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NO ATHLETE LEFT BEHIND

About Us

No Athlete Left Behind is a donor-led organization that connects young, underprivileged athletes with the resources needed to attack life on and off the playing field. With your support, children and teens from all backgrounds can enjoy a bright and successful future.
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Empowering Youth, One Athlete at a Time.

Founded by former NFL player Lee Smith, No Athlete Left Behind Foundation is a donor-led organization based in Knoxville, TN, dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth athletes. By providing essential resources, mentorship, and opportunities, we aim to help young athletes overcome challenges both on and off the field, fostering success and personal growth.

Together, we are creating a community where no athlete is ever left behind.

See NALB In Action

Our impact
What People Are Saying

Lee Smith

Our Founder
No Athlete Left Behind is a donor-led organization that connects young, underprivileged athletes with the resources needed to attack life on and off the playing field. With your support, children and teens from all backgrounds can enjoy a bright and successful future.

Lee attributes much of his success to the NFL’s world-class support system, which helped him overcome injuries and physical challenges throughout his career. However, he credits his greatest achievements to his unwavering faith and relationship with Jesus Christ—a foundation that has guided him through every chapter of his life.

Today, Lee’s vision has taken shape through the No Athlete Left Behind Foundation and Triple F, a state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot athletic development facility in Knoxville. His mission is simple: to provide first and second chances to young athletes, equipping them with the tools, faith, and mentorship they need to succeed.

Lee’s commitment to long-term athletic development is evident in the programs offered at Triple F, which focus on athletes ages 11–18 while also extending opportunities to younger athletes, college players, and even adults. From sport-specific skill development to combine training and physical therapy, every service is designed to foster growth, resilience, and excellence.

When Lee isn’t inspiring young athletes, he spends time with his wife, Alisha, and their four children—Brody (15), Amanda (13), Brock (11), and Addison (10)—in West Knoxville. The Smith family attends Shoreline Church and shares Lee’s passion for faith, family, and football.

By bringing professional-level care and long-term athletic development to Knoxville, Lee Smith continues to make a profound impact on the lives of young athletes, giving them the chances they need to grow, succeed, and thrive.

Our Team

Jen East NALB

Jen East

Executive Director

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Jen East NALB

Karen Smith

Program Director
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OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Helping The Vision Throughout 865

Jen East NALB

Lee Smith

Founder

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Jen East NALB

Scott Daniel

Board Member

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Jen East NALB

Kevin Stevens

Board Member

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Jen East NALB

Fletcher Lee

Board Member

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Arthur Long

Arthur Long

Board Member
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Jen East NALB

David Mink

Board Member

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Jen East NALB

Rodney Hudson

Board Member

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Jen East NALB

Jonathan Feliciano

Board Member

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Jen East NALB

Melcharle’ Thompson

Board Member

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Jen East NALB

Kevin Fillers

Board Member

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The NALB Experience

We are so thankful to our community and sponsors who have invested in our program. Hear from one of our Athlete’s Parents.

Triple F has no doubt been the perfect fit for my son. Everyone is so caring and knowledgeable not only about the fitness aspect, but they genuinely care about your success and personal goals. They truly care about how you are getting stronger mentally not just physically, and want to go about your health journey the right way not the easy way. I know my son is in the best hands he possibly can be. He has improved so much in the few short months he’s been at Triple F, I am astonished at his results and can’t wait to see his development in the coming years. He absolutely loves Lee, all the trainers, and staff so much. My child now has great Godly mentors to learn from and look up too and that is such an answered prayer, he looks forward to coming every time.

Courtney

Athlete Mom

Advisory Board

Jen East NALB

Mattie Montgomery

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Derek Carr

Derek Carr

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Jen East

Jennifer East served as the Marketing Director for Triple F Elite Sports Training, making her move to Executive Director of No Athlete Left Behind a natural step. Passionate about helping local youth athletes reach their full potential, she welcomed the opportunity to support them full-time and make a difference.

With a career dedicated to helping businesses and nonprofits thrive through strategic marketing, Jennifer has extensive experience in marketing planning, and promotional fundraising at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, radio sales, event booking, and nonprofit leadership. She excels at building relationships, developing impactful campaigns, and creating opportunities that drive
meaningful change.

Now leading No Athlete Left Behind alongside Lee Smith, Jennifer is committed to providing athletes with the resources and support they need to succeed on and off the field. A proud baseball mom of two boys, Jennifer is married to Eric East. She’s a graduate of the University of Tennessee and passionate Vols fan who brings the same energy to her work as she does cheering on the Vols, her sons, snowboarding, or running with her Rottweiler Rosco.

Karen Smith

Karen Smith is a key member of the No Athlete Left Behind (NALB) team, where she serves as the Program Director and leads the day-to-day operations of the organization’s programs. She plays a crucial role in ensuring that NALB’s initiatives run smoothly, from coordinating opportunities to providing essential support to athletes, helping them unlock their potential on and off the field.

