Women Leaders in College Sports Hires Kaila’Shea Menendez & Other Staff Updates
June 27, 2017
Contact: Rachel DeSchepper
Women Leaders in College Sports
816-389-8208
[email protected]
Kansas City, Mo. — Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA), the nation’s premier women’s athletic leadership association, has announced the update of Ashley Broockerd’s, Senior Director of Events & Operations role to a contract position, overseeing the Women Leaders National Convention; the promotion of Sarah Vap to Director of Internal Operations and Assistant to the CEO; and the hiring of Kaila’Shea Menendez as Events Coordinator.
After seven loyal years leading events and operations at Women Leaders, Ashley Broockerd’s last day as a full-time employee will be June 30, 2017. She will be launching her own event rental business while continuing in the planning and execution for the 2017 Women Leaders National Convention in Dallas, October 8-10 as an independent contractor.
"As we grow and evolve as an association, so do our team members. I cannot thank Ashley enough for her dedication, organization, patience, and sense of calm after seven incredible years," says Patti Phillips, Women Leaders in College Sports chief executive officer. "Under her leadership, the Women Leaders National Convention has grown from 296 attendees to now more than 1,000. I can’t wait to watch her success launching her own business, and am so grateful she will still be involved with the Women Leaders National Convention—helping us make our Dallas event the best yet!"
In her new role as Director of Internal Operations and Assistant to the CEO, Sarah Vap will continue her responsibilities assisting the CEO, and will take on internal operations of the national office and budget oversight for the association.
"Over the last two years, Sarah has proven herself as a go-to person on our team to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly,” Phillips says. “Thanks to her dedication, resiliency, and positive outlook, our members, partners, and staff will all benefit from her additional leadership responsibilities.”
Rounding out staff news, Kaila’Shea Menendez started on June 14, 2017 as an events coordinator. She will be responsible for assisting in the planning and execution of all association events, including the Women Leaders National Convention, in addition to driving new event growth strategies for Women Leaders’ full annual calendar of events.
Prior to Women Leaders, Menendez spent two years at the University of California San Diego, where she served as internal operations assistant, and most recently, coordinator of Strategic initiatives, events and community engagement. Menendez orchestrated comprehensive operations and strategies to promote and enhance athletic involvement on campus and throughout the La Jolla community. Additionally, she served as Junior Triton Club Director and was charged to cultivate relationships with local organizations and community members to create revenue and partnership opportunities.
Prior to UC San Diego, Menendez was a recreation center manager at Camp Pendleton where she was responsible for overall facility operations, recreational programming, and effectively executing social and developmental events for more than 3,000 United States Marines.
Phillips continues, "We are very excited to have Kaila on the Women Leaders team. Her high energy, attention to detail, and experience with operations and events of our size will help us provide best-in-class programming and events for each one of our members and partners.”
Learn more about the Women Leaders national office staff »
About Women Leaders in College Sports
Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA) is the only nationally recognized collegiate professional membership organization whose mission is to enhance and promote opportunities for women in intercollegiate athletics administration and beyond. More than 3,500-members strong, Women Leaders in College Sports promotes the growth, leadership, and success of women as athletics administrators, conference commissioners, professional staff, coaches, and student-athletes.