July 5, 2007

What's been happening at USA Diving since January? 

A message from USA Diving CEO Debbie Hesse

Since my arrival at USA Diving in January, I have had a whirlwind experience. A number of people have asked me to report on items that have occurred since my arrival. While it is impossible to list everything, I’d like to report on a few highlights.

There are a number of things we have already put in place as we look towards the future…

1) Insurance - Our liability insurance for clubs has increased from $1 million to $3 million.

2) Retreats - Two strategic planning retreats with key personnel are scheduled in August and October to address the membership and high performance issues and areas of our organization.

3) USA Diving Staff - We are adding two new staff members - one for our Grassroots events and programs (Molly Evans just joined our staff on Monday, June 18) and another for a high level sponsorship and business development position to help us raise money to fund additional programming and staff to support initiatives from our new strategic plan (target - on staff by mid-end of July).

I recognize that we are trying to do a lot with too few staff – especially as USA Diving moves towards a more staff-driven organizational structure. To illustrate a point - USA Diving is one of only four sports selected to air our Olympic Trials coverage on NBC (FOUR HOURS, with THREE live!). The others are Track & Field, Gymnastics and Swimming. As I look at their staff numbers – 38, 48, and 70 (approx.), respectively, compared to the six in our office, we are greatly understaffed. If we are to provide the services and programs to our membership in an excellent fashion, we need to rethink our staff structure.  

4) Metrics released – The Selection Camp metrics were released for the first time following the World Championships Selection Camp 2. This took a considerable amount of volunteer work to determine how to do this best. Releasing this information helps provide transparency to the process and removes some of the mystery surrounding selections.

5) Independent Director – Our Board of Directors has a new Independent Director, Bill Harris, a Vice President at Fifth Third Bank and a former swimmer at the University of Michigan.

6) Coach Meetings - I have met with a few of our successful club and college coaches around the country to listen and better understand the challenges they face. I’m optimistic this will help increase communication between USA Diving and our membership so that as an organization, we can better serve our members.

7) Strategic Plan Formulation – We are setting up methods to listen to you, so that we can better provide the programming and support you need as a USA Diving Member. We will conduct Town Hall Meetings where I will be present at the Junior East and West Championships, Kaiser Permanente Nationals, and the Speedo Junior Nationals to listen to your thoughts and ideas for the future. This year at convention, we have planned a slate of educational courses for coaches and a number of forums to listen to our members. In addition, we will be providing online surveys for our membership to provide thoughts on programming, events, membership benefits, etc.  

The information we gain from these meetings, surveys and discussions will be used to formulate our strategic plan for 2009- 2012. Currently the plan is for our three main strategic goals to center around the following:

1) International Competitive Success – Win medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships
2) Membership Growth and Retention – Provide programming that matters for Future Champions (grassroots), Juniors, Masters, etc .
3) Financial Development – to include improved marketing, branding, and public relations, so that we can support and promote goals #1 & #2.

In addition, we are now committed to a set of core values that do and will continue to drive our business and personal conduct. They are COMMUNICATION, TRUST, TRANSPARENCY, EXCELLENCE & ACCOUNTABILITY! I ask you to help us communicate this message to the members on your team and others in your circle of influence.

I am committed to moving this organization forward in a manner in which I hope you ALL will be proud. I have only been on the job for five months, and honestly, am still learning a tremendous amount. It is difficult to take over for someone who has been at the position for 25 years, and it’s a very steep learning curve (despite my previous NGB experience). I ask for your patience as I go through my first year.

My vision is that in a few years, this organization will be a model for other Olympic sports. We have the passionate volunteers, staff, coaches and athletes. Now we just need a process that is open, gets people to work together positively, and breeds trust. That is what I’m working on. I hope you can too.

- Debbie Hesse

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