Redefining the Game for Pro Athletes
Elite Level Education, Experiences & Community.
OUR MISSION | Fostering education, mentorship, and community to empower professional athletes in relentlessly pursuing what’s next.
PAC is purpose-built to support professional athletes' personal growth off-the-field:
Invest
in individualized development beyond the game
Cultivate
deep relationships in a new type of locker room
Elevate
impact for your VIPs (people, places, philanthropy)
Guiding Principles
Our core principles drive every aspect of who we are here at Pro Athlete Community.
Purpose Over Profit
Strive for Excellence
Real Relationships Matter
Elevate Those Around You
Make Life Your Playground
Ready to get started?
Our Team
Kaleb Thornhill
Kaleb Thornhill is an accomplished NFL front office executive (Detroit Lions & Miami Dolphins) with over 14 years’ experience in the National Football League.
He is known as a trailblazer in the player engagement and development space. He created the league’s first “Business Combine,” a transformational off-field experience for both current and former NFL players. In 2020, the “Dolphins Business Combine” made the Miami Dolphins the only NFL team to implement an executive education certificate program for its current players.
Thornhill holds a B.A. & M.S. from Michigan State University, an M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University, and an Executive Education degree from Wharton Business School: NFL Athlete Development Certification Program. He is a native of Lansing, Michigan; where he continues to pour back into the community that raised him through his non-profit APEX Academy. Thornhill lives in Weston, FL, with his wife Tara and their four children Charlee, Maddox, Landon, and Lennox.
Christopher “Chip” Paucek
Christopher “Chip” Paucek is the Co-Founder and CEO of 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU).
In 2021, under Paucek’s leadership, 2U acquired edX–one of the world’s leading online education platforms. With this industry-redefining combination, 2U and edX have become one of the world’s most complete online learning platforms, serving over 45 million registered learners, more than 230 partners–including 36 of the top 50 universities globally–and offering over 4,000 digital programs on the world’s most comprehensive free-to-degree online education marketplace.
Paucek’s innovative work at 2U has earned him many accolades, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012, the Goldman Sachs 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs Award in 2013, and multiple Highest Rated CEO awards from Glassdoor. In 2017, Paucek was named among America’s best chief executives by Institutional Investor magazine, ranking third among mid-cap technology, media, and telecom companies. He is a leading voice and speaker on entrepreneurship and the global education and technology landscape. Paucek also sits on 2U’s Board of Directors.
Paucek has been involved in education ventures since the early 1990s. Prior to 2U, Paucek served as CEO of Smarterville, Inc., the parent company of Hooked on Phonics. Paucek began his entrepreneurial career in 1993 when he co-founded his first company, Cerebellum Corporation, which produced the award-winning educational television program and video series Standard Deviants. He led Cerebellum as Co-CEO until 2003. In 2004, Paucek took a break from the business world to serve as deputy campaign manager for the successful re-election of United States Senator Barbara Mikulsk before co-founding 2U.
Paucek holds a B.A. from The George Washington University and an M.B.A. from the 2U-powered MBA@UNC program at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.
As a native of South Florida, he is an avid Miami Dolphins fan and currently lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife Gabbi and two sons Noah and Henry.
Interested in finding out more? Schedule a call with us today.
