Athlete Assessments & the National Strength and Conditioning Association

NSCA Leadership for Strength and Conditioning Coaches Program

Networking Sessions

Learn from each other, develop industry relationships, reflect and collaborate on learnings

These live 60-minute online networking sessions are designed to bring your cohort together in an interactive and supportive environment to reflect on key learnings from the program workshops, share real-world application ideas, and learn from the experiences of others. Facilitated by Rita Irvine-Kalmikova and Dr. Liz Masen, each session includes structured small group discussions and larger group sharing to help you strengthen industry connections, deepen you understanding of the workshop content, and build practical strategies you can apply in your coaching context. The second session also looks ahead, supporting you in planning your ongoing leadership development and explore how to stay accountable and connected through the program network.

Zoom Link
Attend Networking Session #1
[Date of workshop]
Zoom Link
Attend Networking Session #2
[Date of workshop]

Meet your Facilitators

Dr. Liz Masen

CEO, Athlete Assessments

Dr. Liz Masen is a highly experienced, engaging, and entertaining speaker, who brings 30 years of leadership experience in sport and business. She has been the CEO of Athlete Assessments since co-founding the comany in 2007. Most recently she has completed her Ph.D. in behavioral science and coaching, inspired to solve a common challenge in the critical coach-playmaker relationship. She has presented and facilitated workshops at countless international sports conferences and academies, including being on faculty for the WeCOACH NCAA Women Coaches Academies every year since 2010 and the Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy for the last ten years. In addition, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from industry and driving high performance organizations from elite sport to investment banking. Her early career was in investment banking, specializing in company mergers and acquisitions, and then in leadership and professional development.

Rita Irvine-Kalmikova

Client Advisor, Athlete Assessments

Margarita ‘Rita’ Irvine-Kalmikova is a two-time Olympic swimmer for Latvia with a profound passion for athletics, leadership, and personal development. With a Bachelor’s degree in Human Communication from Lewis University and a Master’s in Sport Administration from Bowling Green State University, Rita blends academic excellence with elite athletic experience to drive growth in both individuals and organizations. Her professional journey spans over a decade of coaching and mentoring within NCAA programs across all divisions, where she developed a deep expertise in recruitment, athlete development, and relationship-building. During this time, Rita also had the unique privilege of mentoring an Olympic Gold Medallist and leading teams with a focus on integrity, resilience, and high performance. While completing her graduate studies, she further expanded her knowledge through managing an aquatics department, deepening her understanding of student-athlete development within higher education. In her role as Client Advisor for Athlete Assessments she plays a vital role in building relationships with and understanding new client needs, and providing tailored solutions that align with our values and offerings. After stepping away from coaching to focus on her family, Rita has re-entered the professional space with renewed energy and commitment to empower others through sport and leadership.

Networking Resources

Looking for more? Access Bonus Resources
Scroll to Top