Premier Relocation Joins the 2026 Player Development Summit
Intentional conversations. Real experience. Lasting impact.
Sponsor Spotlight | Premier Relocation
One of the things I’m thankful for as the Player Development Summit continues to grow is the alignment of the sponsors choosing to support this event.
And Premier Relocation is a perfect example of that.
Premier Relocation specializes in international moving and relocation services for professional athletes, coaches, and sports professionals, helping clients navigate transitions with professionalism, efficiency, and discretion.
Because in sports, transitions happen fast.
New opportunities.
New cities.
New countries.
New seasons of life.
And while people often focus on performance, what’s happening off the field matters too.
That’s where Premier Relocation steps in.
Their team provides tailored relocation support including:
• International and domestic moving
• Packing and shipping coordination
• Customs support
• Storage solutions
• Destination services
All while prioritizing the three things that matter most in this work:
Confidentiality.
Reliability.
Quality.
For athletes, coaches, and professionals operating in high-pressure environments, having trusted people handle the details behind the scenes makes a real difference.
Premier Relocation helps create smooth transitions so clients can stay focused on what matters most.
We’re excited to have them as a sponsor of the 2026 Player Development Summit and thankful for their support of the player development space.
Learn more about Premier Relocation here: https://www.premier-relo.com
The 2026 Player Development Summit Continues to Grow
As we continue introducing speakers for the 2026 Player Development Summit, one thing continues to stand out:
The depth of perspective being added to this year’s conversations.
Player development is continuing to evolve, and so are the people leading the work.
From mental health and athlete support to intentional programming to leadership development and long-term athlete growth
These next speakers represent the kind of voices helping move the profession forward.
And I’m excited for Detroit to experience these conversations firsthand.
Heydie Orr | Mental Health & Athlete Support
Mental health is not optional in athlete development.
It’s essential.
That’s why we’re excited to bring Heydie Orr to the 2026 Player Development Summit.
Heydie is a Licensed Master Social Worker with over 15 years of experience providing trauma-informed care across clinical, school, and community settings. She is the Founder and Lead Therapist of Safe Counsel LLC and currently serves as the Director of Mental Health Services at Athlete Transition Services.
Her work sits at the intersection of healing, identity, resilience, and athlete well-being.
This conversation matters because supporting athletes requires more than programming.
It requires care.
It requires understanding.
It requires intentional systems of support.
Heydie is deeply committed to advancing equity in mental health care, especially within Black and Latino communities, while helping individuals navigate barriers that too often go unaddressed.
This will be an important conversation in Detroit.
Aliyah Hill | Intentional Development & Opportunity Creation
Player development is not defined by resources.
It’s defined by intention.
Aliyah Hill brings that perspective to the 2026 Player Development Summit.
At the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Aliyah built the Student-Athlete Development Program from the ground up, creating intentional programming focused on leadership, personal growth, career readiness, and community engagement.
What stands out about Aliyah is her ability to create opportunities and meaningful experiences for student-athletes through relationship-building, strategic partnerships, and authentic storytelling.
Her work is proof that impactful player development is not about having everything.
It’s about maximizing what you have and leading with purpose.
We’re also proud to have Aliyah as an HBCU voice at the Summit, bringing valuable perspective and leadership to the room.
This is a conversation that will challenge attendees to think differently about how they build and serve.
Faith Girton | The Next Generation of Player Development Leadership
One of the most rewarding parts of this work is watching leaders grow in the space of player development.
Faith Girton represents exactly that.
Currently serving as the Champions 4 Life Director at Miami University, Faith oversees intentional leadership programming centered around four key pillars:
Personal Growth.
Leadership Growth.
Professional Growth.
Service Growth.
She also teaches a personal development course for freshman student-athletes and oversees the leadership academy at Miami.
What makes Faith’s approach unique is her ability to combine leadership development, mental wellness, and therapeutic understanding to create meaningful impact for student-athletes.
Her journey through middle school, high school, and collegiate athletics has shaped her ability to adapt, lead intentionally, and build programs that meet athletes where they are.
Faith represents the next generation of player development leadership.
Intentional.
Relational.
Impact-driven.
And I’m excited for Detroit to hear her perspective firsthand.
17 Days Away… Will You Be In The Room?
17 days.
That’s it.
In 17 days, player development professionals from across the country will gather in Detroit for the 2026 Player Development Summit.
And honestly…
When I look back at this picture from last year, it still doesn’t fully feel real.
I remember standing on stage, turning around, taking this selfie, and realizing something in real time:
This vision had become reality.
What started as an idea…
A conversation…
A belief that this profession needed a stronger community…
Turned into a room full of people committed to developing athletes at a higher level.
People who care deeply about the athlete experience.
People who are trying to build stronger systems for leadership, mental health, career development, community impact, and life beyond the game.
People willing to grow.
Willing to network.
Willing to partner.
That’s what makes this Summit different.
This is not just another conference where people sit in sessions and leave with a notebook full of ideas they never use.
This is a room full of practitioners.
Builders.
Leaders.
Problem-solvers.
People doing the work every single day.
Over the course of two days in Detroit, we’ll have conversations around:
• Athlete development systems
• Mental health and athlete care
• Leadership and culture building
• Career readiness and transition
• Community engagement and philanthropy
• International athlete support
• Relationship building and collaboration
• The future of player development
And maybe most importantly…
The relationships built in the hallways, breakout rooms, networking moments, and side conversations.
Because some of the biggest opportunities in this field don’t happen from scrolling online.
They happen in rooms like this.
Rooms where people are open.
Rooms where people are intentional.
Rooms where people are trying to push this profession forward together.
So here’s my question for you:
Will you be in the room?
Will you be part of the conversations?
Will you build new partnerships?
Will you challenge yourself to think differently?
Will you connect with people who truly understand the work you do?
And when I turn around and take this year’s selfie in Detroit…
Will you be in the picture?
We’re 17 days away.
Detroit is waiting.
Get your tickets now: https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit
Bulk Orders Are Available for The Player Development Guide
High school coaches and athletic directors, this is the time of year when professional development matters.
As you prepare your staff, your culture, and your athletes for the upcoming season, I want to make sure you have a resource that helps you think beyond the game.
The Player Development Guide was created to help coaches and athletic departments build stronger systems around culture, leadership, communication, and the overall athlete experience.
If you are looking for a practical professional development resource for your coaching staff, bulk orders are available now.
These books can be used for:
Staff development
Coaching conversations
Leadership groups
Athlete development planning
Culture-building discussions
If you want to order copies for your staff or athletic department, fill out the bulk order form here:
https://forms.gle/uaZkxMcMgzkHqnL89
Let’s keep developing people and elevating programs.