Board of Directors
The PDGA Global Board of Directors is required for nonprofit status and mandated by the PDGA bylaws. In addition to semi-annual summit meetings, the board conducts monthly teleconferences with staff to accomplish its varied goals, such as setting PDGA policies; hiring and supervising of the executive director, who is responsible for headquarters, staff and ongoing operations; financial managements, including an annual budget; identifcation of responsible future board members; and representing the membership's visions for the future of the sport and the association.
The first formal all-member election for the first PDGA board of directors was held in late 1986. The first board—Ted Smethers #1159, Rick Rothstein #2458, Tom Monroe #33, Steve Wisecup #1467, Darrell Lynn #784, and Joe Feidt #362—began to chart a course through fits and starts that would gradually allow the PDGA to grow into the organization it is today.
For additional information, please see the PDGA Elections page.
The Directors
All board members are elected by the PDGA membership except for those denoted with an (a) which have been appointed by the board of directors according to article 3.3 of the PDGA Bylaws.
Nate Heinold, #49340
- Serving: 2017 - present
- Location: Washington, IL, US
- Education: Masters Degree (MBA), CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter)
- Occupation: Vice President, Ledgestone Insurance
Professional Experience: For the last eleven years Nate has worked at Ledgestone Insurance as the Vice President. Nate has approximately 1000 clients all over the Midwest including several disc golf organizations. Nate focuses on commercial insurance and has a specific focus with contractors and Churches. Nate specializes in risk management for his clients, and his focus at the university level was in financial matters. He has an MBA from Illinois State University and has the equivalent of a Masters Degree in Insurance, the CPCU.
Disc Golf Experience: Nate has run the Ledgestone Insurance Open disc golf event for the last 11 years and has run over 55 other events. He is also the TD of another Elite Series event, the Discraft Great Lakes Open. He was the TD for the 2019 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships and will be the TD for the 2022 Combined PDGA Masters and Juniors Professional Disc Golf World Championships. Nate has been involved with several course projects in the Central Illinois area, ranging from funding, construction, design, etc.
Conrad Damon, #2450
- Serving: 2022 - present
- Location: San Carlos, CA, US
- Education: BA in English from Stanford University
Professional Experience:
My career has been as a software engineer (aka programmer). Currently I'm a front-end developer working in React and GraphQL for an AI-driven cybersecurity company called SentinelOne, who acquired the latest in a series of startups I've helped build.
Disc Golf Experience:
- PDGA Board member (1999 - 2002 Oversight Director)
- PDGA Volunteer of the Year (2005)
- PDGA Rules Committee Chair (2008-2019), member since late 1990s
- Created the Disciplinary Committee as Oversight Director
- Technical Standards Committee (late 1990s - early 2000s)
- International experience with WFDF roles and play in Europe and Asia
- Joined PDGA in 1984
- Finished 10th at first PDGA Worlds in 1985
- 157 PDGA tournaments played, 12 wins
- Second at 1999 Master's Cup, finishing between Barry Schultz and Ken Climo
- Founded La Mirada Disc Club in 1991, ran La Mirada Cup in 1992
- Wrote several articles for the PDGA magazine
- Leonard Muise's assistant designer / course editor (OTB Open, SF Open, etc)
- Still play around three times a week, mostly in leagues
Laura Nagtegaal, #44969
- Serving: 2015 - 2017, 2019 - present
- Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Education: Computer science and psychology
- Occupation: Self-employed, live music industry
Biography: Laura is a self-made woman with a can-do attitude. Solar, inspirational, strong, and empathic. Important mottos for her are:
“You cannot get the big picture right if you ignore the small details.”
“Representation and visibility will, inevitably, lead to awareness. Through awareness, the path to acceptance can be found, and followed.”
In 2016, she finally learnt to accept herself for who she truly is, and shared with the world that the doctors made a grave mistake when they assigned her the misnomer “boy” at birth. Until then, if she even got described at all, apathetic, arrogant, aloof, invisible, facts-driven, clinical, and robotic were oft-used adjectives.
2016/17 was a “tear it all down and rebuild from the ground up” period; necessary and inevitable to rise from her own ashes like a Phoenix. Since, she’s landed in her new life more and more, and where her emotional footprint used to be 0.3 (even smaller just wasn’t possible), she’s now proudly and fiercely taking up 1.4.
