USAT Race Director Education
USA Triathlon's Event Services Department presents organized educational opportunities for race directors each year. Included in these programs are the Race Director Certification Course and the annual Race Director Symposium (formerly Race Director Conference). Information about Race Director Symposium can be found below.
USAT Race Director Certification Program
A directory of all Certified Race Directors can be found here: Certified Race Director Listing
See the Course Listings below as 2008 listings will be posted as they are confirmed.
What is Race Director Certification?
Race director certification is a 16-hour education course that generally takes place over two days. The culmination is the awarding of certificates to race directors who successfully complete the course requirements.
This course will address the latest in race directing methods, insurance/risk management trends, and USAT sanctioning compliance. While the certification course is not mandatory for race directors who sanction their events with USA Triathlon, the program is extremely valuable to both new and seasoned event directors.
The following are some highlights of the many benefits of the program:
- The latest risk management and race directing information available, presented to you in a manual, along with the opportunity to network with other race directors from around the country. Discussion time throughout the course will allow you to talk to other event directors and share experiences you all have.
- Complimentary Annual Membership to USA Triathlon - only Certified Race Directors have access to this free membership.
- Special access to sponsors – we are continually working with the marketing department to provide additional sponsorship opportunities available only to certified directors.
- Special access to online insurance certificate system - insurance certificates can be printed directly from the insurance company's website.
- Potentially lower sanction/insurance costs for USAT sanctioning – not available immediately but one of the main goals of the certification program – the more educated event directors are about how to put on safe and fun races, the better the races will be. The idea is that certifying race directors will lower our insurance premiums and thus the cost of sanctioning for Certified Race Directors.
- Priority consideration for championship event hosting in 2008 - starting in 2009 only Certified Race Directors will be eligible to host championship events.
Pre-Requisites
Race Directors who currently sanction events with USAT must be in full compliance with all sanction guidelines and pre- and post-race requirements before consideration for certification is allowed. Potential attendees who have not yet sanctioned an event with USAT will be expected to meet all requirements once they sanction an event and will be monitored for compliance along with all other Certified Race Directors. USAT reserves the right to refuse attendance to a RD Certification class or revoke certification privileges based on failure to meet minimum requirements.
Other Important Information
You can read some Frequently Asked Questions about the course here: 
Frequently Asked Questions
A sample of the class schedule can be found here: View Schedule
Questions about these educational opportunities, cancellation and refund policies and any other inquiries should be directed to Liz Tucker.
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2008 Course Listings - Updated as of April 30
This course was offered six times throughout 2007, all around the country. The remaining regions will have classes in them during 2008.
This page is continuously being updated; please check back soon as more classes will be added as they are confirmed.
ALL CLASS SIZES ARE LIMITED TO TWENTY (20) and the cost is $325 unless otherwise noted.
MAY 15-16, 2008 - ANNAPOLIS, MD - Registration is CLOSED! The class is limited to 20. The Westin Annapolis will serve as the host venue for this class. Please visit www.westin.com/annapolis for information on the Westin. To make your reservation at the group rate, please call 1-800-937-8461 and ask for the USA Triathlon Room Block. The group rate of $159 (plus tax) is available until April 8.
This information will be updated as we confirm additional certification opportunities.
For information on cancellations, refunds, and other policies in place for these programs, please email Liz Tucker.
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Completed Courses 2008
APRIL 24-25, 2008 - ST. PETERSBURG, FL
The fourth RD Certification class of 2008 was held in St. Petersburg, FL in conjunction with the St. Anthony's Triathlon. Eighteen race directors attended the course.
RD Certification Class 2008-4 can be seen above.
Front Row: Chris Moling, Wilber Anderson, Gary Courtney, Tina Dove, Shelby Schreiber, Lorna Loh, Barb McKeever, and Shelley Flowers.
Second Row: Beth Atnip, Kathy Goody, Amaury Da Costa, Rob Wallace, Sarah Matchett, and Todd Stuckey.
