Our Team

Dawson has been with the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services since 1999 and was promoted to Executive Director on April 1, 2019. From 1999-2015, he held the position of MYAS/Gopher State Senior Baseball Director and Commissioner of the Gopher State Baseball League, a traveling baseball program for 9-19 year olds. He also held the position of Minnesota USSSA State Baseball Director from 2006-2016 and is a founding member of Play Ball! MN through the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. During his tenure at the MYAS, he created a year-round comprehensive baseball program which includes the Gopher State Baseball League (GSBL) and the Gopher State Tournament of Champions. In 2015, he became Executive Director of Trusted Coaches and launched the online risk management and coach development solution for youth sports organizations. Under his direction, over 300 organizations joined the mission of Trusted Coaches. Dawson is a 1999 graduate of Concordia University, St. Paul. He played collegiate tennis and football at Central Lakes College and Concordia University. Dawson also coached high school varsity football from 1999-2009 and 2011-2017. He has also been a registered official with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) since 2001 and is a proud member of Gopher State Officials Association. He was nominated to officiate the MSHSL State Basketball Tournament from 2011-2013 and 2017-2024, including the honor of officiating in the Class AAA State Championship game in 2019. Officiating has always been a passion and he is committed to recruiting, educating and retaining the next generation of youth and high school officials. He has also been a head coach or assistant coach for his son, daughter and step-son in basketball, baseball and soccer over the past ten years. You can also catch him on Wednesday’s and Sunday’s as the lead male vocalist of the Reigning Grace Worship Team at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Mounds View, MN. He also serves as the President of the Abiding Savior Church Council and is the VP of Irondale HS Girls Basketball Hoops Club. Away from the MYAS and his other activities, you can find Dawson enjoying time with his wife Michelle, son Landon, daughter Kylin, step-son Connor, step-daughter Anna, Oliver Rudy (Boston Terrier), family, and friends, as well as participating in as many sporting functions and events as time permits.

Jeremy joined the MYAS staff in February of 2002 after fellow Brainerd alum and current MYAS employee Dawson Blanck informed him of a job opening. Jeremy’s primary duties at the MYAS have been focused primarily on the wrestling and basketball programs. He is a graduate of Brainerd High School and went on to earn his A.A. degree from Central Lakes Community College. He continued his studies at Minnesota State University, Moorhead where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health. Prior to joining the MYAS staff, Jeremy completed his internship at the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department where he began working as a seasonal employee when he was 12 years old. When Jeremy is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Lance joined the Wisconsin Sports Services at its beginning in 2013 and currently serves as the Associate Director and program lead for all Basketball, Baseball and Fastpitch programs. Lance grew up in Blaine, Minnesota where he grew up playing a variety of different sports including Football and Baseball. After graduating from St. Cloud University with his degree in Sports Management Lance worked for the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services for 3 years prior to taking on the role of the Associate Director of the Wisconsin Sports Services. Lance is currently serving in the role of Commissioner for the Gopher State Baseball League and also the Director of the Midwest Wrestling Tour. When Lance is not working you can either find him at a local softball field or fishing.

Adam grew up in Blaine, MN playing Football and Baseball while attending Blaine High School. After graduating from St. Cloud University with his degree in Sports Management, Adam served as a Program Director at the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services primarily working in the sport of Baseball. In 2013, he and his brother Lance took on the responsibility of creating the Wisconsin Sports Services (WSS) and acted in the role of Associate Director for the organization until March 2020 when the pandemic forced a return to the MYAS mothership in Minnesota. Adam currently serves as Associate Director – Strategic Development and Brand Management as well as Director of Trusted Coaches. When Adam is not working you can usually find him hitting sweet bombs on the softball field or looking for his golf balls at a local course.

Siri joined the staff of the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services in January of 1991 at the invitation of former Executive Director, Dan Klinkhammer. She began her college education in Traverse City, Michigan, and later transferred to Concordia College, Moorhead, where she graduated cum laude with a major in English Writing and a minor in Business Administration. Siri’s early career was in the health care field, having worked in nursing homes in Minnesota and Michigan. She also spent more than a year with the Minnesota Sports Federation. While Siri has served in a number of capacities during her years at the MYAS, her current duties consist primarily of serving as office manager, human resources coordinator, assistant gambling manager, and assistant to the CFO.

Dan joined the MYAS in September of 2006. He is responsible for selling and servicing corporate sponsorships and donations. Dan was a member of the Minnesota Twins ticket sales staff from 1999-2006 where he was a leader in generating group ticket sales. Prior to his position with the Twins, he held sales positions with the Minnesota Vikings and Valleyfair. In 1993 he was the third person hired by the St. Paul Saints and worked there for four seasons as Director of Advertising Sales. Dan graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Management. Dan, his wife Cindy, and their children Ben and Sarah reside in Eagan. Golf and rock-n-roll music are two of his main interests.

