Celebrating the leaders shaping the future of cheer—one athlete, one program, and one act of impact at a time.

Big change doesn’t always come from big stages.

It happens quietly—in training halls, choreography sessions, judges’ rooms, offices, and late-night conversations where belief is built and courage is reinforced.

This year’s Ten Who Make a Difference honors individuals whose influence reaches far beyond routines and trophies. They are innovators, protectors, educators, storytellers, and builders of safe, joyful, athlete-first spaces. Their work is reshaping cheer at the local, national, and global level—and their impact will be felt for generations.

After reviewing hundreds of nominations, listening to athletes, families, coaches, and programs across the country, we’re proud to introduce our 2025 honorees.

Specifically, each of these ten leaders embodies what real difference-making looks like in cheer:
integrity, compassion, ingenuity, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to young people.

Lisa Aucoin — Global Educator & Champion for Women in Cheer

Spring CDT • Bloom Agency

With a career spanning 55+ countries, Lisa has become one of cheerleading’s most influential educators. The founder of Spring CDT and Bloom Agency, she has trained thousands of coaches, elevated international standards, and championed women’s leadership in the sport.

Her work has built bridges across the world, significantly expanding access to high-quality education, and shaping the evolution of cheer as a global discipline.Lisa’s legacy is one of empowerment, innovation, and relentless commitment to lifting the industry higher.

Catherine Calloway — Community Builder & Advocate for Access

Technique Gems — Co-Founder & Owner

For over 30 years, Catherine has proved that elite talent exists everywhere. As the driving force behind Chicago’s Technique Gems, she didn’t just remove barriers, she shattered ceilings. She delivered on her mission in 2019, when she led the ‘Glitter Girls’ to an NCA championship title, becoming the first African-American team from the Midwest to do so.

That victory wasn’t just for the jackets- it was a statement on representation and possibility. For this purpose, Calloway continues to redefine what access looks like in all-star cheer.

Craig Hallmark — Scoring Architect & Advocate for Fairness

Open Championship Series — Scoring Director

For nearly three decades, Craig has shaped cheerleading at every level—as a coach, gym owner, judge, choreographer, and entrepreneur. His recent work with the Open Championship Series has been transformational, effectively dismantling the “black box” of judging. By engineering a more transparent, objective-based scoring model, he replaced subjective guesswork with clear, teachable standards. Moreover, Hallmark has built successful ground up businesses within the industry such as J&C Cheer Camps and 5678 Solutions.

He has made the rubric available and understandable to everyone, ensuring that every gym—regardless of size or politics—has the tools to succeed.As a result of his commitment to integrity the competitive landscape has leveled out for thousands of athletes.

Kayla Wygal — Judge Educator & Protector of Athlete Experience

Deep South Spirit — Director of Scoring & Education

Kayla’s influence on modern judging is unmatched. Known for her fairness, clarity, and passion for the athlete experience, she has built a national education pipeline for judges and junior coaches—ensuring the future of cheer is rooted in consistency and care. Her work behind the scenes has improved event accuracy, reduced scoring errors, and raised the bar for what ethical, athlete-centered adjudication looks like.

Kayla leads with heart, humility, and relentless commitment to doing things the right way.

Adrien Rocha — Leader in Athlete Mental Health & Gym Culture

The California All Stars Ontario — Gym Director

Adrien’s leadership is centered on something cheer desperately needs: emotional safety and mental well-being for athletes.
A former elite athlete, now a gym director, he creates environments where young people feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow, both as competitors and humans. The California All Stars have long used the motto “Faith Over Fear,” but Rocha moves this into a coaching methodology by actively creating environments where “fear” is destigmatized.

His work bridges sport and psychology, setting a new standard for what supportive, inclusive, high-performance coaching looks like.

Javonté Patterson — Innovator in Tumbling Education & Athlete Development

Precision Tumbling — Co-Founder & Lead Instructor

Beloved across the country, Javonté is a technician, teacher, and mentor who brings joy and clarity to a discipline athletes often fear.
Not only with grassroots camps for beginners, but also elite collaboration with top programs; he has created a tumbling methodology centered on confidence, communication, and growth without ego.

Patterson’s philosophy, “Don’t chase others’ success, create your own,” is reshaping tumbling culture into one grounded in authenticity, confidence, and athlete-first progress.

Adrian Butler — Builder of Belonging & Next-Generation Leadership

Top Gun Allstars – Savannah — Owner/Coach

Adrian Butler’s story is one of heart. Having grown through the Top Gun system as an athlete and coach before bringing the Jags to Georgia, he now leads a large program with love, discipline, and a deep belief in young people.

Butler has proven that culture isn’t found in a logo, but in leadership—creating a space that feels less like another franchise location and more like a new heartbeat for the brand. Proving that the “family” aspect of the brand travels just as well as the technique.

McKinley Fichtner — Accountability-Focused Coach & Culture Shaper

Cheer Sport Sharks – Northeast — Coach & Choreographer

McKinley represents the future of coaching: technically sharp, emotionally intelligent, and deeply invested in athlete accountability and personal growth.
Her teams describe her as transformative—creating environments where athletes learn responsibility, trust, and resilience.

All in all, Fichtner represents a new era of coaches, as a rising leader with World Championship experience and a decade plus of coaching. She is already reshaping what a strong, balanced culture can look like in elite all-star programs.

Jaylee Sheffield

The Cheer Connection — Athlete & Coach

At just 17, Jaylee Sheffield is a dual-role athlete and coach impacting athletes across levels. Her leadership, technical understanding, and commitment to mentorship embody the future of cheer. Sheffield represents what this recognition was designed for—young professionals already changing the sport from within.

Patrick Cowherd — Safety Advocate, Innovator & Industry Leader

PC Brands • Cheercussion • Hollywood Cheer & Tumble — Coach, Entrepreneur, Advocate

Few individuals have pushed cheer forward as consistently as Patrick Cowherd. A former collegiate champion turned entrepreneur, Cowherd has committed his career to athlete protection, safety advocacy, and creating industry standards that put athlete well-being at the forefront. His work in developing safety products, concussion awareness, and resources for programs nationwide is actively changing the industry.

Cowherd’s leadership is both visionary and deeply personal—driven by a steady commitment to progress, safety, and the long-term health of the sport.

A New Standard for Recognition

This inaugural class reflects the depth and diversity of our industry:

• International educators
• Program builders
• Judging and scoring innovators
• Safety advocates
• Community leaders
• Next-gen coaches and creators

Follow along with us at CheerDaily.com and on all of our social profiles to learn more about each honorees impact and trajectory.

Real stories
Real leaders
Real difference-makers
The sport is stronger because of them.