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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men.”
~ Colossians 3:23
Paradise Jam Logo Library
Visit
us at Basketball Travelers.com
General Tournament Overview
We are a company established in 1985 to arrange domestic and international
basketball competition. Our staff is comprised of former coaches and players who
have an outstanding network of basketball contacts around the world. All but one
of our staff members competed in athletics at the collegiate level.
Over 200 collegiate and high school teams participate annually in tours and
tournaments organized by Basketball Travelers, Inc. In addition, we organize
NCAA foreign exhibition games as well as international Olympic-qualifying tournaments
for national teams.
As basketball's popularity and skill level continues to grow around the world,
Basketball Travelers, Inc. seeks not only to contribute to the sport's development,
but also to facilitate goodwill and understanding between nations and peoples
of all backgrounds.
The Staff:
Jennifer Ashby,
Paradise Jam Tournament Director
Jenn directs the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, BTI's Division I tournament
in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. Jenn also works directly with Nels, primarily handling
the administrative details involved in the organization of foreign and domestic
tours. Jenn played basketball at Puget Sound Christian College.
Nels Hawkinson, Executive Director
Nels is the executive director of BTI and is a well-known and respected member
of the international basketball community. Nels has a masters degree in
Sports
Administration, has played and coached in the US and overseas, and is a certified
FIBA instructor. He has traveled to 50+ countries to establish his network
of
international basketball contacts.
Neal Holden, President
Neal directs the business and administrative end of
BTI. His knowledge of computers and background as a
systems analyst has been instrumental in keeping BTI's
daily operations running smoothly and efficiently. Neal
has a master's degree in Business Administration and
also has experience playing and coaching professional
basketball in France and Norway.
Erik Evans, Vice President - Tournaments
Erik played basketball during his undergraduate years at Seattle Pacific University
and also interned at BTI. Since 1992, he has been running our San Diego Surf 'N
Slam Tournament, which has grown into one of the largest Christmas-time high school
competitions in the U.S. Erik also runs the Women’s Sports Foundation certified
tournament in November for NCAA Division I women’s teams.
Nancy Hawkinson, Creative Services Director
Nancy’s duties include updating our two websites, writing the company newsletter,
and adding the special details that make our tours and tournaments an experience
to remember. She has worked for BTI since 1988, but after the birth of her and
Nels’ two children, Joshua and Carlyn, she now works for BTI only part-time.
Nancy played basketball at the University of Washington and professionally in
Denmark.
Jason Sarkies, Sponsorship Coordinator
In addition to his Sponsorship Coordinator duties, Jason directs the Phoenix Cactus
Jam, a boys and girls high school and Men’s Div. III basketball tournament
in the Tempe area held every Christmas. Jason also oversees the WBCA/BTI Classic,
a women’s certified NCAA Div. I tournament held annually in November. Jason
played football at Willamette University and finished his undergraduate work at
Seattle Pacific University. After completing his masters in Athletic Administration
at Ohio State in 1995, Jason began working full-time for BTI.
Craig Jonas, Marketing Consultant
Craig markets BTI to collegiate coaches nationwide and also consults on BTI's
sponsorship and television contracts. He recently stepped down as VP of Business
Development for SportVision and Coaches Edge to pursue duties as a marketing consultant
with the Jonas Group and to complete his PhD from Kansas University in Sport Psychology.
Craig coached at Lakeland College and has served as an advisor on the Olympic
Committee and the South African Professional Basketball League. He is also a certified
FIBA clinician. Craig lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife, Seanna, and
their two children.
Becky Johnson, Travel Manager
Becky brings over 28 years of experience in the travel industry to Basketball
Travelers. Becky coordinates the air ticketing and hotel bookings for our many
tours and tournaments.
Brooke Ingalls, Tour Administrator
Since 2002, Brooke brings Division I coaching and playing experience to her position
here at BTI as a tour and tournament administrator. Her main duties are to
direct the "Junkanno Jam" Grand Bahama Island and "Duel in the
Desert" Las Vegas women’s NCAA Div. I basketball tournaments. She
also
is in charge of administrating the supporters’ tours for summer college
overseas trips. Brooke graduated from UNLV, where she played four years of basketball,
followed by one year as an assistant coach. She hopes to pursue a masters degree
in Sports Management.
Katie Ralph, Special Projects Coordinator
Katie began her career at Basketball Travelers, Inc. in October 2004 as a college
intern from Seattle Pacific University. In June 2006, Katie earned her
degree in marketing and immediately began working full-time at BTI. Her duties
as Special Projects Coordinator are to work with the Paradise Jam boosters and
sponsors, as well as coordinate various research and writing projects. Katie
was a four-year letter-winner in volleyball and also graduated magna cum laude.
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