Cathy Behr
Media and Awards Intern

Cathy is a native of Willmar, Minn. and a 2005 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she earned her Master's of Education in Sports Management. She spent two years as a Graduate Assistant in the Athletic Communications office at Minnesota and served as the secondary contact for women's basketball while gaining the experience of a sports information director.

Prior to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, she spent four years at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management and minor in Coaching in 2004. Cathy also played four years of basketball for the Golden Eagles, serving as team captain her junior and senior years. She was also actively involved with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) and gained experience with the media relations department.

Cathy has spent the last four summers coaching at basketball camps for various organizations including; Minnesota Timberwolves/Lynx, Flip Saunders, and Pace Setter. She also interned with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), working on the Summer Kick-Off Convention.

Joni Brown
WBCA National Convention Logistics

Originally from Kansas, Joni played four years of college basketball at the Junior College and NAIA level, earning all-conference honors. Achieving her Bachelor degree in Biology from Ottawa University (Ottawa, Kansas), she also holds a Master degree in Exercise Science and will receive her second Master degree in Sport Administration in May 2006, both from Wichita State University (Wichita, Kansas).

Previously, Joni was an assistant coach for women's basketball at Butler Community College (El Dorado, Kansas). Responsibilities included assisting in the instruction of on court drills, recruiting, scouting, scheduling, travel arrangements, monitoring academic progress, managing interpersonal team and community communications and assisting in the organization and administration of camps. She has also been an assistant coach for girl's high school basketball in Erie, Colorado and Houston, Texas. Currently, she holds her national certification in athletic training as well and spent a year as a graduate assistant in athletic training for Wichita State University. For over 10 years, her summers have been spent coaching, counseling and serving as an athletic trainer with various Christian athletic camps.

Her career goals are to obtain a position such as director of basketball operations or work with an organization similar to the WBCA in event management. A dream come true would be a position with USA Basketball and/or the Olympics.

Nicole Goyette
WBCA National Convention Logistics

Hailing from the Sunshine State of California and suiting up as the 2006 BFJ Convention Intern is Nicole Goyette. A May 2005 graduate of Bowdoin College, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies, a multi-disciplinary major that she self-designed.

While at Bowdoin, located in Brunswick, ME, Nicole emerged as an active member of the student body. Soon after joining the college's Office of Annual Giving as a student employee, Nicole eagerly promoted her efforts toward authoring circulations to the alumni body and overseeing on-campus alumni gatherings like Homecoming and Reunion weekends. By the 2004-2005 academic year, her interest in blurring the divide between student and alumni bodies led Nicole to coordinate the Young Alumni Leadership Program, which encouraged her to work with upper level college administrators and the senior class to promote strong alumni relations following graduation.

A four-year varsity swimmer and water polo player, the WBCA is not Nicole's first introduction to "land" activity! Since it's inaugural race in 2004, She has served as the Co-Race Director of the IronBear Triathlon in Brunswick, ME. Duties continue to include marketing, collaborating with and mediating multiple interests on the Local Organizing Committee, coordinating registration and volunteers, and overseeing race-day activity.

Nicole's long-term aspirations are to direct and manage large scale, international amateur athletic competitions. Her ambitions include serving on an organizing committee for the USOC or the IOC, the World Triathlon circuit, or the International Cycling Federation. A Masters degree will undoubtedly be attained in the near future.

Edwina Johnson
WBCA High School All-America Intern

Edwina received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Montevallo in December of 2004. Edwina is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Education from the University of Montevallo.

Prior to beginning her internship with the WBCA, Edwina was the Assistant basketball coach for Middle Georgia College. Her primary duties were in the office, coordinating team travel, conducting individual workouts, coordinating scouting and film exchange, recruiting in addition to on-court coaching duties.

While at the University of Montevallo, Edwina served one year as the Graduate Assistant coach for the Lady Falcons. As the graduate assistant, Edwina aided in coordination of camps and tryouts, recruiting, study hall, and some on-court coaching duties. Before making an appearance on the coaching staff at Montevallo, the Augusta, Ga. Native was a four-year letter-winner for the Lady Falcons from 2000-2004.

Monique Lewis
WBCA Special Projects Intern

Monique Lewis teams up with the WBCA after recently obtaining her Bachelor of Science from one of three Historically Black Universities located in Maryland. The May 2005 graduate of Coppin State University received her degree in the area of Management Science, with an emphasis in marketing. Lewis was also a committed Division I student-athlete, a member of her schools first women's basketball MEAC Conference Championship title team.

While completing her undergraduate degree, Monique gained valuable practical experience as an intern with the premier sports marketing, management, and event production company in Washington, D.C., Bickerstaff Sports & Entertainment. She assisted with the event management of a number of events including the State Farm Bayou Classic, Off The Court Celebrity Golf Tournament, the Tamika Williams TWENTY Foundation Kickoff Reception and Clinic, and the Jamin Elliott Celebrity Softball Tournament. Most recently Monique has been helping to coordinate the youth basketball league, volunteer coaching a girl's basketball team and working in the youth ministry at New Birth South Metropolitan Church.

With immediate aspirations to further her educational experiences in Sports Administration, Monique hopes to not only be successful in the sports business world, but significant. She ultimately plans to combine her passion for basketball with an effort to provide for community and mentor youth.

Cayla Petree
Marketing Intern

Joining the WBCA as the 2006 Marketing and Sales intern is Cisco, Texas native, Cayla Petree. Cayla graduated Cum Laude in May 2004 with an undergraduate degree in Exercise Sport Sciences & Communications from Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Texas). With the completion of this internship, she will complete her MBA with an emphasis on Sport Marketing from Texas Tech in May 2006.

Prior to the WBCA, Cayla was a member of the Cisco Junior College Lady Wrangler Basketball team where she was named First Team Academic All-American, NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American and Conference Freshman of the Year. She then continued her basketball career at Texas Tech as a Lady Raider, with her team reaching the NCAA Elite Eight her junior season.

While in graduate school, Cayla worked two jobs teaching activity and fitness courses for the Health, Exercise & Sport Science department at TTU as well as selling Dodge trucks for one of the largest dealerships in Texas. As a salesperson, Cayla was named, Dodge's "Mayor of Truckville" for the highest volume sales in the West Texas/New Mexico Region.

Cayla's future career goals are to work in collegiate sports either in the marketing or public relations departments or as a Director of Operations.

Rene Rice
WBCA All-Star Challenge Intern

A life long fan of women's basketball René joins the WBCA as the All-Star Challenge Intern. She received her undergraduate degree in Telecommunications and Film from the University of West Florida in Pensacola. Currently, René is completing her Masters degree at Central Michigan University in Sports Administration. She will graduate in May 2006.

Prior to the WBCA, René served as the Intramural Sports Graduate Assistant at Central Michigan University. She was responsible for every aspect involved with the over 100 officials in the Intramural Sports program. She also did a yearlong practicum with the Chippewa's women's basketball team, where her duties included organizing their first ever alumni weekend. Before her work at CMU, she served as the second assistant for her alma mater, the University of West Florida, where she worked with developing the point guards and post players. She also did extensive work in the athletic and recreation departments.

René has also officiated many sports and was named an All-American basketball official by the National Intramural Recreational and Sports Association (NIRSA).