Staff (alphabetical order)

Mark Bockelman, Director of NCAA Drug Testing

816-474-8655 * 107
mbockelman@drugfreesport.com

Mark Bockelman joined Drug Free Sport in January 2008 as Director of NCAA Drug Testing.  Bockelman brings high-level experience from his previous position with the NCAA where he managed several Division I and Division III national championships.  Bockelman now oversees the administration of the NCAA drug-testing program, which recently renewed its contract with Drug Free Sport through 2013.

Robin Burton, Account Manager

816-474-8655 * 122
rburton@drugfreesport.com

Robin Burton joined Drug Free Sport in August 2004. Prior to her arrival, she served as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for Florida Atlantic University. She received her Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from FAU, and has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education/Athletic Training from Eastern Kentucky University.

Burton has been a certified athletic trainer for eleven years, and she also is member of the National Athletic Training Association.

Sherry Byler, NCAA Drug-Testing Associate Program Manager

816-474-8655 * 120
sbyler@drugfreesport.com

Sherry Thalmann Byler is the Drug Free Sport contact for the NCAA Division I and Division II drug-testing notifications. Byler joined Drug Free Sport in November 2002 after graduating from Kansas State University with a bachelor of science in business administration.  While at Kansas State University, Byler worked in the Wildcat football office as a student secretary and was involved in several intramural sports such as softball, volleyball and basketball.

Michelle Dorsey, NCAA Drug-Testing Program Manager

816-474-8655 * 116
mdorsey@drugfreesport.com

Michelle Dorsey coordinates the administration of NCAA drug-testing programs and testing events. Dorsey joined the NCAA in 1998 to assist with its drug-testing programs. Prior to her arrival at the NCAA, Dorsey was editor and quality coordinator of a design and printing department at a financial institution. Dorsey has a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology with emphasis in sport communications and a minor in sociology from Indiana University.

Chris Guinty, Vice President

816-474-8655 * 121
cguinty@drugfreesport.com

Chris Guinty received his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Lawin 2000, graduating in the top of his class. Before coming to Drug Free Sport, Guinty was a corporate associate with the Chicago-based law firm of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal and worked for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C.

In his legal practice, Guinty represented several professional athletes in corporate transactional matters. Guinty is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and the Sports Lawyers Association.

Megan Leithead, Administrative Services Coordinator

816-474-8655 * 101
mleithead@drugfreesport.com

Megan Crawford is the administrative services coordinator for Drug Free Sport.  Crawford joined Drug Free Sport in August 2007 after serving as the community relations and client services coordinator with the Tri-City Storm hockey team in Kearney, Nebraska.  Crawford graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a bachelor of science in sport administration.

Daniel Linhart, NCAA Drug-Testing Assistant Program Manager

816/474-8655 *108

dlinhart@drugfreesport.com

Daniel Linhart is the Drug Free Sport contact for the NCAA Division III Pilot Program drug-testing notifications. Prior to joining Drug Free Sport in June 2006, Linhart was a representative in the member services department at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Previously, Linhart provided administrative support for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 2005 national convention. Linhart is a 2005 graduate of the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor of science in education, sport and fitness management.

Sylvette Lopez-Ruth, Sport Drug-Testing Collector

816-474-8655 * 110
lopezruth@drugfreesport.com

Sylvette Lopez-Ruth joined the in-house certified sport drug-testing collection team at Drug Free Sport in 2005.  Lopez-Ruth is a former assistant women's swim coach at Minnesota State University-Moorhead.  Lopez-Ruth also was a high-school head swim coach for girls and boys teams, and she is a registered medical assistant with 13 years of experience in pediatrics laboratory work. Lopez-Ruth graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education and Spanish from Minnesota State-Moorhead. Lopez-Ruth also was a varsity swimmer for Ohio State University.  Lopez-Ruth is also a graduate of American InterContinental University, where she earned a master's degree in business administration.  She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

J.D. Matheus, Director of Professional Sports Drug Testing

816-474-8655 * 114
jmatheus@drugfreesport.com

J.D. Matheus joined the Drug Free Sport staff in February 2005. Matheus previously worked in the front office of Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros, where he was assistant to foreign operations and liaison to Latin American academies. Matheus has a master’s degree in sports psychology from John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, Calif., and a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology/sports administration from the University of Houston. Matheus is fluent in English and Spanish, and he also is a former golf teaching professional.

Nick Matheus, Director of NFL Drug Testing

816-474-8655 * 115
nmatheus@drugfreesport.com

Prior to assuming his current role, Matheus previously served as Professional Sports Account Manager and also as a sport drug-testing collector for Drug Free Sport. Matheus came to Drug Free Sport from Major League Baseball's Houston Astros, where he spent four years working in various positions, including as assistant volunteer coordinator for the all-star game. Matheus also was a PGA Apprentice and assistant golf pro in Houston. Matheus is a graduate of the University of Houston, where he earned a bachelor's degree in sports administration with a minor in Spanish. He is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Chris Nordby, Director of High School Drug Testing

816-474-8655 * 126
cnordby@drugfreesport.com

Chris Nordby joined the Drug Free Sport staff in February 2005. Nordby was previously with the Clinical Reference Laboratory in Lenexa, Kan., where he most recently managed the sales and administrative staff in the toxicology business unit. Nordby has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baker University.

Rachel Olander, Manager of SCAN and Information Technology

816-474-8655 * 117
rolander@drugfreesport.com

Rachel Olander provides technical support to Drug Free Sport collectors and staff. A former Division I basketball and track athlete, Olander has a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and exercise science from Appalachian State University.

