Running USA Announces Six Industry Conference Scholarship Recipients for 2024

Honorees will showcase work and advocacy across diverse areas of the industry at 20th Industry Conference in Orlando 

(December 26, 2023) – Running USA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Running USA Industry Conference scholarships.  Each of the recipients will receive an event registration, lodging and airfare in order to attend the Running USA Industry Conference presented by haku in Orlando, Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

Scholarships were funded through generous contributions by Chicago Event Management, RunSignup, Track Shack, the Running USA Board of Directors, and Running USA.

“This year’s scholarship recipients are leading progressive conversations, driving positive change and introducing new people to the sport of running,” said Jay Holder, Executive Director of Running USA. “We look forward to learning from their successes and creating new connections in this welcoming community.”

The six 2024 scholarship recipients are:

Tiffany K. Martin, Executive Change Strategist & Health Equity Advocate

Martin is an equity-minded thought leader, speaker, presenter, author, and health equity advocate. Tiffany has been a runner for over 35 years, and she is the CEO of TKMartin Consulting LLC, the race director of the Not Just For Runners Community 5K/1-mile and Health Fair and the Founder of an emerging nonprofit organization, Elevated Health and Community. Tiffany serves as an Executive Change Strategist and ICF-certified Professional Coach (CPC/CLC), specializing in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and organizational culture change.

Yaku Moton-Spruill, Chef and Event Owner

Moton-Spruill (Chef Yaku) is a California Culinary Academy of San Francisco (Le Cordon Blue) graduate, the owner of the D.O.P.E Chef Society private chef and catering company, as well as the chef instructor of Primed and Prepped. After his first national television appearance on NBC’s “Food Fighters,” Chef Yaku competed on the Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen,” “Food Network Star” and “Comeback Kitchen.” In 2022 Chef Yaku and his wife became co-owners of Pacific Coast Trail Runs, bringing his food experience as well as love for the running community to build a great overall experience for all, specializing in catering and post-race atmosphere.

Andrea Lytle Peet, Athlete and Non-Profit Founder

Andrea Lytle Peet was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 33 in August 2014, less than one year after completing five triathlons in one season, including a 70.3-mile half Ironman. After diagnosis, Andrea started Team Drea when friends kept remarking that her story had inspired them to take on a major athletic challenge. She encouraged friends and family to take on a race that represented a challenge to them and use it as an opportunity to raise money for ALS research. In October 2016, Andrea and her husband David incorporated the Team Drea Foundation as a nonprofit to invest in the most promising ALS research on the horizon. In 2022, Andrea became the first person with ALS to do 50 marathons in all 50 states.

Liz Rock, Founder and Advocate

Liz Rock is the Co-Founder/Co-Organizer of The Bra Run and TrailblazHers Run Co.

Her motto is that movement is power and that it’s not about being perfect but about pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. “Movement is for everyBODY.” Her passion for fitness stemmed from her own health/wellness journey about eight years ago. She has run four marathons (Boston, New York, London, and Chicago), and has completed a century ride. Liz is an advocate for Women, a Community Leader, and Organizer. She is on a mission to create safe and accessible spaces for women.

Carolyn Su, Athlete, Speaker, Content Creator

Carolyn Su is a trail runner, marathoner, public speaker, and the creator of the Instagram platform, @DiverseWeRun, where she writes short-form features to amplify runners who are Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color. She advocates for racial representation, equity, and inclusion in the sport of running. Carolyn is also the co-host of the podcast, Making Strides, with Stefanie Flippin, where they discuss the experiences of navigating the running world as female-identifying, BIPOC athletes. Her ultimate mission is to equip and empower all people to show up fully as themselves, in all aspects of life.

Verna Volker, Founder and CEO

Runner Verna Volker is the founder of Native Women Running, which began as a virtual community for Indigenous women to connect and to increase the visibility of Native runners. The mission of the organization is “to build and nurture a community that features and encourages Native women runners on and off the reservation. We strive to increase visibility in the running world nationwide and worldwide for historically excluded runners.” Verna is from the Navajo Nation. Her clans are Tódích’íi’nii (Bitterwater) nishlíi, Hashtl’ishnii (Mud People) bashishchiin,  Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle) dashicheii, and Tó’ áheedlíinii (Water Flows Together) dashinalí. She began her running journey 14 years ago for health, but it became a quest to learn more about herself and led her from short events to ultramarathons.

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About the Industry Conference

Since its origins as a small gathering of Running USA’s founders in Southern California in 2004, the Running USA Industry Conference presented by Race Roster has grown to becoming the best-attended, most esteemed gathering of running industry professionals from around the USA and the world. Now moving locations each year, the conference has been held in Los Angeles, San Diego, Savannah, Houston, San Antonio, Denver, New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and returns to Orlando for the 2024 event.

About Running USA

Running USA is a non-profit organization committed to the growth and success of the running industry. Our promise is to deliver quality education, exceptional industry content, valuable research and ample networking opportunities. We connect. We support. We educate. Running USA brings together an entire community. As the voice of endurance running, we’re all about connection and collaboration. Whether we’re connecting race organizers with sponsors, partners and athletes, or connecting our members with vital information and best practices, our goal is to raise the profile of running and help more people get more out of it. For more information, visit runningusa.org.