Eric has been with MYAS since 1997. He implements and coordinates one of the country’s largest youth travelling basketball tournaments, the MYAS Grade State Basketball Championships. He is also an MYAS assistant gambling manager. Eric states that one of the strengths of the MYAS team is that they assist each other with their programs to make them the best. As an example, he helps with baseball and other basketball operations in addition to his own programs. He brings a love for all sports and a desire to provide them to youth athletes across Minnesota. Eric graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Concordia University, St. Paul, where he was a four-year starter on the football team. Eric has a daughter – Jade – and a son, Maddox.

Kevin is a native of Cedar Rapids, IA, where he graduated from Washington Senior High School. He received a full athletic scholarship to play basketball for the University of North Dakota. He had a very successful career at UND, receiving the Freshman of the Year award and a varsity letter his junior year. During his college summer months, Kevin coached basketball and worked local high school basketball camps in North Dakota. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks and Recreation with an emphasis in Leadership. After college, Kevin moved to the Twin Cities area and worked for six years as a Manager for U.S. Swim and Fitness. He moved on to work for the Minneapolis nonprofit YouthCARE (Youth for Culture Appreciation and Racial Equality) for five years as the Urban Program Director, planning and developing recreation programs, leadership and educational activities, sports and special events. He also planned and led diversity workshops, leadership conferences and retreats.

Debbie has been involved in charitable gaming for 33 years. She began working for MYAS in 2004 as a site manager, moved up to assistant gambling manager in 2007, and became gambling manager in June 2009. Debbie enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls, Ashley and Amanda.

Bobby started at MYAS in April 2012 as an intern. His primary responsibilities as Program Director are baseball and swimming. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in Sports and Recreation Management. When Bobby is not working he enjoys winning basketball games against his co-workers and gets out fishing whenever he gets the chance.

Sports and athletics have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I raced competitive BMX for about six years and then got back into playing team sports. When I finally realized that my best playing days were behind me, I found my passion for becoming an official. I still wanted to be a part of the game and officiating gave me that avenue. I’ve been calling games for over 30 years now and am still currently active officiating in the sports of Basketball, Baseball, Soccer and Fast Pitch. I accepted the duties and responsibilities of the MYAS Director of Officials with the ultimate goal of infusing excitement in becoming an official. Just as being a player has it’s certain demands, executing the role of an official brings with it its own challenges and rewards. With on-court training, proper mechanics and rules knowledge any official can go as far as they would like in this profession. When I envision the future of officiating at the MYAS, I see a new generation of officials that not only want to give back to the game and still be an important part of it but also hone the craft of officiating and ascend the ranks. I’m very passionate about being an official and I want to change the perception of what being an official looks like and what it feels like. Right now, is a great time to start your officiating career and with our help here at the MYAS we’ll help you achieve your goals! Remember… I’m one of you. Officials working on behalf of officials!

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Akua graduated from North Community High School in 1992, and attended Mississippi Valley State University before returning home and working for the Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities as Teen Director. The passion for working with youth led Akua to Minneapolis Public Schools as a Behavior Dean and Athletic Director, where he stayed for 17 years until joining the MYAS family in January of 2022. With Akua’s background growing up and working in Minneapolis, it was a perfect situation for him to join the team in the role as community engagement director.

Adam, a former participant in MYAS athletics, grew up in New Hope, MN and attended Robbinsdale Cooper High School where he was a 3-sport athlete in Football, Basketball, and Lacrosse, before graduating in 2018. From there he accepted a football scholarship to attend Concordia University – St. Paul, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management while working as an intern with MYAS starting in November of 2021. He will primarily serve as a program coordinator for Baseball and Basketball with supplementary roles in Football and Wrestling.

Jesse joined the MYAS staff in November 2022 after spending 15 years as a coach, instructor, and program director for the Minnesota Blizzard. He grew up in Springfield, MN playing baseball, basketball, and football. Jesse played baseball at the University of St. Thomas and graduated with a degree in Economics. That passion for baseball and for helping youth athletes led to his first coaching gig, with Mahtomedi in the Gopher State Baseball League. Jesse will be bringing that same passion to MYAS as a program director, primarily in the baseball division.

Chris proudly joined the MYAS Team as Accountant/Bookkeeper in February 2024. He has spent the majority of his career in the nonprofit sector, working and volunteering for several local charities. A self-proclaimed Accounting Nerd, he studied the field at Anoka Technical College and University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Chris resides within walking distance of MYAS Headquarters in Spring Lake Park with his girlfriend and an extensive Bryan Danielson memorabilia collection (for which he is still attempting to obtain a world record). As if accounting doesn’t provide enough fun in his life, his free time is spent cheering on the Minnesota Twins, attending local pro-wrestling events, and perusing the selections at trading card shows.

Michael Kyllo-Kittleson joined MYAS in December 2024. Her career began in collegiate athletics with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Softball program, where she was named the program’s first-ever Director of Operations following her graduation from the “U”. From there, Michael transitioned into national media, covering fastpitch softball for multiple outlets and building a reputation as a thoughtful, honest, and creative storyteller in the space.

She went on to lead social media and content marketing efforts at The Alliance Fastpitch, helping grow the startup’s national presence through dynamic digital strategy and impactful storytelling.

Beyond the marketing world, Michael is a passionate photographer and videographer, devoted animal lover, and proud plant parent.

