On Wednesday, September 6, 2017, the Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusader Athletic Booster Club held their first meeting of the year. In attendance at the packed house were coaches, players, and parents who had the opportunity to meet the coaches and listen to them speak on behalf of their teams in addition to listening to a guest speaker who talked about maximizing your high school athletic experience.
The following coaches attended and spoke on behalf of their teams: Fall Cheerleading Head Coach Lindsey Barrett, Cross Country Head Coach Robert Cahill, Gymnastics Head Coach Brianna Ferdinandi, Girls’ Tennis Head Coach Chris Raguseo, Volleyball Head Coach Michelle Zaleski, Girls Soccer Head Coach Kenneth Leeder, Boys Soccer Head Coach Dan House, Field Hockey Head Coach Katrina Poskay, Football Head Coach Anthony DelConte, Winter Cheerleading Head Coach Lindsey Barrett, Bowling Head Coach Michele Zaleski, Boys’ Basketball Head Coach David Kennedy, Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Joseph Marino, Ice Hockey Head Coach Brian Klimchak, Swimming Head Coach Robert Cahill, Winter Track and Field Head Coaches Christopher Marcin and Stephen Barry, Wrestling Head Coach Michael Siter, Baseball Head Coach David Kennedy, Golf Head Coach Daniel House, Lacrosse Head Coach Lou VanBergen, Softball Head Coach Christopher DiNucci, Boys’ Tennis Head Coach Christopher Raguseo, and Spring Track and Field Head Coaches Christopher Marcin and Stephen Barry.
The program continued with Chris B. Williams, a guest speaker that has inspired audiences across the country through keynote addresses, corporate training sessions, student leadership conferences, awards ceremonies and other events with his powerful, insightful and relatable messages of leadership development and personal growth.
As a positive energy coach, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and mentor, Chris B. Williams captivates with an optimistic outlook on life. Whether working with teenagers, college students, athletes, organizations or anyone seeking inspiration, he engages and elevates everyone he encounters.
For Chris, positivity starts at home. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he was an All-City and All-State basketball player before receiving a full scholarship to Manhattan College where he led the team to the NCAA tournament, winning the MAAC Championships in 1993.
Charismatic, charming, energetic and always smiling, Chris is an in-demand speaker, known for tackling a wide range of topics from Living with Positivity to Leadership, Relationships, Dreaming Big, Ethics and Professionalism.
Among the many organizations that have already benefited from his words of encouragement are the Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey, Rutgers University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the City University of New York, Amida Care, the Miami Heat, the New York City Department of Education and various high schools, colleges and churches throughout the country. Over the years, he has worked with Cuttino Mobley, Steve Lappas and Fran Fraschilla and has been featured on ESPN.
Gus Kalikas, Athletic Director at ALJ, had this to say about the event. “The Booster Club was thrilled to be able to bring Chris B. Williams into our school district to talk to our student athletes, parents, and coaches. The messages of the evening resonated with our audience in all aspects of one’s life. I am sure that everyone in attendance will implement some of these valuable ideas and incorporate them into their everyday lives.”
The Booster Club and Arthur L. Johnson High School would like to thank Chris B. Williams for an educational and tremendous evening for all who attended.
(above) Chris B. Williams was a guest speaker during the ALJ Athletic Booster Club first meeting of the school year.