Back Row: Eric Atnip, Steve Meckfessel, Rob Marlowe, and Rob Gould.
MARCH 1-2, 2008 - CHULA VISTA, CA
The third RD Certification class of 2008 was held at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. Nineteen race directors attended the course.
RD Certification Class 2008-3 can be seen above.
Front Row: Catherine Hennelly, Rane Clements, Kim White, Alex Leckie, and Meredith Rich.
Second Row: Bill Leach, Michael Chen, Joe Boney, Bob Cuyler, Michael Peterseim, Matt Thatcher, Jamie Klingman, Karam Gill, and Mac Cavasar.
Back Row: Ben Hughes, J Ritterbeck, Russ Marlowe, Steve Baylor, and Brennan Lindner.
FEBRUARY 8-9, 2008 - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
The second RD Certification class of 2008 was held in Indianapolis, IN. Sixteen Race Directors, mostly from the Mideast and Midwest Regions, attended the course.
RD Certification Class 2008-2 can be seen above.
Front Row: Karin Brown, Paula Turk, Tracy Scales, and Colleen Klein.
Middle Row: Kent Barker, Brent Berry, Glenn Cook, Wyndell Robertson, and Joyce Donaldson.
Back Row: Brent Barrett, Benji Jones, Paul Asay, Vanessa Gregor, Michael Matherne, Mark Day, and Kyle McCammon.
JANUARY 9-10, 2008 - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
The first RD Certification offering of 2008 was held in Colorado Springs, CO. This course was held the two days prior to USAT's annual conference for Race Directors.
Twenty Race Directors from around the country attended the course including two members of the USAT Board of Directors.
RD Certification class 2008-1 can be seen above.
Front Row: Neil Semmel and Yoli Casas.
Second Row: Chad Tower, Lisa Clines, Teresa Gray, Celeste Callahan, Wataru Shimizu, Maria Benham, Skip Gilbert (USAT CEO), and Amber Wasendorf.
Back Row: Jill Pritchard-Ragland, Mike Bowers, Lance Panigutti, Nicole Roberts, Eric Averill, Bill Nevala, Tony Panigutti, Bill Winberg, Nick Lynch, Chuck Brodsky, and Jeff Dyrek.
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Completed Courses 2007
January 11-14, 2007 - Colorado Springs, CO- Race Director Certification was launched at the 2007 USAT Congress. The inaugural class of 72 event directors can be seen below!
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February 24-25, 2007 - Honolulu, HI
The second class of Race Director Certification was completed February 24 & 25 in Honolulu, HI.
Ten race directors and event organizers from the islands and one from the mainland attended and completed the course.
Assisting USAT staff in presenting the course material were Kathy Nohr of Miyagi, Nohr, Nyhre & Tsuchida (Risk Management and Hawaii Law topics) and Dave Nicholas of Team Unlimited (swim, transition, bike & run course development).
RD Certification class 2007-2 attendees were: Jon Emerson, Raul Boca, Gerry Rott, KC Carlberg, Steve Foster, JJ Johnson, Eiichi Abe, Alan Kinuhata, Penni Bengtson, Lindsay Taylor, and Laura Dierenfield
March 23-24, 2007 - Boston, MA
The third class of Race Director Certification was completed March 23 & 24 in Boston, MA.
Seventeen race directors and event organizers attended and completed the course.
Assisting in presenting the course material were Charlie Crawford, USAT Commissioner of Officials (Rules Enforcement) and Brogg Sterrett of BBSC Endurance Sports (swim, transition, bike & run course development).
RD Certification class 2007-3 were: Vince Vaccaro, Beth Shluger, Marc Proto, Brogg Sterrett, Lana Pennino, JP Latkovic, Bev Buysse, Robin Myers, Tim Richmond, Doreen Sabina, Derek Estella, Clay Tebbetts, Celeste St. Pierre, Joe Patanella, Christine Picklo, Liz Hagan, and Gretel Schuck
April 13-14, 2007 - Birmingham, AL
The fourth class of Race Director Certification was completed April 13-14 in Birmingham, AL.
