Event

We Could Be King Panel Discussion | Panelist Biographies

Lauren Hobart | Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Lauren Hobart joined DICK'S Sporting Goods in February 2011 as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. She is responsible for all marketing functions with a focus on further developing not only our brand awareness, but also our brand loyalty. Acting as an internal and external brand champion, Lauren focuses on executing strategies that further solidify and leverage our position as a market leader while simultaneously identifying, targeting and executing new and innovative ways to enhance our customers’ brand engagement. Lauren joined DICK’S after a 14-year career at PepsiCo, where she most-recently served as Chief Marketing Officer, Carbonated Soft Drinks. In addition to other marketing roles within PepsiCo, Lauren also worked for JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo.

Judd Ehrlich | Director & Producer
Judd Ehrlich and Tribeca Film Studios, in partnership with the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, directed the 2014 documentary We Could Be King.  The film depicts two rival Philadelphia high schools forced to merge due to severe budget cuts. The film highlights how the schools’ merged football teams learn to work together not only for the team’s sake, but also for the fractured community they represent on the field. Prior to the film, Judd also directed and produced the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival premiere and public television documentary Run for Your Life, and the Emmy-nominated 2006 public television documentary Mayor of the West Side.

William C. Wade | Principal, Educational Administration/Turnaround Specialist
William Wade is an experienced education professional and high school principal, specializing in the development of administrations and student bodies. He holds 15 years of achievements in the field, most recently implementing the first “Promise Academy” Model for the School District of Philadelphia. He also successfully managed the merger of Martin Luther King and Germantown High Schools over the course of the last year. William holds an Educational Specialist Degree, an Educational Administrative Certification, a Masters of Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Mathematics. He also serves as an active member of several educational boards in the Philadelphia area.

Robert B. Coleman | Executive Director of Athletics
Robert Coleman serves as the Executive Director of Athletics for the School District of Philadelphia, overseeing 153 schools. He is also the PIAA District XII Chairman for Philadelphia’s 45 public, 17 catholic and 32 charter high schools. Through Robert’s efforts, Philadelphia teams have seen state championships for the first time in over 100 years, and are continually growing in number of athletic scholarships earned. Robert holds a Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University, a Master’s degree and Principal Certification from Cheyney University and a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Arcadia University. He is a proud graduate from Philadelphia’s Germantown High School, Class of 1975.

Ed Dunn | Varsity Head Coach
Ed Dunn began his career as Varsity Head Coach at Martin Luther King High School in April 2013. During his first season, Coach Dunn engineered the largest turnaround in the city’s football history, resulting in a 10-win Public League championship team. As Head Coach, he focuses on using football as a motivational tool to inspire students off the field. He believes that with dedication, commitment and creativity, MLK High School will become a premiere program across the district. Prior to MLK, Coach Dunn worked for four years at Germantown High school in various coaching roles. He is a graduate of Morgan State University and holds a degree in Business Marketing.

Emmanual (Manny) Clark | Student/Wide Receiver, MLK High School
Manny Clark is currently a Senior at Martin Luther King High School and plays Wide Receiver on the varsity football team. Manny was a critical component of last year’s championship team (depicted in the documentary).  He can share first-hand experience of the trials and tribulations the team endured.  Unfortunately, Manny tore his ACL in week one of this year’s season, so he will be guiding with seniority and supporting the team from the sidelines.