Deep South Staff

Vice President

Kendall Hanbery

Kendall brings a lifetime of cheerleading experience and passion to Deep South Spirit. A former competitive school and All-Star cheerleader, she earned multiple national titles at the All-Star level before cheering collegiately at Mississippi State University. Her career includes serving as an All-Star director and coach at Central Mississippi Cheerleading, where her leadership helped the program earn Small Gym of the Year. Since joining Deep South Spirit in 2010, Kendall has played a key role in shaping the company's growth and reputation as an industry leader. Recognized as a Cheer Daily 40 Under 40 award recipient, Kendall is driven by a passion for creating unforgettable experiences and lasting memories for athletes, families, and coaches at every Deep South Spirit event.

Executive Director of Operations

Abel Rosa

Abel brings over 30 years of experience in the cheer industry, spanning gym ownership, event production, coaching, camps, uniform sales, and speaking at conferences nationwide. He previously served as VP of Operations for events with 15 years of leadership experience, and as VP of Premier Athletics, where he oversaw more than 20 locations and 16,000 athletes. Abel was also a gym owner and coach, leading one of the first competitive coed teams in the All Star space, and competed himself at the collegiate level. Now serving as Executive Director of Deep South Spirit, he continues to bring vision, innovation, and expertise to every part of the organization.

Executive Director of Sales

Christina Schuster

Christina grew up in Lawrenceville, GA, where she cheered and danced with the Atlanta Jayhawks before beginning a career that has spanned more than 15 years as a choreographer, coach, and consultant. Since joining Deep South Spirit in 2018, Christina has been an integral part of the company, known for bringing creativity, organization, and insight to every event. She has served as a board member and Vice Chair of CDIP and is a frequent conference speaker on professional development, leadership, and turning a passion for cheer into a lasting career.

Director of Customer Experience

Kellie Elliott

Kellie was born and raised in Elmira, New York, where she attended Elmira College and competed in multiple sports before graduating with a degree in science/education and a minor in theatre history. In 2005 she co-founded Pacific Coast MAGIC, which grew into the largest cheer brand on the West Coast with nine locations and international gyms in Costa Rica and Mexico. Her accolades include California State Coach of the Year, service on the USASF Regional and National Advisory Boards, and induction into the Elmira College Hall of Fame. Since joining Deep South Spirit in 2022, Kellie has brought a wealth of knowledge and passion to athletes and coaches across the country.

Director of Scoring & Education

Kayla Wygal

Kayla has been part of the competitive cheer and dance industry for over 20 years. Originally from Charleston, WV, she holds degrees in Psychology and Counseling Psychology and now serves as Director of Scoring and Education for Deep South Spirit, overseeing judge hiring and training nationwide. She also partners with The Open Championship Series to provide judge education across the industry. A former Division I cheerleader at Liberty University, Kayla has owned a competitive gym, coached at the collegiate level, and judged internationally in countries including Australia, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Director of Communications

Karley Dent

Karley has been part of the cheerleading world for over a decade, spending 10 years as an Allstar athlete and 6 years in school cheer. She went on to coach both Allstar and school teams for 11 years and even choreographed a national championship routine. For the past five seasons, Karley has been a key part of Deep South Spirit, keeping the company organized and on track with scheduling, logistics, and behind-the-scenes operations that ensure every event runs smoothly.

Administrative Assistant

Claudia Cade

Claudia's passion for cheer began at a young age and grew through her years as a competitive athlete — many of which were spent at Deep South events, where she first fell in love with the energy and community of the sport. She went on to cheer at Holmes Community College before turning her love for the sport into a career. Since joining the Deep South staff in 2021, Claudia has become an essential part of the administrative team, focusing on registration and ensuring teams are supported every step of the way.

Director of Production

JD Hanbery

JD has been part of Deep South Spirit his entire life, growing up in the world of Allstar cheer before continuing his athletic career at the University of Mississippi. During his four years on the Ole Miss Cheerleading team, JD represented the Rebels on the sidelines and competed at the national level, earning a gold medal at College Game Day Nationals. In addition to his cheer career, JD is graduating with a degree in Business and is the CEO and founder of Just Sip, a growing hydration brand.

Director of Events

Jeremy Lumpkin

Jeremy's cheerleading career is decorated with some of the highest honors in the sport. As a 3x College D1A National Champion with the University of Kentucky ('08, '09, '10) and a 3x ICU World Champion with Team USA Coed ('11, '12, '17), his experience speaks for itself. He also claimed the 2012 ICU Partner Stunt World Championship and a Pan American Games title with Team USA in 2019. Transitioning to coaching, Jeremy led Jones College to three College Open Coed National Championships ('21, '22, '24). Over his 20-year career, he has instructed camps in five countries and directed Gem of Champions, LLC ('11–'20).