Race Directors from across the eastern half of the US were represented.
RD Certification Class 2007-4 attendees were: Scott Landis, Terry Hartley, Nick Baker, Ken Radley, Merle McDonald-Aaron, and Olga Cemore.
May 26-27, 2007 - Austin, TX
The fifth Race Director Certification class was held in Austin, TX.
Seventeen race directors from the South Midwest Region and around the country were in attendance. Jack Weiss of Ironhead Race Productions helped present the material during the two-day course.
RD Certification class 2007-5 attendees were: Lisa Joyce, Donny Kloster, Meghan Sturrock, Cliff Dierolf, Milissa Day, Steven Fair, Staci Brode, Shaughnesy Bland, David Wood, Leilani Perry, Dan Carroll, Candice Rebbe, Tanna Wood, Gaye Koenning, Alberto Mendoza, Paul Johnson, and Willie Fowlkes
July 1-2, 2007 - Hillsboro, OR
The sixth and final certification course for 2007 was held in Portland, OR. Sixteen race directors attended our most regionally diverse class in Hillsboro, Oregon following USAT Age Group Nationals.
RD Certification class 2007-6 attendees were: Jeff Carrol, John Carrol, Dave Campbell, Josh Fennell, Adam Guess, Doug McCoy, Brent Imonen, Philip Summers, John Lierle, Ryan Landy, Andy Emberton, Francie Campbell, Lynda Stewart, Mike Nusbaum, Bill Burke, and Ashley Barkley.
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2009 Race Director Symposium - SAVE THE DATE!
January 16-17, 2009
The Broadmoor Hotel will serve as the host hotel
and meeting venue.
More information coming soon!
Information about the 2008 Symposium can be found below.
The newly-branded Race Director Symposium was held January 11-12, 2008.
The 2008 Race Director Symposium focused on four topics relevant to race directors from all across the country. Moving away from 45-minute sessions that just scratch the surface, we dove more in-depth into the topics that are most requested: sponsorship, the business of race directing, working with government entities and permitting issues, making sure the waiver is right for your event, etc. These were presented in four half-day seminars by business professionals from around the nation. The sessions were each 3 hours long and there were also 90 minute lunches to enhance networking and allow time to visit with USAT vendors. Individual meeting time with USAT's Risk Management expert, Mike Price, was available as in the past.
The RD Symposium was held at El Pomar Foundation’s Penrose House Conference Center, a 19th century Mediterranean villa and estate. Penrose House is located mere steps away from the host hotel, The Broadmoor.
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2008 Event Schedule
To see the complete RD Symposium Schedule click here.
The Event Schedule featured the following sessions (click on title for more information):
Risk Management and Legal Liability: An Overview/Case Studies - Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Recreation and Adventure Legal Consultant
Negotiating with Outside Contractors/ Working with Governmental Entities Regarding
Permitting and Land Use - Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Recreation and Adventure Legal Consultant
An Experiential Marketing Sponsorship - Vince O'Brien, Vice President - Regional Managing Director, General Motors R* Works
Creating Win-Win-Win Sponsorships and
Adding Value to Your Sponsorship Offering - Marci Weinberg, Project Director, IEG Advisory Services
For information on the presenters click here.
Fun Run!
We will also be holding a fun run on Saturday morning, January 12. The SweatVac Fun Run will be a 3.5 mile adventure will be held on the Broadmoor property and will allow all who are interested to see the world famous Broadmoor golf courses by foot. This event will be presented by DoWrap and all attendees will receive a free beanie. There is no cost to attend and runners of all abilities are welcome and encouraged to come.
T-Shirt Contest
Bring your favorite race t-shirt to the Race Director Symposium and enter your tee to win some fabulous prizes provided by Rudy Project! Awards will be three deep: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and judging will be done by your peers.
