International Pride Softball.
ALL VOLUNTEER. ALL PRIDE.
Building community through inclusive, competitive softball — iPride Softball has been doing just that for more than four decades.
ABOUT US
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The iPride Softball Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, governance, and oversight in support of the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability. Composed of dedicated volunteers from across the iPride community, the Board is responsible for setting policy, ensuring ethical and financial accountability, and guiding initiatives that strengthen member leagues and international competition. Working in partnership with committees, staff, and member leadership, the Board helps ensure iPride Softball remains inclusive, competitive, and community-driven.
NATE SMITH
Commissioner
With more than 26 years of experience in the Workers’ Compensation industry, Nate Smith is a seasoned leader with a comprehensive background spanning both insurance/third-party administration and employer-side operations. He began his career as a claims examiner and steadily advanced through leadership roles, including team lead and ultimately National Operations Director, where he managed a national account for a major employer. In these roles, he was responsible for ensuring timely delivery of medical care and benefits to injured employees while maintaining strict compliance with multi-state jurisdictional regulations and reporting requirements.
Transitioning to the employer side, Nate now provides strategic oversight of Workers’ Compensation programs, focusing on ensuring efficient claims handling and the prompt coordination of medical treatment and benefits. He plays a key role in developing and streamlining return-to-work initiatives designed to keep employees engaged and safely reintegrated into the workforce.
Nate is also deeply involved in risk management efforts, analyzing injury trends and partnering with local leadership to implement preventative measures that reduce workplace incidents. His responsibilities extend to equipment oversight, ensuring that any machinery linked to injuries is properly maintained or removed from service when necessary. Additionally, he oversees litigation and medical management processes, identifying barriers to treatment progression and addressing factors that contribute to employee legal representation.
Driven by a commitment to employee well-being and operational excellence, Nate’s work centers on facilitating timely recovery, minimizing disruption, and supporting injured employees in returning to full duty as efficiently and safely as possible.
VICKY HARRISON
Treasurer
Vicky Harrison is a retired media and operations executive whose distinguished career spanned more than 25 years with NBC, where she led large-scale broadcast operations, production services, financial management, and organizational transformation initiatives. Throughout her tenure, she built a reputation as a strategic leader who combined operational excellence, financial acumen, and a collaborative management style to deliver results in complex, high-profile environments.
Vicky concluded her career as Vice President of West Coast Operations for NBC Universal, overseeing production and distribution operations for some of television’s most recognizable programs, including The Tonight Show, Days of Our Lives, Access Hollywood, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She managed a $60 million operating budget, multi-million-dollar capital plans, and a workforce of more than 300 employees. In addition to serving as Plant Manager for NBC’s Burbank operations, she held responsibility for employee health, safety, and environmental compliance, regularly reporting performance and risk management outcomes to senior executives at General Electric.
A key contributor to NBC Universal’s long-term strategic planning efforts, Vicky played a central role in evaluating and planning the sale of the historic Burbank property and the development of a new content production center in Los Angeles. She was also part of the team that lead the planning, design, and technical implementation of the state-of-the-art production facility built for The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien at Universal Studios.
SAM SCHISLER
Partnerships Director
Sam Schisler is a business leader, philanthropist, and community advocate whose career has been defined by servant leadership, inclusivity, and a passion for creating meaningful connections. Born in Niles, Ohio, and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Sam developed an early appreciation for both athletics and the arts. A standout musician and one of Mississippi's top tuba players, he balanced academics, music, and sports before pursuing higher education at Ohio University, where he earned a degree in Business Organizational Communication and Music.
With more than 25 years of global management experience, Sam has built an impressive career across the hospitality and beverage industries. He currently serves as State Manager for Kansas with Suntory Global Spirits, where he leads commercial sales initiatives as part of a national leadership team responsible for billions in annual revenue. Known for his strategic vision, authenticity, and ability to inspire teams, Sam has earned a reputation as a transformational leader who embraces innovation, inclusivity, and positive change. His personal mantra—"Are you ready to fly?"—reflects his belief in helping people and organizations reach their full potential.
Outside of his professional career, Sam is deeply committed to community service and philanthropy. His involvement with LGBTQ+ softball began more than 25 years ago through the Columbus Lesbian and Gay Softball Association, now part of the Heart of America Softball League (HASL). In 2006, he was elected Partnership Director, beginning a 15-year tenure on the board during which he helped raise more than $750,000 for league initiatives, local charities, and the Gay Softball World Series. His passion for giving back extends far beyond the softball field. Through organizations including Pelotonia, AIDS Walk, Art for Life, The Trevor Project, and KC Cause, Sam has helped generate more than $1 million in charitable support for community-focused causes.
