Beal Named Chair of Group for Sport Chief Executives

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 27, 2010) – USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal was named chairman of the Association for Chief Executives in Sport (ACES) during its bi-annual meeting on Wednesday (Sept. 22) at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The ACES meeting was held in conjunction with the Olympic Assembly held Sept. 23-25 in Colorado Springs.

Beal will serve as chair for one year, fulfilling the term of former USA Triathlon CEO Skip Gilbert, who resigned from USAT on Aug. 30.

“I’m honored to be selected to represent this group,” Beal said. “I think ACES plays a significant role in communicating with the USOC leadership, as it allows direct dialogue with the NGBs’ most senior individual on staff.”

The ACES group meets formally twice a year: once in the fall at the Olympic Assembly and once in the spring. They also hold monthly conference calls. Beal describes the group as a trade organization for sports-related non profits.

ACES members must be the highest-ranking paid employee of the organization and each organization is allowed only one member. The membership is dominated by Olympic sport national governing bodies.

Beal also attended the Olympic Assembly along with USA Volleyball Secretary General Kerry Klostermann, USAV Board Chairman David Schreff and USAV Managing Director for Beach Volleyball Dave Williams.

“I thought the Olympic assembly was by far the most positive gathering of the Olympic family since I have been CEO,” Beal said. “I thought it was more substantive in providing meaningful sessions that were relevant to the operations side of the NGB community.

“The NGB Council had a joint meeting with the Athletes’ Advisory Council that was very worthwhile and productive.”

Klostermann was part of a panel discussion on “How communities develop an effective relationship with NGBs.”

Overall, Beal said he came away from the Assembly feeling positive about the direction of the U.S. Olympic movement.

“It is clear that USOC Chairman of the Board Larry Probst and Chief Executive Scott Blackmun have the organization headed in a very positive direction with the total support of its constituent groups,” Beal said.

Among the other events at the Assembly:

1. The U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association, formerly known as the U.S. Olympians Association (USOA), voted unanimously on Friday to include Paralympians in its ranks. The integration will enable U.S. Olympians and U.S. Paralympians to work side-by-side on organizational initiatives that impact the larger movement and educate young athletes.
2. the following bylaw changes approved by the USOC Board of Directors:
   • Expanding the board by four new members
   • Adding the USOC's chief executive officer to the board as an ex-officio, non-voting member
   • Extending the length of board member terms
   • Eliminating term limits placed upon the chairman of the board
   • Additionally, the board voted to revamp the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Assembly, alter the process by which new directors are elected to the board, and eliminate the severance requirements for certain constituent director positions.
3. The USOC Board also received a report outlining the recommendations of the working group on safe training environments from its chair, Nina Kemppel, the first vice chair of the AAC and a four-time Olympian in cross-country skiing.

Tags: David Schreff, David Williams, Doug Beal, Kerry Klostermann, United States Olympic Committee