In addition to her work with NALB, Karen is also a part of the Triple F Elite Sports Training team, where she provides member support. Her expertise and passion in both roles allows her to effectively manage logistics and operations while maintaining strong relationships with athletes, parents and the community.

Karen was born and raised in East Tennessee; after graduating from Halls High School, Karen attended the University of Tennessee, married Daryle Smith in 1985, and in 1986 received a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology / Child and Family Studies with continued education in early childhood special education. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Karen raised 3 boys and directed multiple weekday education programs in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. She then transitioned to Knox County schools as an early childhood special education teacher within the Head Start program. Karen has a combined 18 years of experience as a wife and mother of a professional athlete; and now blessed with the opportunity to be serving young athletes. She is especially grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with her son, Lee Smith, as well as the rest of the Triple F family, and to serve the families of No Athlete Left Behind.

Lee Smith

No Athlete Left Behind is a donor-led organization that connects young, underprivileged athletes with the resources needed to attack life on and off the playing field. With your support, children and teens from all backgrounds can enjoy a bright and successful future.

Lee attributes much of his success to the NFL’s world-class support system, which helped him overcome injuries and physical challenges throughout his career. However, he credits his greatest achievements to his unwavering faith and relationship with Jesus Christ—a foundation that has guided him through every chapter of his life.

Today, Lee’s vision has taken shape through the No Athlete Left Behind Foundation and Triple F, a state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot athletic development facility in Knoxville. His mission is simple: to provide first and second chances to young athletes, equipping them with the tools, faith, and mentorship they need to succeed.

Lee’s commitment to long-term athletic development is evident in the programs offered at Triple F, which focus on athletes ages 11–18 while also extending opportunities to younger athletes, college players, and even adults. From sport-specific skill development to combine training and physical therapy, every service is designed to foster growth, resilience, and excellence.
When Lee isn’t inspiring young athletes, he spends time with his wife, Alisha, and their four children—Brody (15), Amanda (13), Brock (11), and Addison (10)—in West Knoxville. The Smith family attends Shoreline Church and shares Lee’s passion for faith, family, and football.
By bringing professional-level care and long-term athletic development to Knoxville, Lee Smith continues to make a profound impact on the lives of young athletes, giving them the chances they need to grow, succeed, and thrive.

Scott Daniel

Scott Daniel has held marketing, sales, and leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, Bush’s Beans, and Fanatics. He is currently the Director of Hobby Shops at Fanatics Collectibles, a division of Fanatics Holdings, Inc. He has a proven track record delivering business growth via multi-million-dollar marketing and sales plans in both lean and high-resource company environments.

Additional entrepreneurial experience in sports collectibles (Underdog Collectibles), and start-ups (Bradshaw Ranch Burgers). He and his wife, Stephanie, have two teenage boys, and passionately believe in the role that sports plays in character development, work ethic, and academic success.

They also proudly support Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, Friends of the Smokies, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Kevin Stevens

Kevin C. Stevens is a shareholder in the firm, focusing on real estate law, civil litigation, and general corporate law. He serves as general counsel to two of Tennessee's largest property owners associations and represents numerous community associations, private country clubs, and a regional solid waste commission. Recognized for his expertise, Kevin has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, Community Association Law, and Real Estate Law.

With extensive experience in complex litigation, Kevin regularly represents corporate and governmental clients in Tennessee state and federal courts. He has successfully argued cases involving multimillion-dollar claims, contractual disputes, and development issues. Kevin also advises on construction-related matters and high-value real estate transactions, including a $35 million stock sale of a resort rental management agency.

A graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Tennessee College of Law, Kevin was an editor of the Tennessee Law Review and is active in professional organizations, including the Community Associations Institute, where he chairs the East Tennessee Regional Council. His work has earned him recognition as a Top Attorney in Cityview Magazine for business litigation, construction law, and real estate development.

Fletcher Lee

Fletcher Lee is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of several technology companies, blending a background in finance with a passion for innovation. A graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, he holds a major in Finance with minors in Economics and Accounting.

In 1999, at the age of 22, Lee co-founded Blastro.com in Austin, TX, a trailblazing platform for apps and Smart TV channels that reached millions of consumers monthly. As the lead executive, he spearheaded the production of thousands of short-form music videos, primarily showcasing live concert performances.

In 2010, Lee founded TourGigs, a technology-driven video production company revolutionizing the concert video industry. Under his leadership, TourGigs has produced hundreds of live concert streams and films, leveraging cutting-edge formats from HD to 4K/UHD and virtual reality. The company’s innovative efforts are complemented by its sister company, Gigcasters.

As a founder and board member of Gigcasters, Lee collaborates with content creators to optimize the use of hardware and software systems, pushing the boundaries of technology in the entertainment industry. He also holds a U.S. patent for technology designed to protect digital media from piracy, reflecting his dedication to safeguarding content creators' rights.

Beyond the tech world, Lee is an active investor in real estate, energy, and service industries. Residing in Knoxville, TN, he continues to drive innovation and foster deal flow, leaving a lasting impact across multiple sectors.

