In the Industry/ Web Exclusives/ webexclusive2

Know the Score: Unified vs. Universal

JAM Brands, Scoring, Varsity December 29, 2014

For years, cheer professionals have made the call for a massive scoring overhaul—and this season, the event producers have answered. This year, two brand-new scoring systems will be introduced to meet the need for a new approach at events. “Recently, there has been a push from coaches to unify scoring across the industry,” explains JAM Brands co-owner Dan Kessler. “For many years, scoring was different between event producers, and coaches were having to change their choreography and routines throughout the season.”

A day in the Life/ Web Exclusives

Day in the Life: Dan Kessler

dan kessler, day in the life, JAM Brands May 21, 2014

5:00 or 6:00 am: I get up early in the morning to work out before the girls wake up. (I have two little girls: 3-year-old Ruby Jane and 1-year-old Eleanor.) 90 percent of my workout is straight running—right now, I use the treadmill because it’s been so darn cold [in Kentucky], but I’ve done a couple marathons and a bunch of half-marathons and smaller races. Then I shower, drop Ruby Jane off at pre-school around 8:30ish and come to the office.

In the Industry/ Web Exclusives/ webexclusive2

Spotlight: Dan Kessler

dan kessler, Event Producers, JAM Brands May 19, 2014

When JAM Brands co-founder Dan Kessler tried cheerleading for the first time at the University of Louisville after two years of playing collegiate soccer, his friends told him he was a natural at stunting. But he still had to learn the techniques from the ground up: a toss hands, then a toss hands extension, then a liberty, then a top hand. “[Stunting] was a new athletic skill that I had to conquer and try to perfect,” he says. “That addiction of getting better kept me going to practice and working.”

In the Industry/ Web Exclusives/ webexclusive1

State of the Union, Part 2

cheer center, dan kessler, indiana elite all-stars, JAM Brands, john newby, karlette fettig, pam puckett, Varsity February 6, 2013

CheerProfessional tapped four of the industry’s cheer leaders for a spirited panel discussion on our industry and its future: Dan Kessler of the Jam Brands; John Newby of Varsity; Pam Puckett of The Cheer Center in Grove City, OH; and Karlette Fettig of Indiana Elite All-Stars in Noblesville, IN. Read part 2 of our juicy Q&A!

In the Industry/ Web Exclusives/ webexclusive2

State of the Union, Part 1

cheer center, dan kessler, indiana elite, JAM Brands, john newby, karlette fettig, pam puckett, Varsity February 4, 2013

Blogs/ Web Exclusives/ webexclusive1

America’s Best Athlete Does Her Best to Help Newtown Families

America's Best, JAM Brands, Newtown, Philanthropy December 21, 2012

As the industry—and our nation—tries to get back in the holiday spirit after last week’s tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., a cheerleader named Janie Pascoe is doing her best to restore hope. After being named Athlete of the Year at America’s Best National Championships, Janie requested to donate her $500 scholarship prize to the Newtown Memorial Fund for the victims’ families rather than using it toward her Indiana University education.

Blogs/ Expert Q & A/ webexclusive1

Expert Q&A: Varsity vs. Jam Brands Scoring

Expert Q&A, JAM Brands, Jeremi Sanders, Scoring, Varsity December 7, 2012

Question: Since different companies have different scoring grids, is there a way to compare them (i.e. a Level 2 Mini first-place score at a Jamfest competition of 79.950 and a Level 2 Mini first-place score at a Varsity competition of 54.36)? JAM Brands’ Jeremi Sanders answers!