VOTING HAS BEGUN FOR BOARD OF DIRECTIONS; CHECK OUT CANDIDATE BIOS HERE - Badger Region Volleyball Association (2024)

The Badger Region Volleyball Board of Directors Election is open now and will close at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, May 10. All adult members in good standing are eligible to vote in this election, and can do so at the link below or sent via email by providing their name and membership number to ensure that each member only votes once.

To find your membership ID, please go to your membership registration (Sports Engine) account (https://user.sportngin.com/users/sign_in) and click on your profile in the upper right, then your household, then Profile. Your membership ID will be on the right, and is a seven-digit number. All full adult members with a current membership are eligible to vote in this election. Please email membership@badgervolleyball.org with any questions. Any votes that do not have a membership ID, the ID does not match the name, or the ID is not associated with an active full adult membership will be deleted and not counted in the final vote tally.

An email with the voting link was sent to the email address is your membership registration record, so please check your spam for an email from membership@badgervolleyball.org with the subject line of “2024 Badger Region Board of Directors Election Voting Info & Link”. The link is also listed below.

VOTING LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024BRVABODElection-Regular

There is a separate on-going election for the Official’s Rep seat, which is open only to eligible officials, and that voting link was emailed directly to all officials. Contact Jennifer Armson-Dyer at jarmsondyer@badgervolleyball.org for more information.

After vetting and confirmation by the nominating committee, results for all open seats will be posted on Monday, May 13 on the Badger Region website and social media. If no one receives more than 50% of the vote in the At-Large election, a run-off election will be held between the top two vote recipients, and that will be included in the May 13 posting.

2024 Badger Region Board of Director Elections

Below is the confirmed slate of candidates. Biographical information as submitted follows.

At-Large Representative (One Seat):

(3 Year Term / Must be a member in good standing):

1. Patrick Bieser
2. Tommy Jonas
3. Ron Kolash
4. Kyleigh (Block) Neave

Northwest Representative:

(3 Year Term / Must reside in the geographical area represented and be a member in good standing):

1. Breit Nelson (incumbent)

Southwest Representative:

(3 Year Term / Must reside in the geographical area represented and be a member in good standing):

1. Bonnie Stalker (incumbent)
2. Alyssa Uhlir

Biographical Information, as submitted by the nominee

At Large Representatives

Patrick Bieser:

I am the Co-Founder and a Master Coach at Wisconsin Elite Volleyball. I have had a long passion for running businesses and pouring that energy into volleyball is the ultimate dream. Here are a few of the background items that have made volleyball and my business passion a successful harmony.

Semi Pro Volleyball Player; Libero for VLA Milwaukee Dive Team; Active Open Level Player, 12 Years Coaching Experience; 2nd & 5th at Coaching AAU Nationals; Collegiate Club Player UW-Madison; WIAA State Record Dig Holder, 2x WIAA D1 Runner-Up Varsity Volleyball, Studied/Coached Volleyball in Japan in 2019, Beach/Grass Volleyball Coaching experience

Why would the nominee be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors?

I believe I would be a valuable addition with my great connections to area club coaches, directors and players. Our focus at Wisconsin Elite is building relationships with players, parents, coaches and the broader community. I help organize tournaments, facilitate new opportunities for people to play and work to create programs for all ages in volleyball. I’d like to see the Region continue to play a larger role in helping clubs and building this community. Hopefully I could gather ideas from clubs and work to make a lasting difference in Wisconsin volleyball. I believe we have an incredible number of athletes and would love to see us compete on a national stage at a higher level. Hopefully I could have influence into shaping this focus, passion, and vision to the Badger Region Board of Directors.

Tommy Jonas:

I have been involved with volleyball since I started playing when I was 8 years old! Playing in the badger region during my youth days to now on the other side as a coach. I have been coaching club and high school for 6-7 years. I previously was the 14 1s coach at RVA for 3 years and now coach for Milwaukee Sting and have been the 13 Gold coach for the past 3 years. I am also a high school coach starting as a Varsity Assistant at Waukesha West (2 years) to now being the Head Girls Varsity Coach at Pewaukee High School (4 years). In club I have had some successes taking 5th place at AAU Jr. Nationals and qualifying each year for the USAV Jr. Nationals once at the open level and twice at the National level. In high school I have been a part of some pretty special teams and have had the opportunity to coach at state 3 separate times 1x at Waukesha West and 2x at Pewaukee.

Why would the nominee be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors?

I feel that I would be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors because I would be bringing fresh new energy and excitement to the position as someone who is very passionate about the sport, helping it grow, and to give more and more kids the opportunity to play! I have been apart of the game both as a player in the region and now as coach and I feel I have a good understand of what the region stands for and what they are striving to do in the future and I feel that with all my past experiences I can be someone who can help take the Region to the next phase! I am a highly motivated and hardworking individual who would be a great asset to the Region Board of Directors!

