Our Passion

Sports have played a positive role in shaping who and what we are. Each person within our management team has participated in athletics whether on a high school, collegiate and professional level. Through these experiences, we have been afforded many opportunities.

In the year 2000, we were part of a five year federal grant that involved youth 14-21 years old residing in low income communities. This program was designed to help young people enhance the skills needed to be successful in the classroom, job market as well as day to day life. In recruiting participants for the program, we discovered that life skills, academics and job readiness workshops were more effective when combined with athletics. Through this process, a sports-based program that enhances positive development was created. Many of these participants have gone on to college by using athletics to gain academic opportunities. In the year 2005, the funding for this program ended and the opportunities for this type of program decreased.

We believe sports offer young people the skills and knowledge they need to function effectively as adults in an increasingly competitive world. Thus, The Skills Center was created.

Our Trainers

The Skills Center’s services are provided by a high quality of staff and athletic professionals:

Academic workshops are provided by state certified instructors
Life Skills instructors are experienced youth development facilitators
Athletic trainings are instructed by top experienced coaches/trainers

Celeste Roberts' Bio

Celeste Roberts is dedicated to helping others… especially young people. Her dedication to assisting children and teens mature into adults with strong life skills has become more than just a career - it's her passion.

She is the President of The Skills Center, a non-profit organization providing academic instruction, and developing life skills for youth ages 8 to 18. Celeste is eager to help young people learn how to transfer lessons learned through athletics to everyday life - just as she learned by participating in high school sports.

Mrs. Roberts has more than 18 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in Florida and Ohio. She directed services at the United Way of Tampa Bay, the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority in Cleveland.

While working as an associate in the Community Services Department at the United Way, Celeste managed 23 non-profit agencies with a combined budget of $3.6 million dollars. She directed campaign events, facilitated community forums, and recruited top management volunteers to evaluate United Way programs.

Celeste later moved to the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay to start fulfilling her passion of helping teenagers. As the Director of the Youth Opportunity Movement, she developed a groundbreaking program using a $3.3 million grant from the United States Department of Labor. More than 600 teens in Tampa, participated in activities to prepare them for college and entering the workforce during the 5-year program…and from that - 372 students pursued a college education or occupational training, and found employment.

Although the federal grant was eliminated, that didn't stop Celeste from helping Tampa Bay's youth. With a wealth of knowledge, and a lot of determination, she started IMPACTS Consulting Group in 2005. IMPACTS stands for: Improving Multiple Programs and Communities Together Successfully. IMPACTS provides consulting services to corporations to help design, enhance and manage programs improving the quality of life for children, teens and adults. IMPACTS has worked with hundreds of students through Derrick Brooks Charities, Hillsborough County Public Schools, the Manatee County School Board, and the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA.

The exceptional programs implemented through IMPACTS and an effective strategy from the Youth Opportunity Movement lead to the creation of The Skills Center. She founded the organization with partners Chris Ward and John Arroyo in 2007. The Skills Center provides development training in basketball, golf, tennis, baseball, football and soccer. The goal is to teach kids how to transfer the skills they learn through sports into other areas of their lives and, most importantly, have a learning experience that will last a lifetime.

She has an MBA and bachelor's degree in Business Administration. When she is not busy working, she finds the time to participate in several community organizations.

Celeste, her husband, Kenny and daughter, Kennedy live in Tampa, Florida.

Chris Ward's Bio

Chris Ward knows sports.

He's a former professional basketball player, and works for the largest sports management company in the world. He trains NBA players during off-season conditioning, college basketball players for the NBA pre-draft, and high school student-athletes. When you add his knowledge of the game, and his passion for helping kids, it's a winning combination.

Chris wants to reach at-risk students through sports.

As a professional basketball player for 7 years, he was able to tour the world, and he wants young athletes to follow in his footsteps. “Sports can take you anywhere you want to go,” he says. “It's important for teens to be exposed to different environments and sports can do it, if they remain dedicated… and it's my job to keep them inspired.”

After a serious injury ended his basketball career, he started working at the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay mentoring students. As a Youth Development Specialist, he created the College Education Through Athletics, or CETA program. With his help, 31 students went to college on athletic and/or academic scholarships.

While working at the Boys & Girls Club he met his current business partner Celeste Roberts. Together they created IMPACTS Consulting Group. The company provides professional services to organizations and schools that design, enhance, and manage programs improving the quality of life for young people.

Chris and Celeste continued to work together to create The Skills Center, a non-profit organization helping children and teens develop life skills through sports. As the Vice-President of Sports Development, Chris manages all of the organization's athletic programs.

He earned a master's degree in Human Services with a concentration in Youth Development through Sports from Springfield College in Massachusetts.

Chris lives with wife, Annaleisa and son Tyson in Ruskin, FL.

John Arroyo's Bio

John Arroyo believes in youth development through sports. He knows because it changed his life. Although he did not play sports professionally, he understands that hard work can produce outstanding results. He was a student-athlete at Cameron University in Oklahoma. He walked onto the basketball team and later received an athletic scholarship.

John has 10 years of experience working with youth as a juvenile probation officer, youth development specialist, after-school director and sports director for the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA.

He grew up with a strong support system, but he understands that some children may not have the same positive childhood experiences he did with his family. Therefore, he is the support system for ALL of the children he works with and knows how to use sports to help build character and integrity.

He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Cameron University, and in 2006 completed his master's degree in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College in Massachusetts. He shared his alma mater with his future business partner Chris Ward.

Together with Celeste Roberts, they started The Skills Center. The non-profit organization provides programs for youth ages 8-18. Activities are dedicated to promoting leadership, character, responsibility, respect, integrity, teamwork and sportsmanship while emphasizing educational and cultural growth. The three knew they could work well together, after producing successful programs with the Youth Opportunity Movement.

After his infant daughter Nyra died in 2008, John created Nurturing Young Rising Athletes, in her honor. He is dedicated to making sure that every child he works with has the opportunity to fulfill his/her dreams.

John lives in Riverview, Florida with his wife Jennifer and their son John, Jr.

Ken Roberts' Bio

Ken Roberts has the knowledge and prowess to create a business and make it successful. He has 17 years of experience working in management, sales and marketing. He knows how to identify new opportunities for organizations and develop strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations and donors. While living in Tampa, he took an innovative idea and flourished into two million dollar enterprises.

As the Vice President of Development for The Skills Center, Ken is responsible for managing and overseeing the organization's marketing projects, internal communications and new business initiatives.

He's also the organization social media strategist, directing activities that move the Center's programs forward using non-conventional tactics such as engaging fans in communities, architecting social programs that create followers, fans, friends, and relationship building.

He takes those relationships and uses multiple marketing channels and networking opportunities to attract corporate and community sponsorships. He proactively works with clients on a regular basis to create compelling programs and activities to meet the community's needs.

Back in 1997, Ken only had an accounting degree and just a few years of computer and sales experience. But he and a childhood friend from Cleveland had an idea that would turn him into a business magnate, creating a million dollar retail cellular chain. Under his leadership, the business experienced 30% sales growth each year.

Ken also works in real estate as an appraiser and property inspector, developing commercial real estate ventures for the last six years.

He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Ken, his wife Celeste and their daughter Kennedy live in Tampa, FL.