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), who 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.
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 / Disc Golf Experience:
Solution Architect and Manager, Portland General Electric (2004-2024). 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:
- 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
- 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.
Charlie Mead #1980
- Serving: 2025 - present
- Location: Holsworthy / Devon, United Kingdom
- Education: M.Ed in Child Psychology from the University of Birmingham
Professional Experience:
Since 1993 he has been a child psychologist specialising in trauma and attachment difficulties in young people. Previously he was Headteacher and development manager of a large group of schools housing 400 children and 400 staff. His negotiating skills in bringing disparate groups together and resolving issues are also the hallmark of his career in Education and Psychology. The concept of Spirit of the Game fits with his purpose of getting things done well. As a Consultant Child Psychologist he combines his work with his love of the sport - both inform each other.
Disc Golf Experience:
In the past 45 years Charlie has played, contributed and organised over a thousand Disc sport events. He has been fortunate to have remained fit and healthy throughout (until the broken arm of the last two months) which has allowed him to continuosly learn and develop as the sport has grown. He has been TD for 14 World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) World Championships; including the last 4 World Team Disc Golf Championships. He holds 6 European Disc Golf Championship titles - the first was MPO in 1982 and the last was MP65 in 2021. His ability to manage large groups of players and staff has matched his playing career and the experience of those 45 years has allowed him to develop and build relationships across the world. He was elected President of WFDF in 1985 and was Chair of the Disc Golf Committee from 2016 to 2024. He introduced Mixed Ultimate Divisions to World Ultimate Championships in 1996 and the compulsory introduction of two women to each WFDF Disc Golf Team in 2017 - both produced an increase in women players worldwide. He also introduced a World Disc Golf Ranking system for national teams alongside PDGA. This enabled the IOC and IWGA to recognise that Disc Golf had met all the criteria to be included in the World Games. This was achieved in 2023 and Disc Golf will be at TWG, Chengdu China in August 2025. He resigned from WFDF in 2024 and now looks to increase and improve the opportunity of all PDGA affiliated countries and their members to play for their country. Having been elected to the World Disc Golf Hall of Fame in 2023 and awarded the "Steady" Ed Memorial Award in 2013, these deserved and recognised accolades enable Charlie to influence and persuade others to take on the challenges that they face.
Matthew Rothstein #51515
- Serving: 2025 - present
- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
- Education: Music and education
- Occupation: Educator, musician
Background/Professional Experience: As Media Manager for the PDGA (2020–2024), I oversaw a six-figure annual budget, led national media teams at PDGA Major and DGPT Elite Series events, and helped shape the PDGA’s communications during a critical growth phase. I produced more than 30 PDGA ads, co-wrote and executive produced The Holy Shot documentary, and led the creation of the PDGA Rules School and TD School video series—core educational tools that continue to serve members and tournament directors worldwide. My professional background also includes work in public education and youth sports. I’ve worked in public school classrooms and, as the father of two young disc golfers, I’m personally invested in the success of the PDGA’s Youth and Education program.
Disc Golf Experience: I’ve directed beginner-friendly leagues for new players and families in Colorado and Louisiana, and produced inclusive content that amplified the voices of women, juniors, seniors, and international competitors. I’ve served on the PDGA Majors & Elite Series Committee—helping to launch the PDGA Champions Cup—and the PDGA Women’s Committee, supporting the Women’s Global Event. I’ve also held board positions in local disc golf clubs and contributed to planning and policy at the local, national, and global levels.