Our People
Michael Fealey - CEO
Richard Hunt - Senior advisor development
Richard Hunt - Senior advisor development
Michael Fealey is a dynamic, values-driven leader with over 20 years of experience at the
intersection of sports, community development, and business innovation.
Originally from London, England, and now a U.S. Permanent Resident based in Denver, Colorado, Michael brings a global perspective to sport development, rooted in decades of leader
Michael Fealey is a dynamic, values-driven leader with over 20 years of experience at the
intersection of sports, community development, and business innovation.
Originally from London, England, and now a U.S. Permanent Resident based in Denver, Colorado, Michael brings a global perspective to sport development, rooted in decades of leadership across coaching, sponsorship, team operations, and grassroots programming.
His career spans transformative roles in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S., including serving as Head
Coach and Director of Rugby for championship-winning teams, General Manager of the Summer of
Celebration of Rugby at Fletcher’s Fields in Ontario, and founder of Citizens Sports—a consultancy
dedicated to making sport more affordable and accessible to youth and amateur athletes.
Michael is also an experienced entrepreneur, having launched and operated successful ventures in
hospitality and home services that sharpened his business acumen and customer engagement
expertise.
Michael's leadership in launching community rugby festivals, strategic partnerships, and innovative
fundraising models—such as “Sponsor Speed Dating”—demonstrates a proven ability to deliver
mission-aligned events and scalable funding strategies. He is an advocate for youth access,
inclusion, and athlete development, with certifications from USA Rugby, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and the England & Wales Cricket Board.
Michael holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Performance Coaching from the University of Stirling (Scotland) and a BSc (Hons) in Sports Development from the University of East London.
His enduring passion for women’s rugby, athlete empowerment, and building sustainable pathways makes him a driving force behind the development of a professional women’s rugby league in the United States.
Richard Hunt - Senior advisor development
Richard Hunt - Senior advisor development
Richard Hunt - Senior advisor development
Richard Hunt – Community Sport Strategist & Inclusive Development Leader -
Senior Advisor, Citizens Sports.
Richard Hunt brings over three decades of leadership and impact in community sport, higher
education, and inclusive sports development to his role at Citizens Sports.
With a career spanning national governing bodies, higher education
Richard Hunt – Community Sport Strategist & Inclusive Development Leader -
Senior Advisor, Citizens Sports.
Richard Hunt brings over three decades of leadership and impact in community sport, higher
education, and inclusive sports development to his role at Citizens Sports.
With a career spanning national governing bodies, higher education institutions, and grassroots clubs, Richard stands as a widely respected figure in UK sport development.
Currently serving as a School Games Organiser for Tendring, Richard plays a key role in
advancing school sport participation and inter-school competition across Essex.
His academic career is equally distinguished—he spent over 20 years at the University of East London as a Head of Department and Principal Lecturer in Sport, where he shaped degree programs, mentored future practitioners, and championed inclusive sport education. He also holds a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and an MSc in Recreation Management from Loughborough University.
Richard's leadership extends beyond the classroom and pitch.
He has held trustee and committee roles with a range of organizations, including Essex Cricket in the Community, Colchester United Community Foundation, and the English Federation of Disability Sport. His governance expertise and hands-on delivery—ranging from cricket and football coaching to disability awareness training—demonstrate a rare blend of strategic oversight and grassroots engagement.
At Citizens Sports, Richard contributes his deep expertise in community partnership building,
coach education, inclusive sport strategy, and youth programming design.
His proven commitment to equity and participation ensures Citizens Sports’ initiatives are both visionary and rooted in the real needs of communities.
Richard’s lifetime of service exemplifies Citizens Sports’ mission: to transform youth and
community sport through sustainable models, inclusive leadership, and purpose-driven growth.
karl dakin - senior advisor strategy & operations
Shawn Hermanson - senior advisor marketing & brand
Shawn Hermanson - senior advisor marketing & brand
Karl Dakin is a seasoned executive and thought leader with more than four decades of experience
guiding entrepreneurial ventures, scaling innovative organizations, and designing capital acquisition
strategies across sectors.
He brings a unique blend of legal, financial, and operational expertise that makes him particularly well-suited for B
Karl Dakin is a seasoned executive and thought leader with more than four decades of experience
guiding entrepreneurial ventures, scaling innovative organizations, and designing capital acquisition
strategies across sectors.
He brings a unique blend of legal, financial, and operational expertise that makes him particularly well-suited for Board leadership within mission-driven, high-growth organizations, including those in the sports industry.
As Founder of Dakin Capital, Mr. Dakin has served as a strategic advisor and capital coach to
hundreds of startups, nonprofits, and community ventures, focusing on sustainable business models
and alternative funding solutions.
His background includes executive roles as COO of Splish Naturals and director for businesses and charitable organizations spanning healthcare, hospitality, mining, agriculture, and education.
His leadership style is collaborative and impact-focused, with a track record of building strong stakeholder networks and advancing organizational goals through innovation and strategic funding.
Mr. Dakin is nationally recognized for his work in crowdfunding, economic development, and
community capital. He has served as Principal Investigator for U.S. Department of Commerce
research on small business commercialization and continues to pioneer new approaches to funding
underserved sectors, including youth sports and workforce housing. He also leads initiatives to
integrate artificial intelligence into entrepreneurship education through his proprietary AI avatar, CAP, and other digital tools that extend knowledge and support business growth.
