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Summary

For more than 20 years, I have worked at the intersection of performance, leadership, and organizational development across elite sport, live entertainment, education, and nonprofit organizations.
 
My career has taken me from junior hockey to Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, from performance technology and analytics at Kitman Labs to executive leadership within youth development and community-based programming. While the environments have been different, the work has remained remarkably consistent: helping people and organizations perform at their highest level.
 
I am particularly drawn to complex organizations where success depends on aligning people, strategy, operations, and culture. Throughout my career, I have led multidisciplinary teams, built cross-functional partnerships, supported organizational change, and translated ambitious goals into practical execution.
 
Today, as Vice-President of Program Development & Youth Performance Management at The Circus Arts Conservatory, I oversee youth programming, performance operations, educational partnerships, productions, and strategic initiatives that serve hundreds of participants annually while advancing organizational sustainability and community impact.
 
My professional interests include:
 
• Strategic operations and organizational effectiveness
• Leadership and team development
• Youth development and athlete pathways
• Performance science and human performance
• Data-informed decision making
• Partnership development and stakeholder engagement
• Mission-driven leadership and community impact
 
I am always interested in connecting with leaders in sport, education, nonprofit management, live entertainment, and organizational strategy.

Work experience

The Circus Arts Conservatory | Sarasota

2024-11Present

Vice President, Program Development & Youth Performance Management

Provide executive leadership across youth athletics programming, performance operations, and arena execution within a nationally recognized nonprofit organization serving hundreds of participants annually.

  • Provide leadership across a team of 25+ staff spanning coaching, production, administration, marketing, arena operations, and youth programming.
  • Oversaw program budgets, staffing resources, and operational planning supporting sustainable organizational growth.
  • Direct program strategy aligning development pathways, performance outcomes, and institutional priorities
  • Design initiatives expanding organizational reach, participant engagement, and revenue opportunity
  • Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, schools, community partners, and institutional stakeholders
  • Coordinate complex productions and events requiring cross-department synchronization
  • Translate executive priorities into operational initiatives and measurable actions
  • Represent the organization in external partnerships and community engagement

Key Outcomes & Impact:

  • Developed strategic partnerships with educational institutions, sponsors, and community organizations supporting program growth, expanded visibility, and new revenue opportunities.
  • Improved operational coordination across program areas, enhancing scheduling and resource utilization
  • Strengthened integration between youth development pipelines and performance programming
  • Supported organizational positioning as a community athletics and education leader

Kitman Labs

2020-032024-07

Senior Performance Strategist

Partnered with executive, medical, and performance leadership teams across professional and collegiate sport organizations to align technology adoption, operational workflows, and performance strategy.

  • Guided implementation of performance technology platforms within sport environments
  • Facilitated alignment between software developers and applied sport practitioners
  • Delivered education and onboarding for coaching and performance staff
  • Supported stakeholder adoption through communication and change management
  • Translated performance data into operational insights

Key Outcomes & Impact:

  • Accelerated organizational adoption of analytics platforms
  • Strengthened practitioner confidence applying data-informed decision-making
  • Improved collaboration between technical and sport performance domains
  • Supported integration of performance technology into daily operational workflows

California University of Pennsylvania

2008-082022-06

Instructor, Department of Health Science & Sport Studies Global Online Graduate Program

Delivered instruction within graduate-level programming supporting development of emerging sport and performance professionals.

  • Designed and delivered course content for online and hybrid learning environments
  • Guided students in applied performance science concepts
  • Facilitated engagement across diverse professional backgrounds

Key Outcomes & Impact:

  • Contributed to preparation of practitioners entering sport and health professions
  • Strengthened academic-practice integration through applied instruction

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group

2007-082019-12

Head of Performance Science

Led performance science, performer health, and readiness initiatives within one of the world's premier live entertainment organizations, supporting complex artistic productions across international performance environments.
 

  • Collaborated with artistic, medical, technical, and operational leaders to align performer health, safety, and performance objectives.
  • Developed and implemented performance monitoring, recovery, and readiness strategies supporting sustainable performer performance.
  • Provided cross-functional leadership in high-stakes environments requiring coordination across multiple departments and stakeholder groups.
  • Contributed to the adoption of data-informed approaches to performer management, health, and operational decision-making.
  • Supported organizational initiatives focused on performance optimization, injury risk reduction, and production continuity.

Key Outcomes & Impact:

  • Advanced the integration of performance science within a globally recognized entertainment organization.
  • Strengthened collaboration between artistic, medical, and operational functions.
  • Supported performer readiness and continuity across demanding production schedules.
  • Developed expertise operating within complex international environments where safety, performance quality, and operational execution were equally critical.

Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club

2003-082007-08

Head Athletic Trainer / Strength & Conditioning Coach

Led athlete health and performance initiatives within competitive junior hockey environments.

  • Implemented preparation and recovery protocols
  • Collaborated with coaching and medical staff
  • Managed logistical coordination within team operations
  • Applied evidence-informed performance and injury prevention practices

Key Outcomes & Impact:

  • Supported athlete availability and performance readiness
  • Built foundational expertise in competitive sport operations
  • Strengthened interdisciplinary team collaboration skills

Education

California University of Pennsylvania

2004-072005-07

Masters of Science

Human Performance & Injury Prevention

Central Michigan University

1998-082002-12

Bachelors of Science

Sports Medicine

publications & presentations

Author and presenter on performance science, analytics, and organizational leadership within sport and performance environments

  • Burnstein, B., Allen-Burnstein, B. (2022). Chapter 1: NASM Sports Performance Training – Introduction to the Performance Training Profession. Publisher TBD.
  • Burnstein, B. (November 2019). Enhancing Performance with Data & Technology. Barca Innovation Hub Sports Technology Symposium. Barcelona, Spain.
  • Burnstein, B. & Richard, V. (October 2018). Innovation & Creativity: Managing Changes from Global to Local Perspectives. Leaders in Performance. London, UK
  • Donohue, B., Gavrilova, Y., Galante, M., Burnstein, B., Aubertin, P., Gavrilova, E., Funk, A., Light, A., & Benning, S. D. (2018, October 11). Empirical Development of a Screening Method for Mental, Social, and Physical Wellness in Amateur and Professional Circus Artists. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. Advance online publication.
  • Barker, L., Mercer, J., Burnstein, B. (2018). Acceleration profile of an acrobatic act during training and shows using wearable technology. Sports Biomechanics, DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2018.1460394
  • Donohue, B., Gavrilova, Y., Galante, M. B., Burnstein, B., Aubertin, P., Gavrilova, E., Funk, A., Light, Benning, S., (2018). Wellness screening in Circus: Mental, Social, and Physical Health Factors Interfering With Performance. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.
  • Burnstein, B. (July 2017). Creating a Culture of Data-Informed Decision Making. Innovation Enterprise – Sports Analytics Innovation Summit & Wearable Technology in Sport Summit. San Francisco, California.
  • Galante, M., Donohue, B., Gavrilova, Y., Phillips, C., Burnstein, B., Aubertin, P., & Corral, A. (2017). The relationship between problem-solving skills and factors associated with performance in the world’s elite circus artists. Journal of Performance Psychology.
  • Burnstein, B. (May 2016). Beneath the BigTop – Using Technology and Data to Support Circus Performance. The Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association Annual Conference. Kansas City, Missouri.
  • Burnstein, B. (September 2015). An Innovative Approach to Managing Circus Performance. Innovation Enterprise – Sports Analytics Innovation Summit & Wearable Technology in Sport Summit. San Francisco, California.
  • Burnstein, B., Steele, R., Shrier, I. (2011). Reliability of fitness tests using methods and time periods common in sport and occupational management. Journal of Athletic Training 2011:46(5):505–513.

Licenses & certifications

  • Oxford Executive Leadership Programme, Said Business School at University of Oxford (Certificate Completed, Feb2023)

  • CITI Research Mentor

  • National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification Certified Athletic Trainer (2003 - 2021)
  • National Strength & Conditioning Association Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (2003 - 2022)
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine:
    • Performance Enhancement Specialist
    • Fitness Nutrition Specialist
    • Corrective Exercise Specialist
  • USA Weightlifting Advanced Sports Performance Coach
  • Program of Athletic Coaches’ Education
  • eCollege Certified Online Instructor

skills

Leadership & Strategy

  • Organizational leadership, Strategic planning, Program development, Initiative execution, Operational alignment, Change facilitation

Financial & Operational Leadership

  • Budget oversight, Resource allocation, Organizational planning, Operational scaling, Cross-functional execution, Performance measurement

Athletics & Performance Environment Expertise

  • Athlete development ecosystems, Performance culture integration, Interdisciplinary sport collaboration, Wellness and readiness awareness, Competitive environment operations

Operations & Project Execution

  • Project coordination, Workflow management, Resource planning, Event/production execution, Multi-priority management, Process improvement

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Executive communication, Partnership development, Donor/community relations, Cross-functional collaboration, Conflict navigation, Relationship stewardship

Communication & Knowledge Translation

  • Public speaking, Executive writing, Education and training delivery, Technical-to-operational translation, Presentation development

Analytical & Technical

  • Data-informed decision support, Performance analytics translation, Technology adoption facilitation, Systems integration collaboration