New President's Biggest Job

[ysbadadden]

We're looking for a new Executive Director. This is a position that arguably has more impact on how US Fencing functions than that of the President.
For example, there's been a long-standing election issue (or topic) about what the new President would do about upgrading the technological capacities of the USFA. But we could have had online registration (for instance) any time in the last eight years if the Executive Director had decided that a tech upgrade would be a better use of resources than devoting the whole office to processing entries several times a year.
Some of the issues we are now debating could come under the heading of day-to-day management, the Executive Director's job, rather than Presidential decisions. No one should be running over whether to use Wite-Out or Corasable Bond for making document corrections when an Executive Director should have chosen a word processor a decade ago. [Hyperbole warning.]
So perhaps the most impactful job for the new President is choosing the new Executive Director.
What should we be looking for and how should we be going about it?

[T]

thanks ysbadadden for asking this question...

This is a great question and we will probably all agree that you are correct!

This is also an area where the two slates have significantly different opinions.

In our view,
The primary job of the next USFA Exec Director (ED) will be fundraising and developing and nurturing external relationships with other organizations such as the USOC, potential corporate sponsors, other NGBs, foundations, Olympic alumni groups, etc. This individual’s main responsibility will be external to the USFA -- providing overall direction of the organization -- but not daily management of the business. The budget negotiations with the USOC that are now performed by the Director of High Performance will be handled by the ED; therefore, it is extremely important that this individual have experience dealing with the USOC and because they will be advocating on behalf of the sport (to the USOC as well as every other external entity) they need to have a good knowledge of fencing. We shouldn’t have someone advocating for the sport who cannot speak intelligently about it during one-on-one conversations with potential funding organizations when their lieutenants are not around (this is also true for the President’s position as well). This will free-up the Director of High Performance to deal almost exclusively with the pipeline and elite programs. By having fundraising and dealing with corporate partners resting at the highest level in the organization, decisions can be made very quickly in terms of contracts, grants, obligations, sponsorships, etc – reducing the delay in decision-making and re-enforcing the organization’s commitment to those relationships.

In our vision of the USFA structure, the new Chief Financial Officer will also act as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). This position will be responsible for handling all of the finances of the organization as well as providing daily management of the office. This COO will also be the individual that is responsible for implementing the technology plan. This person does not necessarily need to have much if any fencing experience as running the daily business and the finances are not specific to the fencing world. This individual’s responsibility will be almost exclusively the internal management of the organization and the organization’s finances.

How will we go about searching for the ED?
First and foremost, we will look internal to the fencing world (as I mentioned above, this individual needs to have a good knowledge of the sport). With 20,000 members, I am confident we can find someone within our own ranks. By finding someone who is passionate about the sport (because they are now or have been an active member), we are likely to find someone who is committed to progress in the sport and who is not necessarily looking for the largest paycheck out there. Furthermore, we are likely to find someone who will remain with the organization for quite a while -- providing for a stable organizational direction for the future.

[Montoya]

While I think the division of labor makes sense, how can we afford to pay two well-qualified individuals for the ED/COO positions at this time?

[T]

Originally Posted by Montoya

While I think the division of labor makes sense, how can we afford to pay two well-qualified individuals for the ED/COO positions at this time?

From thread on technology, I wrote,

Originally Posted by T

The organization structure for both slates appears to contain equivalent number of positions. All of the earlier complaints about expense is not relevant as both sides propose the same number of director/managers which will have an approximate equivalent salary demand.

Here are the managers/directors/officers called for in the usanominees re-organization plan

usanominees
ED - budget, office management
Director of HP -elite athletes
Director of Operations - tournaments
Manager of Volunteers
Youth Manager
Director of Development & Membership services

6 director/managers

USfencersforchange
ED
CFO/COO
Director of HP
Tournament Officer
Marketing Officer
Membership and Customer Service Officer

6 directors/managers

Our restructuring proposal calls for no more personnel than the usanominees proposal. The emphasis, however, is somewhat different.