Arthur Long

Born and raised in Knoxville, Arthur received both his bachelor's degree in business administration and master's degree in finance from the University of Tennessee. He currently serves as President and CFO of CML Property Group, a real estate development company operating inside the self-storage sector.

Arthur has always been drawn to mentoring young athletes. During his time at the University of Tennessee, he coached both middle and high school football at the Webb School of Knoxville. While both teams were extremely successful on the field, the relationships formed with the players is what he appreciates the most, and many of those relationships exist today. Arthur sees NALB as an avenue to continue his fellowship with the area's youth.

Recently married, Arthur and his wife, Hannah, are expecting their first child in June of 2025.

David Mink

Coming Soon

Rodney Hudson

Rodney Hudson is an accomplished American football center, celebrated for his remarkable career both in college and the NFL. Born in Mobile , Alabama, Hudson played college football at Florida State University, where he distinguished himself as a two-time All-American. His exceptional performance led to his selection by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Over his NFL career, he also played for the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Hudson was inducted into the Florida State University Hall of Fame in 2023. Growing up in a single-parent household, Hudson supported his mother by working at Kentucky Fried Chicken during his early years. HIs experiences shaped his understanding of the importance of strong role models in the home.

Hudson developed a close bond with Lee Smith during their time with the Oakland Raiders, and he and his wife, Amber, are the godparents of Smith’s oldest son. Committed to making a difference, Hudson actively supports No Athlete Left Behind, aiming to be a positive influence for local youth.

Jonathan Feliciano

Jon Feliciano is a powerhouse on the field and a hero off it. Now in his tenth NFL season, he serves as a seasoned offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, following impactful stints with the NY Giants, Buffalo Bills, and Oakland Raiders. Known for his fierce play and resilience, Jon has earned three Pro Bowl nominations and was awarded the Bills' 2020 Ed Block Courage Award.

Jon's commitment to giving back is just as strong off the field. He regularly hosts backpack and holiday dinner giveaways, providing thousands of free backpacks and meals to needy families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated $25,000 to Meals on Wheels South Florida and Feeding South Florida, along with contributions to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Latinos in Action, Western High School Football, and The Belle Center.

Additionally, Jon supports the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and mentors young football talent at the Triple F Training Facility in Knoxville.

A proud University of Miami graduate, Jon balances his demanding career with family life in South Florida and Knoxville, TN, where he lives with his wife, Shannon, and their three children.

Melchare Thompson

Melcharle' “Mel” Thompson is a dedicated service-oriented leader and a proud native of Charleston, SC. Currently she serves as the Housing Operation Coordinator for Grow Free TN, powered by Compassion Coalition Against Human Trafficking. With over 13 years of experience as a Foster Care Supervisor for the Department of Children Services, Mel’s career has been centered around supporting vulnerable populations. She also worked with Catholic Charities of East TN, assisting homeless elderly individuals.

A Hurricane Katrina evacuee, Mel moved to East TN and believes her greatest gift is the ability to serve others. She’s also a proud mother of two boys Tristan, and Jamil, who are both active members of NALB. Tristan plays basketball and soccer, while Jamil plays football and wrestles. Both boys understand the value of community service, volunteering with 100 Black Men of Knoxville, and participating in various local philanthropies.

Mel is a graduate of Southern University A&M, received bachelor of science degree in Psychology with a concentration in substance abuse counseling. She attended Hampton University on full scholarship for basketball and majored in Psychology.

Kevin Fillers

A Knoxville native, Kevin graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has extensive experience in retirement planning. He is recognized as a Certified Retirement Plan Specialist (C(k)P®), Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®), and a Nonqualified Plan Consultant (NQPCTM).

He is a member of the National Association of Plan Advisors and serves as treasurer for the board of No Athlete Left Behind. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife Jody and their two dogs Drake and Bootsy.

Mattie Montgomery

Coming Soon

Karen Smith

Karen Smith is a key member of the No Athlete Left Behind (NALB) team, where she serves as the Program Director and leads the day-to-day operations of the organization’s programs. She plays a crucial role in ensuring that NALB’s initiatives run smoothly, from coordinating opportunities to providing essential support to athletes, helping them unlock their potential on and off the field.

In addition to her work with NALB, Karen is also a part of the Triple F Elite Sports Training team, where she provides member support. Her expertise and passion in both roles allows her to effectively manage logistics and operations while maintaining strong relationships with athletes, parents and the community.

Karen was born and raised in East Tennessee; after graduating from Halls High School, Karen attended the University of Tennessee, married Daryle Smith in 1985, and in 1986 received a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology / Child and Family Studies with continued education in early childhood special education. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Karen raised 3 boys and directed multiple weekday education programs in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. She then transitioned to Knox County schools as an early childhood special education teacher within the Head Start program. Karen has a combined 18 years of experience as a wife and mother of a professional athlete; and now blessed with the opportunity to be serving young athletes. She is especially grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with her son, Lee Smith, as well as the rest of the Triple F family, and to serve the families of No Athlete Left Behind.