Mr.
Kouri is the President and Founder of NextStep (www.nextstepfitness.org),
a nationally recognized non-profit organization. NextStep believes that all
persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities deserve the hope
and opportunity to live long and healthy lives. Yet today most of these individuals
are deprived of the resources they desperately need for survival because there
are no options available to them or they cannot afford them. NextStep provides
the opportunity for health and recovery through affordable and progressive
community fitness, health, and wellness facilities.
NextStep
is a nationwide movement that aims to revolutionize the quality of healthcare
for the physically challenged community. NextStep has paved the way with the
first community facility in the U.S. to offer Locomotor and activity based
training at its state of the art facility in Los Angeles and continues its
vision to expand across the United States. The organization’s other initiatives
are participation in cutting edge research, education, and awareness programs
that are focused on enhancing the lives of the 6 million people in the U.S.
living with paralysis.
NextStep
is a member of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network
(NRN) Community Fitness and Wellness (CFW) Program.
In
August of 2006, a tragic accident in Manhattan Beach left Janne Kouri
paralyzed. Doctors told him that he would never walk again. He proved them
wrong and it was documented on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Mr.
Kouri is also an active speaker including the award winning Georgetown alumni
webinar series that earned the CASE Circle of Excellence Award.
From
2004-2006, Mr. Kouri was the North American Regional Director for Sulake
Corporation, a world leading online community entertainment and media company.
Mr. Kouri was responsible for Sulake’s overall North American business strategy
and management of its property Habbo, a new type of youth brand, which is based
on one of the world's fastest growing online communities and virtual worlds for
teenagers.
Prior
to Sulake, Kouri was an associate at Monrepos LLC, a venture capital firm.
Monrepos LLC is a venture capital company that creates, manages and funds
technology based start up companies, focusing on communication technology and
software.
Kouri
was co-founder of Orchimedia LLC, a mobile gaming pioneer. Orchimedia was a
leading Finland based wireless entertainment company. Orchimedia launched some
of the very first WAP, SMS, and interactive TV based wireless games in the
Nordic countries.
In
1997 he graduated from the Georgetown University Business School with a degree
in Marketing. He was also the Captain of the Georgetown University Division
I-AA Football Team. He was the 1996 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, 1996
Team MVP, 1st Team All Conference in 1995 & 1996, and an All-American in
1996. Kouri also holds the Hoya All-Time and Single Season Sack Record with 16
and 31.5 respectively.