The 2011 Pittsburgh Hackers, listed below, will be playing in three teams; click a linked name to read the golfer's bio.
| Aces | Eagles | Birdies |
| Jay Adams | Erik Franklin | Jim Bromley |
| Dave Babst | Jeff Heshler | Ingar Lesheim |
| Sean Casey | Joe Pohl | Rob Mullin |
| Eric Kirby | Tom Tumulty | Roy Powell |
| Al Smith | Brett Schultz |
Click here to sponsor Jay Adams.
Dave Babst is a Group Account Director for Performics, a digital advertising agency, and lives in Chicago, IL with his wife, Amanda. Dave and Amanda are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child this summer.
Dave joins the Hacker cause out of his friendship with Eric Kirby as well as his own life experience. Cancer has deeply impacted both family and friends in his life. He has seen it take the lives of some extraordinary people and has also seen people like Eric and his Dad beat the disease. As a Pittsburgh native, Dave is excited to get involved in this effort to help have an impact on people in the Pittsburgh community. He's also very proud to be a charter member of the "Pittsburgh Hackers"- it's a great group of people.
Click here to sponsor David Babst.
I live outside of Pittsburgh with my wife Priscilla and our 3 children: Camille, Ace and Patrick. I work in the global finance group of Mylan Pharmaceuticals and am a 1996 graduate of Penn State University.
Cancer is a disease that, if it hasn't already, will likely affect every person you know at some point in their lives. It is a deadly mystery that strikes without prejudice or a sense of justice. I have been fortunate enough to see people very close to me successfully battle the disease, but have also experienced the loss when it has taken the lives of others after courageous battles.
I am very proud and excited to be a part of this organization. My energy towards this cause is inspired by the memories of those we have lost, and motivated by the prospects of finding a cure, so that my children, your children and many generations to come may live lives free of cancer. A sore back and a few blisters is a small price for me to pay for an opportunity to raise money in support of that vision. Our inaugural year for Hackers Pittsburgh was a great success, one I was honored to be a part of, and we are putting much effort into making 2011 even better. Please help us in our continued efforts to fund cancer research.
Click here to sponsor Jimmy Bromley.
Sean was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and currently lives in Upper St. Clair with his wife Mandy and their four children. Sean spent 12 years in Major League Baseball, was a multiple-time All Star, and widely known as "the Mayor" by his peers for his friendly personality and demeanor. After retiring from baseball last year, Sean has dedicated himself to his family and to charity work. As a lifelong friend of most of the Pittsburgh Hackers, Sean is a gel for this team trying to find a cure for cancer.
Click here to sponsor Sean Casey.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA with Eric Kirby and was more than happy when he asked me to join the Hackers team. I have witnessed first-hand the affects cancer has on those diagnosed and how life saving the treatment options can be. I lost my paternal grandmother to cancer and my mother and maternal grandmother are both cancer survivors. Hackers For Hope helps fund the research and treatment possible that saved my family and friend's lives and I know that putting in a full day on the golf course is the least I can do to ensure that other families can benefit from this great cause. I am looking forward to participating in my first Hackers for Hope tournament this summer.
Click here to sponsor Erik Franklin.
My first true experience with cancer occured in college when my dear friend and fellow Hacker Eric Kirby informed me he was suffering from the disease. I still clearly remember our conversation and the emotions I was experiencing at the time. I am extremely honored and excited to be part of Hackers for Hope. This charity has had a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families through the much needed research dollars the charity has contributed. Like all Americans, I have experienced the devastating consequences of this disease through the loss of my grandfather. My father has also suffered with various forms of skin cancer for many years. My hope is that treatments will be developed that will prevent my 5 sons from experiencing the loss of a loved one.
As I stated above I do have 5 sons and don't get to the course as often as I would like. This may make playing 100 plus holes of golf very interesting and somewhat painful. Of course -- no pain no gain -- and I look forward to playing as many holes and raising as much money as possible.
Jeff, a native Pittsburgher, now lives in Harrisburg with his beautiful wife Amber and his 5 sons: Booth, Beck, Blaise, Benjamin and Brodie.
Click here to sponsor Jeff Heshler.
Eric Kirby
HBK Capital Mangement
As a two-time cancer survivor, I understand the range of physical and emotional strains that dealing with cancer entails. There have been so many factors that have contributed to me beating the disease, including family, friends and faith. However, as important as those contributions are, only TREATMENT will make someone cancer-free. Hackers For Hope helps make that treatment possible.
