The National Association of Tournament Directors (NATD), a new association designed to bring together Tournament Directors of all sports, has named sports industry veterans Louise Waxler as President/CEO and Mike Chandler as Vice President of Sports Industry Relations. These executives will be responsible for leading the strategic direction of the NATD, to ensure value to members and to the sports industry as a whole, in preparation for the association’s official launch in August 2011.
The NATD is the first and only professional association for Tournament Directors - the individuals who create the most revenue for their organization; who bring together the best competition for their sport; and who best promote athletes in order for them to achieve visibility and success.
Waxler brings more than 25 years of professional and amateur sports management experience to the NATD executive team, having served in key roles on the international and local levels for a breadth of renowned sports organizations. Waxler’s expertise covers many disciplines including operations, venue management, player services, outreach programs and youth development. As President/CEO, Waxler will be responsible for overseeing all NATD business operations with a strong focus on growing the association and identifying new opportunities to bring enhanced value to members and the sports industry.
Prior to coming to the NATD, Waxler served as General Manager of WPS Philadelphia Independence where she created the infrastructure and staffing for team and business operations and was responsible for game day operations/management of the women’s professional soccer team. Previous positions have included overseeing and coordinating team and game day operations of the Washington Freedom women’s professional soccer team and Director of Soccer Programs for the Maryland Soccer Foundation.
A staple within the soccer community, Waxler is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and has held many board positions including President, for the country’s largest professional sports association with over 30,000 members. She has received many awards and accolades including the NSCAA Women’s Committee Award of Excellence. Additionally, Waxler will be inducted into the Howard County, Maryland Recreation and Parks Hall of Fame in October for her personal contributions and achievements in respect to community sports.
“Understanding the complexities in planning and coordinating sporting events, I am thrilled to be a part of the first association for Tournament Directors,” said Waxler. “With Mike and I joining the NATD executive team, we are bringing over 35 years of combined sports industry event planning experience and I am confident this new association will serve as a valuable tool and resource for our members.”
Chandler comes to the NATD from USA Volleyball in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he spent 13 years leading all operations for the USA National Team tours, International Tournaments and the USAV Championship events. At USA Volleyball, Chandler was responsible for the development of RFP processes and contract negotiations with venues, hotels, local organizations and vendors. Additionally, Chandler has held many notable sports leadership positions including Athletic Department Compliance Officer and Assistant Coach for Southwest State University, among others.
In his new role at the NATD, Chandler will oversee member programs and services to ensure the association offers the most beneficial information for Tournament Directors across all sports categories. Chandler’s extensive industry knowledge includes tournament planning, event logistics, athletic programs and coaching guidelines.
“I welcome this new opportunity with the NATD, as there has never been an organization that has brought Tournament Directors of various sports together as a job title for the purpose of leveraging their buying power to help them achieve their goals easier and more efficiently…until now,” added Chandler.
The National Association of Tournament Directors will officially launch, in conjunction with www.NATDweb.org in August 2011.
About The National Association of Tournament Directors
The National Association of Tournament Directors (NATD) is the first professional association that unites Tournament Directors of all sports for the purpose of leveraging buying power and knowledge. By capitalizing on the similarities that exist within the industry, the NATD has created processes and programs to drive Tournament Directors to greater success. The NATD is the organization for individuals who create the most revenue for their organization; who bring together the best competition for their sport; and who best promote athletes in order for them to achieve visibility and success. Additionally, companies that are members of the NATD gain access to thousands of Tournament Directors, Event Planners and Rights Holders across the country and receive exclusive sales opportunities, partnerships, sponsorships, brand exposure and more.
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