Start the week off with President Brian Hughes’ reflections on the past year and what he envisions for MCAA’s future, followed by remarks from United Association General President Mark McManus on the UA’s initiatives.
Drew Brees is the former 2009 Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. A native of Austin, TX, Brees attended Westlake High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management from Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, while lettering in football from 1997-2000. Drew went on to play five years with the San Diego Chargers and fifteen years with the New Orleans Saints. He has been elected to 13 Pro Bowls while being named 2004 Comeback Player of the Year, 2006 All-Pro Team, 2006 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, 2008 and 2011 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl XLIV Champion and MVP.
As much pride as Brees takes in his on-field performance, he takes even more pride in his community service endeavors. Drew and his wife, Brittany, established the Brees Dream Foundation in 2003 and since then have contributed over $50,000,000 to help improve the quality of life for cancer patients and provide care, education and opportunities for children and families in need. In addition to his personal foundation, Drew has co-founded SHIELD 1 Foundation to address the greatest needs in our communities including but not limited to housing, healthcare, education, business opportunity, economic development, urban farming, support of HBCUs, social justice and legislative reform.
Brees is a proud partner of the GBX Group, Jimmy Johns, Walk-Ons Enterprises, Football N America, Smalls Sliders, and Franworth. He participates as a Board Member for Surf Sports, Stretch Zone, Franworth and formerly with the NFLPA and President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
Brees has also proudly participated in five USO trips visiting Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Turkey, Djibouti, Dubai, Okinawa, and Guantanamo Bay. Drew currently lives with his wife Brittany and children Baylen, Bowen, Callen and Rylen in San Diego, CA.
Zack Kass is an advisor, researcher, keynote speaker, and the former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI.
At OpenAI, Zack led sales, partnerships, and customer success, helping turn breakthrough research into real-world business solutions. He has advised executives across dozens of industries on deploying AI at scale.
Today, as an executive business advisor, Zack works with Fortune 1000 boardrooms—including Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Amgen—to help leaders navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape. His mission is to ensure individuals, businesses, and governments are active participants in the AI-powered future by making the technology both understandable and actionable. Recognized as a leading thinker in applied AI, his insights have been featured in Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, AdAge, and Business Insider.
Beyond his advisory work, Zack supports AI education and research at the University of Virginia. He holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and resides in Santa Barbara, California.
Mike Massimino is a former NASA Astronaut, a New York Times Bestselling Author, a Columbia University Professor, a media personality and the first person to tweet from space. He is a four-time spacewalker on two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope, including the final Hubble servicing mission which has been called the most dangerous and complex mission in space shuttle history. Mike has made numerous television appearances, including a recurring role as himself on the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, hosted educational television programs and provides expert commentary on morning shows and network and cable news programs.
He has been called the real-life astronaut who inspired George Clooney’s role in the movie Gravity. He uses humor and his unique storytelling ability to inspire audiences to identify the passion in their work, to use teamwork and innovation to solve problems, to provide leadership in the face of adversity and crisis and to never give up when pursuing a goal.
Inky Johnson is a former collegiate athlete, entrepreneur and one of the most sought-after inspirational speakers in the world. After a life-altering injury ended his football career at the University of Tennessee, Inky turned adversity into purpose—motivating others to lead with resilience, perseverance and heart.
With a Master’s in Sports Psychology, Inky has inspired audiences, and his powerful message transcends sports and business, focusing on leadership, mental toughness and embracing change. He is the host of the Serendipity with Inky Johnson podcast, co-founder of The Inky and Allison Johnson Foundation and a dedicated mentor to young athletes and underserved youth.
MCAA President Brian Hughes will pass the gavel to his successor Curtis Harbour, who will share his vision for the year ahead. We will recognize our outgoing and incoming Board of Directors and our new MCAA officers will be presented to the membership.
Ken Schmidt is a renowned business strategist, speaker and former communications leader behind the legendary turnaround of Harley-Davidson. He helped transform the brand by shifting its focus from products to people—redefining how businesses connect with customers through authenticity, loyalty and memorable storytelling.
Ken’s high-energy keynotes challenge companies to reject complacency, embrace bold differentiation and tap into timeless human desires to stand out in today’s commoditized world. He’s the author of Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance, host of the Tailgating with Geniuses podcast and co-founder of Torque Sessions Leadership Training.
Through his speaking, writing and consulting, Ken delivers unconventional insights that inspire lasting competitive advantage—rooted in being memorable not for what you do, but for who you are.