Known online as the "#BeamBourbonBear," Sam's interests include cycling, CrossFit, bourbon culture, reading, movies, and sports of all kinds. Above all, he values family, friendships, his beloved dog Olive, and the communities he serves. Guided by a favorite quote from his mother, Leah Elizabeth Schisler—"Don't let opportunities pass you by; you might miss an experience of a lifetime"—Sam approaches every challenge and opportunity with enthusiasm, gratitude, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.
CHRISTOPHER OVERLIE
Competition Director
Christopher Overlie is a transformational project management executive, servant leader, and organizational strategist with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, scaling operations, and driving enterprise-wide change. With more than a decade of leadership experience across technology integration, education, and project delivery organizations, Christopher is recognized for his ability to align people, processes, and strategy to deliver measurable business results.
Currently serving as Senior Director of the Project Management Office (PMO) and Project Delivery at Bluum, an international education technology company, Christopher leads an organization of more than 75 professionals supporting projects across the United States and Canada. Since joining Bluum in 2019, he has successfully built and scaled both the company's PMO and enterprise PMO from the ground up, establishing governance frameworks, performance metrics, and operational systems that have enabled significant growth and organizational maturity. Under his leadership, project portfolios expanded from $20 million to $125 million, while maintaining customer satisfaction ratings exceeding 98 percent and employee retention above 95 percent.
A trusted strategic leader, Christopher has played a pivotal role in driving organizational change through mergers and acquisitions, guiding the integration of project management processes, governance structures, and organizational cultures. His expertise spans project portfolio management, change management, process optimization, resource management, and executive-level strategic planning. Known for fostering collaborative, people-first cultures, he consistently empowers teams to achieve exceptional outcomes while supporting individual growth and development.
Prior to Bluum, Christopher served as Senior Project Manager for Spinitar, where he transformed an underperforming Northern California region into a high-growth operation, increasing revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction while leading multimillion-dollar technology integration projects. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles in higher education, where he championed student success initiatives that improved enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and career placement outcomes for underserved learners.
Christopher holds multiple industry-leading certifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Office Certified Practitioner (PMI-PMOCP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), and Certified Technology Specialist (CTS). He has also completed executive leadership studies through the University of Minnesota and maintains active involvement with the Project Management Institute, Association of Change Management Professionals, Scrum Alliance, and AVIXA.
Committed to giving back to his community, Christopher has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and served on the boards of multiple nonprofit organizations. Throughout his career, he has remained dedicated to servant leadership, believing that organizations achieve their greatest success when they invest in their people, embrace continuous improvement, and align strategy with purpose.
PETER HO
Operations Director
Peter Ho is an accomplished operations, events, and organizational management executive with more than 30 years of experience leading large-scale hospitality, convention, and nonprofit operations. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for operational excellence, financial stewardship, and a leadership style grounded in accountability, collaboration, and service.
Peter's professional foundation was shaped through years of experience in family-owned businesses, where he developed the strong work ethic, attention to detail, and commitment to customer service that would define his career. He went on to become a respected leader within the hospitality industry, serving in senior event management roles with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. There, he oversaw complex operations for premier convention and resort properties, managed annual budgets exceeding $20 million, and led teams of up to 18 professionals. His expertise in event strategy, logistics, contract negotiations, vendor management, and operational planning contributed to significant revenue growth, successful property transitions, and consistently high levels of client satisfaction.
Recognized for both commercial performance and service excellence, Peter's teams regularly exceeded business objectives and earned multiple organizational honors, including Team of the Year recognition. He maintains long-standing professional certifications as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Learning Environment Specialist (LES), reflecting his deep expertise in meeting planning, event execution, and learning environment design.
Beyond his corporate career, Peter has dedicated significant time and expertise to nonprofit leadership, sports tourism, and community engagement. He has served in a variety of leadership positions, including Tournament Director, League Treasurer, and Events Director for large-scale athletic organizations and multi-day sporting events. His ability to apply corporate governance, financial discipline, and operational best practices has helped strengthen organizations and enhance participant experiences.
Today, Peter serves as Board Treasurer for the Friends of Braille Institute and as Operations Director for the Palm Springs Gay Softball League, where he provides critical leadership in financial oversight, organizational planning, and operational execution. Whether managing multimillion-dollar budgets, coordinating large-scale events, or supporting mission-driven organizations, Peter is known for building strong operational foundations that enable sustainable growth, exceptional experiences, and long-term success.
