Staff

Mark A. Lucas, MS – Executive Director

Bio: Mark has worked with people who are blind and visually impaired for more than 25 years.  Lucas first began working with children and youth who are blind and visually impaired in 1985 as the Director of Recreation for the Foundation for the Junior Blind in Los Angeles. In 1993, Lucas and his family relocated to Colorado Springs, CO to serve as the Assistant Executive Director for USABA and became the Executive Director in 2001.  In this capacity, is responsible for facilitating the development and management of USABA fundraising programs; managing the organizational budget; implementing and monitoring a sports management program for USABA’s sports; hiring and overseeing USABA national office staff and volunteers; and serving as USABA’s chief spokesperson to organizations and associations, including the U.S. Olympic Committee and other national and international federations. Mark is a board member for Vision Serve Alliance and is a member of Association of Educators in Rehabilitation for the Blind.

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Ryan Ortiz – Assistant Executive Director

Bio:  Ryan is responsible for the planning and execution of USABA’s fundraising programs.  Ortiz came to USABA in 2004 after working as a part of the development team at the University of New Mexico Athletic Department’s Lobo Club.  Ortiz works with Mark Lucas and the Board of Directors to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy that concentrates on expanding philanthropic support for USABA.  In his spare time he enjoys running, hiking, camping and spending time with his wife Julie and son Grady.  

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John Potts – Sports Director

Bio: John is responsible for the planning and execution USABA’s grass-roots through elite level sports programs.  John oversees USABA’s national coaching staff and sport program coordinators to identify athletes and track their progression in their sport of choice up to the elite level, and coordinates with US Paralympics to ensure emerging level athletes are identified into their system.  He is also responsible for selection of athletes, logistical requirements that ensure successful outcomes for USABA sport teams and athletes that compete in international competitions.  John also serves as the Paralympic High Performance Manager for Goalball and is responsible for USABA’s portion of the high performance planning/budgeting, coordinating and preparation activities that ensure a successful USA National/Paralympic-level goalball program.    During his “off-duty” time, John enjoys running and road cycling.

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Rich Cardillo – Military Sports Program Director

Bio: After serving 30 years in the United States Army as a Field Artillery officer, Rich Cardillo began work as the Military Sport Program Coordinator for USABA in January 2008.  As the USABA Military Sport Program Coordinator, Rich works to enhance the lives of disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces who are blind and visually impaired by accelerating their rehabilitation and re-integration back into their communities.  Working predominantly with the ten Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Centers around the United States, the ultimate goal is simply to bring normalcy back into the lives of all individuals who are blind and visually impaired and to accelerate their rehabilitation process through sport, recreation and physical activity.

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Mailing Address:
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909