CEO and Publisher of Soccer America magazine seventh person to receive prestigious award

Lynn Berling-Manuel, the CEO and Publisher of Soccer America magazine, has been selected as the recipient of the NSCAA Women's Committee Award of Excellence for 2005.
Berling-Manuel has been a positive role model for women in the sport for 30 years, having helped guide Soccer America from its fledgling beginnings as a regional newsletter to one of the most respected soccer magazines and soccer information companies in the world.

In 2005, she collaborated with Louise Waxler, incoming NSCAA President and president of Integrated Sports Management and Connie Bivens, president of Sports Pins International, to launch the Kicks Against Breast Cancer Pin Project. Modeled after the Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelet program, the Pin Project features a gold soccer ball lapel pin enameled with a pink ribbon,. So far, nearly 10,000 pins have been sold.

A former political reporter, Berling-Manuel joined Soccer America in 1975 as its first full-time managing editor. In addition to its magazine and directory, Soccer America delivers daily U.S., MLS and international headlines news, comprehenisve television listings, men's and women's national college coverage and many other services in member-only electronic publications, including College Soccer Reporter, SoccerAmerica Daily, MLS Confidential and Soccer on TV. She is acknowledged as one of the leading experts on the United States soccer market and works on an on-going bases with soccer organizations and major corporations in assisting them design their soccer marketing strategies.

Berling-Manuel currently serves on the board of directors of the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. She is also president of the West Berkeley Foundation, an organization that in the last 12 years has granted $1,200,000 to disadvantaged children, seniors and families in the community where Soccer America has its offices. She is a two-term past president of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association, and is a recipient of the NSCAA Merit Award.

Berling-Manuel will receive the award at the Women's Luncheon, which will be held on Friday, Jan. 20, as part of the 2006 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.

The NSCAA Women's Committee of Excellence Award, sponsored by the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS), was established in 1999 to recognize those who have brought honor and distinction to women's soccer. WAGS has supplied sponsorship funds from this award to be used in the promotion of the women's game through various inner-city programs. Funds also will be donated to charities that promote female soccer participation.

Past NSCAA Women’s Committee of Excellence Recipients
1999 - April Heinrichs, U.S. Women’s National Team Coach
2000 - Michelle Akers, U.S. Women’s National Team, FIFA Female Player of the Century
2001 - Lauren Gregg, WUSA Vice President of Player Personnel and Technical Director
2002 - Michelle Morgan, Amherst College
2003 - Adele Dolansky, Washington Area Girls Soccer League
2004 - Colleen Hacker, Pacific Lutheran University

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