About Our Foundation

Christi Cornette is the Chief Administrative Officer at altafiber.

Ms. Cornette is responsible for altafiber’s corporate marketing, brand strategy, employee development, human resources, internal and external communications, community involvement, and events and sponsorships. She also has responsibility for the company’s retail and corporate real estate projects.

Ms. Cornette brings more than 30 years of Marketing, Sales, and Technology experience to altafiber. She joined the company in 2001 and has held several executive roles, including Chief Culture Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing. She is an active mentor for females in the workplace and leads the company’s culture initiatives, which include employee training and development programs and supporting multiple Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

Ms. Cornette is active in the community. She serves as President of the Joel Cornette Foundation, which is funding research for the study of athletes and heart disease via The Hearts of Athletes program in partnership with the American Heart Association and Duke University. Ms. Cornette has a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University.

Priority Sports & Entertainment was founded in 1985, and in the 30+ years the agency has been in business, CEO Mark Bartelstein has earned a reputation for being innovative and forward-thinking in his approach to representing professional athletes. The firm has established itself as an industry leader by developing core values of integrity, hard work, and a steadfast resolve always to put their clients first. Priority Sports has received consistent acclaim over the years by maintaining a company-wide entrepreneurial spirit that exists within each department – Basketball, Football, Coaching/Front Office, Marketing & PR, and the newly founded Women’s Sports Division.  This approach has laid the foundation for creating the culture throughout the history of Priority Sports & Entertainment and has led to constant and steady growth throughout the existence of agency, from inception to today. The agency is widely regarded throughout the business and sports industries as the leading independently owned agency representing professional athletes and has consistently been ranked accordingly in countless national media outlets.

Based on his familiarity with the intricacies of the Collective Bargaining Agreements in both the NBA & the NFL, Mark has helped his clients secure many landmark contracts and is often asked to speak on his experience in these negotiations, as well as the journey that Priority Sports has taken to the top of the sports business world. Mark graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1984. He and his wife, Sheri, have four children (Josh, Morgan, Courtney, and Kirby) and reside in Highland Park, Illinois.

John Burns is the Founder and CEO of Encore Technologies. Encore is a privately owned, full-service Data Center and IT solutions company focused on the Enterprise, Healthcare, and Commercial markets. John has over 40 years of experience developing entrepreneurial ventures in the information technology industry. During that time, he has served in leadership capacities including President, Vice President, and General Manager.

In 1984, John started his IT career in sales at Computerland in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1987, John joined several other investors to purchase a Cincinnati-based IT services and hardware reseller, which was merged with The Future Now in 1990. The merger expanded the reach and breadth of services to include the entire Midwest region. The company was sold to Xerox in 1998.

John joined CBTS in 1999 as Vice President of Sales and became General Manager in 2004. Under his leadership, CBTS grew from less than $2M in revenue in 1999 to over $400M in 2014. During John’s tenure, CBTS entered the data center business in 2000. That business grew to over 250,000 sq./ft. of colo space by 2010.    In 2010, CBT acquired Cyrus One, combined the CBTS data center operations under the Cyrus One name, and spun the business out in an IPO. John launched Encore Technologies in January of 2016 and has grown the business to over $300M in 2023.

A native of Cincinnati, John earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Cincinnati College of Business. He is active in various community and charitable organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region and currently serves on the boards of The Christ Hospital Health Network, Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation, Cincinnati Golden Gloves for Youth, Coforge Limited, Mercy Health Foundation, The Anthony Munoz Foundation, The Dragonfly Foundation, The Joe Burrow Foundation, and The Joel Cornette Foundation.

Chris Denari is a seasoned sports broadcaster and the television play-by-play announcer for the Indiana Pacers. A native of Westfield, Indiana, Denari developed a passion for sports early on, playing basketball in high school under the guidance of his father, who was also his coach. He attended Wabash College, where he continued his basketball journey and discovered his love for broadcasting. His career began covering high school games and Butler University basketball, eventually leading to his role as the voice of the Pacers since 2006. Known for his meticulous preparation and engaging commentary, Denari has become a respected figure in the world of sports broadcasting.

Al Early’s most recent role was the Senior Vice President of Consulting Services at CBTS. He joined CBTS in 2007 and played a pivotal role in growing the Professional Services business from $3.5 million to over $320 million in annual revenue. Al built and led a team that grew to over 2,500 individuals worldwide, including opening an offshore office in India. His team successfully recruited hundreds of technical resources annually, serving as an extension of their customers or delivering customized outsourced solutions.

Before CBTS, Al led an IT sales and recruiting practice at Definitive Solutions Company. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University and is actively involved in community initiatives, serving on the boards of CancerFree KIDS, Coldstream Country Club, and the Cincinnati IT Cluster Council. Al also mentors underprivileged adults through the Job Works organization, helping them build sustainable careers.

