Meet the Board of Directors

Steve Denison
President

In 1983, after finding a Powerlifting USA magazine, Steve stumbled into the sport and caught the iron bug. He quickly began training and competing in 1984, and eventually directed his first meet in 1987. Steve has spent 26 years in the military, with 10 years of active duty and 16 years part-time in the Army National Guard. He retired in 2012, and now powerlifting is his full-time career.

Anne Escobedo
Administrator

A day after moving to Long Beach, CA, Anne joined Metroflex gym, and began powerlifting. She eventually joined Team Freel and was introduced to USPA officials. After almost two years of helping with meets, she decided to become a referee. Powerlifting has given Anne a strong sense of community, pride, and discipline. The sport has led her build lasting friendships throughout Southern California and a network of athletes throughout the nation. Prior to the move, Anne received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and master’s degree from Ithaca College in Speech Language Pathology. She works with children and teenagers with communication impairments. Mirroring much of the sport, she empowers them to believe that they are important, strong, and more than capable.

Shelley Denison
Secretary

Shelley was introduced to powerlifting back when the sport had little to no women's representation. She quickly became familiar with logistics, coordination, and planning for meets. Although only having competed once, powerlifting provided Shelley the opportunity to be a woman entrepreneur in a male dominated sport. Through the years, she has been awed by how men and women of all ages, sizes, and walks of life can move serious weight. Before coming across the sport, Shelley completed her bachelor’s degree as a single mother, and climbed the ladder to become Deputy City Clerk.

Charlie Ritchie
Outreach Coordinator

Charlie Ritchie is a competitive powerlifter that currently holds 29 World Records in the IPL/USPA.  Her team teasingly calls her the "Bench Queen," and suitably her favorite records are the Open World Record for Bench Press in the drug tested 90kg class; 309.75lb/140.50kg - as well as the Open World Record for the drug tested 82.5kg class; 295.42lb/134kgs.  She is coached by Brandon Morgan out of Strength Lab in Portland, Oregon.  Charlie is a former Police Officer & in 2000 she became a certified expert for the State of Oregon in Police Report Writing, Interview & Interrogation. (And, yes, she loves donuts).  Her athletic career began in the 1980's in Show Jumping, 3 Day Event, and credits training horses for laying the foundation of strength she has now.  When she's not competing, she enjoys spending time in the Mt. Hood National forest, traveling the world, snowboarding, scuba diving & has been known to carry a tune.  Charlie currently resides with her amazing better half, Gym Crush Jesse & Skinny the Chihuahua.

Our Mission/Vision

Powerlifting has grown exponentially through the years, expanding into more communities, cities, and states across the nation. As much as the sport gives inspiration and motivation, each lifter contributes their own personal journey and achievement to the sport. Many lifters and competitors can resonate with grit and tenacity to overcome personal challenges. So long as there is a financial need and a powerlifter, the USPAPF is willing to help with the training, and funding in strength sports. Our vision is to make an indelible impact in the powerlifting community, one lifter, and one meet, at a time.

We believe that powerlifting is much more than a sport. It is an opportunity to grow as a person and motivate others. The sport provides structure, goal development, and a sense of triumph and success. A tool to empower oneself, and the lives of others, powerlifting is built upon a community of strength. The USPAPF is driven to engage with community members, expand strength training education and instruction, and directly fund USPA powerlifters with a financial need.