Meet the Team

Yulander Wells, Jr.

 Advisor

Eryn McVerry

Advisor

Love, learn, lead, and lift are hallmarks of Dr. Janelle E. Wells’ life work. Through her love of sport, Dr. Wells earned a collegiate athletic scholarship, progressed into the coaching ranks, and then transcended into the private sector and classroom as a professor of practice after earning her doctorate from the University of Florida. As a lifelong learner, Dr. Wells’ lived experiences stimulated her research in organizational behavior, specifically leadership, career development, and gender equity, which has been published in outlets such as the Journal of Sport Management, the Leadership & Organizational Development Journal, and Sport Marketing Quarterly. In addition to 30-plus peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, in 2019 she co-edited the book The Business of Esports: The Wild Wild West on Fire.  

Putting theory into practice, Wells is the Co-Founder of WellsQuest. Most recently, she partnered with the Vinik Sports Group, the parent company of the Tampa Bay Lighting, to create the Lightning Leadership Line – a personal and professional development initiative. 

Lifting with her servant heart, Dr. Wells finds fulfillment developing students as an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, serving her community as an advisory board member of the YMCA, and empowering women as a founding board member of Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Tampa Bay and founding research fellow for Wasserman’s The Collective Think Tank. Dr. Wells’ most meaningful purpose is raising three active young boys with her husband. 

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Yulander Wells, Jr. serves as the Deputy Athletic Director for the University of Notre Dame. He is responsible for all of the department’s core business and revenue generation functions, as well as fundraising efforts.  

Prior to joining Notre Dame, Wells has served in athletics leadership roles at Harvard University, and the University of South Florida, as well as serving as the Assistant Controller for the University Athletics Association, Inc. and Gator Boosters, Inc. at the University of Florida.  

A leader driven by a philosophy to serve, partner, inspire and excel, he uses these pillars as his compass to operate with integrity, inclusiveness, commitment, and with a winning attitude. It is his core belief that academics and athletics are essential for the holistic development of all students, and the ability to be a high performer in both are not mutually exclusive. 

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Wells earned his Bachelor of Business Administration-Finance Degree in 2001, and his M.B.A. in 2005 serving as a three-year basketball captain and earning all-conference honors each year. Yulander and his wife, Dr. Janelle Wells, have three sons. 

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Doreen MacAulay is a facilitator, author, and university instructor with 20+ years of experience in organizational and personal development.  

Doreen is passionate about creating equity in the workplace, as well as helping people develop their authentic and effective selves. Using her background in organizational behavior, she facilitates the professional development of people so that they can realize their goals and aspirations.  

MacAulay is an award-winning Instructor at the Muma College of Business, University of South Florida, where she teaches in the fields of leadership, organizational behavior, and management to undergraduate, graduate, and executive students. She has worked with Fortune 100 and 500 corporations, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions to help develop and enhance their approach to DEI through interactive and customized workshops.  

She holds a PhD in Management from St. Mary’s University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Doreen’s research focuses on gender equity, organizational change, and identity. She has lectured at various academic institutions within the United States, Canada, China and Spain.  

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Gibran is a seasoned hospitality industry leader with over 20 years of experience. He began as an unpaid intern in a family member’s restaurant group and fell in love with the industry’s meaning of servant leadership. He worked with 16 different brands ranging from quick-service restaurants to fine dining during his 12-year tenure at Tinsley Family Concessions, where he was the Senior Director of Operations. He also oversaw the daily operations of two of the busiest restaurants in the country for their respective brands.

Gibran’s experience continued to grow as he worked as a Regional District Manager for SodexoMagic and as Vice President of Operations for Purple Square Management Company, where he managed the daily operations of 130 restaurants and 1,700 employees. Currently, he is the VP of Retail & Supply Chain operations for Ethos Cannabis, a medical cannabis company based in Philadelphia.

Gibran’s leadership skills were honed as a NCAA Division I basketball player at Hofstra University, where he was the team captain all four years. His family is his greatest achievement, and he is supported by his wife Jennifer and their three daughters, who teach him the importance of leading by example both in his personal and professional life.

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Eryn McVerry is a distinguished strategic marketer and brand steward with a rich career history that encompasses agencies, brands, and professional sports franchises.  As the founder of Maryn & Co., a strategic consultancy agency, Eryn collaborates with and advises sports, media, technology, and marketing organizations in crafting business plans, marketing efforts, and revenue-generating strategies. Before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, Eryn served as EVP of Brand for the Chicago Blackhawks where she led the charge in bringing the Blackhawks brand to life. Her efforts fostered cultural connections for the team and organization, which spanned the city of Chicago to a global audience through dynamic media, sports, and community initiatives. 

Before her tenure with the Blackhawks, Eryn’s marketing contributions were instrumental in the success of the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Under her leadership, the Lightning’s marketing efforts earned the prestigious distinction of Team of the Year by the 2021 Clio Sports Awards and Sports Business Journal.

Her journey into the world of professional team sports was preceded by a career in advertising, where she worked at renowned agencies such as TBWA\Chiat\Day, mcgrarrybowen, Ogilvy, and Momentum. Her vision helped shaped memorable campaigns for iconic brands within and adjacent to the sports industry, including NASCAR, Budweiser, Gillette, Sport Check, the U.S. Army, and more.  

Eryn serves on the Sports Management Advisory Board at the University of Michigan, her alma mater.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from the university, and while she furthered her education with a master’s in advertising from Michigan State University, her loyalty lies with the maize and blue. 

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Harrison Mootoo brings a contagious enthusiasm to his role at WellsQuest, where he is thrilled to be a part of a dynamic team dedicated to excellence. With a robust background in customer relations and administration spanning 12 years, Harrison is well-equipped to foster strong client relationships and streamline operational processes. In and out of the office, Harrison is known for his wit and charm. His favorite motto? “Turning challenges into opportunities, one satisfied customer at a time.” Get ready for a journey with Harrison at the helm – where professionalism meets a touch of humor!

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