MATA History
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The Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association (MATA) is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers and others who support the Athletic Training profession. The organization was founded in 1982, by Doug May, Leroy Mullins, Jim Gallaspy, Andy Bryan, and Stratton Karatassos in Jackson, Ms. In these early years, Mississippi was made of approximately 10 ATs, which grew to over 400 licensed AT's in recent years.
Currently, the MATA serves over 330 members who choose to be members of the MATA to support their profession's best practices, licensure, advocacy, and to receive other membership benefits.
Other key Historical Aspects of MATA include:
1987- SEATA hosted Gulfport, Ms
1989- Work began by the MATA to present an AT Practice Act to be presented to Mississippi Legislation.
1991- Mississippi Legislation Successfully adopted Athletic Trainer Practice Act
1992- SEATA hosted in Jackson, Ms
2009- MS AT ACT was adopted to include: Continuing Education Requirements
2012 - Regulations Governing Licensure of Athletic Trainers was Reformatted
2014- MATA was instrumental in the Mississippi Youth Concussion Law of 2014
2016 - Regulation Governing Licensure of Athletic Trainers was amended by adding Continuing education requirements for license renewal being fulfilled during 2 year periods running concurrently with the requirements of certification through the BOC, Inc.
2022- HB 765 includes MHSAA School employed Athletic Trainer to receive pay stipend
2023- Hosted the largest MATA on record with 208 in attendance
MATA Officer History
President
Doug May
Jim Gallaspy
Andy Bryan
Sam Morris
Richey Woods
Chad Barker
Donna Wesley
Jeff Bryant
Kira Berch
Vice President
Leroy Mullins
Pedro Moreno
Richey Woods
Matt Smith
Mitch Bib
Jeff Bryant
Marc Osborne
Corbit Franks
Secretary
Andy Bryan
Brian Saffle
Mike WIlkinson
Debra Dunn
Heather Landry Shirley
Kira Berch
Lauren Self
Nicole Smith
Treasurer
Andy Bryan
Brian Saffle
Troy Armstrong
Ray Burr
Wade Powers
Shawn Robinson
Daniel Stewart
Heather Landry Shirley
Erica Barham
Directors of Professional Improvement
Mary Jones
Tim Colbert
Jeffery Moore
Richey Woods
Allen Thompson
Member at Large
Mike Wilkinson
Matt Weisenberger
Gary Stroud
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Wade Powers
Hudson Byrnes
Katie Carter
Emily Smith
Tyler Myers
Jasmine Suggs
Student member