Our executive mentors are valued partners of A2E, dedicated to empowering athletes with the vision, confidence, and expertise needed to succeed in their career search and thrive in their new roles.
About Athlete2Exec
From the Field to the Office
At Athlete2Exec (A2E), our mission is simple: to help athletes win in their career search. With over 40 combined years of experience and a dedicated roster of executive mentors, we are committed to being a valuable partner to university athletic departments and professional sports organizations. Our goal is to prepare athletes for success as they transition from sports to thriving professional careers.
Our Founders
Sara Murray is the founder of A2E. Sara has held pivotal roles as a Sales Leader and VP of Human Resources over a 20-year span in the highly competitive medical device industry. These roles have given her in-depth experience of interviewing, selecting, and developing talent and in turn honing her ability to provide strategic guidance and resources to those in need. At A2E, she’s dedicated to inspiring hope and offering athletes a safe space to turn to when they feel lost or uncertain in their career search.
A former Division I volleyball player at both the University of Colorado and Michigan State University, Sara understands firsthand the unique challenges athletes face, both during and after their careers. Originally from Colorado, she now enjoys golfing and spending quality time with her family.
Christina Garner is the founder of A2E, where she channels her extensive experience as an executive recruiter and founder of a top-producing medical device search firm into helping students and athletes find direction and purpose in their careers. Her passion lies in mentoring young individuals, offering guidance and vision to help them achieve their goals and navigate their futures with confidence.
A former cheerleader and track athlete, Christina founded and managed a cheer competition program that won three national championships in just four years, showcasing her leadership and commitment to excellence. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Christina is a proud mother of three college-aged children, including her youngest daughter, a Division I cheerleader at Butler University. Outside of family, recruiting, and mentoring, Christina’s passion is pickleball, which she enjoys in her free time.
Our Executive Mentors
Chad Williamson is a highly accomplished senior sales executive with nearly 25 years of experience at Fortune 100 companies.
Currently, he serves as the US Regional Vice President for Intuitive Surgical, a global leader in surgical robotics. In this role, Chad drives sales to key accounts and delivers cutting-edge technologies that transform patient care. He thrives on building and leading high-performing sales teams with a clear strategic vision. Prior to joining Intuitive, Chad was a sales leader at Stryker.
Chad earned his degree from Lafayette College, where he captained the football team and was a four-year letter winner.
Passionate about giving back, Chad dedicates time to mentoring athletes, helping them find the vision and confidence needed to transition successfully from sports to the business world.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Sales and sales leadership
- Corporate leadership
Sean Murray, a former baseball player at the University of New Mexico, is now the Division President at Eurofins Scientific, leading a team of over 2,000 employees. His career began as a Design Engineer and Project Manager at medical device manufacturer Stryker Instruments. After graduating in the top 5% of his MBA class at Harvard Business School, Sean joined McKinsey & Company as a consultant. He was later recruited by Worthington Industries to launch a new business, eventually rising to Global General Manager.
In addition to his corporate success, Sean pursues various entrepreneurial ventures in his free time. A passionate golfer with a 2 handicap, he also mentors athletes, helping them leverage the skills gained in sports to excel as business leaders—either in their own startups or in corporate America.
Career Track Specialities
- CEO/Entrepreneur track
- Technical track
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- General management
- Engineering/technical leadership
- Career coaching
- Building a strong network (through business and sports like golf)
Bill Peters is a highly successful and decorated business leader with over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry. Most recently Bill was the president and general manager for CONMED’s Advanced Surgical and Advanced Endoscopic Technologies divisions. While in his role, he drove record-setting sales, leading and developing leaders across sales, finance, HR, and R&D functions. Bill has a passion for hiring and developing talent that makes a difference in people’s lives and believes that those with athletic backgrounds and experience bring a tremendous amount to the table in being able to accomplish that. Bill attended Ohio University where he was a part of the varsity football program. His experience as an athlete has helped fuel and shape his ability to be competitive and drive great results for the companies he has been a part of.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Sales and sales leadership
- Product innovation
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Building professional networks
Caroline Walker is currently the Global Brand Ambassador for philosophy Skincare, a manufacturer of personal care products, where she serves as a primary spokesperson for the brand promoting its mission, values, and products. She is also a certified meditation, yoga, and holistic nutrition instructor. She has extensive experience in TV hosting and creating education on multiple social media platforms, as well as writing and delivering corporate and field onboarding and selling seminars. Caroline is passionate about educating on the impact wellness has throughout your life, especially in the workplace. Her specialty is teaching mind-body practices to help with stress reduction and deepening your connection with yourself. Keep an eye out for content from Caroline to help you improve your mental focus, increase your confidence throughout the interview process, and help you be a top performer throughout your career.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Mind-body practices for stress
- Management
- Emotional regulation
- Performance
Emily Stapf is a Principal in PwC’s Cyber, Risk & Regulatory practice focused on threat management and cybersecurity strategy. She leads Solutions for the US Cyber practice and is PwC Denver’s Office Managing Partner.
