this is
Our Team
MEET THE TEAM
Our team is our family. Our concept is simple—from purpose to Impact. Our principle of working together is the foundation of how EMA operates to make a positive impact in the life of each Student-Athlete. Together, we share the same vision: to help change the culture of sports in the Bay Area… and beyond.
Each member of Empower ME Academy has a creative and critical role that ensures that we are all able to succeed together. All views are valued and respected which stimulates growth from top to bottom. The principle of working together with our families and communities establishes how we operate and further the growth of the business.
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Bennett Steifman
Coach/Energy Giver
Bennett Steifman, a native of San Francisco, California, is the epitome of connection between sports and identity. He co-hosts Stormcast, the EMA podcast, and believes that through that medium, he will be able to showcase the crucial implications of the lessons taught through sports, specifically EMA. Bennett currently attends The Branson School in Marin County, California, and has played basketball for three years.
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Jaydon Aquino
Coach/Energy Giver
Jaydon Aquino-Gumbs, Born in Kentucky, lived most of his life in Southern Illinois before moving to San Francisco in 2018. Jay attended The Urban School of San Francisco, where he became a varsity starter his sophomore year. In his junior year, he was named Captain and placed on the 1st team all-league. Jay later Transferred to Asheville Boarding School, where he started and was also a captain. Now, Jay is attending and playing at Riverside City College. Jay manages EMA’s social media and strives to push our message out in the world to make it an overall better place.
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Coach Matt
Assistant Director / Energy Giver
I pride myself on the values I’ve developed throughout my life and my time in the Marine Corps. I love to implement the same mentality that I’ve developed onto others, through sport, especially basketball. Coming from the east coast and having lived there a majority of my life I believe I bring a different attitude to the sport that I am eager to share and teach. I joined the Marines after two years of college and played basketball on my base team located in South Korea. We traveled around the country and played against other teams whenever we could – to include Pro Korean Basketball Teams. Once I was back stateside, I got out of the Marines while continuing to Coach Full-time at my old High school, Wiregrass Ranch High School. I was also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication at the University of South Florida full-time. I finished my degree in 2020 then pursued a Master’s Certificate in Business Administration while still coaching full-time for the same school. After I finished my Master’s Certificate, I attended the University of Miami and pursued a Master’s degree in Sports Administration. I’ve had the opportunity to be around high-level basketball players throughout my life but I’ve always felt as though my purpose was to help the youth and I cannot think of a better way to do it than through sport.
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ANDREW RODRIGUEZ
Energy-Giver / Assistant Director
Andrew Rodriguez is passionate about sports and believes it can be used to develop a strong foundation for the success of our youth. A transplant from Chicago, Illinois, Andrew graduated from DePaul University with a BA in Communications and Journalism. Coach Andrew has been around the game of basketball most of his life due to his father having played in college. He attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and played in the highly competitive Chicago Public League, which has produced current NBA players such as Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker. One of Coach Andrew’s greatest accomplishments as a basketball player was winning the CPL championship his sophomore year. Despite having worked at numerous basketball camps and clinics back in Chicago, Andrew recently began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the 5th and 6th grade level at the Cathedral School for Boys. “If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” - Thomas Edison
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Hannah White
Administrative Assistant
Hannah, a former elite athlete on a trajectory towards having a successful collegiate sports career, instead chose a path in marketing, social media, and sports management after turning down offers to play three sports in college. Raised in a sports-centric family, she embodies values: hard work, discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Influenced by her mother, a former All-American volleyball player, and current Youth Sports Program Director, Hannah is passionate about preparing individuals for success on and off the court. Starting as a Marketing Manager for a law firm, she transitioned into account management in the tech industry. Driven by her love for sports and people, Hannah founded her own business, managing professional athletes in brand deals, social media, and daily needs. Her joy lies in advocating for athletes and connecting with people so that lives and communities are impacted for good.
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