NEW YORK, NY, January 31, 2022 -- The  National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) today announced the following staff additions and promotions effective immediately: 

Irumire David Okhumale, MBA, CPA, CFE 

Irumire David Okhumale has been named the NBPA Chief Operating Officer and Chief Risk Officer. In this role, Okhumale will work with the NBPA Executive Director to carry out the day-to-day operational objectives of the NBPA while identifying strategic, financial, regulatory, and operational risks of the union among other tasks. 

Over the course of his career, Okhumale has provided advice on issues related to strategy, operations management, risk, business process improvement, and compliance to a diverse range of clients including government, private and nonprofit entities. Most recently, Okhumale served as a Managing Director in the Risk & Investigations practice at FTI Consulting, a global business advisory firm that is headquartered in Washington D.C.   

Okhumale attended Howard University where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 2003 and then later attended the University of Oxford where he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management.

La Verne J. Hibbert

La Verne J. Hibbert has been named as the Senior Director of Security for the NBPA. In this role, La Verne will manage and oversee all matters relating to security for NBPA members, staff, and assets and will serve as the NBPA’s liaison with the NBA for all security matters among other responsibilities. 

Hibbert has worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) since 1997, most recently as a Deputy Special Agent in Charge in Miami, Florida where she had executive-level oversight of all enforcement, regulatory, intelligence, and administrative functions for the Miami Division Office, which encompasses 14 offices throughout the state of Florida. 

Hibbert attended the New York Institute of Technology in New York City where she received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (1993) as well as a Masters of Professional Studies (1994). 

Latoya Sterling

A member of the NBPA staff since 2006, Latoya Sterling has been elevated to Chief of Staff to the NBPA Executive Director. In this role, Sterling will plan and direct all administrative, financial, and operational tasks for the NBPA Executive Director while helping to lead the execution of strategy and development for the union. 

Over the last 15 years, Sterling has been an integral part of the growth of the NBPA, WNBPA, and THINK450, the business and innovation arm of the NBPA. Most recently, Sterling was the Vice President of Brand and Player Experiences for THINK450 where she oversaw corporate strategy for special events, union meetings, and brand activations. Sterling also led the development of premier experiences exclusively for NBPA members by partnering with brands and cultural influencers across sports, music, entertainment, and film. 

Sterling graduated from Hofstra University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.

“I am incredibly excited to have Irumire, La Verne, and Latoya assume these critical roles. In their new respective positions, they each bring a level of talent and experience that will be invaluable resources to our players and union,” said Tamika Tremaglio, Executive Director of the NBPA. “I welcome each of them to our high-performing championship team, as we reimagine and accomplish the art of the possible together on behalf of our players.”

About the NBPA

The National Basketball Players Association is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.

The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the filing of grievances on behalf of the players, or counseling players on benefits, educational and post-NBA career opportunities. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the for-profit subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players’ group licensing rights.

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members, the NBPA Foundation provides support and assistance to persons, communities, and organizations around the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need.

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