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.
- posted 16 years ago