With 25+ years of consulting experience, Emily has helped hundreds of commercial clients prepare for, respond to, and emerge stronger from unplanned events such as cyber and economic crime. She has led investigations, incident response, strategy, and risk management projects related to data breaches, cybercrime, privacy incidents, cybersecurity strategy, and insider threats using computer forensics, data analytics, and cybersecurity risk management. She helps clients navigate statutory, regulatory, and contractual issues, advises on deals transitions, and regularly briefs senior leaders about cybersecurity risk, technology and operational resilience, and data trust.
Emily has advised corporate, private, and law firm clients across healthcare, technology, retail, financial services, insurance, aerospace, industrial products, and energy industries on a global scale, and is well connected across PwC’s global network. Emily is an innovator and is responsible for two globally renowned product launch successes: PwC’s Game of Threats (™) and COVID-19 Check-In (™) app for global crisis management, workforce productivity, and contact tracing.
Emily is a frequent speaker on the topics of cybercrime, data breach investigations, and information risk management, is a Certified Information Security Manager and a Certified Fraud Examiner, an IAPP and ISACA member, and has held a Federal Top Secret Clearance.
Emily played field hockey at the University of Richmond, along with participating in the lacrosse and equestrian teams. She resides in the Denver, Colorado area.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Cybersecurity
- Consulting
- Leadership
Kris is a highly accomplished biomedical engineer and business leader who is currently the COO and Co-Founder of IMIDEX, a company that strives to save lives lost to lung cancer with the help of data science. IMIDEX is based in the Denver area and utilizes AI-powered technology to help clinicians detect cancer earlier. Prior to IMIDEX, Kris was a senior leader at Prytime Medical, developing and growing endovascular solutions for trauma, and a quality assurance leader at Dohman Life Sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and business economics at Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a member of the varsity women’s golf team, Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling and Resource Center, and on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Kris currently resides in Colorado and is excited to share her experience on how athletics has shaped her ability to succeed in business and to encourage others going through this critical transition.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Medical devices
- Start-ups
- Biomedical engineering
- Regulatory and quality
- Business leadership
Aaron is currently the Managing Director at Lake Street Markets, LLC in Minneapolis. Aaron is experienced in institutional equity sales with a demonstrated history of building customer relationships working in the investment banking industry. Skilled in equities, institutional selling, capital markets, family offices, and hedge funds, he has proven to be a top sales producer and Alpha Capture all-star.
Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and resides in the Minneapolis area with his family. He has a passion for competition and is an avid golfer, which has been a great avenue for him to build his personal and professional network. He is excited to offer coaching and mentorship to athletes looking to enter the same professional space and offer his expertise in how to excel in the professional world.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Investment Banking
- Professional networking
Kris is a highly accomplished biomedical engineer and business leader who is currently the COO and Co-Founder of IMIDEX, a company that strives to save lives lost to lung cancer with the help of data science. IMIDEX is based in the Denver area and utilizes AI-powered technology to help clinicians detect cancer earlier. Prior to IMIDEX, Kris was a senior leader at Prytime Medical, developing and growing endovascular solutions for trauma, and a quality assurance leader at Dohman Life Sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and business economics at Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a member of the varsity women’s golf team, Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling and Resource Center, and on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Kris currently resides in Colorado and is excited to share her experience on how athletics has shaped her ability to succeed in business and to encourage others going through this critical transition.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Medical devices
- Start-ups
- Biomedical engineering
- Regulatory and quality
- Business leadership
From the Field to the Office
At Athlete2Exec (A2E), our mission is simple: to help athletes win in their career search. With over 40 combined years of experience and a dedicated roster of executive mentors, we are committed to being a valuable partner to university athletic departments and professional sports organizations. Our goal is to prepare athletes for success as they transition from sports to thriving professional careers.
