Ignite the Spark of Innovation at Endurance Exchange: Speaker Preview

Join USA Triathlon at Endurance Exchange January 4-7, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina for a weekend of networking, collaboration, and learning!

Endurance Exchange is more than just a conference; it’s a community-driven platform that fosters collaboration, innovation, and inspiration. Connect with coaches, race directors, clubs, and industry professionals who share a passion for multisport. Share your knowledge, inspire others, and ignite the spark of excellence together. Whether you’re seeking mentorship, business opportunities, or lifelong connections, Endurance Exchange offers a supportive environment where dreams and visions come to life.

Learn about other highlighted speakers. Find the full list of speakers.

Gabriela Gallegos

President & USA Triathlon Certified Race Director at Race El Paso

Session: Producing A Successful Women's Only Event

Gabriela Gallegos founded Race El Paso in 2009 to develop a culture of health and active living in El Paso, with a focus on beginners and athlete education to encourage goal setting and active lifestyles. Race El Paso’s first event, Eagle in the Sun Triathlon, debuted in 2010 to a sell-out crowd. Gallegos now directs 6 annual running and multisport events, including the all-female Mighty Mujer Triathlon, which has expanded into a 4-city series (El Paso, Tucson, Austin, and Miami). The El Paso event is televised live on El Paso's NBC affiliate station.?

Gallegos serves on the USA Triathlon Board of Directors and the Executive Boards for World Triathlon and Americas Triathlon.?

Mark Walter

Founder and USA Triathlon Certified Race Director at Sun Multisport Events?

Session: Diversifying Your Event Business

Mark Walter is the founder of Sun Multisport Events and a USA Triathlon Certified Race Director since 2006. Walter's passion for the sport of triathlon began with his first race, the inaugural Mooseman Triathlon at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire in 2004. After years of nurturing the Sun Multisport Events business, he successfully transitioned to full-time management of Sun Multisport Events in February 2012. He continues to race in triathlons and other endurance events. In October 2018 completed his first full-distance triathlon, the IRONMAN Louisville.

Walter's session is about how to leverage expertise and resources to diversify your business.

Yvonne Spencer

Leader, Team Builder, Speaker, Coach, Triathlete

Session: Emcee

Colonel Yvonne Spencer is an 8x IRONMAN and long course finisher. She is a 2020 USA Long Course Triathlon Team Member and multiple-year All-World Athlete. In addition to numerous triathlon finishes, she’s an avid runner and has completed 14 marathons including the 2020 Boston Marathon. She has been coaching since 2017 and is a USA Triathlon Level I Certified Coach and RRCA Certified Coach.

In a 26-year military career, Yvonne Spencer has served in a variety of leadership positions and has commanded organizations ranging from 300 to 1,200 personnel. Despite living in 5 countries and relocating 14 times, triathlon has been a constant in her life. In 2015, Spencer translated her leadership talents into building a national team of women called the Fast Chix. This all women’s triathlon group strives to remove barriers by empowering and educating women. Fast Chix provides positive engagement, shared experiences, and a supportive environment for triathletes at all levels. Fast Chix's efforts include annual race meetups, educational clinics, fitness panels, book clubs, and monthly challenges. While the group is primarily women of color, Fast Chix has nearly 1,000 online members!

Spencer still serves in the Air Force and currently resides in Arlington, Virginia. She was also the recipient of the 2020 Outspoken Women in Triathlon Social Media Impact Award.

Jon Tarkington

Director of Coaching Development and Education at USA Cycling

Session: The Future Endurance Coaching

Jon Tarkington's career began in 1998 with a successful coaching business resulting in progressive opportunities in the non-profit and sporting event industries based on previous results.

As the Director of Coaching Development and Education at USA Cycling, Tarkington works to empower coaches to create prosperous careers through developing lifelong athletes. In order to grow the sport of cycling, it's essential to enhance coaches' knowledge base and ability to emotionally connect with people from diverse backgrounds.?

In "The Future Endurance Coaching," this session will provide endurance sports coaches with the opportunity to stay informed and connected, including coaches primarily focused on cycling. This is essential as changes in technology will continue to cause the coaching industry to evolve and adapt in the coming years.

Mark Turner

Commissioner of Officials at USA Triathlon

Session: Whys and Hows of Having USA Triathlon Officials

A former United States Golf Association official, Mark Turn joined the ranks of USA Triathlon officials in 2014. As an athlete, USA Triathlon and IRONMAN official, USA Triathlon LIIE, Paratriathlon, and IRONMAN Certified Coach, Turner is deeply involved in the multisport community. He currently serves as USA Triathlon's Commissioner of Officials. He is passionate about the USA Triathlon officials’ program and believes in supporting the officials through personal interactions and building relationships. He strongly believes that listening and responding to the concerns and interests of officials is the foundation of building healthy relationships and growing the Officials Program.

“When you give back to this sport, without expectation of return, this sport will give back to you with opportunities beyond anything you could have ever expected.”?

As a lifelong learner, Turner is in constant pursuit of education and learning opportunities. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, he married his wife of 34 years, Lee. He attended the University of Houston, where he earned his B.S. in Political Science and holds a Master of Divinity degree. Apart from his work in the sport, he loves reading and cooking.?

Hector Torres

Head Coach at Tri Peak Athlete + USA Triathlon Level III Certified Coach

Session: Lessons for Performances Through Coaching Special Populations

Hector Torres holds two master’s degrees in Sport and Fitness with a concentration in Sport Leadership and Coaching from the University of Central Florida. He holds a third Master’s in Health Science with a concentration in Sports Performance from the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals. Torres has served as Head Coach for the Paratriathlon Team in 2012, the High Performance Paratriathlon Coach, and the Head Coach for the Special Olympics Team Florida. He has completed 17 IRONMAN’s including the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.

Torres volunteered for 10 years as Chair and Paratriathlon Coordinator for the USA Triathlon Florida/Southeast Region. In Central Florida, he has operated a multi-sport coaching business, Tri Peak Athletes since 2007 and founded the Central Florida Tri Club which is now the largest triathlon club in Central Florida. As a triathlon coach, he has guided athletes to completing many of the long-distance events and qualifying athletes for world championships and elite races.

Hector Torres and Wynne McFarlin, a member of CFL Tri Club, started a pilot program in Florida for the Special Olympics and soon began to work on establishing the program and recruiting athletes. The Special Olympics reached out to all their sports to spread the word. They started with six athletes and every single year the program continues to grow.

In the session "Lessons for Performances Through Coaching Special Populations," they will discuss coaching and implementing neurodiverse athletes in the triathlon sport requires a tailored approach that recognizes and accommodates their unique needs.

Meet the rest of the highlighted speakers, here.

To learn more and register for Endurance Exchange, please visit the event website.