11 Nov Steve Abernethy Named to USATF Foundation Board of Directors
PITTSBURGH –
The USATF Foundation is excited to announce that Steve Abernethy, an accomplished entrepreneur, advisor, and lifelong track and field enthusiast, has been named to its Board of Directors. As a co-founder and former CEO and Executive Chairman of SquareTrade, Steve pioneered consumer electronics service contracts, transforming a $20 billion industry. He led SquareTrade as CEO from 1999 to 2014 and as executive chairman until its acquisition by Allstate Corp. in 2017. Today, Steve serves as an independent director for venture-backed companies and advises Bharcap Partners. He is also an active member of the Dean’s Leadership Council for Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly).
Steve brings a deep-rooted passion for athletics to the Foundation, having competed as a steeplechase athlete on Cal Poly’s track team, and he continues to give back to the sport. “I have always seen the dogged persistence required to compete in track & field and distance running events as building a broader life skill,” he shared. Steve actively supports young athletes, even assisting as a distance coach for the track and cross-country teams at Convent and Stuart Hall High School in San Francisco.
Beyond his contributions to track and field, Steve and his wife Maura have established an endowment at Cal Poly, providing full-ride scholarships for high-achieving, first-generation engineering and architecture students. This endowment currently supports 13 scholars, creating opportunities for the next generation of innovators.
“I am honored and excited to serve on the USATF Foundation’s Board of Directors,” Steve said. “I am in awe of the hard work and incredible performances achieved by our top and aspiring track & field athletes. They train relentlessly and with minimal financial support. The financial and professional assistance provided to these athletes by the Foundation makes a huge difference in supporting their training and athletic careers. I look forward to helping.”
The USATF Foundation is honored to have Steve Abernethy’s expertise, dedication, and track and field passion to help further its mission of supporting athletes in their journeys, both on and off the track.