USA Wrestling Executive Committee holds in-person meeting in St. Louis, Mo., March 22
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by Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling's Executive Committee had an in-person meeting at Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Mo. Sunday, March 22. The meeting was chaired by USA Wrestling President James Ravannack of Metairie, La.
The Executive Committee conducted the following business during this meeting:
The Executive Committee approved the assignments for the Team Leaders for the 2009 U.S. World Teams in each style. Serving as Freestyle Team Leader is Michael E. Novagratz of New York, N.Y. The Greco-Roman Team Leader is Dave Barry of Hoboken, N.J. The Women's Freestyle Team Leader is Kim Martori-Wickey of Phoenix, Ariz.
Novogratz has been President and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC since February 2007 and was a principal and member of the Management Committee since March 2002. He spent 11 years at Goldman Sachs, where he became a partner in 1998. He founded and serves as Chairman of the Board for Beat The Streets, a non-profit organization which builds wrestling programs in New York City public schools. He competed in wrestling at Princeton University.
Barry is President of Ironstate Development Company, a privately held real estate development and management company. He serves on the Board of Beat The Streets, a non-profit organization which builds wrestling programs in New York City public schools. He was captain of the Columbia University wrestling team, holding the All-Ivy League title.
Martori-Wickey is the Executive Director of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, one of the world's most successful and respected international clubs. Since its inception in the 1970s, the Sunkist Kids have earned over 150 U.S. Olympic and World Team berths. Martori-Wickey was named USA Wrestling Woman of the Year in 2005.
President Jim Ravannack opened the meeting by presenting a special award to longtime USA Wrestling leader Al Kastl of Clinton Twp, Mich., recognizing his 17 years of service on USA Wrestling's Board of Directors. Among his other leadership positions for the organization were serving as State Chairperson in Michigan, as well as Chairperson of the Greco-Roman Sport Committee.
"This is about the people in the sport, and the kids that we helped," said Kastl when he received his award.
Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa., who chairs an ad-hoc committee on Board Governance, made an extensive report on the work of his committee. Strobel outlined a proposal to reduce the size of USA Wrestling's Board of Directors, as well as proposals to adjust the composition of the Standing Committees for the organization.
"As part of any Board restructuring, we must also restructure our committees," said Strobel.
He asked the Executive Committee for their questions and input about the project. Ravannack asked the ad-hoc committee to submit a written report on its proposals to the Executive Committee, which would then be shared with the constituent members of USA Wrestling for review and input.
FILA Bureau member Stan Dziedzic of Roswell, Ga. gave his FILA Report, and focused on two key areas, FILA Department assignments and international rule changes.
Dziedzic reported that all eight of the individuals that USA Wrestling had nominated for position on FILA Departments had been accepted, and will serve four-year terms on these committees which handle a variety of important responsibilities for international wrestling. He noted that the selection of Rick Tucci of Pembroke Pines, Fla. to the Refereeing Department was an important decision, which will allow Tucci to continue his international leadership within international officiating.
He also provided specifics about the process that resulted in the changing of the international rules for Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as the new procedure where athletes and their coaches have the right to request a review of a decision made by the officiating team during each match.
The Executive Committee also discussed the change in staff leadership at the U.S. Olympic Committee with the resignation of Jim Scherr as the organization's Chief Executive Officer on March 5.
Discussion included strategies about how USA Wrestling might seek information from the USOC, with a focus on accountability of the USOC Board concerning the decision-making process. The Executive Committee also discussed how to open up dialogue and develop working relationships with the Acting CEO Stephanie Streeter and the new Board leadership.
Other topics of discussion were an update on the Long Range Planning process, as well as a report from members of the Finance Committee.
Staff announced tentative plans for the 2009 USA Wrestling Board of Directors meeting to be held during the weekend of August 20-23, with the location to be announced at a later date.
