Claudia Longo is a dynamic leader and social entrepreneur whose journey is one of resilience and purpose. A former Division 1 athlete, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 18, just months before beginning her collegiate soccer career at the University of Washington. Despite this challenge, she returned to the field, playing several successful seasons for the Huskies while earning her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience.

After graduating, Claudia turned her experience into action, founding MS, I’mpossible, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering young adults living with MS. Through community support and financial aid programs, the organization provides critical resources to those navigating life with the disease.

Claudia is also the Managing Director at BoardReady, where she plays a pivotal role in increasing diversity of thought in corporate boardrooms. Under her leadership, BoardReady has expanded its reach, helping companies build stronger, more forward-thinking boards.

Her influence extends beyond boardrooms and nonprofits – in 2024, Claudia took the TEDx stage, sharing her insights on how to create change from challenge. Recognized for her impact, she has received numerous accolades, including being a Seattle Kraken Hero of the Deep nominee and receiving the Wayne Gittinger Inspirational Award at the Seattle Sports Star of the Year event.

Jimmy McKay and I sit down and discuss what I have learned doing interviews for my Podcast over 8 years and more than 235 interviews. He wanted me to rank my top 10 impactful moments but I just couldn't do it because there are so many to choose from. So I picked 10 I thought were great and didn't rank them but shared them as they were profound to me. Jimmy was a pioneer in Podcasting and has shared some of his knowledge with me as I launched my show. He has done exceptionally well and embraced those of us who have tried to follow in his footsteps. It was an honor and pleasure to sit down with him and share ideas and experiences.

Franklin J. Rooks Jr. is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (“PCPS”), where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and a Master of Physical Therapy Degree. After graduating from PCPS, he earned a Master of Business Administration (“MBA”), with a concentration in finance, from Drexel

University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Along with his college roommate, he went on to be a founding partner of PRO Physical Therapy, an outpatient physical

therapy business based in Wilmington, Delaware. At the time that it was sold to the private equity firm KRG Capital, the business had 18 locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

After selling PRO Physical Therapy, Mr. Rooks earned his juris doctor degree from Delaware Law School. He is licensed to

practice law in the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Rooks also represents healthcare providers in breach

of contract matters and also provides general legal advice pertaining to contracting and compliance with federal and state regulations.

Since 2009, Mr. Rooks has been an operating partner of Shore Capital Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for Therapy Partners Group, a portfolio company of Shore Capital with 137 outpatient physical therapy clinics primarily located throughout California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.

After graduating from law school, he and his partner from PRO Physical

Therapy purchased a single-office occupational medicine business from a hospital system in Delaware. Mr. Rooks and his partner grew the occupational medicine business

to five locations and in 2015, sold it to In-Tandem Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. In 2018, Mr. Rooks and a partner acquired a durable medical equipment business in New Jersey. In 2023, after tripling the business’s EBITDA, Mr. Rooks and his partner sold the DME business to a strategic acquirer. He is currently a partner with Iterum Physical Therapy, and outpatient physical therapy business with locations in Florida and Delaware.

Mr. Rooks resides in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He is married with

three children, 2 sons, one daughter