USA Ultimate hires Ng, Pratt
Posted: November 24, 2010 02:37 PM
USA ULTIMATE ADDS TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS TO SUPPORT COLLEGE AND YOUTH PROGRAMS
Ng, Pratt to Join NGB in December, Bourland Takes on New Media Role
Boulder, Colo. (November 24, 2010)—USA Ultimate announced today the hiring of two new staff members, as well as the allocation of additional human resources to its new media department.
Michelle Ng was named Athlete & Competition Programs Manager (College), while Baker Pratt was named Education & Youth Programs Manager. Matthew Bourland, who previously split time and responsibilities between two departments, will now serve as the organization’s New Media Manager on a full-time basis.
As Athlete and Competition Programs Manager, Ng will primarily be responsible for the management and oversight of USA Ultimate’s College Division programs, including series and championship event direction. She will also manage event registration, processing and communication related to the College Division, as well as provide on-site event support and recruit, train and evaluate volunteers.
The addition of Ng will allow USA Ultimate to better service the largest segment of its membership – and also one of its fastest growing. With nearly 18,000 student-athletes currently belonging to USA Ultimate, the organization experienced a 15% increase in College membership this year, while participation in the college ranks has jumped 57% over the course of the last five years.
Ng boasts significant Ultimate and professional experience. As an administrator, she has organized more than a dozen tournaments, run several skills clinics, produced resource materials for college players, written numerous features for Ultimate-related publications and helped create a network of leaders in College Ultimate. She has also raised funds for college programs in need and is the co-founder of Without Limits, an initiative designed to empower women’s Ultimate players to create more opportunities for teams and communities. As an athlete, Ng played for both the UC-Berkeley team (2003-06) and the University of Texas squad (2006-08), serving as captain for both teams, as well as the Texas-based Club team, Showdown.
Most recently Ng held the position of Design and Planning Associate at the Austin Community Design and Development Center. She has a M.A. in Community and Regional Planning from UT, as well as a B.A. in both Architecture and Economics from UC-Berkeley.
“We are very excited to be adding Michelle to the USA Ultimate team here at headquarters,” stated Will Deaver, Managing Director for Competition and Athlete Programs. “Her experience organizing the sport, especially at the college level, is exceeded only by her passion for and dedication to helping players, teams, and organizers grow, excel, and reach their full potential.”
Also joining USA Ultimate is Baker Pratt as its Education and Youth Program Manager. With more Youth members than Adult members for the first time in USA Ultimate’s history, the organization is investing heavily in continuing this growth trend.
In this role, Pratt will be responsible for creating and implementing strategies designed to promote the values of Ultimate and increase participation and opportunities for competition at the youth level. He will also manage various aspects of USA Ultimate’s existing education and training programs, as well as create and administrate new educational opportunities for the Ultimate community.
As an Ultimate coach, player and organizer, Pratt has served the sport in various capacities with an emphasis on youth programs. In 2008, he co-founded the Triangle Youth Ultimate League, which allowed him to gain significant experience organizing tournaments and recruiting and training coaches, volunteers and observers. He has also volunteered his time as a high school Ultimate coach and was a founding captain of the Club team LOS. For the past three years, Pratt also served as USA Ultimate’s Mid-Atlantic Open Regional Coordinator.
Pratt comes to USA Ultimate from Wake Tech Community College where he was Adjunct Instructor of English. A professional educator since 2008, Pratt holds an M.A. in English Literature from North Carolina State University, as well as a B.A. in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“Baker is a welcome and much needed addition to the USA Ultimate staff, allowing us to focus more resources on the future of our sport,” said Deaver. “He brings a great combination of talent, passion, and experience to a multi-faceted position that will focus on both bringing new young players into the sport and providing them with excellent and accessible playing opportunities once they’re hooked. Baker has experience as a teacher, event organizer, and league administrator. He has also had success working with coaches, parents, and school administrators, all of whom will be key to building a support infrastructure for the incredible growth we expect to see in our Youth Division.”
Both Ng and Pratt will officially start their roles with USA Ultimate in mid-December and relocate to Boulder, Colo., site of the National Governing Body’s headquarters.
In addition to the two new hires, Matthew Bourland, who has been with USA Ultimate since 2006 and most recently held the title of Manager of Championships and New Media, will now oversee USA Ultimate’s new media efforts.