Both slates call for the same number of director/management positions so the salary expenses for both front offices will not be dramatically different in terms of a $4million budget. Funding these positions as well as funding technology implementation and growth will be fueled primarily by cost containment procedures as outlined here. With the ED in charge of fundraising and corporate relations, as well as a director position allocated to Marketing, the expectation is that these two priorities will be emphasized creating additional revenue for the organization by the end of the first year.

[Montoya]

How much is currently budgeted for staff salaries and benefits?

[edew]

I would suggest Christine Simmons as the CFO/COO in the FFC administrative structure. I'm sure she'll be the candidate for the Dir of Operations in the NomComm's pick's administrative structure.

[jjefferies]

Originally Posted by edew

I would suggest Christine Simmons as the CFO/COO in the FFC administrative structure. I'm sure she'll be the candidate for the Dir of Operations in the NomComm's pick's administrative structure.

You'll get any number of seconds on that motion. IMHO, Christine has been one of the most helpful and productive people in the USFA office.

[darius]

The rest of the staff budget should be devoted to cloning Christine Simmons.

darius

[fencinginDC]

What is it about our sport that makes people think that being a fencer qualifies you to be [ fill in blank ]?

IF you can find an exceptional leader/manager/fundraiser and however else the position is defined, who is ALSO a fencer, that would be awesome. The first responsibility of the search committee (which darn well better be led by someone with that specific experience, not a president who thinks they should just because they are president) will be to find the best candidate, not compromise because they want someone that has been around fencing for XX years. That's exactly the thinking that has the USFA in its current position. Please stop this inbred, inwardly-focused pseudo-nepotism. A quality person could very easily learn what they need to know about the sport, assuming we can't find someone already familiar with fencing (which we all think would be preferable, just not a priority).

And what makes you think that the USFA benefits from keeping someone in the ED position a "long time" versus something like 10-12 years?

Please find the BEST person to lead the search committee and let THEM recommend the rest of the team. Not people who have "some" experience with job searches. Most people have some experience with that, and it doesn't remotely qualify them to lead the process.

I know there are people on this forum who understand why I am concerned about how the search will be conducted.

Originally Posted by T

thanks ysbadadden for asking this question...

This is a great question and we will probably all agree that you are correct!

This is also an area where the two slates have significantly different opinions.

In our view,
The primary job of the next USFA Exec Director (ED) will be fundraising and developing and nurturing external relationships with other organizations such as the USOC, potential corporate sponsors, other NGBs, foundations, Olympic alumni groups, etc. This individual’s main responsibility will be external to the USFA -- providing overall direction of the organization -- but not daily management of the business. The budget negotiations with the USOC that are now performed by the Director of High Performance will be handled by the ED; therefore, it is extremely important that this individual have experience dealing with the USOC and because they will be advocating on behalf of the sport (to the USOC as well as every other external entity) they need to have a good knowledge of fencing. We shouldn’t have someone advocating for the sport who cannot speak intelligently about it during one-on-one conversations with potential funding organizations when their lieutenants are not around (this is also true for the President’s position as well). This will free-up the Director of High Performance to deal almost exclusively with the pipeline and elite programs. By having fundraising and dealing with corporate partners resting at the highest level in the organization, decisions can be made very quickly in terms of contracts, grants, obligations, sponsorships, etc – reducing the delay in decision-making and re-enforcing the organization’s commitment to those relationships.

In our vision of the USFA structure, the new Chief Financial Officer will also act as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). This position will be responsible for handling all of the finances of the organization as well as providing daily management of the office. This COO will also be the individual that is responsible for implementing the technology plan. This person does not necessarily need to have much if any fencing experience as running the daily business and the finances are not specific to the fencing world. This individual’s responsibility will be almost exclusively the internal management of the organization and the organization’s finances.

