Our Mentors - Thinklete

A Mentor For Every Athlete

Meet Our Mentors

Derek Shunk

Thinklete founder, Derek Shunk, built his foundation in sport at Villanova University, where he became one of the most accomplished baseball players in program history. A Division I standout, he earned 2× All-American honors, 3× All-Big East selection, and 2× Diamond 5 Player of the Year, while setting Villanova records as the program’s all-time leader in both games played and hits. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and inducted into the Villanova University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025. He later returned to coach at Villanova University, gaining firsthand experience in high-level performance and pressure. Today, Derek mentors athletes and parents through Thinklete, helping young athletes build confidence, regulate emotions, and develop the mindset, habits, and character needed to perform consistently in sports and life.

Aleka Shunk

Aleka brings a rare combination of elite athletic experience and deep expertise in working with neurodivergent athletes. A former state champion in track and Division I soccer player at Drexel University, she served as a two-year team captain and earned 2× MVP honors. She still holds the program’s all-time records for both assists and games played.
At the highest levels of competition, Aleka has competed against some of the game’s best—including Carli Lloyd—bringing firsthand experience of what it takes to perform under pressure on the biggest stages. She went on to compete professionally in the USL W League and internationally with the Greek Olympic team.
Off the field, she spent 10 years as a teacher, working closely with many neurodivergent students, and 5 years coaching at Players Development Academy (PDA). Her background in both education and high-performance sport allows her to connect with athletes in a way that builds confidence, discipline, and long-term growth.

Vernon Kearney

Vernon Kearney is a former NFL defensive back who spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs after playing collegiately at Lane College. His journey—from overcoming early setbacks to reaching the professional level—shaped his belief in discipline, accountability, and the impact of strong mentorship.

As the founder of Peak Performance Outreach, Vernon works closely with athletes to develop confidence, emotional control, and resilience under pressure. Known for his “firm but fair” approach, he builds strong relationships while challenging athletes to stay coachable, take ownership, and grow both on and off the field.

Ben Brannigan

Ben’s roots in the game trace back to his time as a youngster in a professional soccer academy, an early immersion into high-stakes environments that laid the foundation for a career spanning over 25 years of coaching. His evolution from the pitch to the sidelines shaped his core belief that true athletic potential is unlocked not just through physical talent, but through profound mental resilience and cognitive control.

Through his platform at Elite Mindset Academy, Ben works closely with athletes to master the mental side of the game. Grounded in his formal qualifications in neuroscience coaching, he focuses on managing cognitive load, emotional regulation, and executing rapid decisions under pressure. Known for his no-fluff, science-backed approach, he builds vital relationships while challenging players to rewire their habits, stay coachable, and take absolute ownership of their development both on and off the field.

Brtittany Sulc

Brittany is a figure skating coach, aerialist, and mom to a highly opinionated middle schooler. In her experience as an athlete, coach, and parent, caring for our mental health is just as important to performance as the time we spend training. Athletes are people first. Why waste energy getting frustrated that what works for our teammate or competitor doesn’t work for us? Effective training starts with understanding and accepting our unique way of thinking, processing, and learning– judgment-free. Once we do that, we can maximize our strengths and get creative with the aspects of our sport that challenge us the most. Brittany’s goal is to meet each athlete where they are, get to the bottom of what’s holding them back, and set achievable goals to work towards together.

Hayden Flanery

As a busy sports mom of four, Hayden understands firsthand the challenges of balancing parenting, coaching, and helping young athletes thrive both on and off the field. A native of Norman, she grew up immersed in competitive sports and was drawn early on to the energy, leadership, and impact great coaches can have on athletes.

Being exposed to collegiate athletic environments at a young age helped shape her coaching philosophy and passion for athlete development. Over the years, she has continued to expand her experience across multiple disciplines, including gymnastics, strength and speed training, and softball coaching. Her diverse background allows her to connect with athletes in different ways while creating an encouraging, high-energy environment focused on growth, confidence, and long-term development.

Janie Kokakis

A former Division I track athlete at the University of Northern Iowa; Janie was also a state track champion and four-sport athlete growing up. Her athletic background gave her firsthand experience with the discipline, pressure, confidence, and mental challenges that come with competing at a high level.

Today, Janie works as a speech-language pathologist specializing in executive functioning and supporting neurodivergent kids and their families. Her work focuses on helping children build emotional regulation, self-awareness, confidence, organization, and the foundational skills that impact both performance and everyday life.

With backgrounds in both athletics and neurodivergent development, Janie brings a unique perspective to mentoring young athletes. She is passionate about helping kids better understand how they think, learn, and perform so they can build confidence and thrive both on and off the field.