Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 29, 2021)—USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States and member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, announced today several updates pertaining to its headquarters staff: the promotion of Dana Jefferson to the position of manager of competition and national team programs (youth), the addition of Haley Hammond as the organization’s manager of digital content and design, and the extension of Chief Executive Officer Tom Crawford through 2024.
Hired in the spring of 2019 as USA Ultimate’s competition coordinator, Jefferson will now oversee all competition-related aspects of the youth division following the departure of Joy Ferenbaugh after the Youth Club Championships next month.
Before broadly supporting all of the organization’s competition programs in her previous position, Jefferson filled a variety of roles at Minnesota Ultimate. She spent three seasons as a youth ultimate coach, middle school league manager and volunteer coordinator for the U.S. Open Club Championships.
Hammond brings a broad range of experience and creativity to USA Ultimate’s marketing and communications department, having served as a multimedia designer for both Minor League Baseball and Frequency Creative, a visual media and marketing agency. An ultimate player herself, Hammond also spent two seasons as a graphic designer and team photographer for the Tampa Bay Cannons of the American Ultimate Disc League. She holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Radford University.
Crawford, whose services were secured for an additional three years by the organization’s board of directors, has served as USA Ultimate’s chief executive since 2009. The three-year extension runs through December 31, 2024.
“The USA Ultimate board of directors is excited to continue to work with Tom as our CEO,” said Board President Robyn Fennig. “We feel confident that he will help guide us through another strategic planning process that keeps the organization moving forward and provides stability at the helm after an uncertain year. Tom cares deeply about youth development and overseeing a plan that emphasizes programs and initiatives that gets discs in the hands of more kids and underrepresented groups.”
The extension of Crawford marks his second contract renewal since his appointment 12 years ago. As the organization’s CEO and ex officio board member, Crawford will lead a third strategic planning process alongside his fellow board and staff members and others in the ultimate community.
“I greatly appreciate the continued confidence the board has in me, and am humbled and honored to continue to serve USA Ultimate,” added Crawford. “While COVID has presented some very difficult challenges, many in the ultimate community have helped us weather the storm, including our team here at HQ, the board, the hundreds of players who volunteer their time and energy in lending their voice and enthusiasm to our work, and the thousands of members who have continued to support us in a variety of ways when competition was on hold. Although we’re beginning to emerge from the pandemic with measured optimism, the need to remain nimble, flexible and resilient is crucial to the success of our sport and organization.”
“Promoting Dana, who has been a tremendous teammate, will lead to nothing but great things for our youth efforts and be a seamless transition. Haley is an amazing talent who immediately adds value to our organization and brings creative ideas and passion to our communications and branding team.”
