Full Name
Renee Washington
Job Title
Chief Operating Officer
Company
USA Track & Field
Speaker Bio
Renee Chube Washington joined USA Track & Field as its chief operating officer in June 2012. As COO, Washington manages the multi-million-dollar budget and 60 person staff. Alongside the CEO, she develops and implements corporate strategy and direction. Washington has broad cross-enterprise oversight of all departments including: High Performance Programs, Events and Broadcast/Entertainment Properties, Merchandise, Legal, Revenue and Marketing, Communications, Grassroots Outreach and Youth, Finance and Revenue. In addition to those duties, she has a key role in contract negotiations and vendor agreements; manages oversight of travel and transportation for staff, constituents, athletes; and with the CEO, manages logistics and preparation for meetings of the 17-member board of directors and acts as the primary contact with international and regional federations.
Since Washington became COO, USATF has realized substantial operational cost savings and efficiencies while adopting new business policies and practices. Under her operational oversight, USATF has awarded six U.S. Olympic Team Trials, secured the World Athletics Indoor and Outdoor Championships, successfully participated in two Olympic Games and three World Championships, launched the U.S. National 12K Road Race, hosted the meeting of the World Athletics (formerly IAAF) Council, and revamped the USATF Annual Meeting, which attracts more than 1,000 stakeholders in the sport each year.
From September 2018 through June 2019, Washington served on an independent commission formed by the USOPC referred to as the Athlete and NGB Engagement Commission renamed the Borders Commission. The Commission considered (i) the USOC's proper role and engagement with athletes, and (ii) the USOC's proper role with NGBs. The Commission recommended to the USOC specific actions designed to address and resolve ecosystem failures and required changes to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.
In furtherance of reform efforts for the USOPC and NGBs, from December 2019 through May 2020, Washington served on the USOPC Member Certification Focus Group. That working group was charged with identifying how the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) should implement changes regarding:
- The standards that member organizations will be held accountable to meet as a condition of certification by the USOPC
- The methods in which standards will be measured to ensure consistency of expectations and demonstration of best-in-class organizations
- The process by which member organizations should be audited to evaluate whether standards are being sufficiently met
Since Washington became COO, USATF has realized substantial operational cost savings and efficiencies while adopting new business policies and practices. Under her operational oversight, USATF has awarded six U.S. Olympic Team Trials, secured the World Athletics Indoor and Outdoor Championships, successfully participated in two Olympic Games and three World Championships, launched the U.S. National 12K Road Race, hosted the meeting of the World Athletics (formerly IAAF) Council, and revamped the USATF Annual Meeting, which attracts more than 1,000 stakeholders in the sport each year.
From September 2018 through June 2019, Washington served on an independent commission formed by the USOPC referred to as the Athlete and NGB Engagement Commission renamed the Borders Commission. The Commission considered (i) the USOC's proper role and engagement with athletes, and (ii) the USOC's proper role with NGBs. The Commission recommended to the USOC specific actions designed to address and resolve ecosystem failures and required changes to the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.
In furtherance of reform efforts for the USOPC and NGBs, from December 2019 through May 2020, Washington served on the USOPC Member Certification Focus Group. That working group was charged with identifying how the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) should implement changes regarding:
- The standards that member organizations will be held accountable to meet as a condition of certification by the USOPC
- The methods in which standards will be measured to ensure consistency of expectations and demonstration of best-in-class organizations
- The process by which member organizations should be audited to evaluate whether standards are being sufficiently met
Speaking At