WFDF appoints Karina Woldt as its first Event Manager

In Official Communication, Press Release * Official Communication by WFDF

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is pleased to welcome Karina Woldt as WFDF Event Manager, a new part-time paid staff position.  Karina, 33, an Australian national, will begin work immediately out of the city of Hannover, Germany, where she currently lives with her family, as the newest addition to WFDF’s virtual global office. WFDF’s administrative staff is led by Executive Director Volker Bernardi headquartered in Harxheim, Germany (near Frankfurt), and includes Daniel "Stork" Roddick, who serves part-time as WFDF Senior Advisor and World Record Keeper out of Pasadena CA, USA.  WFDF is legally incorporated in the state of Colorado, USA.

Karina has been involved with professional sporting teams and major events management over 13 years in both Australia and New Zealand.  Before taking time to start her family, she served as the senior events services director for the FISA World Rowing Championships from 2008 to 2010 in Karapiro, New Zealand, where she managed 53 national teams with 1,800 international officials and participants and 80 staff.  From 2006 to 2008 she was Director of Operations of Elephant Management Co. Ltd. V8 Supercars, an event with over 182,000 spectators over three days.  From 1999 to 2006, she was involved in a variety of events, including the Subaru Rally Team of Australia (Motorsport), Canberra Cannons (Basketball) and Canberra Raiders (Rugby League). She is also the owner and Director of several New Zealand companies, all of which are involved in the motorsport industry.  Karina has significant experience on all aspects of event issues like accommodation and transportation, registration and all other organisational aspects of World class events. A natural born English speaker, Karina is also fluent in German.

“We are extremely pleased to bring Karina Woldt on to WFDF’s staff,” stated Robert “Nob” Rauch, WFDF President. “The WFDF event program has become increasingly complex and we believe that we need to devote resources to ensuring that our athletes are presented with not just top level competition but as well a world-class competitive format and venue.  Although Karina does not possess a disc sports background, she has a significant resume in mega-sport event management across a variety of sports including rowing, rugby, basketball, and motorsports.  We believe that Karina’s background will perfectly complement the Flying Disc expertise that already exists with the expertise of the members of our various Disc Sport Committees. With the World Ultimate Club Championships (WUCC) and World Junior Ultimate Championships (WJUC) as the largest Ultimate events ever being held in Lecco, Italy, this summer, expecting around 5,000 athletes between them, and with planning for 2015 with the World Championships of Beach Ultimate (WCBU) and World Overall Championships and other events, Karina will be very busy from the start.”

Karina’s appointment concludes a search that was begun in September 2013 and which generated interest by 27 candidates from 17 countries.  The Selection Committee was comprised of Brian Gisel (CAN), Simon Hill (GBR), Nob Rauch (USA), and Volker Bernardi (GER), and the Committee’s recommendation was recently approved by the WFDF board.

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