Athlete Qualification: USAW 10-year athlete

Term: begins as soon as elected and expires December 31, 2026. This completes the term vacated by Tayler Harris when her resignation takes effect. This initial completion of Tayler’s term (through 12/31/2026) is less than two years – per the USAW bylaws (Sec. 6.11.c.) this will not count as a full term, so the elected athlete will be eligible for two additional four-year terms if they wish to run for reelection beyond 12/31/2026. 

Election/Selection Process: 

This role is elected by a vote of all athlete members.

USAW will put out a call for nominations, and nominees will then be vetted by the Nominating & Governance Committee for eligibility. Eligible nominees will be added to a single ballot, and elections will be conducted by electronic ballot distributed via email.

Responsibilities:

• Serve on the Board of Directors
• Bring an athlete perspective to important USAW governance and strategy discussions and decisions
• Participate in four “regular” meetings per year, including 1-2 all-day, in-person meetings (travel expenses paid for by USAW) and 2-3 remote meetings (roughly 4 hours each)
• Participate in additional “as needed” meetings (remote via video) estimated 4-6 times per year
• Serve in governance role alongside other Directors, providing input/guidance/feedback on strategy and organizational direction. This is a strategic Board, not an operational Board. The CEO and the headquarters team operate the organization.

 Notes: This person will complete the final year-plus of Tayler’s term, which provides a unique opportunity for an athlete to test the waters serving in a critical governance role. If, based on that experience, they are interested in continued service they would be eligible to run for election for two additional four-year terms.

Athlete Qualification: 

There are two athlete representative positions on this committee – both are currently vacant and need to be filled.

• One athlete representative must be a USAW 10-year athlete
• The second athlete representative may be a USAW 10-year athlete OR a USAW 10-year-plus athlete

Cannot be a current of former Director (this is a specific Bylaw restriction for this committee)

Term: Four-year term starting immediately upon selection

Election/Selection Process: Selected by the USAW AAC

Responsibilities: see notes from content AAC already created.

Notes: The scope of this committee was narrowed significantly with policy changes made by USAW in 2025. This committee is no longer an investigatory body for grievances. Instead, those investigations are conducted by the USAW HQ team or independent investigators engaged by USAW. This committee is now properly focused on true ethical issues, with the bulk of the work in the area of conflicts of interest.

Athlete Qualification:

There are two athlete representative positions on this committee.

• One USAW 10-year athlete
• One USAW 10-year-plus athlete

Both are currently vacant and need to be filled.

Term: Four-year term started immediately upon election

Election/Selection Process: 

Both positions are elected by a vote of USAW 10-year athletes. Each USAW 10-year athlete will be permitted to vote for one candidate in each athlete rep category.

USAW HQ will put out a call for nominations and confirm eligibility of nominees. Nominees will be placed on a single ballot and elections will be conducted by electronic ballot distributed via email.

Responsibilities: This committee’s primary responsibility is vetting candidates for the USAW Board of Directors. Such elections typically happen every two years. As a result this committee is typically dormant for many months and then spins up in the months leading up to a Board election. From time-to-time a special election to the Board may be required “off schedule” when there is a vacancy. That is the case right now because of Tayler Harris’ pending resignation. In election cycles, this committee will review in detail the qualifications of nominees to ensure they meet the stated requirements. This includes reviewing electronic documents and participating in meetings with fellow committee members to discuss any questions/concerns about individual candidate eligibility qualifications. 

 Notes: An important and unique element of service on this committee is that the bylaws prohibit any member of this committee for serving in “any USAW capacity, whether governance or on staff” for two years after their term on the NGC ends.

Athlete Qualification:

There are two athlete representative positions on this committee – one is currently vacant needs to be filled.

• Holly Mangold is currently serving on this committee and is a USAW 10-year athlete
• The second (vacant) athlete representative may be a USAW 10-year athlete OR a USAW 10-year-plus athlete

Cannot be a current of former Director (this is a specific Bylaw restriction for this committee)

Term: Four-year term starting immediately upon selection

Election/Selection Process: Selected by the USAW AAC 

Responsibilities: This committee’s primary responsibility is to serve as the hearing body for member grievances that rise to the level of a hearing.

USAW members have a right to a hearing if a grievance investigation results in (1) a finding of a violation of USAW rules/policies and (2) the sanction imposed on that member will deny that member the opportunity to participate in weightlifting competition.

Such hearing panels are typically three-member panels, with at least one athlete representative on each panel. This committee is supported by a third-party hearing body (New Era ADR) that was engaged by USAW and the USOPC to provide independent hearing panel to hear such cases. As a result, athlete representatives on this committee may participate directly on hearing panels considering specific cases AND/OR reviewing the outcomes of hearings managed by New Era ADR.

The committee meets (remotely via video) monthly to review the status of cases in its queue. Work on a hearing panel for a specific case may involve up to 20 hours of work (over the course of 4-6 weeks) to review written submissions of the parties, listen to oral arguments, discuss the case with fellow panel members, and render a written decision. Committee members can expect to serve on two hearing panels per year.

Notes: the time demands on members of this committee have been proactively reduced by USAW in engaging New Era ADR to provide hearing panels.

Athlete Qualification: 

There are two athlete representative positions on this committee – both are currently filled (Matt Bruce and Kristi Brewer)

• One athlete representative must be a USAW 10-year athlete
• The second athlete representative may be a USAW 10-year athlete OR a USAW 10-year-plus athlete

Term: Four-year term starting from the date of selection by the AAC

Election/Selection Process: Selected by the USAW AAC

Responsibilities: This committee’s primary engagement is in review of USAW financials. Specifically review of our annual audit and annual tax return (Form 990) before they are finalized by our outside CPA firm.

Also, this committee typically reviews a draft of the annual operations budget before we present it to the full Board for approval in December for the budget year that will begin January 1. USAW’s internal finance team works closely with this committee to prepare financial documents for their review and input.

Notes: Preference (not requirement) for athletes with specific training or interest in finance

Athlete Qualification:
There are two athlete representative positions on this committee – both are currently vacant and need to be filled.

• One athlete representative must be a USAW 10-year athlete
• The second athlete representative may be a USAW 10-year athlete OR a USAW 10-year-plus athlete

Preference (not requirement) for athletes with experience serving as national-level Technical Officials (National or above).

Term: four-year term starting immediately upon selection.

Election/Selection Process: Selected by the USAW AAC. USAW HQ will confirm eligibility of nominees before AAC review. If multiple eligible nominees are submitted, AAC will vote to select the representatives.

Responsibilities:

• Review and provide feedback on proposed updates to the USAW Technical Rules and related policies.
• Review and provide feedback on Qualifying Totals, bodyweight divisions, American Standards & Records, and all other matters related to the technical aspect of the sport
• Provide an athlete voice in the selection, development, and evaluation of USAW Technical Officials.
• Participate in discussions on officiating standards, education pathways, and assignments for national events.
• Participate in remote meetings as scheduled (typically quarterly) and additional sessions as needed prior to major events.

 Notes: This committee serves in an advisory and policy-support capacity. The day-to-day implementation of officiating assignments and event staffing remains the responsibility of the USAW Events and Compliance teams. Athlete representatives on this committee are expected to maintain familiarity with the current IWF Technical Rules and USAW modifications.