Recipients to be highlighted at the 19th annual running Industry Conference taking place Feb. 12-14
DENVER (Jan. 19, 2023) – Running USA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Running USA Industry Conference scholarships. Each of the recipients will be provided with the opportunity to accelerate their business by receiving all-expense paid inclusion at the 2023 Running USA Industry Conference in Denver. For the second straight year, the scholarship program focused on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) at the world’s largest running business gathering.
Scholarships were funded through generous contributions by RunSignup, with additional support from Chicago Event Management (CEM) and Running USA’s own fundraising efforts.
The recipients of the six 2023 scholarships, the most ever funded in a single year, are:
● Martinus Evans, Slow AF Run Club
● Jake Fedorowski, Run Beyond (RUNN+)
● William Fermo, 3 Bros Running Company
● Jeremy Fermo, 3 Bros Running Company
● Jackie Hoffman, Peace Runners
● Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell, VCPM, Inc./Game Changers
A look at the organizations represented:
3 Bros Running Company: Based in Texas, 3 Bros Running Company has a mission to bring big city race experiences to smaller Texas cities. The Fermos want to make each race they produce a destination race. 3 Bros is an inclusive company who welcomes everyone to all events and showcases the diversity of the running community across marketing platforms.
Game Changers: The Game Changers program, founded by Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell, aims to bring in more Women of Color as Certified Run Coaches, redefining who is seen as experts and leaders in the running industry. Game Changers is working toward change that will influence trends, grow the sport and impact the industry as a whole.
Peace Runners 773: Chicago’s Peace Runners 773 is tackling real community issues, such as obesity, low life expectancy and mental health. The group meets in Garfield Park for individual transformation in a family style atmosphere. Free workouts and runs are tailored for fitness level and are energizing an underserved community hungry for activities that advocate health and togetherness.
Run Beyond the Binary (RUNN+): Run Beyond the Binary is a community for non-binary athletes to exist, participate, advocate, and represent. Founder Jake Fedorowski is the author of “The Guide to Non-Binary Inclusion in Running,” which was created to assist race directors as they embark, or continue, on their journey toward creating a more inclusive event.
Slow AF Run Club: The Slow AF Run Club was founded with a vision to empower every person on the planet to become a runner in the body they have right now. Founder Martinus Evans started the movement 10 years ago and has become an adidas spokesperson, Runner’s World cover model and a Boston Marathon finisher. He intends for The Slow AF Run Club to be the world’s largest inclusive online community for back-of-the-pack runners.
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About the Industry Conference
Since its origins as a small gathering of Running USA’s founders in Southern California in 2004, the Running USA Industry Conference presented by Race Roster has grown to becoming the best-attended, most esteemed gathering of running industry professionals from around the USA and the world. Now moving locations each year, the conference has been held in Los Angeles, San Diego, Savannah, Houston, San Antonio, Orlando, New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and heads to Denver for the 2023 event.