USA Wrestling's by-laws call for one Board of Directors meeting each year and one in-person Executive Committee meeting. This Executive Committee meeting was the official in-person meeting as required by the bylaws for the 2008-09 membership year.
The Executive Committee conducted the following business during this meeting:
The Executive Committee approved the assignments for the Team Leaders for the 2009 U.S. World Teams in each style. Serving as Freestyle Team Leader is Michael E. Novagratz of New York, N.Y. The Greco-Roman Team Leader is Dave Barry of Hoboken, N.J. The Women's Freestyle Team Leader is Kim Martori-Wickey of Phoenix, Ariz.
Novogratz has been President and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC since February 2007 and was a principal and member of the Management Committee since March 2002. He spent 11 years at Goldman Sachs, where he became a partner in 1998. He founded and serves as Chairman of the Board for Beat The Streets, a non-profit organization which builds wrestling programs in New York City public schools. He competed in wrestling at Princeton University.
Barry is President of Ironstate Development Company, a privately held real estate development and management company. He serves on the Board of Beat The Streets, a non-profit organization which builds wrestling programs in New York City public schools. He was captain of the Columbia University wrestling team, holding the All-Ivy League title.
Martori-Wickey is the Executive Director of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, one of the world's most successful and respected international clubs. Since its inception in the 1970s, the Sunkist Kids have earned over 150 U.S. Olympic and World Team berths. Martori-Wickey was named USA Wrestling Woman of the Year in 2005.
President Jim Ravannack opened the meeting by presenting a special award to longtime USA Wrestling leader Al Kastl of Clinton Twp, Mich., recognizing his 17 years of service on USA Wrestling's Board of Directors. Among his other leadership positions for the organization were serving as State Chairperson in Michigan, as well as Chairperson of the Greco-Roman Sport Committee.
"This is about the people in the sport, and the kids that we helped," said Kastl when he received his award.
Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa., who chairs an ad-hoc committee on Board Governance, made an extensive report on the work of his committee. Strobel outlined a proposal to reduce the size of USA Wrestling's Board of Directors, as well as proposals to adjust the composition of the Standing Committees for the organization.
"As part of any Board restructuring, we must also restructure our committees," said Strobel.
He asked the Executive Committee for their questions and input about the project. Ravannack asked the ad-hoc committee to submit a written report on its proposals to the Executive Committee, which would then be shared with the constituent members of USA Wrestling for review and input.
FILA Bureau member Stan Dziedzic of Roswell, Ga. gave his FILA Report, and focused on two key areas, FILA Department assignments and international rule changes.
Dziedzic reported that all eight of the individuals that USA Wrestling had nominated for position on FILA Departments had been accepted, and will serve four-year terms on these committees which handle a variety of important responsibilities for international wrestling. He noted that the selection of Rick Tucci of Pembroke Pines, Fla. to the Refereeing Department was an important decision, which will allow Tucci to continue his international leadership within international officiating.
He also provided specifics about the process that resulted in the changing of the international rules for Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as the new procedure where athletes and their coaches have the right to request a review of a decision made by the officiating team during each match.
The Executive Committee also discussed the change in staff leadership at the U.S. Olympic Committee with the resignation of Jim Scherr as the organization's Chief Executive Officer on March 5.
Discussion included strategies about how USA Wrestling might seek information from the USOC, with a focus on accountability of the USOC Board concerning the decision-making process. The Executive Committee also discussed how to open up dialogue and develop working relationships with the Acting CEO Stephanie Streeter and the new Board leadership.
Other topics of discussion were an update on the Long Range Planning process, as well as a report from members of the Finance Committee.
Staff announced tentative plans for the 2009 USA Wrestling Board of Directors meeting to be held during the weekend of August 20-23, with the location to be announced at a later date.
USA Wrestling's by-laws call for one Board of Directors meeting each year and one in-person Executive Committee meeting. This Executive Committee meeting was the official in-person meeting as required by the bylaws for the 2008-09 membership year.
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