Eric Patterson, Director of the Resource Exchange Center (REC)

816-474-8655 * 129
epatterson@drugfreesport.com

Prior to his promotion in June 2007 to director of the REC, Eric Patterson was a sport drug-testing collector for Drug Free Sport. Patterson came to Drug Free Sport from Ameriquest Mortgage, where he was a mortgage and debt consolidation specialist. Patterson is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business communication and was a student-athlete in football and track and field. Patterson also has a master's degree in marketing from American Intercontinental University.

Daniel Regan, Director of Sales and Marketing

816-474-8655 * 123
dregan@drugfreesport.com

Daniel Regan joined Drug Free Sport in May 2007 from

the Kansas City Sports Commission, where he was marketing and event coordinator and produced events in

conjunction with athletics organizations, including the NCAA, Big 12 Conference, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Royals.  Previously, he served as an athletics event coordinator for Wichita State University.

Regan has a master’s degree in sport administration from Wichita State University and a bachelor’s degree in business from Bethany College, where he was a student-athlete and team captain in baseball. 

JaMarcus Shephard, NFL Program Manager

816-474-8655 * 127
jshephard@drugfreesport.com

JaMarcus Shephard joined Drug Free Sport as a sport drug-testing collector in August 2007 and was promoted to NFL Program Manager in August 2008.  Prior to his arrival, he was on staff in the Championships and Education Services departments at the NCAA.  Shephard was a student-athlete participating in football and track & field at DePauw University, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in sports medicine.

Michaela Stemmons, Account Manager

816-474-8655 * 113
mstemmons@drugfreesport.com

Michaela Stemmons joined Drug Free Sport staff after working as a certified athletic trainer for a Division I university and for a 5A high school and school district in Texas. She has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association since 1995.

Stemmons has a bachelor of arts in sports science with an emphasis in athletic training from the University of Kansas and a master's degree in educational research and psychology with an emphasis in sport and exercise psychology from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Cindy Thomas, Director of Collector Development and Certification

816-474-8655 * 112
cthomas@drugfreesport.com

Cindy Thomas has more than 18 years of experience in collegiate athletic training, academics and athletics administration. In 1995, she joined the NCAA to assist in administering the national drug-testing program. Prior to her arrival at the NCAA, Thomas served as an associate head athletic trainer and lecturer at an NCAA member institution. She served on a campus drug-free committee and on the committee for the University of North Carolina system drug-testing programs. Thomas has completed consortium/third party management coursework and is also a member of the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA). Thomas is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and serves on various committees and task forces.

She has a master’s degree in physical education with a specialization in athletic training from Indiana State University and a bachelor of science in health and physical education from Longwood College.

Kathy Turpin, Director of College and University Drug-Testing Operations

816-474-8655 * 128
kturpin@drugfreesport.com

Kathy Turpin has more than 25 years as a collegiate athletics administrator and coach. She joined Drug Free Sport in 2007 from Sports Association Management, Inc. where she served as a consultant to several collegiate athletic organizations.

A longtime NCAA Division II administrator, compliance coordinator and professor of physical education, Turpin has been a frequent presenter on NCAA compliance issues and has served on numerous conference and NCAA committees.  Turpin is also a former women's collegiate basketball coach and served a two-year term as chair of NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee. 

Turpin has a master’s degree in physical education from Western Illinois University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she was a four-year starter on the women's basketball team.  She is currently persuing a doctorate in higher education administration from Barry University.

Frank Uryasz, President

816-474-8655 * 111
furyasz@drugfreesport.com

Frank Uryasz has more than 20 years of senior management experience in not-for-profit educational and athletics organizations.

In 1986 the NCAA asked Uryasz to establish its national drug-testing program and assume leadership responsibility for the association’s sports sciences division.

Prior to his arrival at the NCAA, Uryasz served as an academic advisor to undergraduate student-athletes at the University of Nebraska and managed student-services functions at two other colleges.

Uryasz has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a bachelor of science in life sciences from the same institution. Uryasz is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) through the American Society of Association Executives. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Chairman of the Joint Commission on Sports Medicine and Science and a graduate of the Betty Ford Center Professional in Residence Program. He is a member of the USA Football Health and Safety Committee and a former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Anti-Doping Committee. Also a member of the Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association, Uryasz is a Certified Professional Collector Trainer. This certification allows Uryasz to teach collector-training programs ensuring proficiency in collection services according to proper regulations and guidelines.

Andrea Wickerham, Vice President

816-474-8655 * 118
awickerham@drugfreesport.com

Andrea Wickerham received her juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1999, graduating in the top 15 percent of her class. Before coming to Drug Free Sport, she was an associate with the law firm of Husch & Eppenberger in Kansas City, Mo.

Wickerham has more than 14 years of experience in collegiate athletics. Prior to pursuing her law degree, Wickerham was an assistant field hockey coach (University of Iowa and the University of Michigan), an assistant basketball coach (University of Michigan), an assistant director of athletics (Central Connecticut State University and Harvard University), and a director of athletics (Luther College). As an athletics administrator, she has developed and implemented NCAA rules education and compliance programs, drug and alcohol education programs, student-athlete assistance programs, and coordinated drug-testing events. Wickerham is a graduate of the Betty Ford Professional- in-Residence program.

Wickerham has a master’s degree in athletics administration from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in history from Ursinus College. Wickerham is licensed to practice law in Missouri state courts and in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Missouri. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators and the American Association of University Women.