Professional Experience: Initially, she sank her teeth in IT, as that was what she always assumed she was meant to be doing. Luckily, in the mean time, from the late ‘90s on, her passion for behind the scenes work in the live music industry got kindled into a full flame. She made it her full-time self-employed job in 2002. The first day that job feels like a “real job” still needs to present itself. Most-used job descriptions for her work are “guitar technician” and “tour manager”, but the best one may simply be “safety net”.
Since 2019, she’s also a volunteer counsellor for gender-questioning and transgender folx. This may very well be a combination of pay-it-forward and retro-actively applied self-help.
After her transition, and with the pause button being pressed on the live music industry, she has intentionally become very active (both on an activistic and philosophical level) in advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion in life in general, through her being politically active, and her live music industry & sports networks.
Disc Golf Experience: On the fairway, her experience, aspiration, and goals have almost exclusively been focused on beating/improving herself (“play above her player rating”), and possibly the course (stay close to par). It wasn’t – and won’t – ever be about beating others, let alone about winning events and trophies.
Many in the disc golf community will probably remember her from when she became disc golf’s first openly transgender world champion in 2019.
What will hopefully be the lasting imprint she leaves on the sport, however, is what she did behind the scenes.
Within months after starting playing disc golf, she took on various roles. In less than five years, that evolved from Chair of Workgroup Disc Golf for the Nederlandse Frisbee Bond (Dutch national flying disc association), to being appointed (and elected twice) PDGA Board of Directors member.
Her being part of the Dutch Open staff resulted in her programming a fully automated registration module for the world’s first tiered ratings-based & multi-division tour (the EuroTour implemented that in 2011, Dutch Open was the first event to put that to practice). Ultimately that led to becoming the core of DiscGolfMetrix’s code.
In Europe, she quickly became a well-respected provider, facilitator, and knowledge base, whether as PDGA EuroTour Manager, PDGA Europe Interim Administrator, or being on-site in an official role at most of Europe’s highest profile events between 2014 and 2018.
Almost at the start of her career, she was awarded a PDGA Europe Volunteer of the Year award, which she reluctantly but proudly accepted as “prematurely handed-out lifetime achievement award”.
Geoff Hungerford, #688
- Serving: 2020 - present
- Location: Louisville, CO, US
- Education: Ph.D. Materials Science, B.S. Chemical Engineering
Professional Experience:
- Process Engineer: silicon wafer fabrication
- Engr Manager: Microlithography
- Engr Manager: magnetic recording head fabrication
- Software Development (enterprise storage systems)
- Physics Teacher (college level)
- 3 U.S. Patents: #6362934, #6212040, #6118605
Disc Golf Experience:
- First major disc golf tournament: 1974 American Flying Disc Open
- Competed in 1975, 76, 77 World Frisbee Championships (Rose Bowl)
- Designed Colorado's first installed disc golf course (CU campus 1975)
- Founded the Colorado Disc Sports Assn (1992), a 501(c)(4) non-profit
- Over 100 PDGA pro wins (never competed as an amateur)
- PDGA Sr. Player of the Year (last 2 years)
Biography: Geoff Hungerford was a career engineer, working in new product development for over 40 years in the USA and United Kingdom. Geoff retired from engineering in 2016 and is now engaged full time with disc golf competitions and related pursuits. He has served for over 3 years on the PDGA Seniors committee. Geoff was also a director for the Mile High Disc Golf Club until his board position expired recently.
Geoff started competing at disc golf in 1974 at the American Flying Disc Open. He designed the first Frisbee golf course in Colorado (1974), which was permanently installed in 1976 by the Univ. of Colorado. He started the Chinook Frisbee Group in Boulder, CO in 1975. He ran the Boulder Flying Disc Festival in 1977. He competed in the World Frisbee Championships at the Rose Bowl in 1975, 76 and 77, invited by Wham-O Mfg. Co. He served as one of two International Frisbee Association (IFA) Regional Directors for region 9 from 1976-78.
