Leadership Transition & Brand Refresh

November 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CityLax Announces Leadership Transition, New Executive Board Leadership, and Brand Refresh

New York, NY — (November 6, 2025)— As CityLax approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025, the organization celebrates two decades of advancing lacrosse in underserved communities across New York City.  Founded in 2005, CityLax has grown from a grassroots initiative into a citywide movement, empowering thousands of student-athletes through sport. Today, the nonprofit enters a bold new chapter with a leadership transition, expanded board, and refreshed brand identity.

Rich Lisk Appointed new CEO

CityLax welcomes Rich Lisk as its new Chief Executive Officer. A seasoned sports executive with over 30 years of experience in marketing, team leadership, and organizational growth, Rich brings a dynamic blend of strategic vision and hands-on leadership.  He has guided multiple organizations through periods of transition and innovation, and is known for his transparent communication, deep respect for legacy, and commitment to building resilient teams.  Rich steps into the role energized by CityLax’s mission and ready to reimagine its future impact.

Quote from Rich Lisk

“I’m honored to join CityLax as CEO and grateful to Mat Levine, the Executive Search Committee, and the Board for their trust. I first connected with CityLax six years ago while leading the New York Riptide, and I was immediately inspired by the organization’s mission.  We partnered on several programs, and I saw firsthand the organization’s excellence and impact.

CityLax has been a force for good across NYC’s five boroughs for 20 years.  My goal is to grow that impact for the next 20 years. With over two decades in sports leadership, this role is the culmination of my career, and I’m excited to work with the Board to take CityLax to the next level.”

Quote from Rob Coughlin Executive Board Search Committee Chair

“We engaged in a rigorous search process and were fortunate to interview several outstanding candidates with great passion for extending the reach of CityLax in the Five Boroughs and improving access to playing the wonderful game of lacrosse; several of these individuals will be joining our Board. Our new CEO, Rich Lisk, brings extensive experience in branding, fund-raising and collaborative management, and combined with a love for lacrosse, makes him ideally suited to grow CityLax and expand our reach. The future of CityLax is in great hands, and we are delighted that Rich has accepted the challenge.”

Founder Mat Levine Transitions to New Role

After nearly two decades of visionary leadership, CityLax founder Mat Levine will transition into a new role: Honorary Chairman/Founder.  Mat’s enduring commitment to opportunity, youth development, and the power of sport has shaped CityLax’s legacy.  His continued involvement ensures that the organization remains rooted in its founding values while embracing new opportunities.

Quote from Mat Levine

“As Co-Founder with the late Gavril Pasternak, I am excited to work with our newly appointed CEO Rich Lisk to help him continue and build upon the CityLax’s 20- year pioneering mission in urban youth development.  Based on our 20-year track record through lacrosse and educational program partnerships with the NYC public schools and community-based organizations and Rich Lisk’s seasoned sports executive experience, CityLax has an even greater opportunity to change the lives of urban youth in their educational trajectories that can put them on a pathway for success in life,” said Mat Levine

Quote from Rob Pannell Executive Board President

“For the past two decades, lacrosse has flourished across New York City’s five boroughs in large part thanks to the vision and leadership of Mat Levine. We are proud to honor Mat with this new title and know he will continue to play an essential role in advancing CityLax’s mission for years to come.”

New Executive Board President

CityLax is proud to announce the appointment of Rob Pannell as the new President of its Executive Board.  A legendary figure in the lacrosse community and a passionate advocate for youth development, Rob brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to expanding access to the sport.  His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for CityLax as we continue to grow our impact across New York City and beyond.  We are thrilled to welcome Rob into this pivotal role and look forward to his vision and energy guiding our mission forward.

Quote from Rob Pannell Executive Board President

“Supporting CityLax has been a true passion of mine and one of the easier decisions when asked by Mat Levine years ago. The chance to help young student athletes across the five boroughs play lacrosse and prepare for their futures means so much, and CityLax has been leading that effort from day one. With Rich Lisk now at the helm, I’m excited for this next chapter and proud to play a small part in advancing the CityLax mission.”

Rebranding: A Unified Mission Across NYC

CityLax is also unveiling a refreshed logo and tagline that reflect its expanded vision and enduring commitment: 

“5 Boroughs  1 Mission  Since 2005.”

This new identity honors the organization’s roots while signaling a bold, inclusive future for lacrosse in New York City.

Quote from Mat Levine (Honorary Chairman/Founder)

“CityLax’s pioneering work through its 20+ year history in schools and communities throughout the 5 boroughs, make it the largest urban youth lacrosse initiative of its kind in the country.  Our new logo and tagline reflect our reach and enduring commitment to student-athletes across the entire City of New York.”

Quote from Rich Lisk (CEO)

“As we celebrate 20 years of impact, we’re proud to unveil a refreshed CityLax logo featuring our new tagline: ‘5 Boroughs. 1 Mission. Since 2005.’  This isn’t just a design update; it’s a bold reminder of who we are.  We serve all five boroughs of New York City with one clear mission: to expand access to lacrosse and life-changing opportunities through sport.  The addition of ‘Since 2005’ honors our legacy and reinforces our long-standing commitment to opportunity, community, and youth development.”

Visit the CityLax website, www.citylax.org,  to learn more about our programs, achievements, and to get involved with our mission.

For media inquiries or more information, please contact:

Rich Lisk

richlisk@citylax.org

(609) 955-1691