Professional Disc Golf Association
The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and sustainable growth of disc golf. The PDGA is the global governing body of disc golf. The organization promotes the sport through tournament development, course development, rules and competitive standards, media and sponsor relations, and public education and outreach. As of September 1, 2022, the current PDGA Board of Directors consists of PDGA President Nate Heinold, Vice President Wilbur Wallis, Treasurer David Schreff, and Secretary Geoff Hungerford, as well as Laura Nagtegaal, Leah Tsinajinnie, and Conrad Damon. Organizational structure The PDGA is a membership organization with Professional-class and Amateur-class members who pay yearly dues to belong to the organization. Board of directors Strategic planning and oversight is handled by the Board of Directors, usually comprising seven Board members elected by the active PDGA membership from a pool of candidates who must themselves be PDGA members in good standing. Potential candidates submit materials to the Nominating Committee, who determine the candidates who will actually appear on the ballot. Board members serve three-year terms, and elections are staggered such that only two or three members of the Board are elected each year. In 2023, Nate Heinold was re-elected to his third term on the Board and Geoff Hungerford was elected to his first full term after serving 30 months as an appointed replacement for Will Shusterick. In 2022, Laura Nagtegaal was re-elected to her fourth term on the Board and Conrad Damon was elected for the first time since his prior service (1999-2002). In 2021, the members elected Leah Tsinajinnie, David Schreff, and Wilbur Wallis to their first terms on the Board. Tsinajinnie, Schreff, and Wallis's spots will be up for election in 2024. The Board votes to elect four officer positions from its seven members: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The current officers are: Nate Heinold, President; Wilbur Wallis, Vice President; David Schreff, Treasurer; Geoff Hungerford, Secretary. The other three Board members are Directors with no specific officer role. Board decisions require a quorum of four members, and most decisions are made by majority vote. Staff The PDGA also has a professional staff that handles tactical planning and day-to-day operations, led by Executive Director Joe Chargualaf. The staff is split into several directorates which address organizational operations, membership services, quality control and operations at large events, support for tournament directors and events of all sizes, marketing and media, and technological advancements and event administration tools. Volunteers Finally, the PDGA has a team of volunteers. The State Coordinators, Province Coordinators, and Country Representatives manage the event calendars and serve as a front-line point of contact between the organization and the grassroots local clubs and Event Directors. Committees The PDGA's Committees are primarily volunteer-based, with most having a liaison from the staff and the Board. The current Committees are: Legislative Committees Rules - dealing with all matters related to the Official Rules of Disc Golf Competition - jurisdiction over the Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events