How will we go about searching for the ED?
First and foremost, we will look internal to the fencing world (as I mentioned above, this individual needs to have a good knowledge of the sport). With 20,000 members, I am confident we can find someone within our own ranks. By finding someone who is passionate about the sport (because they are now or have been an active member), we are likely to find someone who is committed to progress in the sport and who is not necessarily looking for the largest paycheck out there. Furthermore, we are likely to find someone who will remain with the organization for quite a while -- providing for a stable organizational direction for the future.

[foillion]

Originally Posted by darius

The rest of the staff budget should be devoted to cloning Christine Simmons.

darius

QFT

-P

[KD5MDK]

Who gets the contract for the Spaarti cylinders?


It's important to remember the current ED has agreed to stay on until a replacement is found.

[epeemike81]

Originally Posted by edew

I would suggest Christine Simmons as the CFO/COO in the FFC administrative structure. I'm sure she'll be the candidate for the Dir of Operations in the NomComm's pick's administrative structure.

Christine would be GREAT as a COO or Director of Operations. What are her qualifications to be CFO?

IMO, Christine fits very well as Director of Ops under the NomCom slate, but doesn't really have a clear place to fit under the Hurley Plan unless you separate CFO duties from COO.

-m

[Allen Evans]

...and if I'm correct, Christine is someone who came from a non-fencing background before joining the USFA. A good example of what FencinginDC is talking about: being a fencer qualifies you for....being a fencer. The problems US Fencing is facing are actually pretty common, and very solvable, with the right person making decisions and showing leadership. There are plenty of people like that out there who have never seen a foil, saber, or epee.

AE

[peet]

Originally Posted by Allen Evans

...and if I'm correct, Christine is someone who came from a non-fencing background before joining the USFA.

Yeah, Christine used to be with USA Taekwondo.



As a competitor!

Then she worked for their national organization, and later came to ours. Our gain, their loss!

-p

[edew]

Yeah, don't mess with Christine.

As for the ED a la the FFC idea, I would much prefer an outsider than a fencer insider for this role for bringing in money. An outsider's view of fencing is probably much better to relate to others than an insider's view of fencing. I know (and I'm sure a lot of fencers also know) that it's very hard for me to explain fencing to others because I've been involved in it for so long and it's so natural for me. It's like trying to explain how to have a pulse.

[gorgie101]

Originally Posted by edew

An outsider's view of fencing is probably much better to relate to others than an insider's view of fencing. I know (and I'm sure a lot of fencers also know) that it's very hard for me to explain fencing to others because I've been involved in it for so long and it's so natural for me. It's like trying to explain how to have a pulse.

So very true.

Of course if the election had not been contested the search for a new ED would be going on right now.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

There's no reason each of the slates can't be making inquiries to potential candidates right now. The somewhat disparate vision of the ED duties likely means the two camps are not gonna be calling the same folks all that much.

[Philistine]

Also, AIUI, it's the full Board of Directors which actually makes the decision on hiring the new ED. Presumably the President appoints the members of any search committee, but isn't that the only connection the President or other officers have in the selection of the ED (other than voting as members of the Board, of course)?

--Philistine

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Interesting. Are the roles and duties of the ED set in the by-laws, or does the incoming slate have flexibility in making the job fit what they have outlined in the campaign literature?

And what if--for the sake of argument--the USFFC slate largely wins, but the Board decides hires someone more in line with the Power ED model, and refuses to authorize a CFO/COO position? Or vice versa...

[Philistine]

Originally Posted by Capt. Slo-mo

Interesting. Are the roles and duties of the ED set in the by-laws, or does the incoming slate have flexibility in making the job fit what they have outlined in the campaign literature?

AIUI, the sole and complete discretion on defining the duties of the Executive Director (or any other non-bylaws employee) resides in the Board of Directors. They can delegate that power to the President if they so desire, but need not do so.

And what if--for the sake of argument--the USFFC slate largely wins, but the B