Independent Directors Maietta, Quallo Elected To Lead USA Weightlifting Board
by USA Weightlifting
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The USA Weightlifting Board of Directors will be led by Nick Maietta (Washington, D.C.) and Shameeka Quallo (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in the roles of chair and vice chair, respectively, USA Weightlifting announced today.
Both Independent Directors, Maietta was voted to the role of chair and Quallo subsequently voted vice chair in elections held Tuesday by the 12-person USAW Board; effective immediately, they will hold these roles for the next two years.
“We're honored to have been elected by the board to the positions of chair and vice chair for the 2023-2024 board term,” Maietta and Quallo jointly shared. “We intend to use our combined professional experiences in compliance, legal matters and business development to progress USA Weightlifting’s mission of supporting our athletes in achieving excellence and supporting a diverse and inclusive community of weightlifting.”
Maietta began his second term on the board at the start of the year, after first serving from 2019-2022 and being reelected by the board in December, while Quallo is in her inaugural term (2021-2024).
Both attorneys, Maietta’s professional experiences include management consulting, business development and technology law. Also a U.S. Marine, he served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Quallo currently applies her transactional and compliance expertise as the Chicago Cubs’ associate general counsel and senior director of diversity, equity and inclusion. Passionate about disenfranchised communities, Quallo also has an extensive public service background, benefitting the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club, Junior Achievement of Volusia County, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and FINRA.
“I am extremely excited to work with Nick and Shameeka in their new officer positions,” said Matt Sicchio, CEO of USA Weightlifting. “They both bring tremendous leadership skills and a genuine commitment to service of our sport and community. As the board leadership torch is passed to Nick and Shameeka, we are grateful for the important contributions of Paula Aranda and Jenny Schumacher, who previously served in these roles, and look forward to building on their legacy as we continue to push USA Weightlifting to new heights.”
The USA Weightlifting Board of Directors consists of two directors for each for the following categories: At-Large, Coach and Technical, Elite Athlete, Grassroots, Independent, National Team Athlete. Board members serve staggered terms, with elections for six roles occurring every two years. The 2023-2024 board is comprised of Michael Choi and Sara Soto (At-Large Directors), Mario Dispenza and Sally Van de Water (Coach and Technical Directors), Erin Andica and Jordan Cantrell (Elite Athlete Directors), Andy Coggins and Schumacher (Grassroots Directors), Maietta and Quallo (Independent Directors), and Tayler Harris and John McGovern (National Team Athlete Directors).
“We have an incredible and passionate board this term, and the depth and breadth of experience of each board member will contribute to meeting USA Weightlifting's goals,” Maietta and Quallo continued in a joint statement. “In our roles as chair and vice chair, we are committed to carrying out the board’s roles in governance, strategy and policymaking, and we look forward to supporting the board's work to position USA Weightlifting for a strong future.”