Executive Board
The Thompson Brothers Leadership Team is coupled with executives committed to managing the direction of the Foundation with integrity, and a vision for the future
Lyle Thompson
President, 4 The Future Foundation
Onondaga Nation
University of Albany • Nike Athlete • N7 Ambassador • Professional Lacrosse Player • 2x Tewaaraton Award Winner • US Sports Camps, TBL/Nike Director • Thompson Brothers Lacrosse • Founder, 4 The Future Foundation
PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES – Iroquois Nationals, NLL MLL, MLL/NLL 1ST overall selection in 2016 drafts, 2017 NLL MVP, 2017 playoff 2017 NLL points leader, 2018-2019 lead league in goals, 2019, Coca Cola most Valuable Player, MLL Offensive Player of the Year
INTERNATIONAL – 2x FIL All-World Team, FIL U-19 Top Midfielder Award Winner, FIL All-World Attackman Selection, 3x All-World Team, 2x presidents cup winner, Presidents cup MVP, 2-time USLA Attackman of the year, NCAA Career points leader, NCAA single-season points leader
Instagram: @lyle4thompson
Twitter: @lyle4thompson
"I was born into this game. My father put a wooden lacrosse stick in my hands the day I was born, and my stick quickly became my best friend. I would sleep with it and touch it every day regardless of the elements. I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by competitive athletes every time I stepped out the back door. The opportunity to learn from my older brothers on and off the field has been what has made me who I am today. They were my teammates, competitors, and idols. I wanted the strength of Jeremy, to be as smooth as Hiana, and to have the brains of Miles, and I worked to make it happen by watching and listening, playing divisions above and sometimes three advanced levels. Playing at the U19 World Lacrosse Games was my biggest eye-opener, I was fifteen years old going up against nineteen-year-old men who had already played a year of D1 lacrosse. That was when I knew I wanted to play lacrosse at the highest level. Lacrosse has been a vehicle for me and continues to be. I believe I’ve been given the opportunity to make a difference, and I want to be able to impact others’ lives the way my brothers have impacted mine."
Jeremy Thompson
Vice President, 4 The Future Foundation
Onondaga Nation
Syracuse University • Nike Athlete • First Native American Athlete to have his Banner Hung at the Nike World Headquarters • N7 Ambassador • Professional Lacrosse Player • US Sports Camps, TBL/Nike Director • Thompson Brothers Lacrosse • Founder, 4 The Future Foundation
PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES – Iroquois Nationals, NLL, PLL
INTERNATIONAL – FIL U-19 World Team Selection (2003), FIL All-World Team Selection (2014) FIL World Field Bronze Medalist, FIL World Indoor Silver Medalist, 3x NLL Champion, Unsung Hero Recipient, 3x Presidents Cup Champion, MANN Cup Champion
Twitter: @j_thompson74
Instagram: @jeremy74thompson
"Lacrosse was always my pathfinder, it was always there for me in a positive way, my medicine. I found myself going in the wrong direction at times, Dealing with drugs and alcohol abuse, but the game has always been what has gotten me back on track. This game is intertwined within our culture and has helped me spiritually, really allowing me to see the big picture. Lacrosse is my medicine, it is happiness and I want to help others find their medicine."
Secretary, 4 The Future Foundation
Onondaga Nation
Onondaga Community College • Nike Athlete • N7 Ambassador • Professional Lacrosse Player • US Sports Camps, TBL/Nike Director • Thompson Brothers Lacrosse • Founder, 4 The Future Foundation
PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES – Iroquois Nationals, NLL, PLL,
INTERNATIONAL – FIL World Field Bronze Medalist FIL World Indoor Silver Medalist, 2017 Champions Cup Winner, 3x Presidents Cup Champion, 2x National Champion, 2X First Team All American JUCO Player of the Year, Hall of Fame Inductee
Twitter: @hiana22thompson
Instagram: @hiana22thompson
"I walked into Lafayette public school in the fourth grade not knowing how to read or write English, it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t until the seventh grade that I was introduced to field lacrosse within the schooling system. This helped me find a way to look forward to school, and I learned that schooling had to be done in order to get on the field. Jeremy and I knew nothing about College lacrosse until after we won our first State Title in ninth grade. Fifteen years old and we were receiving letters in the mail from some of the top D1 Lacrosse programs in the country, it was a big deal for our family. The pressure was on, I needed to beat school in order to play this game and although school didn’t work out, I never let that stop me from playing at the highest level. Nothing would stop me from reaching my ultimate goal of playing professional lacrosse. I’ve been cut, I’ve been benched, and I will always stick around. I want to show my kids that even when the odds are against you, all it takes is a goal and a dream."
Jerome “Hiana” Thompson
Miles Thompson
Treasurer, 4 The Future Foundation
Onondaga Nation
University of Albany • Nike Athlete • N7 Ambassador • Professional Lacrosse Player • Tewaaraton Award Winner • US Sports Camps, TBL/Nike Director • Thompson Brothers Lacrosse • Founder, 4 The Future Foundation
PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES Iroquois Nationals. NLL, PLL
INTERNATIONAL – FIL All-World Team Selection, 2x All American, Under Armor All American Selection Top 5 Collegiate Recruit in The Nation
Twitter: @miles2thompson
Instagram: @miles74thompson
"Speed has never been my thing, I've never been the fastest guy on the field nor have I been the strongest. So what do you have without speed or strength, your left with one thing, talent. For Eighteen years of my life, I have played lacrosse off of talent. I always got by depending on that. It wasn’t until my second year at Albany that it hit me, and I realized that the only obstacle I had to overcome was diet and training, everything else was laid out for me. My brothers paved a path through their experiences. No drugs, no alcohol, and I was fortunate enough to always be surrounded by people on that same journey. So I made a decision, I would dedicate my life to living a healthier lifestyle in all aspects. I started with making healthier choices in the kitchen, then training at the gym. I dropped 53 pounds by that season and went on to have the best season of my life, followed by an even better one after that. Moving forward my goal is, I want to pass on what I didn't know and was able to learn throughout my life."
