RIDC Welcomes Gabby Thomas, Dirk Whitebreast, and Kerin Hempel to Its Board of Directors
The Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) is excited to announce new leaders joining our Board of Directors for a three-year term. As we celebrate five years of impact, we're focused on deepening our influence, reaching more communities, and pushing running toward the future it deserves. These new members bring deep expertise, lived experience, strong networks, and a shared vision for meaningful progress in the sport.
Join us in celebrating the new board members of the RIDC as they begin their three-year term of leadership and impact.
Kerin Hempel is a strategic executive, investor, and advisor who brings together the worlds of sports, wellness, finance, and philanthropy. Based in New York, she is the Managing Partner of Prossima Ventures, an investment platform focused on increasing the number of women investors in sports. She is also the Founder and Principal of Sparrow, a boutique advisory firm providing tailored solutions, executive support, and transaction diligence across the global sports and wellness landscape.
Kerin previously served as CEO and Vice President of New York Road Runners (NYRR), where she led an organizational turnaround and guided the TCS New York City Marathon and its community programs through a period of transition and renewed growth.
Her career began at JPMorgan in institutional derivatives, followed by several years as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School, she currently serves on HBS’s Global Alumni Board.
A lifelong athlete, dedicated parent-coach, and advocate for equity and leadership in sport, Kerin is also a serial marathoner and was a member of the selection committee for the RIDC’s RUN THE BLOCK award.
Gabrielle “Gabby” Thomas is a decorated Olympian, Harvard and University of Texas scholar, a powerful advocate for health equity, and a voice for mental health awareness and representation.
On the track, she's electrifying. Off the track, she's committed to making real change in the lives of others.
Her leadership, perspective, and passion will strengthen our work to support current and future athletes and expand meaningful mentorship across the running industry.
Gabby is an advocate for representation and social inclusion, and with advanced academic credentials in neurobiology and public health, Gabby brings deep subject-matter knowledge that will help guide RIDC’s research, programming, and strategic planning initiatives.
We are excited to welcome Dirk Whitebreast (Meskwaki) to the RIDC Board! Dirk is a strategic operator and community leader whose work sits at the intersection of running, economic development, and Native empowerment. A member of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, Dirk has completed 49 marathons across 20 states, several prayer runs, and a 50K ultramarathon.
He began running as an act of healing after losing his younger sister, completing 10 marathons in 30 days to raise awareness about Native youth suicide. His powerful story of resilience has inspired communities across the country and was featured in Dodging Bullets, a documentary exploring historical trauma in Native communities.
With nearly 15 years of leadership experience in the gaming industry, Dirk has served as both Assistant General Manager and General Manager, guiding major operations through periods of growth and transition. He later supported a gaming enterprise in California, helping expand it from a 600-machine facility into a multi-million-dollar resort and entertainment destination. He now resides in Seattle, WA, where he relocated to support his wife’s career.
Dirk has served on several boards and commissions, including the Iowa Commission on Native Affairs, the Center for Native American Youth under the Aspen Institute, and organizations dedicated to human rights and economic development.
If you believe in building a running and outdoor industry where everyone belongs, we invite you to support the RIDC’s work. Your donation helps us expand access, empower emerging leaders, and create programs that drive real, lasting change. Every contribution, big or small, moves this movement forward.