Meet the NubAbility Team
Sam Kuhnert
Co-Founder & Executive Director
NubAbility Founder and Executive Director Sam Kuhnert was born with one hand, but that has never stopped him from embracing his purpose. As a three letter athlete in high school and a college pitcher, Sam had the training and talent to succeed in mainstream sports; however, at the age of 17, he realized that his true calling was to create sports camps for other children like himself. Sam has organized one or more NubAbility camps annually since 2012 and built the foundation he started into a national organization.
Sam has been recognized for his work with limb-different children by a number of organizations. He was honored as one of ten Top Outstanding Young Americans across the country by the national Jaycees in 2017. Previously, he was the Jaycees Outstanding Young Person of Illinois in 2016. He also received the National Youth Activist Award from Man Up Against Bullying in 2017 and 2018, the Fitness Ministry Award from Faith and Fitness Magazine in 2019 and the DuQuoin Citizen of the Year Award in 2015.
In addition to his work with NubAbility, Sam is a motivational speaker. His book “Game Changer: How to Thrive When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan” was released in 2020.
Sam is a graduate of Morthland College, where he lettered in baseball and received a degree in business administration. After a serious injury ended his college pitching career, Sam was hired as Morthland’s pitching and strength and conditioning coach, a position he held for two seasons. In all of the work he does, Sam’s goal is to show kids how they can tap into their purpose and become game-changers in their own lives.
Jana Kaye Kuhnert
Co-Founder
Jana Kaye Kuhnert is a passionate professional with decades of experience in nonprofit management and event coordination. In 2011, she co-founded NubAbility Athletics Foundation with her son, Sam Kuhnert, to provide mentorship and sports training for limb-different youth. Jana served as the organization’s Executive Director for six years and continues her leadership today as Secretary/Treasurer of its board of directors.
Jana’s path to nonprofit leadership began with a diverse background that includes earning a cosmetology license, graduating from Southern Illinois University, and teaching high school history for a decade. She also launched her own jewelry design business, Booster Bling, and dedicated herself to extensive community volunteer work, which honed her skills for her future work.
Today, Jana focuses on event planning, fundraising, and brand development. She chairs NubAbility’s annual Game Changer benefit, manages operations for the law office of Charlie Kuhnert, and serves as booking manager for motivational speaker Sam Kuhnert and country singer/songwriter Tucker Kuhnert. Jana remains deeply committed to creating meaningful impact through her work.
NubAbility Board Members
Todd Kuhnert,
Chairman of the Board
Du Quoin State Bank
Jana Kaye Kuhnert,
Co-Founder
Law Offices of Charlie Kuhnert
Bob Beckmann,
Director
Stifel
Eddie Delaney,
Director
Ticketmaster
Eric Moore,
Director
Malaika Early Learning Center
Manuel Ramos,
Director
Boy Scouts of America
Richard Ramsay,
Director
Nike
Jess Testerman,
Director
TSW Utility Solutions