Chief Relationships Officer
Mathes Mennell, joins GFL with extensive real-life leadership experience in collegiate and youth athletics and the United States Air Force, showcasing a lifelong commitment to leadership learning, developing excellence, and service to others.
Mathes spent over 25 years coaching soccer. Over the course of his career, he has coached at the NCAA level at the United States Air Force Academy, Loyola Marymount University, UNC Asheville, and Warren Wilson College. In addition to his on-the-field contributions he has served in leadership roles for NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee, the United Soccer Coaches Association NCAA Division I All-America Committee, and various non-profit boards such as Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, Asheville Youth Mission, Genesis Alliance, and as a Vestry Member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Global Sports Leadership at East Tennessee State University (May ’24 graduation), Mathes holds an M.A. in General Education from Loyola Marymount University and a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy. He enjoys family time and daily striving to be the person his Goldendoodles think he is.
Founder & CEO
In April 2015, Janna received her doctorate in Leadership Development from the University of Florida’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. Her dissertation focused on Authentic Leadership and Curriculum Development. Magette is also certified in the behavioral DISC assessment and well versed in Strengths Quest.
From 2013-2017, Magette served as the Executive Director of Girls Place, Inc., a grassroots non-profit organization that focuses on introducing girls to their passion and preparing them to pursue that passion. Before accepting her position with Girls Place, Janna was the Director of Basketball Operations for the Florida Gators Women’s Basketball team for six years. While working at UF, Janna completed her master’s in sport management in 2010. Prior to Florida, Janna was an assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and Francis Marion University.
Dr. Butler currently serves as a full-time lecturer within Clemson University's Athletic Leadership Graduate Program. Janna believes leadership is about bringing all of yourself to everything you do. Her favorite word is “go” and encourages everyone to live life with a fierce and fearless authenticity. A four-year letter winner in basketball from Davidson College (NC), Janna received her bachelor’s degree in religion in 2002. Janna is originally from Hoover, Alabama where she also played softball. She enjoys family time, traveling, reading, and fitness (sometimes).
About Mathes
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Eric J. Lapin is a Senior Lecturer of Music in the Department of Performing Arts and the former Artistic Director for the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University. He is the author of The Artist Entrepreneur: Finding Success in a New Arts Economy with Ronald C. McCurdy and Richard E. Goodstein, is a member of the SC Humanities: Speaker’s Bureau, is a co-founder of LEAD College Consulting, LLC, and a partner and Chief Operating Officer with GoFollowLead, LLC. Dr. Lapin holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in clarinet performance, a Ph.D. in higher education leadership, and is a candidate for his MBA in entrepreneurship and innovation. He teaches courses in arts administration, arts entrepreneurship, applied performance, and music history.
As a clarinetist, Dr. Lapin has performed with the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra, the Spartanburg Philharmonic, The Magnetic Theatre in Asheville, NC, and Walters State Community College in Tennessee, and has given solo performances for the Greenville Music Teachers Association, Clemson University ensembles, and the 2012 Clemson University Victor Hurst Academic Convocation.
Dr. Lapin has presented papers and research at national and international conferences for the College Music Society, the National Humanities Conference, the Jazz Education Network, the Humanities Education and Research Association, and was named February 2017 Researcher of the Month by the Clemson University Library. He is published in several peer-reviewed journals, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and Inside Higher Ed on arts entrepreneurship, leadership, teaching pedagogy, and curriculum development.
More information is available at ericjlapin.com.