LaVall Jordan is an accomplished basketball coach and former player, currently serving as General Manager for DePaul University. Born in Albion, Michigan, Jordan played college basketball at Butler University from 1997 to 2001. During his time at Butler, he helped the team secure multiple conference titles and NCAA tournament appearances, earning recognition as a two-time All-Conference player and the 2001 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament MVP.

After graduating, Jordan played professional basketball in Europe and the NBA Development League before transitioning into coaching. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Butler and later held positions at Iowa and Michigan, where he contributed to the development of several NBA players. Jordan went on to become the head coach at Milwaukee and Butler, leading teams to NCAA tournament success. In addition to his coaching roles, he has worked as an NBA scout with the Milwaukee Bucks and a college basketball analyst for Fox Sports.

Dave Lapham is a former professional football player and a beloved sports broadcaster, widely recognized for his contributions to the Cincinnati Bengals. Born on June 24, 1952, in Melrose, Massachusetts, Lapham played college football at Syracuse University, where he earned accolades for his performance as an offensive lineman. He was drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 1974 NFL Draft and played for the team until 1983. Known for his versatility, Lapham excelled at all five offensive line positions and was a key player on the Bengals’ 1981 AFC Championship team that competed in Super Bowl XVI.

After retiring from professional football, Lapham transitioned into broadcasting, becoming the Bengals’ radio color commentator. His insightful analysis and passion for the game have made him a fan favorite for over 30 years. Lapham also works as a Big 12 football analyst for Fox Sports Network and has been involved in various community initiatives, including charity golf tournaments and mentoring programs.  Dave also has a podcast called “In the Trenches” sponsored by First Star Logistics.

Andrew S. Larkin is a respected attorney based in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializing in business representation, estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, and trust administration. He is a partner at Rebold Larkin Murray, where he provides comprehensive legal services to businesses, individuals, and families. Larkin is known for his consultative approach, ensuring clients feel comfortable and informed throughout the legal process.

Born and raised on the West Side of Cincinnati, Larkin attended St. Xavier High School, where he led the basketball team to its first and only State Championship in 2000. He continued his basketball career at the University of Rochester, earning a degree in Economics, and later obtained his law degree from Suffolk University in Boston. Outside of his legal practice, Larkin is actively involved in community initiatives, including work with the American Heart Association and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Todd Lickliter is a seasoned basketball coach with a career spanning decades in collegiate basketball. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lickliter played as a guard during his college years at Butler University, where he earned a degree in secondary education. His coaching journey began at the high school level before transitioning to college basketball, where he served as an assistant coach at Butler, Eastern Michigan, and Miami (Ohio).

Lickliter gained national recognition as the head coach of Butler University from 2001 to 2007, leading the team to two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and earning the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coach of the Year award in 2007. He later coached at the University of Iowa and Marian University, where he continued to make an impact. Most recently, he served as the head coach of the University of Evansville men’s basketball team.

Scott Seger is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of leadership experience driving innovation and growth across the IT sector. Most recently, Scott served as Senior Vice President of Global Accounts and Business Alliances at CBTS, a role he held from 2023 until his retirement in 2025. His return to CBTS after a brief retirement in 2020 underscored his enduring commitment to strategic growth and global client partnerships.

Scott’s leadership journey at CBTS began in 2005, where he held progressively senior roles including Vice President of Sales, Senior Vice President and General Manager, and eventually President from 2017 to early 2020. Under his guidance, CBTS expanded its global reach, strengthened key vendor alliances, and delivered transformative IT solutions to a diverse client base.

Before his tenure at CBTS, Scott held pivotal roles at Xerox as National Procurement Manager, Sales Manager at Future Now, and Oracle Database Administrator at Scripps Howard. His expertise spans sales strategy, operational excellence, IT infrastructure, and enterprise partnerships, making him a trusted advisor and leader throughout his career.

Scott holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Systems Analysis from Miami University (Ohio). Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is deeply committed to giving back and has served on the Joel Cornette Foundation Board since 2017.

Now enjoying retirement, Scott travels, golfs, and cherishes moments with his family, especially his grandson.

Brad Stevens is an accomplished basketball executive and former coach, currently serving as the President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics. Born on October 22, 1976, in Zionsville, Indiana, Stevens demonstrated his passion for basketball early on, setting records at Zionsville Community High School. He went on to play college basketball at DePauw University, earning a degree in economics and multiple accolades for his academic and athletic achievements.

Stevens transitioned into coaching after leaving his corporate job at Eli Lilly and Company. He began his coaching career at Butler University, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become head coach. His tenure at Butler was marked by remarkable success, including leading the team to consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances. In 2013, Stevens joined the Boston Celtics as head coach, where he gained recognition for his strategic brilliance and leadership. After stepping down as head coach in 2021, he took on his current executive role, continuing to shape the Celtics’ future and win a championship in 2024.