Nick joined the MYAS in January of 2026. He grew up in Champlin and Rockford, Minnesota, and attended Rockford High School, where he was a four-year letterman in both basketball and baseball. During his high school years, Nick founded Swish33 Basketball Training, providing individual and group basketball skill development for athletes ages 7–18. He also grew up participating in MYAS basketball and baseball tournaments starting at a very young age, experiences that helped shape his lifelong passion for youth sports and ultimately inspired his desire to build a career working for the same organization he grew up playing in.

Nick graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Sports Management and Marketing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nick accepted a Sports Director position in Nebraska, marking the beginning of his professional career in sports. He brought his Minnesota sports roots with him—often finding himself playfully clashing with devoted Cornhusker fans while proudly representing Minnesota athletics.

He currently resides in Hudson, Wisconsin with his partner Kara and their daughter Emersyn. In his free time, Nick enjoys spending time with his family, heading up north to fish, boat, and kayak, and volunteering his time coaching basketball.

He is passionate about youth sports and is focused on providing opportunities that foster growth, enjoyment, and lifelong memories for young athletes.

Aidan joined the MYAS team in February of 2026. He grew up in Otsego, Minnesota, competing in MYAS basketball and baseball events all throughout his childhood. He attended Rogers High School, where he played soccer and basketball before graduating in 2019. From there he moved on to Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, where he was a member of the men’s soccer team. He graduated summa cum laude from Bethany in 2023 with an English degree and a focus on Multimedia Writing, as well as a Spanish minor. Post-college, he’s worked as a children’s nonfiction author and editor, writing over 50 books. Additionally, he has served as a tournament director for countless MYAS basketball and baseball events. As an avid sports fan, Aidan enjoys playing, watching, and talking all sports. He especially likes playing soccer and supporting his favorite team, Liverpool FC.

For nearly two decades, youth sports have been more than a volunteer commitment for Casey Irish. They have been a passion, a purpose, and a way to positively impact the lives of young athletes and families throughout our community.

Casey’s journey in youth athletics began on local fields and courts, coaching baseball, basketball, and football while serving in leadership roles that helped shape youth sports in Forest Lake and surrounding communities.

Since 2013, he has served as President of Forest Lake Youth Football, leading one of Minnesota’s largest youth football organizations and supporting more than 800 athletes annually. In that role, he has overseen operations, managed budgets, coordinated hundreds of volunteers, and helped create positive opportunities for young athletes and families.
Beyond football, Casey has served in leadership positions with multiple youth sports organizations, including the Forest Lake Area Athletic Association (FLAAA), youth baseball, basketball, and booster club programs. These experiences have strengthened my background in organizational leadership, volunteer management, fundraising, governance, and community engagement.
His coaching experience spans nearly 20 years across baseball, basketball, and football at both youth and high school levels. Since 2017, Casey has been part of the Forest Lake High School football program, currently serving as Varsity Defensive Assistant Coach, JV Defensive Coordinator, and 7th Grade Head Coach.
Joining Minnesota Youth Athletic Services (MYAS) is especially meaningful because it combines my passion for youth sports with an opportunity to support associations, coaches, volunteers, and athletes across Minnesota. MYAS has built an outstanding reputation, and he is excited to contribute his leadership, experience, and energy to help strengthen and expand that foundation.

Youth sports teach lessons that extend far beyond the game, including leadership, resilience, teamwork, and personal growth. Casey is honored to join the MYAS family and look forward to helping create exceptional experiences and lifelong memories for young athletes throughout Minnesota

Rich began his career at the Minnesota Youth Athletic Services in 1995. Over the years, Rich was a Program Coordinator, had a short stint as the company’s accountant, Senior Program Director, Director or Basketball, and Associate Director, since 2019. He also served as the AAU’s National Vice-Chair for their junior golf program for seven years. He has seen astonishing growth in all MYAS programs. As an example, basketball has grown from less than a hundred teams to well over a 1,800 in Grade State. Rich is a 1981 graduate of Duluth East High School where he was a three-sport letter winner in football, baseball and hockey. He played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he graduated with a double major in Health and Physical Education with a coaching minor. Rich was a member of the 1983-84 NAIA National Hockey Championship team and finished his playing career as the leading scorer in Blue-Gold history. He has been heavily involved with coaching various youth and high school sports since 1986. Rich and his wife, Mary, have two sons. Rich says, “Life used to revolve around our children’s sports schedules, but I wouldn’t change any of it as we were able to share some great times with our children. While those days were filled with great memories, it sure is nice that they are both done playing and we’re not running 24/7 to all their games and practices. Now, we look forward to going to our grandchildren’s games.”

On December 31, 2025, Rich retired from MYAS after three decades of dedication and service to our organization and its mission. (MYAS Tribute). His institutional knowledge is immense. His commitment never wavered. And his legacy, particularly in scheduling, will be nearly impossible to replace.

On January 1, 2026 Rich moved into a part-time consulting role over the next year.

Thank you, Rich, for the many ways you blessed your peers and colleagues, and, most importantly, the countless youth athletes who have benefited from your care and expertise.