Executive Director Departure and Transition
Priscilla Ribic, the long-term Executive Director (ED) of USA Powerlifting is leaving her role May 12, 2023, to pursue a different career path as 1st Officer for a jet airline company.
Her role as ED began with her serving as a volunteer in 2013, and then as paid staff beginning in 2016. Priscilla assisted in moving the National Office from Indiana in 2013, and developed systems and automation to allow USA Powerlifting to grow from its level at that time of 4,500 members to more than 27,000 in 2022. Her insight and innovation facilitated the expansion of the Federation into a legitimate sport’s governing body, with automated membership, meet results and records. Her vision helped to develop national competition and sports festival events that set a new standard for meet production, starting with the Arnold Sports Festival. She developed our marketing program and put procedures into place that allow for protection of our intellectual property. Priscilla developed systems for administrative tracking of individual lifters performance, and developed procedures for administrative management of our drug testing program.
Priscilla will remain as coordinator of National Meets and Pro Series events and will continue managing sponsor relationships.
We will be eternally grateful for her many contributions that allowed for the monumental growth and increased professionalism that USA Powerlifting has experienced and are thankful that she is staying on in the capacity mentioned.
What’s next?
Moving forward, Cathy Smith, our National Office Administrator for the past 10 years, will serve as Interim Executive Director assisted by Joe Manion, our newly hired office assistant, Lorenzo Barnes, recently brought on as a Customer Service Specialist and the members of our Tech Department, Harrison Caton and Marshall Powell who will be under the direction of Jan Daurio.
Our staff are rounded out by Adrianna DaCosta, who assists with intellectual property, medal shipment and merchandise, Greg Page, who manages logistics for our high-level competitions, Eric Walsh, who manages meet packet shipping and referee certification, Joanne Craig, who manages our anti-doping program (OMTs and in-meet) and international referee liaison and Wade Johnson, our International Committee chair. Duties will be reassigned within this capable group to best serve our members.
Please be patient as we settle into a new routine, and our new and transitioning staff settle into their new roles.
We will open the position of Executive Director for recruitment in the near future with posting on the USAPL website.