Since that time Geoff has had an unquenchable passion for disc golf. In 1992 he founded the Colorado Disc Sports Association, a 501(c)(4) that managed the Colorado disc golf tour. He's won over 100 PDGA pro events with career earnings in excess of $63,000. Over the past four years Geoff has been engaged full time competing in the biggest disc golf events offered in the USA and Thailand. He competes in 30-40 PDGA events per year across the U.S.
Candidate Statement: I have been passionate about disc golf since the PDGA was created in 1976. Ed Headrick told us why he was starting the PDGA at the Western Nationals in 1976 held in Boulder, CO. He anticipated the sport would grow tremendously and need regulation for professionals who play for money, like other professional sports. Since then the PDGA has achieved Ed's original vision and taken the sport to levels unimaginable at that time. Tournaments, tours, players, clubs and companies have come and gone since then, but the PDGA has endured with the vision of taking our sport to the next level of professional sports.
I'm still as excited today about that vision as I was almost a half century ago. I want to see disc golf take its place among major professional sports. Now that disc golf is a full time pursuit for me, I have the time to contribute to the PDGA Board. With my travel schedule taking me to a new city almost every week, I can see firsthand how the sport is developing at major events. I'm active on social media and love to interact with disc golfers. I'm most excited about three things in particular:
- growth among women playing disc golf
- media coverage of major events both Pro and Am
- a PDGA Seniors Tour modeled after the PGA Seniors Tour
Wilbur Wallis, #6583
- Serving: 2021 - present
- Location: Rantoul, IL, US
- Education: Some college
- Occupation: Retired
Background/Professional Experience:
- 15 years of restaurant experience from dishwasher to manager, from fast-food to fine dining.
- 12 years as a store manager of a record/music store.
- Retired in 2022 after 19 years as a manager at a bicycle accessories manufacturer/distribution center.
- Currently work part time as a Brewer's Assistant at a local brewery and part time running a baseball scoreboard at my local sports complex.
Introduction: Have been playing with Frisbee's since age 10, or so. First threw at baskets in 1986 at Bradley Park in Peoria. Joined the PDGA in 1992, mainly so I could run PDGA tournaments. Appointed as the first State Coordinator for Illinois, served for 4 years. Served on the BOD for the Peoria Frisbee Club for 16 years, 10 as the President. President of the Champaign County Disc Golf Club since it's founding in 2014. Tournament Director/Assistant Tournament Director of around 150 events. Elected to Illinois Disc Golf Hall of Fame in 2021. PDGA BOD Secretary 2021-2022. PDGA BOD Vice President 2022-present. PDGA Board Liaison to the Rules Committee 2021-present. Member of the Disc Golf Course Design Group and have designed or consulted on 36 courses. Played 403 courses in 18 states. Attended 43 PDGA Majors. Regularly conducts clinics/classes to introduce youth and others to disc golf. Disc Golf is my life! I love being able to give back to this great sport. Besides disc golf, I have been on the BOD of my local high school music boosters club. I volunteer 15 hours/month at my local food pantry.
Theo Pozzy #14166
- Serving: 2024 - present
- Location: Portland, Oregon, US
- Education: Bachelor's Degree from Dartmouth College
- Occupation: President of Pozzy Consulting, Inc.
Professional Experience:
Here are a few of my non-disc professional career highlights:
- Solution Architect and Manager, Portland General Electric (2004-2024)
- Developed enterprise applications for Oregon’s largest electric utility. Managed multiple teams supporting PGE’s electric distribution and transmission operations.
- President/Owner/Principal Consultant, Pozzy Consulting Inc. (2003 - Present)
- Providing software engineering, architecture, business analysis, integration, and project management consulting services to utilities and energy markets.
- Chief Technology Officer, Kietra Corp. (2002 - 2003)
- Managed application development for an Internet-based medical information system and integrated commercial scanning software.
- Vice President of Engineering, Gaia Inc. (1999 - 2000)
- Designed and implemented a scalable wireless distributed database system and managed the software engineering and QA departments.
- Chief Architect & Systems Development Manager, Clientele Division, Epicor Software Corp. (1998 - 1999)
- Managed product architecture and development for a major mid-market Customer Relationship Management business application.
- Director of Software Development, Digimarc Corp. (1997 - 1998)
- Designed and implemented digital watermarking applications pivotal to the success of Digimarc’s IPO.
