Associate head coach for the Florida Everblades, general manager/owner of Florida Jr. Blades/U.S. Premier Hockey League and owner of Athletic Republic Performance Sports Training at Germain Arena 

Like many entrepreneurs, Tad O’Had needed to practice time management in order to be successful, which he did by pursuing his first business while still in a senior in college. At graduation, he remembers even answering calls and texts from clients. “At that moment I realized I was capable of great things,” O’Had says.

By 35 he was working four jobs—coaching Florida Everblades hockey, operating the Florida Jr. Blades and Athletic-Republic Germain Arena and directing the Junior Everblades Youth Hockey Organization—when he was diagnosed with leukemia and his career came to a screeching halt. “Having cancer has forced me to reflect on others, cherish the people around me and not fear failure,” O’Had says. “It has given me a great understanding of the depths I will go to achieve my goals.”

Today O’Had continues to balance multiple professional titles and has been recognized as the most influential member of Athletic Republic, a network comprised of more than 5,000 trainers and staff. He’s also been involved in outreach programs with the the Florida Everblades and Jr. Blades and mentored young children with cancer. In his spare time, O’Had enjoys golfing, strength training and traveling with his girlfriend.