Instructor Bios

CheerExpo 2011 Feature Judges & Instructors
Matt Rhine – Lexington, SC
Has 15 years experience in the cheerleading industry. He is the owner of
the Flying High Academy and has coached and choreographed for all
USASF levels. He has judged for many companies and has judged
Nationals for Cheersport, US Cheer, National Cheer Stars and American
Open Nationals. Matt was a head instructor for CCA, ACX and UCA and is
also the owner of Pioneer Cheer and Dance. He is USASF credentialed,
and AACCA and USAG certified.
Karen Stearns - Plantation, FL
Karen has over 23 years of coaching experience for all levels of both
school and allstar and has numerous National titles. Founder and CoOwner of Power Cheer All Star Gym (US one). Judges nationally for a
variety of companies including American Championships, Cheersport,
Champion Spirit Group, Pop Warner Nationals, AYF Nationals, Cheer Ltd,
Canam, AAU Jr. Olympics, and The Cheerleading Worlds (USASF/IASF).
Julie Mihaljevic – Lancaster, PA
Julie, a former Hempfield High school cheerleader, has been involved in
the cheerleading industry for twenty six years. She is the former coach at
St Leo the Great school and Synergy Elite all stars. In her time coaching
Synergy Elite, Julie earned numerous National Titles. For the past 8 years
she has judged for many Cheer companies including American Cheer and
Dance, Mardi Gras National, The Coastal Corporation, American Cheer
Power, Champion Spirit Group and NCA. As well as All levels, US Finals
and Cheerleading Worlds. She is safety certified by USASF.
Luke Johnson - Chicago, IL
Choreographing since he was 20, his career blasted off 6 years ago when
he helped the Maryland Twisters F-5 attain “World Champion” status.
Since then he’s accrued 15 other World medals and helped 32 programs in
their Worlds dreams in 2010 alone. To Luke, the sport of cheerleading is a
calling. He cherishes every opportunity to push the envelope and inspire
through innovative transitions, visual appeal, and intricate dances woven
into seamless routines that have cinematic energy. Teams he’s worked
with include The Maryland Twisters, Spirit of Texas, Austin Cheer Factory,
Ace of Alabama, Arizona Power Xtreme, California Allstars and Cheer
Extreme to name a few.
Stephen Chorba – Bloomington, IL
Steve is a 14 year instructor for Universal Cheerleaders Association,
teaching camps all over the U.S., as well as Europe and Asia. Steve
cheered at Depaul University as well as the University of Louisville. He
has five years of collegiate coaching experience as well as two years
coaching cheer in Denmark. He currently is the head coach at Illinois State
University.
Kim Steffen – Cincinnati, OH
With over 31 years of coaching experience, Kim has been the face of
cheerleading in KY since the birth of all-stars. As one of the founders of
Kentucky Elite North All-Stars, Kim has been a coach and director with the
program every season. Kim is the also the head coach at Turkeyfoot
Middle School,
Allstar Director of Premier Athletics in Cincinnati
(Cincinnati Elite Allstars) and the state director for USASF Credentialing for
Kentucky.
Deanna Mason – Grimsby, ON
With 5 years as an athlete and over 10 years coaching experience Deanna
has many Provincial, National and International championships under her
belt. Deanna is USASF, AACCA, NCSSE, and NCCP certified. She is also
a certified USASF safety judge and sat on the judges committee for the
Ontario Cheerleading Federation (OCF). As past president of the OCF,
Deanna coordinated many events, meetings and regional competitions and
championships. Deanna has judged regionally and nationally for OCF,
FCQ, PCA, Cheer Central USA, Kicks and JamFest.
Jeff Laber – Independence, KY
In his 20 years of cheerleading experience, Jeff has judged
Regionally and Nationally for KY Coaches Association, NLCC, Final
Destination and AmeriCheer. As a cheerleader for the University of
Kentucky he claimed 2 UCA National Championships in '
95 and '
96.
He has coached University and all levels of All-star and has won
numerous Championships, including bids to Worlds in 05 and 06. He
has been an instructor for UCA and AmeriCheer; is a speaker at
National Conferences and a writer for American Cheerleader
Magazine.
Brian Payne - Middletown, DE
AKA "The Tumbling Guy" or "The Guru of Tumbling". With over 36 years of
experience, he holds national judging and safety credentials in gymnastics,
springboard diving, sports acrobatics, trampoline, tumbling, cheerleading
and dance. His teams have won numerous championship titles in a
multitude of acrobatic related sports including World Championships in three
different sports. Brian has also presented for the Cheerleading Worlds
Coaches Conference, National Coaches Conference, US Olympic
Development Program, American All Star Coaches Convention and the US
Trampoline & Tumbling Congress and has featured columns in several
cheer magazines.
Kenny Feeley - San Diego, CA
After winning two state championships, a National Championship and 4
partner stunt championships in high school, Kenny was the captain at
University of Nevada for 4 years competing at UCA College Nationals and
winning USA Partner Stunt Nationals in 98’-99’. Moving east, he competed
with the National Champion University of Louisville for 3 years and was the
assistant cheerleading coach at Clemson University. He is a nationally
ranked partner stunter for both UCA and NCA, a five year head instructor for
JAMZ, Speed Skills, CompetiCheer and Spirit Sports and was a college
instructor for NCA for 7yrs.
Chuck Holland – Richmond Hill, ON
With over 27 years of extensive involvement in the cheerleading industry,
Chuck has been instrumental in the Ontario Cheerleading Federation (OCF).
He has held the position of Logistics Coordinator, Treasurer, Judges
Coordinator, Judge Training and President. He has trained coaches and
judges and successfully coordinated OCF Championships for the past 21
years and has led the way in developing Cheer Canada. He has coached for
26 years and won many championships. He is an AACCA and USASF
certifier and has judged at the regional and national level for the OCF, FCQ,
UCA, PCA, Cheer Alliance, Americheer, Cheer Ltd, and the ICU World
Cheerleading Champions.
Kevin Braasch - Middletown, PA
Kevin has over 15 years experience as an athlete, coach and judge. A
former NCA instructor and gym manager, choreographer and coach at Gym
Tyme, he lead teams to over 150 national titles and several choreography
awards. A recipient of the Top 30 under 30 by Cheer Ltd., he is USASF and
AACCA certified. He’s been a speaker at several conferences and as a
USASF Safety Certified Judge he has judged for Jamfest, America'
s Best,
Coastal Corporation (2010 Judge of the Year), LIVE, All Star Challenge,
Spirit Fest, American Championships, Pac West, Cheersport and Spirit
Unlimited.
Jeremy Wong – Vancouver, BC
Plays Darwin from HELLCATS. With 18 years gymnastics and 9 years of
cheerleading experience, he is a former 5-time Men’s Provincial Gymnastics
champion and former member of the Canadian National Team. He is the
Co-owner of Pure Energy Choreography Canada and Director of Northern
Athletic Cheer. He is the former captain of Vancouver All-Stars IO Coed,
Simon Fraser University and 2-time ICU World Champion “Team Canada”.
He was the 1st Pro X Pro-level Canadian Athlete (1 of only 2) and has been
an ATC camp instructor for the past 5 years. He currently coaches VAS IO
All Girl and is fully USASF credentialed.
Melissa Conrad – Halifax, NS
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Tiy Fountain – Freehold, NJ
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