The Heart Forms Strategic Leadership Development Partnership with The Jon Gordon Companies

The Heart of America Athletic Conference is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with The Jon Gordon Companies, aligning the conference with one of the most trusted names in leadership development across athletics, business, and education.

This dynamic partnership, led in collaboration with Chad Busick, Vice President of Athletics at The Jon Gordon Companies, will empower Heart student-athletes, coaches, and administrators with positive leadership tools proven to build stronger teams, elevate performance, and foster lasting impact. The Jon Gordon Companies have been trusted by Fortune 500 companies, Power Five athletic programs, professional sports teams, and leaders across industries for their transformative content and measurable results.

As part of this agreement, a Heart staff member will become a Jon Gordon Certified Trainer—equipping them to ignite a culture of positive leadership and launch a Heart Leadership Academy for students and staff. Chad Busick will also engage directly with Heart leadership to explore expanded opportunities for leadership development with preferred pricing.

To further support Heart's mission to develop leaders, The Jon Gordon Companies will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Heart Leadership Moment—a weekly leadership quote shared across the conference's social media platforms. They will also receive branding integration across multiple conference platforms, including the Heart Network, official website, and monthly newsletters. In addition, all Heart institutions will benefit from competitive pricing on customized leadership workshops, including The Energy Bus, The Power of Positive Leadership, and The Power of a Positive Team—three of Jon Gordon's most impactful, field-tested programs.

"This partnership reinforces our deep commitment to developing servant leaders who create lasting impact in sport, on campus, and in life," said Nik Rule, Commissioner of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. "Chad Busick and The Jon Gordon Companies bring excellence, integrity, and insight that align perfectly with the Heart's values and our vision for leadership growth and service to our membership. Those who know Chad know the passion and purpose he brings to this work—and his connection to the NAIA runs deep, with both of his daughters having competed at this level. Like so many others, I count myself among the many whose lives have been profoundly shaped by the books and principles of Jon Gordon. This partnership isn't just a win for our conference—it's a win for every individual seeking to lead with purpose. Today is a meaningful and exciting step forward for the Heart."

"When I spoke at the NAIA Convention a few years ago, I was inspired by the passion and heart I saw in the coaches, administrators and student-athletes," said Jon Gordon. "Now, through Chad's amazing work and this new partnership, we get to help even more teams lead with positivity and purpose."

"For the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work with many NAIA Athletic Programs across the country and have always appreciated the NAIA's role in developing College Athletes both on and off the playing field," said Chad Busick, VP of Athletics with The Jon Gordon Companies. "This new partnership with The HEART brings our mission to life—helping leaders develop a positive mindset, lead with clarity, and build teams that make a lasting difference on and off the field. I want to thank Nik Rule for his leadership and vision for this strategic partnership."

For more information about The Jon Gordon Companies and their leadership programming, visit www.jongordon.com. For more information on Chad Busick visit https://chadbusick.com