Full Bios Below:

Brett Hughes
Co-founder
 

Brett Hughes grew up in Ohio and has been involved in sports and teaching sports nearly his whole life. Since the 8th grade, this has included everything from helping out with individuals at a mentorship level to helping instruct camps in various sports.

Leaving Ohio to pursue an education and lacrosse at the University of Virginia, Brett enjoyed success at both a personal and team level. Starting every game all four years for the Cavaliers, he helped lead his team to win a NCAA Championship in 2003.

Post college, he was forced to take a year off before being drafted to play in the MLL. During that time he started to realize that lacrosse provided him so much more off field than he ever thought possible. Working as an after-school coordinator for a local athletic club, he decided that being around kids, and using lacrosse to teach them valuable life skills above and beyond the game, was something he wanted to pursue.

He finally got that chance after moving to LA and working for ESPN RISE, where he helps tell the stories of high school lacrosse players and sets up events for high school lacrosse athletes. However, it was not until a trip on New Years Day of 2009 that his dream came true, and his life and ideas of lacrosse changed with a visit to La Chureca. It was here, with this new found organization, that he realized how important this sport is and what it is truly capable of off the field. Living in Hermosa Beach, CA, but traveling all over the world to help spread the game, Brett brings the lacrosse community together to realize the true meaning of the sport and what it looks like to be ambassadors of hope for those in need.

Chris Rusbuldt

Chris developed a strong relationship with LtN by way of the partnership between LtN and Amped Lax, an organization of select high school lacrosse teams. Chris and his long-time friend, Mikey Thompson, devoted LtN supporter-turned-board member, helped design the LtN-Amped partnership as another method of spreading LtN’s goals and values across the lacrosse landscape. Since the partnership was created, Amped has provided both a consistent number of LtN volunteers and a strong source of fundraising. Chris, his wife (Anne), and two sons (Chris Jr and Jack) have all volunteered at LtN’s programs in Nicaragua and Costa Rica where they experienced the essence of LtN’s mission.

In addition to his work with LtN and Amped Lax, Chris is a tireless volunteer who serves as a director of the lacrosse program at the Metro Richmond (VA) Boys and Girls Clubs, program director for Geronimo Lacrosse, board member of US Lacrosse Central Virginia and the endowment board of Collegiate School (another LtN partner). He continues to play “old man” club lacrosse and enjoys watching his sons play (Chris Jr at Washington & Lee and Jack at University of Richmond).

When Chris is not volunteering, he stays busy with his “real” job as a principal at Signature Family Wealth Advisors. Chris lives in Richmond VA.

Dave Campbell

Dave Campbell (aka Dcam) started playing lacrosse in his hometown of Boise, Idaho. Following his sophomore year of high school, he left Idaho for Holderness School (Plymouth, NH) in pursuit of a better fit both academically and athletically. From there, Dave attended Middlebury College, where he enjoyed the shared success of a top-level team before graduating with an Economics degree in May 2009. The midfielder captained Middlebury’s team for both the 2008 and 2009 seasons, while earning All-American (HM), Scholar All-American, and NESCAC All-Conference (2nd Team) awards his senior year.

A life-long athlete, traveler and volunteer, Dave serendipitously joined Lacrosse the Nations for their inaugural trip to La Chureca in January 2009. The experience in Nicaragua left him forever changed and fully committed to the mission of LtN. Through his work with LtN, he hopes to help develop and support the organization that strives to improve the lives of those in need, spread the positive life lessons derived from sport, and engage the lacrosse network as ambassadors of influence and optimism in our global community.

Dave Hennessy

Dave first got involved with LtN when his daughters gave him a trip to La Chureca as a Christmas present.  The experience changed his life and he has been involved with LtN ever since.  Dave was an All American lacrosse player at Middlebury College before beginning a career in the real estate and construction industry first in New York City and currently in Sun Valley, Idaho where he owns a development and construction company.

Dave has extensive non-profit experience. He has served as a member of the Wood River Community YMCA board during the development of this YMCA from initial concept to the 60,000 square-foot facility it is today, with over 4,000 members. In his time with LtN, he served as the Chair of the Board for LtN from 2008-2010.

Dave lives in Sun Valley with his wife and three daughters where he coaches lacrosse and hockey.

Gene McCabe

Chairman

Gene McCabe is the head coach of Washington and Lee University's men's lacrosse program, currently in his 19th season. He holds the most wins in program history, boasting a record of 220-105 at W&L. Under his leadership, the team has secured seven NCAA Tournament bids, four ODAC Tournament titles, and he has been named ODAC Coach of the Year three times.

His involvement with LtN started in 2015 when he was approached by board member Kim Cory to partner his team with LtN. After a season-long fundraiser – that raised over $20,000 – McCabe, his assistant coach, and 10 players spent a week volunteering in Nicaragua. After Day 1 McCabe knew this was a cause that he wanted to be a part of indefinitely.

McCabe graduated from Bates College in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in European history. At Bates, he lettered in both lacrosse and football. He is a member of ODK (Omnicron Delta Kappa), the National Leadership Honor Society, founded at W&L in 1914.

Mikey Thompson

Mikey grew up in Richmond, VA where he was a two-time All-American lacrosse player and an All-State running back on the football team at Collegiate School. He went on to play lacrosse at the University of Virginia where he was a captain of the 2010 ACC Championship team and a Student Assistant Coach on the 2011 National Championship team. He is now entering his sixth year on the CNU staff, and second as Head Coach. He was named VASID Co-coach of the Year in 2016.

Mikey first became involved with Lacrosse the Nations in 2013 when he spent 6 months working with our student athletes and coaches in Nicaragua. During that time Mikey, alongside our Executive Director, developed the concept for the LtN Cup. An event that is now the most anticipated event for all of our student athletes in Nicaragua. Since then, Mikey has been a staunch supporter of LtN working with high-school, college and club lacrosse teams across Virginia to recruit volunteers, raise money and send much needed equipment to our programs.

Ned Valentine

Ned first learned about LtN when his son played for the Amped Lacrosse team coached by board members Mikey Thompson and Chris Rusbuldt. Ned participated in Amped's first trip to Nicaragua and has been sold on the mission ever since.

Ned is currently a Managing Partner at Harris Williams in Richmond. He earned an M.B.A. from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia. He lives in Richmond with his wife and three children.