Winners will be announced at Lunch on Saturday January 12, 2008
Cost
The cost for RD Symposium is $250 and includes breakfast and lunch on both days, hot and cold beverages throughout the event, and all course materials. The Early Bird Registration Period is closed.
There is a $25 discount for each subsequent attendee after more than one person from the same organizing group registers. Register online at: http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1478125
Please contact Liz@usatriathlon.org for the $25 discount.
Host Hotel
The host hotel for the 2008 Race Director Symposium has sold out but USAT has reserved a block of rooms at the nearby Doubletree Hotel, site of 2007 Congress. The Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs by the World Arena offers scenic Colorado Rocky Mountain views of Pikes Peak and Cheyenne Mountain, ten minutes from the Colorado Springs Airport. The Doubletree Hotel is located 3.6 miles, straight down Lake Avenue, from the Symposium meeting location at Penrose House. Rooms are $99 a night so please make your reservations by calling 1-800-222-8733. Be sure to mention USA Triathlon to get the group room rate.
Room nights are reserved from January 8 through January 13 at The Broadmoor. This Five-Star, Five-Diamond world-famous resort has graciously agreed to a lodging rate of $135 per night (excluding fees and taxes). Normal rates in January run higher than $220/night! Our discounted rates are also available the days immediately before and after the room block as long as the hotel has availability. Come for Symposium, stay for the weekend!
In order to take advantage of this outstanding rate please register through the online link Https://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_reservation.cfm?groupID=61570&hotelID=2054 or by calling the Broadmoor directly at 1-800-634-7711. DON'T FORGET to mention you are affiliated with USA Triathlon in order to obtain the group rate.
Reservations MUST be made before December 14, 2007 in order to book the group rate and the preferred room location closest to the Penrose House Conference Center. Pending availability, the group rate may still be available after December 14. Contact the Broadmoor to find out.
Airport Shuttle: The Broadmoor provides roundtrip service from the Colorado Springs Airport to the Hotel for $30. Reservations can be made by calling: 1-888-577-5769 or online at www.broadmoortransportation.com
The Broadmoor will also provide FREE TRANSPORTATION between the hotel and meeting site which are located approximately one-half mile apart, but on the same property.
All the rooms reserved for USAT are in the west building, closest to the Penrose House; a typical room in The Broadmoor West is pictured below.
The Broadmoor - Main Lobby
Important Information:
General Registration by November 15: CLOSED
Each additional person from the same organizing group: CLOSED
Late Registration: November 16 - January 4, 2008: $250
Late Registration for each additional person from the same organizing group: $225
Registration Closes: January 4, 2008
Please contact USAT to obtain the discount on the second person - liz@usatriathlon.org
Hotel Room Block CLOSED: December 14, 2007 - Call The Broadmoor TODAY at 1-800-634-7711 to find out if rooms are still available or register online at: Https://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_reservation.cfm?groupID=61570&hotelID=2054
Airport Shuttle: The Broadmoor provides roundtrip service from the Colorado Springs Airport to the Hotel for $30. Reservations can be made by calling: 1-888-577-5769 or online at: www.broadmoortransportation.com
Visit http://www.broadmoor.com/ to see the beautiful Broadmoor resort and http://www.elpomar.org/page.asp?pageid=0|6|51&id=0|penrose_house to see where the conference will be held.
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About the Speakers
CATHERINE HANSEN-STAMP is an attorney in private practice in Golden, Colorado. Her practice focuses on recreation and adventure law & liability, and she consults with and advises recreation, sport and adventure providers and related organizations on legal liability and risk management issues. Cathy speaks and writes frequently on these issues, both regionally and nationally. She co-chaired the first four CLE, International conferences on Recreation & Adventure Law & Liability held in Colorado 2003 – 2006. She writes regularly for American Camp Association’s (ACA) Campline, and is the former co-editor of the nationally published Outdoor Education & Recreation Law Quarterly. She is a member of the Wyoming and Colorado Bar Associations, and can be reached at 303-232-7049; reclaw@hansenstampattorney.com
MARCI WEINBERG specializes in creating win-win corporate sponsorship strategies for properties of all types. She analyzes what organizations have to sell, bundles those assets into marketable packages and counsels clients on how to implement the new strategy.
