WFTDA Announces Executive Director Transition

Last month, the Board of Directors of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association accepted the resignation of Executive Director, Cassie Haynes. Cassie will join the Mayor of Philadelphia’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity as Deputy Director of Innovation.

"We hired Cassie as the Executive Director because of her broad skill set, depth of experience and fresh approach to our sport," WFTDA President Molly Stenzel said. "She has been an active force in shaping our organization, helping us ask ourselves the hard questions, and working to create fitting solutions."

"I can't tell you what an incredible opportunity it has been to serve a membership whose core values epitomize the principles that I hold so very close, principles by which I work to live my life on the daily," Cassie said. "I'm grateful for the wealth of new knowledge and experiences that this organization has given me."

The WFTDA Board of Directors thanks Cassie for her contributions, time, and dedication to the sport of roller derby over her 18 months with the organization. We wish her all the best in her new position.

Chief Media Officer, Erica Vanstone, will be stepping in as Interim Executive Director.

Erica, a longtime volunteer for the WFTDA, founder of our broadcast program and employee of the WFTDA since 2014, earned a BFA from NYU Film and has worked in development and marketing for Gift Of Life Donor Program in Philadelphia, and is currently completing a master of science in Sports Business at Temple University. She has secured partnerships for the WFTDA with JRDA, ESPN, UN Women, and Twitch.tv. She also served on the Board of Directors for Philly Roller Derby for more than six years, served as a volunteer and an official, and is now a skater and a coach for Philly's junior program.

"Erica was a natural choice for the position of Interim Executive Director," Molly said. "With her years of experience with the WFTDA, her background in nonprofit work, and her presence as a leader in our community, Erica is the right person to bring the organization through this transition in 2018."

The WFTDA board looks forward to the experience and vision Erica will bring to the position.