In addition to his business leadership, Mr. Dakin is a dedicated educator. As an Adjunct Faculty
member at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, he created and teaches courses on international finance and capital strategy.
He regularly publishes research, educational content, and funding insights, including the Instant Funding newsletter and Successful Funding live-streamed show.
With a Juris Doctor and a BBA from Washburn University, and as a licensed attorney in Colorado
since 1980, Mr. Dakin combines technical acumen with practical experience.
His current affiliations include the Council of Development Finance Agencies.
Shawn Hermanson - senior advisor marketing & brand
Shawn Hermanson - senior advisor marketing & brand
Shawn Hermanson - senior advisor marketing & brand
Shawn Hermanson is a seasoned C-suite executive and visionary entrepreneur with over 30 years of
leadership experience in marketing, branding, and business development.
As the former Chief
Marketing Officer for several high-growth companies, Shawn has built a reputation as a master networker, marketing strategist, and someone who knows how
Shawn Hermanson is a seasoned C-suite executive and visionary entrepreneur with over 30 years of
leadership experience in marketing, branding, and business development.
As the former Chief
Marketing Officer for several high-growth companies, Shawn has built a reputation as a master networker, marketing strategist, and someone who knows how to make businesses not just succeed—but thrive.
In April 2024, driven by a passion for lifestyle branding and experiential marketing, Shawn
launched 19th Cigar—a pop-up luxury cigar lounge concept that blends golf culture, high-end
aesthetics, and authentic connection.
His entrepreneurial spark and creative instincts are the heartbeat of the brand, bringing a fresh, elevated energy to the golf and lifestyle space.
Shawn’s background in finance and marketing from the University of Northern Colorado laid the
foundation for a career built on strategic thinking and innovation.
A former collegiate athlete, he
brings the same discipline, grit, and competitive spirit to every venture he touches.
Whether he's closing deals, curating memorable brand moments, or launching the next big idea,
Shawn's mission is simple: connect people, spark ideas, and build brands that leave a lasting
impression.
Mark hutchinson - senior advisor Fundraising & gaming
emiliano de laurentiis - senior advisor training & education
emiliano de laurentiis - senior advisor training & education
Mark Hutchinson, known across the global lottery industry as “Hutch,” is the Founder and Managing Member of Gaming Solutions International LLC, a Colorado-based company pioneering the next generation of public games of chance—including raffles and lotteries—with a mission-driven focus on global impact and social good.
With over 33 years of
Mark Hutchinson, known across the global lottery industry as “Hutch,” is the Founder and Managing Member of Gaming Solutions International LLC, a Colorado-based company pioneering the next generation of public games of chance—including raffles and lotteries—with a mission-driven focus on global impact and social good.
With over 33 years of experience in the lottery industry, Hutchinson brings an unmatched depth of knowledge, having played a foundational role in the launch of Lotto America in the 1980s, the precursor to what became the internationally renowned Powerball.
His work has taken him around the world, where he has contributed to the design, development, and successful management of regional and state lottery systems in diverse markets.
Now based in Colorado, Hutchinson launched Gaming Solutions International in 2024 to reimagine gaming as a force for positive change.
Under his leadership, GSI operates both as a retailer of public games—earning commissions through sales—and as a creator and manager of original gaming formats.
In these proprietary games, 50% of proceeds are directed to prizes, and 25% are earmarked for impactful social causes, including youth sports development, a core commitment of the company.
Hutchinson oversees all major aspects of Gaming Solutions International’s strategy, licensing, and partnerships. His long-standing industry relationships, regulatory expertise, and entrepreneurial drive position GSI to be a global leader in purpose-driven gaming.
emiliano de laurentiis - senior advisor training & education
emiliano de laurentiis - senior advisor training & education
emiliano de laurentiis - senior advisor training & education
Emiliano de Laurentiis is the visionary Founder and CEO of Knowledge Avatars, an education technology company pioneering the future of AI-driven learning.
With decades of experience at the intersection of education, automation, and digital innovation, Emiliano leads the development of Knowledge Avatars™—AI-powered tutors designed to emula
Emiliano de Laurentiis is the visionary Founder and CEO of Knowledge Avatars, an education technology company pioneering the future of AI-driven learning.
With decades of experience at the intersection of education, automation, and digital innovation, Emiliano leads the development of Knowledge Avatars™—AI-powered tutors designed to emulate the best human educators.
Knowledge Avatars are animated, interactive characters that engage learners through personalized text or voice dialogue. Built on a proprietary platform, these AI tutors can be embedded across websites, mobile apps, social media, and even the Metaverse—making them highly adaptable tools for teachers, students, and enterprise training environments.
Unlike traditional e-learning platforms, Knowledge Avatars adapt to each user’s knowledge gaps and learning style, creating a more individualized and less stressful experience.
Under Emiliano’s leadership, Knowledge Avatars has emerged as the only platform combining AI tutoring, intuitive content creation tools, and a creator marketplace—empowering educators and organizations to design, deploy, and monetize intelligent learning companions at scale.
A lifelong innovator and educator, Emiliano’s work has consistently focused on harnessing technology to humanize learning.
His approach blends advanced artificial intelligence with pedagogical insight, making Knowledge Avatars a transformational force in the global education landscape.