Our Founders
Sara Murray is the founder of A2E. Sara has held pivotal roles as a Sales Leader and VP of Human Resources over a 20-year span in the highly competitive medical device industry. These roles have given her in-depth experience of interviewing, selecting, and developing talent and in turn honing her ability to provide strategic guidance and resources to those in need. At A2E, she’s dedicated to inspiring hope and offering athletes a safe space to turn to when they feel lost or uncertain in their career search.
A former Division I volleyball player at both the University of Colorado and Michigan State University, Sara understands firsthand the unique challenges athletes face, both during and after their careers. Originally from Colorado, she now enjoys golfing and spending quality time with her family.
Christina Garner is the founder of A2E, where she channels her extensive experience as an executive recruiter and founder of a top-producing medical device search firm into helping students and athletes find direction and purpose in their careers. Her passion lies in mentoring young individuals, offering guidance and vision to help them achieve their goals and navigate their futures with confidence.
A former cheerleader and track athlete, Christina founded and managed a cheer competition program that won three national championships in just four years, showcasing her leadership and commitment to excellence. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Christina is a proud mother of three college-aged children, including her youngest daughter, a Division I cheerleader at Butler University. Outside of family, recruiting, and mentoring, Christina’s passion is pickleball, which she enjoys in her free time.
Our Executive Mentors
Our executive mentors are valued partners of A2E, dedicated to empowering athletes with the vision, confidence, and expertise needed to succeed in their career search and thrive in their new roles.
Chad Williamson is a highly accomplished senior sales executive with nearly 25 years of experience at Fortune 100 companies.
Currently, he serves as the US Regional Vice President for Intuitive Surgical, a global leader in surgical robotics. In this role, Chad drives sales to key accounts and delivers cutting-edge technologies that transform patient care. He thrives on building and leading high-performing sales teams with a clear strategic vision. Prior to joining Intuitive, Chad was a sales leader at Stryker.
Chad earned his degree from Lafayette College, where he captained the football team and was a four-year letter winner.
Passionate about giving back, Chad dedicates time to mentoring athletes, helping them find the vision and confidence needed to transition successfully from sports to the business world.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Sales and sales leadership
- Corporate leadership
Sean Murray, a former baseball player at the University of New Mexico, is now the Division President at Eurofins Scientific, leading a team of over 2,000 employees. His career began as a Design Engineer and Project Manager at medical device manufacturer Stryker Instruments. After graduating in the top 5% of his MBA class at Harvard Business School, Sean joined McKinsey & Company as a consultant. He was later recruited by Worthington Industries to launch a new business, eventually rising to Global General Manager.
In addition to his corporate success, Sean pursues various entrepreneurial ventures in his free time. A passionate golfer with a 2 handicap, he also mentors athletes, helping them leverage the skills gained in sports to excel as business leaders—either in their own startups or in corporate America.
Career Track Specialities
- CEO/Entrepreneur track
- Technical track
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- General management
- Engineering/technical leadership
- Career coaching
- Building a strong network (through business and sports like golf)
Bill Peters is a highly successful and decorated business leader with over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry. Most recently Bill was the president and general manager for CONMED’s Advanced Surgical and Advanced Endoscopic Technologies divisions. While in his role, he drove record-setting sales, leading and developing leaders across sales, finance, HR, and R&D functions. Bill has a passion for hiring and developing talent that makes a difference in people’s lives and believes that those with athletic backgrounds and experience bring a tremendous amount to the table in being able to accomplish that. Bill attended Ohio University where he was a part of the varsity football program. His experience as an athlete has helped fuel and shape his ability to be competitive and drive great results for the companies he has been a part of.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Sales and sales leadership
- Product innovation
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Building professional networks
Caroline Walker is currently the Global Brand Ambassador for philosophy Skincare, a manufacturer of personal care products, where she serves as a primary spokesperson for the brand promoting its mission, values, and products. She is also a certified meditation, yoga, and holistic nutrition instructor. She has extensive experience in TV hosting and creating education on multiple social media platforms, as well as writing and delivering corporate and field onboarding and selling seminars. Caroline is passionate about educating on the impact wellness has throughout your life, especially in the workplace. Her specialty is teaching mind-body practices to help with stress reduction and deepening your connection with yourself. Keep an eye out for content from Caroline to help you improve your mental focus, increase your confidence throughout the interview process, and help you be a top performer throughout your career.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Mind-body practices for stress
- Management
- Emotional regulation
- Performance
Emily Stapf is a Principal in PwC’s Cyber, Risk & Regulatory practice focused on threat management and cybersecurity strategy. She leads Solutions for the US Cyber practice and is PwC Denver’s Office Managing Partner.