STACY SMITH LEDFORD
Executive Director
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Stacy brings a wealth of experience in education, tribal operations, and community service. Currently serving as the Program Officer at the American Indian Science & Engineering Society, Stacy oversees project management for educational initiatives, emphasizing curriculum development and innovative tools. Her commitment to Indigenous communities is evident through her active engagement in cultural curriculum development and research activities, fostering strong community relationships and outreach.
Currently, as the Executive Director of 4 The Future Foundation, Stacy continues her mission of inspiring youth through active, healthy lifestyles. Stacy's dedication to education and her commitment to Indigenous communities position her as a driving force in nurturing holistic development and community well-being. In her role at 4 The Future Foundation, she actively champions transparency, adeptly identifies challenges, and implements effective solutions with a strategic focus on the organization's best interests. Her tireless dedication is centered on making a positive impact on Indigenous youth and communities across Turtle Island.
Gwen Jones
Operations Manager
Atlanta, GA
Gwen is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and attended Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!) where she majored in Sport Management and minored in Business and Marketing. Gwen previously worked for the Georgia Swarm as the Lacrosse Operations and Community Affairs Manager and currently works on the Video Games and Interactive Experiences team at OneTeam Partners.
She has a rich lacrosse operations background impacting several aspects of the sport and currently runs a youth lacrosse program out of Alpharetta, Georgia. When she is not coaching or working in lacrosse, she enjoys exercising and trying new restaurants (recommendations are always welcome)!
In her role at 4 The Future Foundation, she is responsible for planning and executing events that support 4 The Future Foundation’s mission.
Sarah Aschenbach
At-Large
Washington, DC
Sarah is in her 8th year as Executive Director of The Tewaaraton Foundation. She graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1995, where she played lacrosse, twice winning the ODAC championship, and club basketball. In 1996, she began her real estate career and has worked as both a residential and commercial agent in DC, MD, and VA. She is currently with the Atlas Group of Compass Real Estate specializing in residential sales.
Also in 1996, she began her coaching career and continues to coach at the youth and high school levels. She is a member of the US Lacrosse Potomac Chapter Hall of Fame. She has served many other non-profits in various capacities including US Lacrosse, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Winners Lacrosse, NativeVision – Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health and the W&L alumni athletic board. She and her husband, Tristan Zaia live in Washington, DC. Tristan was a founding member of the Tewaaraton Award and also coaches lacrosse.
Corey Hinton
At-Large
Passamaquoddy Nation
Corey is an attorney at the law firm of Drummond Woodsum & MacMahon where he focuses on the representation of tribal nations and tribally owned enterprises. He attended college at Colgate University, where he played lacrosse, and he received his Juris Doctorate from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Corey also played on the 2003 U-19 Iroquois Nationals and the 2006 Men’s Iroquois Nationals teams, both of which competed in the ILF World Championships. Corey lives in Portland, Maine with his wife and daughter and spends part of his free time organizing youth lacrosse activities for native youth in Maine.
Sakoneseriiosta Brent Maracle
At-Large
Mohawk Nation
Sakoneseriiosta Maracle is a member of the Turtle Clan and a citizen of the Mohawk. His Mohawk name translates to “He makes the day good for them” which embodies the desire of Sakoneseriiosta for people to be inspired and empowered to experience adventure and truth. Raised on the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation Territory, Maracle is a man who refuses to be defined by stereotypes. Sakoneseriiosta is a Harley-Davidson riding, former Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse playing, Assembly Of God Pastor, and economic development/nation building consultant to indigenous nations of North America. He has a Bachelors in Government and Communications from Evangel University ’97, and a Masters in Government from Harvard ’04 and yet he’s known to jump in a snow plow at his church’s campus as well as for the elderly and shut-ins in the community. He applies the traditional Mohawk lessons from the Kaianerekowa, as taught to him, which encourage him to think and act as an individual for the empowerment of others.
Sakoneseriiosta began playing the game of lacrosse, at the age of 6 years old, on the Cattaraugus Seneca Territory for the Newtown Golden Eagles. When his family moved to the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, he continued to play in the Akwesasne community box lacrosse program, field program, and Salmon River High School Varsity. In 1989, Maracle was recruited to the Haudenosaunee Nationals Jr Team and played for the Haudenosaunee Nationals program in the 1992 Jr. World Games, and the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Maracle also played Jr. B box lacrosse with the Akwesasne Lightning. As a coach, Sakoneseriiosta lead the Mohawk Team to Gold in the 1995 Indigenous Games. He was involved in the formation of the Haudenosaunee Nationals Development program powered by Road Warriors Lacrosse, until it merged with the full Haudenosaunee Nationals program and became an Assistant Coach for the U17 and U15 teams. In 2022, Sakoneseriiosta was asked join the operations team of the Haudenosaunee Box Lacrosse program, Haudenosaunee Dehontjihgwaes, which took Silver (Jr Team), Gold (U18), and Gold (U16) at the IJLL 2022 World Box Championships. He also is an Advisor to the Board of the Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse League which conducts the single largest youth lacrosse tournament in the world with over 20,000 registered players.
Maracle and his wife, Shana, have 6 children. Their family home is on the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. Together they also Pastor Christ Revolution Church in Lexington, MA.
thomas brooks
At-Large
Mohawk Nation
Bio coming soon.