Who We Are

Our Story

Jump Start Sports was founded in 2002 when Rick Hart, a successful advertising executive, decided to leave corporate America and pursue his passion – impacting the lives of children through participation in sports. 

Jump Start Sports was truly born when a local recreation director in Hudson, Ohio needed help offering programs that met the community’s needs. Rick developed camps and programs to fill these gaps, always with the goal that they were both fun and enriching for children. From then on, Jump Start Sports has grown to serve numerous communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina. Jump Start Sports offers programs and camps across a variety of sports – all designed to be a positive force for youth in their communities. At Jump Start Sports, we look for world class coaches, not world class athletes. Our programs are diverse and inclusive, ensuring that every participant is able to learn and have fun!  As we grow, our founding principles, mission, and philosophy, remain THE defining factors in everything we do.

Our Team

RICK HART, FOUNDER & CEO

Rick Hart founded Jump Start Sports in 2002 after a successful career in advertising. His passion to benefit the development of children through participation in sports turned into a business that has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of children.

His determination to expand that impact to every community across the country led him to franchising in 2023. The Jump Start Sports vision is to deliver our best in class youth sports business to millions of children and communities across the nation. By partnering with those who share our passion and are committed to excellence and integrity, we aspire to set the standard for excellence in coaching, life skill development, and character education.

A University of Pennsylvania athlete & graduate and father of three adult children, Rick has spent his life around sports. He is building a team at Jump Start Sports that will work hand in hand with every stakeholder of the company to ensure long term success and fulfillment.

LORI HART, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

The creator of the name Jump Start Sports, Lori Hart has been part of the company since its inception in 2002. She’s done it all with and for her husband, Rick Hart, Founder & CEO, including administration, staffing, bookkeeping and strategic planning & implementation.

Lori started her career as a consultant, rising to a management position in health care at Ernst & Young. Her extensive experience there makes her a great asset to the Jump Start Sports emerging franchise system model, overseeing all aspects of financial management, including planning and compliance.

Lori and Rick have three adult children. Her involvement in their activities growing up was a living, breathing exercise of Jump Start Sports’ mission - enriching kids’ lives through participation in sports.

CINDY RHODEHAMEL, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Cindy was a Founding Leader and Executive Director at Stella & Dot, a fashion accessories brand based out of San Francisco, which she helped grow into $300M in annual sales and managed a team of 3,600 stylists in 3 countries. Cindy has also mentored and coached a variety of female entrepreneurs in start-up ventures.

Cindy oversees all Jump Start Sports franchise operations, including marketing, technology and support of its rapidly growing franchise business.

A mom of three adult daughters who excelled at sports and life growing up, Cindy knows the value of participation in activities that create a foundation for life-long success. That experience, coupled with her high level vision for the great Jump Start Sports mission, make her a valuable asset to the organization and its customer families.

KELLI SWEETING, MARKETING DIRECTOR

Kelli Sweeting is a seasoned marketing executive with over 15 years of expertise in the wellness industry. From successfully founding and managing multiple gyms to leading innovative marketing strategies in the SaaS sector, Kelli brings a unique blend of experience to the world of sports marketing.

As a mom of two young kids and a military spouse, Kelli understands the value of adaptability. Known for her data-driven approach, she optimizes campaigns, ensuring they align seamlessly with business goals. As a collaborative leader, Kelli builds high-performing teams, excelling in digital marketing, content creation, and social media.

Kelli thrives in dynamic landscapes, and is excited to connect - armed with a deep understanding of industry trends. She infuses passion, strategy and innovation into Jump Start Sports’ marketing endeavors.

LUKE FINNEY, PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Luke Finney is a Kent State alum, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies with a minor in History in 2022. He began coaching with Jump Start Sports in the Fall of 2021 and interned the following summer. His passion for both sports and kids led to a full time career with the company following graduation.

Luke’s experience in coaching, teaching and organizing programs at Jump Start Sports has given him a unique perspective on how to best implement our mission. He currently holds the title of Program Director, making him responsible for managing all staff & coaches, organizing the logistical facet of all Cleveland / Akron operations, and most importantly, delivering quality sports experiences to countless children & families in the area.

DAVE RHODEHAMEL, FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Dave has vast business experience across several verticals, including real estate brokerage, development and management, debt resolution and recently a startup in the SaaS space, all of which have realized significant growth and scale and resulted in gains in revenue, employment and market share for the entities involved.

Dave is a team builder and a networker. He will work side-by- side with Jump Start Sports’ founder and CEO, Rick Hart, to grow and support the franchise partners through the expansion of territories and addition of resources for the system.

Our Mission

Jump Start Sports provides children of all skill levels with a highly positive and encouraging sports experience that, over time, impacts their physical, psychological, emotional, and social development. We enable and encourage children to have that experience in a wide variety of sports.

Sports for All

  • Designed for athletes of all ages and skill levels
  • Are inclusive
  • Safe, well-organized, age-appropriate settings

All Sports for Every Child

  • Provide children with an opportunity to explore a wide variety of sports
  • Encourage children to find their passion by introducing them to a wide variety of sports
  • Fun and encouraging environments

Positivity

  • FUNdamentals with focus on positive reinforcement
  • Foster learning, development & relationships
  • Introduce children to the love of sports in their early years

We have been able to inspire thousands of children of all skill levels to further their love for sports and to benefit and grow from their participation.

Our Impact

I am delighted to share my experience with Jump Start Sports.  As a parent, I was thoroughly impressed with the program's organization, professionalism, and commitment to providing a safe and fun environment for my daughter’s first soccer experience. She had so much fun that she keeps asking when she can go back and spends a ton of time in our backyard practicing what she learned.

Tina S

Parent

The coaches were knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging, which created a positive learning environment for all the children. The program offered a wide range of activities that were both challenging and engaging, keeping the kids active and excited throughout the day. Each activity built on the others and both our kids became more confident in their abilities right before our eyes as the week went on. Our family are now Jump Start Sports fanatics.

Sallie & Mike Z

Parents

What stood out to me the most was the emphasis on sportsmanship and teamwork, along with the coaches passion for teaching sports. They clearly stressed the value of respect, communication, and working together to achieve common goals. I was thrilled to see children of all skill levels playing together in a safe, fun, and educational atmosphere. Thank you for creating such a fantastic program that positively impacts our community's youth!

Tim L

Parent

We had an awesome experience with Jump Start Sports. We signed our three year old up for Soccer and Miss Jen was amazing with him and the other kids. He had a blast and looked forward to it every week. The price was very reasonable and we plan on enrolling him in more activities offered by Jump Start.
 
 

Devon R.

Parent

Both my boys (age 5 and 7) loved the Jump Start Sports Basketball program! The coaches were fun and helpful to all the kids! We are signed up for a few of the summer camps and looking forward to starting them next week!

Rochelle

Parent

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