Colorado Springs, Colo. (December 1, 2025)—Voting is now open for the 2026-28 USA Ultimate Board of Directors election. All current and eligible members are encouraged to cast a vote through their online member accounts at play.usaultimate.org.
This cycle, there are two board seats up for election – one At-Large seat and one Elite Athlete seat.
All current USA Ultimate members in good standing are eligible to vote in the At-Large election, while only elite athletes as defined by Section 5.6(b) of USA Ultimate’s bylaws, are eligible to vote in the elite athlete election.
As part of the campaign process, and to help USA Ultimate members learn more about each candidate, applicants were asked to either answer a series of questions or provide a public statement. Read below to meet and learn more about this year’s candidates.
At Large Candidates
Michael Lapin
Describe your professional experience, expertise and/or skill set(s) (e.g., finance, legal, marketing, etc.) and how they relate to and add value to supporting USA Ultimate’s mission of advancing the sport of ultimate in the United States.
I am a lawyer. For the past 20 years, I have been in-house counsel for a health tech company. As in-house counsel, I combine typical legal analysis with being a business partner. Legal analysis, especially to evaluate risks and mitigate them, is fundamental to protecting an organization. Being in-house and working with business partners to help grow our business is akin to what the board does – offering advice, suggestions, insight, and feedback to help grow the organization.
I previously served on the board of my kids’ school, so am familiar with how a board works, decides, and ultimately gets behind the head of the organization. Additionally, I worked briefly in fundraising with the United Way of King County, so am familiar and comfortable being someone who asks others to support and give money to an organization.
Provide a brief description about what you would uniquely bring to USA Ultimate to support and accomplish the goals outlined in USA Ultimate’s current strategic plan.
I have been playing ultimate since 1989 (college, local league, GM, and GGM), coaching (and parenting players) since 2011, and an observer since 2023. Over the years, I have seen a lot of growth and many successes but also some failures and opportunities; most importantly, I have made friends and enjoyed community and camaraderie at all of these levels. I have two kids currently playing college ultimate, who both started in elementary school, and who played YCC; I appreciate the opportunities they both had thanks to support from their schools, the local disc organization, and the youth club organizers and coaches. I am committed to helping continue to broaden the base of USAU players by continuing to grow youth ultimate; I think my experience playing, parenting, coaching, and observing has given me a unique perspective to help accomplish this goal
Provide a brief statement outlining why you feel you are a strong candidate to serve on the USA Ultimate Board of Directors and/or why eligible USA Ultimate members should vote for you.
My background as a lawyer and having previously served on boards will allow me to immediately and seamlessly step into a role on the board. My experience as a player, coach, parent, and observer will allow me to understand where USAU has been, where it is at, and what it can be. My friends and family know that I am passionate about ultimate, and I would welcome the opportunity to give back to the sport that has given me so much over the years
Andrew Schwartz
Describe your professional experience, expertise and/or skill set(s) (e.g., finance, legal, marketing, etc.) and how they relate to and add value to supporting USA Ultimate’s mission of advancing the sport of ultimate in the United States.
I am the DeMuth Chair of Business Law at the University of Colorado Law School, where I teach and write on contract law and corporate governance—which are also the areas of law I practiced prior to entering academia. My professional focus is how organizations pursue their missions effectively, transparently, and with integrity—skills directly relevant to USA Ultimate’s work as a national governing body. I am an expert in board governance and strategic oversight, and have played and coached ultimate for three decades.
Provide a brief description about what you would uniquely bring to USA Ultimate to support and accomplish the goals outlined in USA Ultimate’s current strategic plan.
I combine professional expertise in governance with lifelong dedication to ultimate. As a former USA Juniors player (silver medal 1994), Brown University captain (national semifinalist 1998), and now coach of the Summit Middle School team in Boulder (reigning Colorado state champions), I’ve seen the sport from every angle. My experience also includes club play in Brooklyn and Boulder, coaching in Finland for a summer in college, and playing beach ultimate in Brazil. And as a legal scholar who studies boards of directors and their duties, I would help strengthen USA Ultimate’s governance and strategic planning, while championing its goals of growing youth participation and supporting lifelong engagement in the sport. I believe USA Ultimate can continue to model best-in-class governance for amateur athletics—where values, community, and competitive excellence work together.
Provide a brief statement outlining why you feel you are a strong candidate to serve on the USA Ultimate Board of Directors and/or why eligible USA Ultimate members should vote for you.
Ultimate has been part of my life since I was fifteen years old, and I’ve stayed connected to the sport as a player and coach. I have also volunteered for USA Ultimate for more than twenty years, serving as the founding chair of the Youth Eligibility Committee. Professionally, I study how organizations govern themselves—how they set priorities, make decisions, and stay accountable. That perspective shapes how I think about the challenges and opportunities facing the sport today. With experience at USA Ultimate as well as playing and coaching both locally and abroad, I would bring both perspectives—a scholar’s understanding of governance and a lifelong player’s love of the game—to help guide USA Ultimate’s next chapter.
Marvin Vuong
Describe your professional experience, expertise and/or skill set(s) (e.g., finance, legal, marketing, etc.) and how they relate to and add value to supporting USA Ultimate’s mission of advancing the sport of ultimate in the United States.
Professionally I have worked in marketing, market research, and finance for the last 15 years. I’ve helped build product portfolios, innovation pipelines, and internal process guidelines for companies across different industries. Most recently, I have been involved in pricing management. I would contribute a forward-thinking mindset when it comes to decision making with the best interest of long term growth.
