
William_Smith.jpeg
Will Smith
Athlete Representative
Honorary Co-Chairs
Brian_Thompson.jpeg
Brian Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
UnitedHealthcare
Jenna_Perkins
Jenna Perkins
Special Olympics Athlete
Danny_Striggow
Danny Striggow
Special Olympics Unified partner
Executive Leadership Team
Chief Executive Officer
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
csovereign@2026usagames.org
Chief of Staff to the CEO
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
ttish@2026usagames.org
Chief Marketing Officer
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
mhorwath@2026usagames.org
Linda Lindamood, VP Operations
Linda Lindamood
Senior Vice President, Operations
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
llindamood@2026usagames.org
Chief Technology and Information Officer
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
lsnyder@2026usagames.org
Chief Financial Officer
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
jvijums@2026usagames.org
Chief Development Officer
2026 Special Olympics USA Games
kquiring@2026usagames.org
Athlete Advisory Council
Eric Baumann
Special Olympics Illinois
David Booth
Special Olympics Minnesota
John Conway
Special Olympics Minnesota
Tasha Feigh
Special Olympics Minnesota
Shaun Linsey
Special Olympics Texas
Grant Rader
Special Olympics Kansas
Tyler Sarff
Special Olympics Minnesota
Yoli Shields
Special Olympics Georgia
Will Smith
Special Olympics New York
Connor Tingle
Special Olympics Mississippi
Sulynnette Vega-Ledesma
Special Olympics Alaska
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