The Academy of Model Aeronautics' Executive Council (EC), the governing body of the organization, and its Executive Director, Don Koranda, have reached a mutual decision not to renew his contract. This decision was made at the EC's quarterly meeting on October 15, 2005. It is effective immediately.
Longtime AMA employee Joyce Hager has been appointed staff director and will oversee the day-to-day operations until an interim executive director has been named.
"Joyce is an accomplished executive who is well-prepared to fill the association's immediate staff leadership needs while a replacement executive director is sought," said AMA president Dave Brown. "We are very fortunate that she is willing to assume this position."
The EC has appointed a three-person search committee charged with locating qualified candidates and making a recommendation to the council. Committee members include the chairman, Richard Hanson (District X), and members Andy Argenio (District I), and Dave Mathewson (District II). Joyce Hager will function as a staff liaison to the committee.
The committee's search may take as long as one year. "Reaching consensus on the expectations of an executive director and finding the right person is much more important than filling that permanent position quickly," Brown said.
Koranda's departure follows 10 months at the helm of the 165,000-member association. "I knew the risks when I accepted this position and have absolutely no regrets," Koranda said recently in a E-mail to staff and the EC. "I also have no doubt about the direction in which AMA needs to go to meet its full potential. In my view, we accomplished a lot in 10 months."
"We will miss the vision Don brought to AMA, and we will do our best to continue many of the programs Don initiated during his tenure," Brown said.