Having grown up in Pittsburgh, I am both proud and anxious to start our Pittsburgh chapter. I have always wanted to give back to a community that raised me and helped me beat cancer. However I am anxious about how much work still needs to be done, not only in this great city but across our entire country. I think Pittsburgh and Hackers For Hope will be great partners, and I know we can help find a cure.
Click here to sponsor Eric Kirby.
Click here to sponsor Ingar Lesheim.
My motivation to become a "Pittsburgh Hacker" originates from a phone call I received my junior year of college from fellow Pittsburgh Hacker Joe Pohl. Joe Called to inform me that fellow Hacker Eric Kirby had been diagnosed with cancer. I will never forget that call. I can assure you that this one event would have been all the motivation that I would ever need to support Hackers, unfortunately this call from Joe would not be the last time I was told of dear friend/family member being similarly diagnosed. Additional motivation came from the following calls: Eric's second diagnosis with cancer, my father's diagnosis with prostate cancer, and my mother and sister's recent diagnosis with breast cancer, the death of our friend Rob Richardson, and the loss of my father in law Terry Glenn.
Supporting the Doctors and researchers that are working to find cures for all the variations of cancer is critical. I owe the advancements in cancer treatments that have taken place to date for the successful treatments that have helped Eric and my Father and that are currently helping my sister and mother. But the loss of Rob and Terry is a constant reminder that we must continue this fight until a cure is available to treat any and all forms of cancer. With this in mind I look forward to working hard to do my part to successfully establish the Pittsburgh Chapter of Hackers for Hope.
Rob and his family recently relocated to Pittsburgh after 13 great years in New York City. He works as Director of Planning and Analysis for EQT Corp in Pittsburgh.
Click here to sponsor Rob Mullin.
In 2010, with the leadership of long-time Hacker (and my brother-in-law) Eric Kirby, I took the plunge and committed to help launch the inaugural event for the Pittsburgh chapter of Hackers for Hope. Despite our motley cast of characters, a heat index of over 100 degrees and way too much male bonding with my golfing buddies that day, I cracked the 100 hole milestone and kept rolling, energized by the thought that every hole was helping us get closer to treating and beating cancer. When I finished my marathon day of golf and moved on to our dinner party, all I kept thinking was 'Wow, what a great day, but I can't wait to do it bigger and better next year!'
Well, next year is HERE and NOW! I hope everyone who joined us and/or supported us last year can do it again this year, and that those who could not make the party or were not quite ready to support us will join the team this year. It was extremely gratifying to hand real checks to our beneficiaries at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and know that the money was going to help people facing a disease that affects so many."
Joe is a commercial/financial services litigation partner with Reed Smith LLP in Pittsburgh. He and his wife Amy (Kirby) Pohl (also a commercial litigator in Pittsburgh with Jones Day) are the proud parents of daughters Meghan and Anna.
Click here to sponsor Joe Pohl.
Click here to sponsor Roy Powell.
Brett Schultz lives in Mars, Pa. with wife Cara and two sons, Mitchell and Sammy. He is the Manager of Land Development for Weaver Master Builders, Inc, a local land developer and custom home builder.
Brett has witnessed firsthand, the benefit of organizations such as Hackers through his volunteer work in managing and building the Miracle League Baseball field in Cranberry Township, Pa. which allows children with any physical or mental disability, the opportunity to play baseball. This ball field, and what it meant to the children and families, who by no fault of their own have never been able to participate in what most of us take for granted, was one of the most rewarding experiences he has ever had.
He is certain that Hackers for Hope can bring the same feeling of pride and accomplishment, while bringing us all one step closer to a cure.
Brett has also witnessed the effects that cancer has not only on the patient, but the family members as well. He has had a grandmother and several aunts who have lost this battle, and there are always a few moments at every family gathering to remember those who we’ve lost.
When I was asked by Eric Kirby to participate in Hackers, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.
Click here to sponsor Brett Schultz.
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and currently reside in Adams Township with my wife Christine and daughters Taylor and Teagan. I am an owner of a Construction Supply Company, Frankenstein Builder's Supply in Zelienople, PA. During my years as a professional athlete, I had the opportunity become part many charitable organizations. It is not unusual to hear that someone we love or know has been affected by cancer. It is truly an honor and my pleasure to fight the fight with Hackers for Hope and make a difference.