With 25+ years of consulting experience, Emily has helped hundreds of commercial clients prepare for, respond to, and emerge stronger from unplanned events such as cyber and economic crime. She has led investigations, incident response, strategy, and risk management projects related to data breaches, cybercrime, privacy incidents, cybersecurity strategy, and insider threats using computer forensics, data analytics, and cybersecurity risk management. She helps clients navigate statutory, regulatory, and contractual issues, advises on deals transitions, and regularly briefs senior leaders about cybersecurity risk, technology and operational resilience, and data trust.
Emily has advised corporate, private, and law firm clients across healthcare, technology, retail, financial services, insurance, aerospace, industrial products, and energy industries on a global scale, and is well connected across PwC’s global network. Emily is an innovator and is responsible for two globally renowned product launch successes: PwC’s Game of Threats (™) and COVID-19 Check-In (™) app for global crisis management, workforce productivity, and contact tracing.
Emily is a frequent speaker on the topics of cybercrime, data breach investigations, and information risk management, is a Certified Information Security Manager and a Certified Fraud Examiner, an IAPP and ISACA member, and has held a Federal Top Secret Clearance.
Emily played field hockey at the University of Richmond, along with participating in the lacrosse and equestrian teams. She resides in the Denver, Colorado area.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Cybersecurity
- Consulting
- Leadership
Kris is a highly accomplished biomedical engineer and business leader who is currently the COO and Co-Founder of IMIDEX, a company that strives to save lives lost to lung cancer with the help of data science. IMIDEX is based in the Denver area and utilizes AI-powered technology to help clinicians detect cancer earlier. Prior to IMIDEX, Kris was a senior leader at Prytime Medical, developing and growing endovascular solutions for trauma, and a quality assurance leader at Dohman Life Sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and business economics at Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a member of the varsity women’s golf team, Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling and Resource Center, and on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Kris currently resides in Colorado and is excited to share her experience on how athletics has shaped her ability to succeed in business and to encourage others going through this critical transition.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Medical devices
- Start-ups
- Biomedical engineering
- Regulatory and quality
- Business leadership
Aaron is currently the Managing Director at Lake Street Markets, LLC in Minneapolis. Aaron is experienced in institutional equity sales with a demonstrated history of building customer relationships working in the investment banking industry. Skilled in equities, institutional selling, capital markets, family offices, and hedge funds, he has proven to be a top sales producer and Alpha Capture all-star.
Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and resides in the Minneapolis area with his family. He has a passion for competition and is an avid golfer, which has been a great avenue for him to build his personal and professional network. He is excited to offer coaching and mentorship to athletes looking to enter the same professional space and offer his expertise in how to excel in the professional world.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Investment Banking
- Professional networking
Kris is a highly accomplished biomedical engineer and business leader who is currently the COO and Co-Founder of IMIDEX, a company that strives to save lives lost to lung cancer with the help of data science. IMIDEX is based in the Denver area and utilizes AI-powered technology to help clinicians detect cancer earlier. Prior to IMIDEX, Kris was a senior leader at Prytime Medical, developing and growing endovascular solutions for trauma, and a quality assurance leader at Dohman Life Sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and business economics at Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a member of the varsity women’s golf team, Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling and Resource Center, and on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Kris currently resides in Colorado and is excited to share her experience on how athletics has shaped her ability to succeed in business and to encourage others going through this critical transition.
Mentor Areas of Expertise
- Medical devices
- Start-ups
- Biomedical engineering
- Regulatory and quality
- Business leadership