Debbie Hesse, Executive Director

Debbie Hesse joined the USA Swimming Foundation in November 2010, bringing 25 years of aquatic sports experience in fundraising, marketing, strategic planning, public relations, non-profit management and volunteer leadership.

Over the past two years, Hesse has led efforts to strengthen the infrastructure of the USA Swimming Foundation, allowing the organization to provide a full range of fundraising programs to identify and attract the broadest possible base of support for the Foundation’s projects and programs. She has re-articulated the mission of the USA Swimming Foundation, and led strategic planning efforts to ensure that the Foundation is effectively working toward achieving its aggressive goals.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Debbie was President/CEO of USA Diving, the national governing body for that sport. During her tenure, she presided over a membership increase of 32 percent, and laid the foundation for a strong and successful U.S. diving program. In 2012, the U.S. Olympic Diving Team garnered four medals at the Olympic Games, after failing to earn medals in either of their two previous Olympic efforts.
Hesse's Olympic experience also includes serving as Executive Director of USA Synchronized Swimming, where she increased the annual budget by more than 250% in seven years, driven primarily by dramatic corporate partner revenue growth.

After beginning her career at Proctor & Gamble, Hesse went on to serve in several different roles within the aquatic industry. Hesse has also served as President/CEO of Special Olympics Indiana.
Hesse received a B.A. in Business and Marketing from Texas A&M University, where she served as co-captain of the swim team. She has been recognized as one of Indianapolis “40 Under 40” honorees, and currently serves on the United States Olympic Committee’s Olympic Assembly Committee and USOC’s Foundation's Task Force.

 - Oversee day-to-day Foundation activities to advance the Foundation’s mission and objectives 
 - Serve as national spokesperson for Foundation
 - Lead and manage Foundation staff and fundraising efforts
 - Create and implement strategic plan for Foundation and Make a Splash 
 - Coordinate Foundation’s programs with USA Swimming staff, including Make a Splash, Swim-a-Thon™ and  Golden Goggles. 

Hesse lives in Colorado Springs, CO, with her two daughters Gabriella and Hannah. 
 

To contact Debbie, click here.

Mariah Cunnick, Director of Development

Mariah Pearl Cunnick serves as Director of Development for the USA Swimming Foundation. In this role, Cunnick works to generate revenue for the Foundation, including implementation of the Foundation’s annual fundraising plan, leading solicitation and stewardship of major gifts and developing and implementing strategies to build support for the Foundation and its programs.

Previously, Cunnick was with the Chicago Foundation for Women, where she spent four years working in development, including management of the annual fund and special events. During her tenure, the annual giving program grew by 60%.

Cunnick is a cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College where she was a four-year letter winner on the swim team, which she captained her senior year.

 - Plan and implement annual fundraising plan

 - Lead solicitation and stewardship of major gifts

 - Develop and implement strategies to cultivate and retain Foundation supporters

 - Planned giving

 - Manage and recruit Foundation's corporate sponsorship

Email: mcunnick@usaswimming.org  Phone: 719-866-3614

Valerie Oswald, Development Manager

Valerie serves as the Development Manager for the USA Swimming Foundation. In her role, Valerie creates and implements the annual fundraising plan with the Director of Development, manages the Foundation’s social media communications, oversees the Foundation’s grant process, and assists with planning and coordinating of Foundation events. Valerie has over seven years of experience in the area of marketing and special events with a specialization in the non-profit sector. Previously she worked as a non-profit Consultant and as the Director of Marketing & Special Events for the Boys & Girls Club.

She received a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology/Sports Administration from Indiana University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. Valerie is a self-proclaimed “swim nerd”, a National Team Alumni member, and former NCAA All-American Swimmer. She continues to swim as a master’s swimmer and now competes as an age-group triathlete.

Email: voswald@usaswimming.org  Phone: 719-866-3583

Carol Arnold, foundation coordinator

A native of southern California’s San Gabriel Valley, Carol launched her post-education career after her move to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1979. Six years working as a Citicorp mortgage loan officer and two kids later, Carol became a mostly stay-at-home mom until returning to the workforce fulltime in 1999. Earning a securities license, she spent the next seven years working in the investment management industry before coming onboard with the USA Swimming Foundation in January of 2007. Carol and her husband of 34 years enjoy spending their free time with their two young granddaughters and playing in the Gunnison River Valley of south-central Colorado.

 - Assistant to Executive Director

 - Swim-a-Thon™ program and promotions
 - 3rd party Foundation fundraising
 - Coordinate National Team Alumni materials and events
 - Website management
 - Oversight of charitable registration
 - Support Foundation ambassadors

Email: carnold@usaswimming.org  Phone: 719-866-3235

Jill Johnson, Database Coordinator

Jill Johnson serves as the Database Coordinator for the USA Swimming Foundation. Johnson administers and manages the Raiser's Edge database for the organization. She manages the overall donation process and is responsible for all entry, maintenance and extraction of data to ensure a high level of functionality within the organization. Serving as support for the Director of Development, Jill assists with the Foundation's annual fund campaign including direct mail, lists and reports. Prior to joining the Foundation, Jill worked as a database administrator for EnCana Oil & Gas. Johnson graduated from Metropolitan College of Denver with a Bachelors degree in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Accounting.

 - Constituent and Donor record management

 - Donations and Recurring Gift management

 - Support to the Director of Development

Email: jjohnson@usaswimming.org  Phone: 719-866-3587

 

Rowdy Gaines, foundation ambassador

 - Make a Splash Tour co-host
 - Donor development and cultivation
 - Golden Goggles weekend

 

Mel Stewart, national team alumni ambassador

 - Coordinate/co-host alumni engagement activities/Alumni Reunions
 - Create alumni newsletters
 - Create alumni copy for foundation e-newsletter