Slice Guard Advisory Council
Meredith Hudson -- Founder & CEO, SLB
Meredith Hudson knows what it takes to identify a gap in the female athlete market, build a product from scratch, and scale it into something thousands of athletes trust. As the founder of SLB (Sideline Bags), she took a problem she witnessed firsthand on the sidelines of her daughters' lacrosse games and turned it into the number one bag organizer for female athletes: now trusted by more than 25,000 athletes nationwide.
A former Division I athlete at Yale University, Meredith brings a perspective that is both deeply personal and commercially proven. She didn't come from a product design background or a startup incubator: she came from the sidelines, saw a real problem that no existing product was solving for female athletes, and built the solution herself. That founder instinct, combined with her experience growing SLB into a nationally recognized consumer brand, makes her an invaluable voice on the Slice Guard Advisory Council.
Meredith joins the council to help guide Slice Guard's brand building strategy, consumer product development, and path to scale: bringing hard-won expertise in what it actually takes to bring a product to market for female athletes and build a community around it. Her belief in growing together, not just growing bigger, aligns directly with the mission driving Slice Guard forward.
Lexi Johnson -- Marketing, Veritas Prime
A recent MBA graduate from Clarkson University and student entrepreneur, Lexi Johnson brings a rare combination of hands-on marketing execution and entrepreneurial instinct to the Slice Guard Advisory Council. Beginning her professional career at Veritas Prime, Lexi specializes in social media strategy, marketing process optimization, and audience outreach: the exact skill set needed to help Slice Guard build a brand that resonates with players, parents, and coaches at every level of the game. Lexi has spent nearly three years as a Student Entrepreneur at the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship at Clarkson, where she mentored early-stage founders on business pitch development and advised on the student entrepreneurship experience, including Slice Guard, giving her a deep appreciation for what it actually takes to build something from scratch.
Lexi joined the Slice Guard Advisory Council because she believes in what the brand stands for, and because she knows how to tell that story to the people who need to hear it.
Adrianna Symicek -- Union College, Athletic Training
Adrianna Symicek is a certified athletic trainer whose background sits at the exact intersection of sports medicine, hockey, and injury prevention that makes her an invaluable voice on the Slice Guard Advisory Council. A two-degree graduate of the University of Iowa, holding both a Master of Science in Athletic Training and a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science, Adrianna earned an award of superior achievement in Advanced Anatomy for Athletic Training and spent four years as a varsity rower and coxswain on the Iowa Rowing team. She knows what it means to compete, and she knows what happens when athletes get hurt. As a NATA and GLATA member, Graston-trained, and holding an NPI number and BOC certification, her clinical experience spans across collegiate and private practice across multiple sports. But what makes her background particularly relevant to Slice Guard is her immersive clinical and now professional experiences in DI Hockey: she knows the dangers and the goals Slice Guard is working to achieve. As a member of the Slice Guard Advisory Council, Adrianna brings the medical credibility and hockey-specific clinical knowledge to support a product built to keep players safer on the ice.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Jared Mangan
Jared Mangan
Jared Mangan
Jared Mangan, forward for Clarkson University Men’s Hockey and former Lincoln Stars player in the USHL, played a key role in the early development of Slice Guard. With years of experience at elite levels, Jared offered valuable insight into equipment safety, fit, and comfort—helping shape a product designed for serious hockey players without sacrificing performance.
Jack Sparkes
Jared Mangan
Jared Mangan
Jack Sparkes, a defenseman for Clarkson University and 2022 LA Kings draft pick, brought a valuable perspective to Slice Guard’s early development. A towering presence on the ice, Jack often felt exposed in vulnerable areas despite wearing top-tier, often custom, gear. His input helped guide the design toward better coverage and protectio
Jack Sparkes, a defenseman for Clarkson University and 2022 LA Kings draft pick, brought a valuable perspective to Slice Guard’s early development. A towering presence on the ice, Jack often felt exposed in vulnerable areas despite wearing top-tier, often custom, gear. His input helped guide the design toward better coverage and protection for players who put their bodies on the line every shift, like himself.
Luka Sukovic
Jared Mangan
Luka Sukovic
Luka Sukovic, a forward for Clarkson University and former AJHL MVP with the Bonnyville Pontiacs, brought personal experience to the development of Slice Guard. After taking a skate to the neck that required stitches while in Bonnyville, Luka became a strong advocate for better protection. His firsthand injury experience highlighted the u
Luka Sukovic, a forward for Clarkson University and former AJHL MVP with the Bonnyville Pontiacs, brought personal experience to the development of Slice Guard. After taking a skate to the neck that required stitches while in Bonnyville, Luka became a strong advocate for better protection. His firsthand injury experience highlighted the urgent need for smarter safety solutions, helping influence the direction and purpose behind Slice Guard’s design.