USA Swimming elected four new members to its Board of Directors on Saturday at the House of Delegates meeting in St. Louis. Kenneth Chung, Jennifer Gibson, Kathleen Prindle and Bill Schalz were elected from a group of eight nominees. Prindle and Schalz were elected to a four-year term while Chung and Gibson were elected to a three-year term.
“We are delighted to welcome these deserving individuals to the Board of Directors,” USA Swimming Board of Directors Chair Bob Vincent said. “Each of these new members brings diverse and experienced backgrounds that will increase the board’s ability to best address matters affecting every member within our organization.”
The following members will stay on the Board.
- Chris Brearton
- Natalie Coughlin Hall (Athlete representative)
- Maya DiRado (Athlete representative)
- Dr. Cecil Gordon
- Jim Sheehan (Immediate Past Chair)
- Jeanette Skow
- Davis Tarwater, Vice Chair (Athlete representative)
- Jay Thomas
- Tom Ugast, Vice Chair – Fiscal Oversight
- Bob Vincent, Board Chair; Chair, National Team Steering Committee
Outgoing Board of Directors members:
- John Bradley (2015-19)
- John Roy (2014-19)
- Mary Turner (2015-19)
- Dale Ammon (2017-19)
Kenneth Chung
Kenneth Chung is an executive of a large publicly traded company and a passionate supporter of swimming who has served on non-profit boards.
Chung is currently an Executive Vice President, Commercial Insurance, Chubb Group. Chung has over 38 years in performing various underwriting, risk management and leadership roles, successfully managed sizable portfolios with responsibility for profit & loss, coached and developed staff. Kenneth has lived in Asia, Europe and many cities in the US, gained a diverse experience in working with people of different background.
Chung served on the Friends of Wellesley College Athletics National Committee to provide invaluable support for student athletes. He has also served as Board member, Treasurer and later Board Chair, for Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), a national, nonprofit organization, with the core strategic approach of developing people, informing society and empowering communities. Chung collaborated with other Board members to provide strategic guidance and strengthened LEAP to position for future growth.
Chung became engaged in swimming as a volunteer 13 years ago. Chung is a Meet referee who has worked in New England and North Texas. Kenneth has worked on National decks and frequently runs BB& under meets to help support developing swimmers. Kenneth also serves as the D&I chair for North Texas LSC.
Chung graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic University and has a Master Degree in Business Administration from Boston University. Chung has also attended Executive Leadership course in London Business School. He is also a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).
Jennifer Gibson
As an active USA Swimming Coach since 1983, she has had the good fortune of coaching in multiple LSC’s around the country while working with top programs. This has allowed her the privilege to learn and grow as a coach under a variety of situations. She started coaching in Fort Wayne, Indiana right out of college (Ball State University), and continued there for the first 18 years of her coaching career. From there, she has had the rewarding experiences of coaching in Charlotte, NC; Phoenix, AZ and for the last eight years in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Kathleen Prindle
Kathleen Prindle currently serves on the Florida Gold Coast LSC Board of Directors (Finance Chair, D&I Chair), USA Swimming’s Senior Development National Committee, the ASCA Board of Directors (Vice President), and the Florida State High School Athletic Association Advisory Board (past Chair). Prindle is an inducted member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
With a decade of corporate experience in NYC’s fashion industry, Prindle held multiple senior executive roles. As Director of International Sales for a Fortune 500 retailer, her contributions in strategic planning led to the execution of new US import strategies for overseas manufacturing partners, and the creation of an International Logistics business. Her innovative approach to business development led to re-branding international clothing lines and expansion into emerging markets.
Today, Prindle focuses on sport development. After leading a 2010 nationwide study to explore the evolving needs of USA clubs/coaches, she founded a club team focused on 13+older athlete development. Since 1989, Prindle has promoted aquatics across the Eastern Seaboard by launching 9 Learn-to-Swim programs, 2 USA-Swimming club teams, 2 US Masters teams, and Recreational programming. Coaching accomplishments include: 3X USA Olympic Trials Coach (‘08, ‘12, ’16), 2X Olympic Coach (private), 2X FINA World Championships Coach, 17 seasons as Varsity Head Coach, National Qualifiers from more than 18 countries, and nearly 30 years on-deck.
Prindle fiercely advocates for athlete safety, clean sport, and professionalizing the role of swim coaches. She and her husband of 19 years, Chris, reside near the beach in Boca Raton, Florida.
Bill Schalz
Bill Schalz has served on the Club Development, Olympic International Organizing and International Relations Committees and chaired the Governance Task Force that created the template for the current Board of Directors.
He and his wife Robin founded the Academy Bullets Swim Club and their swim school. They started the Bullets from scratch and have grown to over 600 swimmers. Bullet swimmers range from novice to representing USA in international competition. Because he has coached at the local and International levels, he understands that their developmental swimmers have different needs than their Olympians. And because his team has sites in eight Illinois cities, he understands the importance of giving his staff the tools and latitude to do their jobs. Likewise, it is important that the USA Swimming Board listens to its coaches at every level, the volunteers, athletes, as well as the Headquarters Staff to ensure that they are giving them the tools and latitude to be successful.
He is committed that we are all compliant with MAAPP. While cumbersome at times, he ensures we must endure challenges to see that our athletes are not preyed upon. Our NGB will continue to lead and work with the USOC to keep athletes safe.