CHRIS CALLAHAN
Head of Marketing
Chris Callahan is a senior healthcare marketing strategist, nonprofit founder, and creative leader with more than 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical and medical communications. Currently serving as Vice President, Management Supervisor at Pacific Communications/AbbVie, Chris leads in-house agency teams, overseeing strategic planning and execution across multiple brands. Known for innovative, patient-centric approaches, Chris has driven brand growth, supported multiple first-in-class and category-defining launches, and helped transform complex scientific data into meaningful, engaging communications for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers.
Throughout a distinguished career spanning top agencies including FCB Health, GSW, Phase V Communications, and Precision for Value, Chris has led global and U.S. brand strategy across oncology, neurology, immunology, rare disease, and managed markets. His work has contributed to more than a dozen major launches and earned multiple industry honors, including RX Club, MM&M, Global Awards, and Medical Marketing Awards. A collaborative leader and mentor, Chris is recognized for building high-performing teams, strengthening cross-functional partnerships, and introducing systems that improve operational efficiency and engagement.
Beyond healthcare marketing, Chris is deeply committed to community, advocacy, and the arts. He founded Freddy Z, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and supporting cancer patients and their families through connection and community. An avid softball player and league leader, Chris serves as Secretary of the Long Beach/Orange County Surf & Sun Softball League and Marketing Manager for International Pride Softball, helping advance inclusive athletics and visibility for LGBTQIA2S+ communities.
Chris is also a published playwright and award-winning producer, with works produced nationally. He previously served as a Board Member of the League of Independent Theater in New York City, supporting emerging artists and independent theater companies.
In addition to his work in healthcare, community leadership, and the arts, Chris is an accomplished home mixologist and the creator of Drink My Mood, a cocktail app designed to help users craft drinks based on flavor preferences, occasion, and emotional vibe. Blending creativity with intuitive design, the app reflects Chris’s passion for hospitality, experimentation, and storytelling—bringing the same strategic thinking and user-centered approach he applies in marketing to an accessible, fun experience for home bartenders.
Originally from Oklahoma, Chris spent two decades in Brooklyn before relocating to Orange County, California. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Sam Houston State University and continues to blend strategic rigor, creativity, and community leadership across every aspect of his professional and personal life.
MICHEAL CARROLL
Head of I.T.
Micheal D. Carroll, PMP, CTA, is a seasoned technology executive and accomplished Chief Information Officer with more than two decades of experience leading complex information technology organizations across the public, private, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. Known for his strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style, Micheal has built a career focused on aligning technology with organizational mission, improving service delivery, and driving measurable business outcomes.
Currently, Micheal serves as Chief Information Operations Officer for Consulting Without Limits, L.L.C., a role he has held since 2008. In this capacity, he oversees all aspects of information technology operations, including the Project Management Office, vendor contract negotiation, service level management, and enterprise system strategy. He has successfully designed, developed, and executed IT solutions for a diverse client base, while fostering strong partnerships between clients and independent contractors to ensure consistent, high-quality project delivery. His responsibilities also extend to human resources leadership, operating budget oversight, and the implementation of Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that modernizes and streamline organizational operations.
From 2016 to 2019, Micheal served as Chief Information Officer for the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), where he established and led the organization’s first Project Management Office and guided enterprise-wide technology initiatives. He set strategic IT objectives aligned with agency goals and directed the planning, implementation, and security of information systems while maintaining strict budget compliance in a highly regulated public-sector environment.
Previously, Micheal held the role of Vice President and Business Analysis Operations Manager at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. within Consumer & Community Banking. There, he planned and managed global Anti-Money Laundering initiatives, contributing to significant financial recoveries. He also simplified and standardized project management processes across the enterprise and led the organization’s largest third-party payment processing project, recovering more than $1.5 million in delinquent payments.
Micheal’s earlier experience includes serving as Chief Information Officer for The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology. During his tenure, he transformed IT operations, improved incident response times, eliminated operational deficiencies, and generated annual cost savings of $100,000 through strategic assessment and restructuring. He also led major infrastructure upgrades and introduced innovative technology solutions to support academic and administrative excellence.
Micheal maintains numerous professional certifications, including PMP and ITIL. He is an active member and leader within professional and civic organizations and has been recognized with multiple industry awards, including Comspark’s Tech Power Player Top 100 honors. His career reflects a deep commitment to service, accountability, and technology leadership that delivers lasting value.