- Vice President and Board Member, Claret Software (1993-1996)
- Developed software for management of restaurant wine lists and inventory
- President and CEO, Corporate Microsystems Inc. (1991 - 1993)
- Managed profitable growth and strategic business development, leading to acquisition by Legent Corp.
Disc Golf Experience:
For a position on the PDGA board, I feel that my disc golf experience is more important than my non-disc professional background. Here are the highlights of my disc golf career:
- Disc Golf Tournament History
- First PDGA Event: Eugene Celebration, Oregon, 1999.
- PDGA Wins (Advanced Masters Division):
- Riverside Open, Washington, 2000
- Mad City Open, Wisconsin, 2001
- Riverbend Open, Oregon, 2004
- Eugene Celebration, Oregon, 2005
- PDGA Majors:
- 2000, 2003, 2004 PDGA Amateur World Championships, Advanced Masters
- Volunteer and Leadership Experience
- Local and Regional Events
- Began assisting local tournament organizers in Portland, Oregon metro area, 2000.
- Sponsored and assisted with the McIver Open at Milo McIver Park, 2001.
- Core member of the Beaver State Fling tournament team starting as a C-tier, 2002.
- Helped elevate Beaver State Fling to an A-tier and subsequently a National Tour event by 2005.
- PDGA Board Experience
- Regional Director, 2002
- Commissioner, 2003-2006
- President, 2006-2007
- Major PDGA Initiatives and Achievements
- Developed and implemented new applications for membership fulfillment and tournament statistics.
- Launched a new data-driven website facilitating easy uploads of scores.
- Introduced live hole-by-hole scoring from mobile devices.
- Implemented and developed Chuck Kennedy’s ratings system.
- Overhauled competition structure, supporting more age-protected divisions and ratings-based competitions.
- Led the creation of the PDGA National Tour, the first large, PDGA-managed disc golf pro tour.
- Built the International Disc Golf Center in Georgia, transitioning staff to professional office environments.
- Outsourced membership fulfillment to enhance organizational scalability.
- Awards
- 2008 PDGA Volunteer of the Year
Introduction: I have been passionate about disc sports for over 45 years since I learned to play Ultimate at prep school in the spring of 1977 and then co-founded Dartmouth College’s first Ultimate team that fall. In 1997, I moved to Portland, OR and discovered disc golf (there were no disc golf courses anywhere near where I lived in New Hampshire at the time).
I got involved in competing in local and regional events. I started helping organize events and eventually became part of the core team that built the Beaver State Fling from a C-tier to one of the first National Tour events in a four-year period.
I joined the PDGA board of directors in 2002 and became the Commissioner and President from 2003 to 2007. I was awarded the PDGA Volunteer of the Year award in 2008. A more detailed list of my contributions is in the next section.
If you want to see a video interview covering my background in disc golf in the Portland area and with the PDGA, watch the interview that Disc Golf Network did at the 2022 Portland Open.
After a hiatus of involvement competition and organization, I want to resume contributing to the disc golf community. I feel that joining the PDGA Global Board of Directors will give me excellent opportunities to promote the growth of the sport.
Terhi Kytö, #79817
- Serving: 2024 - present
- Location: Söderkulla, Finland
Education: Masters of Law, University of Lapland, Masters of Sport Science and Management, University of Jyväskylä
Occupation: Senior Legal Counsel, Nordea Bank Abp
Background/Professional Experience: As a corporate governance lawyer in the financial sector, I bring a unique perspective to the disc golf industry as one of the few women company owners. My academic background includes Master’s degrees in Law and Sport Science and Management. I have a strong foundation in customer service and commercial business, gained from my experiences in both the financial and disc golf industries. My strengths lie in my extensive knowledge of the European Disc Golf scene and my long-standing experience in customer service, both in finance and disc golf.
Introduction: Disc Golf is my passion. I got introduced to disc golf a decade ago when I needed to charm my becoming husband. I signed in on a tournament after one practice round, and ever since, I have organized events, run a disc golf course, and worked behind the scenes in the disc golf industry. I have also competed in both European and US amateur events. I am a positive-minded, self-driven person who is always eager to learn more and develop myself. My family has my husband, Juha, two daughters, and a dog. We live in Finland, next to Helsinki.