Marci’s recent clients include Boston Museum of Science, Emergency Nurses Assn., Golf Course Superintendents Assn. of America, Orange Bowl Committee, Royal Ontario Museum and United Negro College Fund. Marci’s past experience provides her with comprehensive knowledge of both sides of the sponsorship equation. Prior to joining IEG, she was the director of the PGA TOUR’s publishing program, where she created activation programs to help corporate sponsors such as Buick and Charles Schwab leverage their sponsorship investment. The programs included on-site, retail and online components.
Before PGA TOUR, Marci served as manager of retail industry development for American Express. Charged with maximizing the company’s sponsorship investment while demonstrating relevance in the retail industry, Marci worked closely with associations including the National Retail Federation and the International Mass Retailers Assn.
Marci received a B.S. from American University and earned her M.B.A. at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
VINCE O'BRIEN has been involved with sports marketing and national and local sponsorships for more than 14 years. For the last eight years O’Brien has been employed by General Motors R* Works, the exclusive promotional agency for General Motors. His current position is as Vice President – Regional Managing Director.
His current responsibilities includes overseeing a regional staff of 24 who negotiate and manage all Western region partnerships for General Motor brands Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, HUMMER, and Cadillac. He also works on GM national partnerships such as The Grammys, Academy Awards, Walt Disney Studios, etc.
His previous position at R* Works was the Promotions Director for Chevrolet. During his tenure, he had overseen all of Chevrolet’s regional events in the Western United States. Events included partnerships with MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and NASCAR. He also worked with more than 20 regional dealer groups (400+ dealerships) that had involved local partnerships with such organizations and events as regional ski resorts, state fairs, 10Ks and marathons, etc.
O’Brien is also the representative for national programs that take place in the Western region. These events have included the 2004 U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials, 2002 Winter Olympic Games, 2002 Olympic Torch Relay, U.S. Ski competitions, U.S. Soccer games, etc.
In 2005 and 2006, O’Brien also worked with General Motors to expand on its marketing and promotions in China and Europe. He traveled to and from Shanghai and Amsterdam meeting with the local marketing teams and creating promotional platforms for the newly introduced Cadillac and Chevrolet brands. He became involved with this endeavor due to his previous international experience which included time spent in Shanghai, China (1996-97) working in the sports promotional field.
Before working for General Motors R* Works, O’Brien was the Director of Corporate Marketing for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. At the Women’s World Cup, O’Brien was responsible for negotiating and selling corporate sponsorship packages. Once the selling was complete, he then took on the responsibility of servicing the FIFA Corporate Partners.
In addition to the above-mentioned experience, O’Brien also spent three years in Washington, DC working in the political forum. He spent two years at the United States Senate working for a U.S. Senator as a legislative aide and one year on a presidential campaign.
Academics:
Master of Education in Sport Management – Springfield College, 1994
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting – Catholic University, 1987
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Penrose House Conference Center
Penrose House, the former home of El Pomar founders Spencer and Julie Penrose, now serves as an education and conference center. Built in 1910, Penrose House was purchased six years later by the Penroses. The Mediterranean style home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. While still embracing the history, charm and craftsmanship of its era, Penrose House today also includes all the amenities of a modern conference facility. This environment provides an intimate, comfortable, productive setting in which organizations and the individuals who lead them may reflect on the past and prepare for the future. (Source: http://www.elpomar.org/page.asp?pageid=0%7C6%7C51&id=0%7Cpenrose_house)
The Penrose House
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