WNVA Inspires At Dream Conference In Atlanta

Written by: J.J. Vance on 2nd November 2010

Colette DeShay with Dream conference attendee... | read this item

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Colette DeShay with Dream conference attendee...

Not unfamiliar with walking down the road less traveled, Ron and Colette DeShay have taken on the task of bringing professional volleyball back to the United States. Last week, the DeShay’s shared that new dream with city officials, the business community, politicians, professional athletes and film and television producers at the Dream Mart International Conference in Atlanta Georgia.
The audience listened intently to the WNVA founders as they spoke about their lives, and their dreams of working in the entertainment industry. It was a dream that started more than eleven years ago back in Austin Texas. Aside from the sounds of their voices, the room was silent, and yet it was filled with excitement. This couple’s dream began just three months after they were married. They left jobs, friends and family behind, as they headed west towards the land of the modern day gold rush, otherwise known as Hollywood California.
The trip itself was bogged with trouble. And the couple arrived to their incredible new life in California by way of a AAA truck with their Ford Explorer in tow. After enduring many challenges in their first month, they finally came up with a plan that allowed Ron to go out and make connections while Colette worked a nine to five to help make ends meet. They practiced this plan over the course of their first year and a half in California. During their session they recalled how easily they could have turned around and given up on their dream. But the young couple, did not give up, they kept going.
It seemed they were hit with one hardship after another. The passing of Ron’s brother and Colette’s father, aunt and grandmother all happened in the span of three years. They also talked about the lean times and how they would share a happy meal as a way of splurging or celebrating something that went well for them. In the long run, the couple’s perseverance paid off. Since leaving Austin more than eleven years ago, Ron has enjoyed 10 years as producer for some of television’s top rated shows and Colette has thrived as a business owner/manager and Culinary Instructor.
Their latest endeavor is in fact the Women’s National Volleyball Association. They have embraced it, just as they embraced the dream they set out to accomplish some eleven years ago. When they are asked about those who doubt the WNVA will be a success…Ron’s response is, “We’ve heard that before. It did not stop us when we first started out and it is not going to stop us now.”
In addition to securing the association’s financial stability, the owners are currently working on what they believe are the keys to the organization’s success…building up the fan base. “The strength of this organization is in the number of volleyball fans that exist in this country,” says Ron DeShay. “Uniting them for this cause is our number one goal. In order for us to be a great success, it’s going to take the entire volleyball community coming together.” As apart of their grassroots efforts, they have begun to form community groups in cities across the country to help get the word out at a quicker pace. Anyone interested in becoming apart of the WNVA community growth in your area, send an email to communitygrowth@thewnva.com . Include your name, e-mail address, contact number and the largest city to which you are closest.
You can become a fan by visiting the WNVA website or facebook fan page and clicking the “like” button.