Provide a brief description about what you would uniquely bring to USA Ultimate to support and accomplish the goals outlined in USA Ultimate’s current strategic plan.
My wide ranging experiences with ultimate and professionally let me adapt to different scenarios effectively. I’ve been involved with the sport from different angles, and I think that gives me a pretty comprehensive view.
Provide a brief statement outlining why you feel you are a strong candidate to serve on the USA Ultimate Board of Directors and/or why eligible USA Ultimate members should vote for you.
I bring experiences from a wide range of ultimate related activities. I’ve played, coached, and observed at the small, local level and at the elite, nationals level. Seeing the game and how it has developed at different levels from different vantage points has given me an appreciation for the variety of experiences that people have, and I want to do what is best for the sport in the long run.
Elite Athlete Candidates
Nicky Spiva
Describe your professional experience, expertise and/or skill set(s) (e.g., finance, legal, marketing, etc.) and how they relate to and add value to supporting USA Ultimate’s mission of advancing the sport of ultimate in the United States.
I have worked as a high school math teacher, a school district administrator focused on charter school oversight, and a legislative director for a city councilmember. Currently, I work as a part-time policy writer for the Center for Civic Innovation, a non-profit based in Atlanta. I am also in my final semester of graduate school, pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA).
Four key areas of expertise I bring from my professional experience are strategic planning, budgeting, oversight, and policymaking. I have helped develop and implement strategic plans for both large and small institutions and understand the importance of aligning an organization’s mission, vision, and values with its day-to-day operations. I have reviewed and analyzed budgets across a range of organizations and have experience navigating budget processes and monitoring the financial health of institutions. During my time with the school district, I was responsible for the annual evaluations of brick-and-mortar charter schools in the city, including monitoring compliance with applicable laws related to board governance and transparency. In my work with the City Council, I worked with advocates, experts, and other stakeholders to develop policies that benefited the city.
These skills directly support the core responsibilities of a board member: strategic decision-making, financial oversight, transparent governance, and ensuring that USAU remains aligned with its mission.
Provide a brief description about what you would uniquely bring to USA Ultimate to support and accomplish the goals outlined in USA Ultimate’s current strategic plan.
I bring nearly two decades of experience playing and coaching at many levels of the game, along with deep experience organizing players to advance equity in ultimate. This background directly supports two priorities in USA Ultimate’s strategic plan: promoting excitement for ultimate and USAU, and elevating youth and grassroots ultimate.
On promoting excitement, I’ve witnessed and participated in efforts that have inspired players and fans alike – from touring cities across the US and Canada with NexGen, to serving as a line judge in packed stadiums at the 2013 World Games in Colombia, to cheering on epic matchups like Molly Brown vs. Revolution at the US Open. I’ve seen the potential for our sport to dazzle and entertain while still being focused on providing an excellent experience for players.
I’ve also seen the landscape of the sport change over the years. As a recent captain of Chain Lightning, I worked hard to maintain relationships with the leadership of our local semi-pro team, but it wasn’t always easy navigating scheduling conflicts and managing the load on players. USAU leadership engaging with the pro leagues (as envisioned in the strategic plan) has the potential to improve the experience for players participating in both elite club and semi-pro, and for fans.
Regarding elevating youth and grassroots ultimate, I’ve coached high school teams in Philadelphia, Nashville, and New Orleans, led youth clinics, and coached college players. Prioritizing and supporting youth access to our sport is absolutely essential.
Finally, I care deeply about equity in our sport. I’ve supported efforts like the Gender Equity Action Group (GEAG) to advocate for equitable media coverage and helped organize semi-pro players pushing for opportunities for women before the creation of the PUL and WUL.
Throughout all my experiences, I’ve seen how much ultimate can thrive when we lead with integrity, collaboration, and a commitment to equity. I would be honored to bring that approach to the USAU Board.
Provide a brief statement outlining why you feel you are a strong candidate to serve on the USA Ultimate Board of Directors and/or why eligible USA Ultimate members should vote for you.
I’m running because I believe I can help USA Ultimate continue to grow with integrity, expand youth access, and support players at all levels. I bring nearly two decades of playing, coaching, and organizing experience, alongside a professional background in strategic planning, budgeting, and public administration.
I love ultimate and want to grow the sport while preserving what makes it special. I’ve been lucky to have played and coached in many different places and at many levels of the game – from Summer League in Philly to Worlds in London – and I’ve loved being a part of incredible ultimate communities across the world.
My priorities for USAU include:
- growing youth ultimate,
- supporting elite club teams in the semi-pro era, and
- ensuring ultimate is a welcoming space for all athletes, including and especially trans athletes.
These priorities are also reflected in USA Ultimate’s latest strategic plan, so I see the main role of board members as providing support, oversight, and accountability as staff implement the plan’s vision. Professionally, I bring expertise in strategic planning, oversight, and budgeting from a background working in public administration. These skills, combined with my experience in the sport, have equipped me to serve effectively as a USA Ultimate board member.
Lastly, I believe in the importance of equity and have a history of organizing players to take collective action to advance equity in our sport. In the past, I supported the efforts of the Gender Equity Action Group (GEAG) to promote equitable media coverage and helped organize semi-pro players advocating for professional opportunities for women (pre-PUL/WUL). More recently, I’ve supported player organizing around humanitarian and human rights issues, consistent with Spirit of the Game principles of integrity, compassion, and community.
