this is
Our Team
MEET THE TEAM
Our team is our family. Our concept is simpleโfrom 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 Areaโฆ 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
Jr. 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
Social Media Specialist/Jr. 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 EMAโs 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
Energy-giver / Assistant Director
I pride myself on the values Iโve developed throughout my life and my time in the Marine Corps. I love to implement the same mentality that Iโve 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 โ 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 bachelorโs degree in communication at the University of South Florida full-time. I finished my degree in 2020 then pursued a Masterโs Certificate in Business Administration while still coaching full-time for the same school. After I finished my Masterโs Certificate, I attended the University of Miami and pursued a Masterโs degree in Sports Administration. Iโve had the opportunity to be around high-level basketball players throughout my life but Iโve 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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Eloisa Tejero
COO
Eloisa joins EMA with nonprofit experience as a volunteer, board member, and staff. She began her career in financial systems consulting and eventually ran Europe, Middle East, and Africa consulting division. After a few years off to start her family, Eloisa returned to finance roots for companies like Incendio International (CFO), FreshBrain (Director of Finance), and St. Ignatius Parish (Director of Finance and Administration). During her time at the parish, she successfully upgraded their faith-based CRM to Salesforce NPSP to prepare for a $25M capital campaign. Eloisa has 3 kids born and raised in San Francisco who all played the sport of the season for their school and played club sports (basketball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, and baseball). She has seen firsthand the difference between EMA and the nearly 100 coaches her kids have experienced. The EMA approach is the future. SF families are lucky to have EMA here now! It's amazing how Coach extends the Jesuit principle of "cura personalis" (caring for the whole person, mind, body, and soul) from his USF days. It's a different approach. Soak it in and enjoy as your child develops on their journey to becoming a resilient adult.
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Leti Galarza
Energy-Giver / Executive Assistant to CEO
Leti has had a ball in her hands since she could remember; growing up playing in the backyard of her grandparent's house in East LA, her love for the game is deeply rooted in who she is and how she shows up. In college, Leti was a part of EMA as both a player and volunteer coach. After graduating with her Bachelor's in Mathematics, she continued her basketball career playing Pro-Am in the Bay Area. When the pandemic hit, Leti worked with T.E.A.M Inc to hone her skills in Basketball Analytics and did freelance work for institutions like Penn State Women's Basketball. From the first woman on the Golden State Warriors coaching staff (video room) to the Director of Player Development for the Cal Berkeley Women's Basketball Program, Leti has gained a vast knowledge of the sports industry and its culture. It was the lived experience that brought Leti back to EMA; with a greater appreciation for EMA's vision and mission, she returns ready to advance and help redefine youth sports culture both on and off the court. EMA aligns with Leti's core values and understands the importance of empowering both the athlete and the person. Eager to change lives and give back, Leti couldn't be more energized to call EMA home (again).
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