Ron Kolash:

I have been a passionate member and supporter of our region for thirteen years, assisting our members and our association over the years. I would like to serve as one of our At-Large Representatives to give back more as an advocate for all of our members.

My background includes extensive experience with nonprofit organizations. During my 34 years as a CPA, I have worked with various nonprofit organizations as creator, organizer, consultant, and auditor. I have served on the board of numerous nonprofit organizations, including South Appleton Business Association (Treasurer), Fox River Area Girl Scouts (Finance Committee), Girl Scouts of Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula Michigan (Finance Committee, Endowment Committee Chair), Financial Planning Association of Northeast Wisconsin (Treasurer), and Wisconsin Board of Officials (Treasurer).

My background includes helpful insights into operations from regions throughout our nation. As I continue to travel around our country each year, I meet with friends and colleagues from our volleyball family. I often learn from these representatives about successes, failures, likes, and dislikes.

I feel that combining my passion, experiences, and insights will enable me to benefit our region as an advocate for all of our members and continue to promote our region as one we can all be proud of.

Why would the nominee be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors?

I have extensive experience with nonprofit and for-profit organizations and extensive knowledge of US and Wisconsin business laws and regulations. I have gained, and continue to gain, insights regarding successful and unsuccessful region endeavors from around the country. And, I have a passion to serve as an advocate for all of our members.

Kyleigh (Block) Neave:

Kyleigh Block-Neave has been in the game of volleyball as a collegiate student-athlete, along with coaching collegiate for Division II and III. Most recently, she is involved in a director role for Juniors Volleyball Club, as she also coaches for Wisconsin Juniors. She helped develop the positional training at Juniors with a group of lead trainers and runs the Juniors Beach Volleyball program. Her desire to increase athletes’ skill levels, leadership skills, and the beach program is evident based on the work she puts in and her community outreach. Kyleigh brings a positive, high energy to those she works with and is excited for the opportunity to be involved with Badger Region to continue to help grow the sport of volleyball and increase competitiveness in their events.

Why would the nominee be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors?

Kyleigh is a dedicated and hardworking coach and director for Juniors Volleyball Club. Her priority of organization and focus of continuously learning helps me to develop new ideas for those she’s working with. She has been a part of Wisconsin Juniors for 5 years as a coach, along with being a conditioning and social media director for periods of time within my time there. For the past 2 years, she has been a full time director for JVC, head coached the 14-1s at WJV, and been our beach director. She would be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors, as Kyleigh has involved herself in many areas of the club world from coaching, to directing, and beach volleyball.

Northwest Representative

Breit Nelson (incumbent):

Breit is the Media Development Director and on the Board of Directors for Wisconsin Ice Volleyball Club in Central, WI, and also a coach in the indoor and sand programs. She is in charge of the Wisconsin Ice Website, Social Media, as well as Club and Player Promotion. Breit has also worked as a Badger Region High Performance Camp Coach in 2019 and 2021.

Breit played for Edgar High School leading them to their only State Tournament appearance in 2003, club in the Badger Region for 6 years, made the Badger Youth National Team in 2003, and played at NCAA Div I UW-Milwaukee from 2004-2007. While at UWM the Panthers were 4-time Horizon League Regular Season Champions. While living in Milwaukee Breit coached 8th grade boys at St. Robert’s in Shorewood, helped with area clubs, camps, and was the Assistant Varsity Girls Volleyball coach for Cedarburg HS.

After spending seven years in the Milwaukee area, she returned to central Wisconsin where she assisted at Newman Catholic HS before returning to Edgar HS to coach for six years (2 years JV and 4 years Varsity). During that time, she brought quality summer camps to Edgar as well as built a strong youth program including her Volleykids (K-5th grade) program and Spring 4th-8th grade teams competing in the Wisconsin Independent Volleyball League. In 2016 Breit joined Wisconsin Ice as a coach, in 2019 became the Media Development Director, and in 2021 was brought onto the Board of Directors.

Breit has a master’s degree in Sport Psychology from Capella University and works as a contributing writer for Prep Dig. She has many certifications including an IMPACT/CAP I coaching accreditation, SafeSport certification, and is a licensed WIAA official.

Southwest Representatives

Bonnie Stalker (incumbent):

Bonnie Stalker was appointed Southwest Rep in the fall of 2022. She has been involved in the sport a long time in some form or another. She started with an officiating and coaching class at UW-La Crosse and her love for it grew from there. She coached when she was a teacher at various levels from high school varsity to middle school. She also says she is passionate about Title IX and advocating for female involvement in sports, as she attended high school when there wasn’t any female competitive sports. Her playing career is limited to 50 years in recreational leagues after high school to a few years ago.

Here’s her bio as best she can remember:

• BS from UW-La Crosse in 1978 in PE and Art with a coaching emphasis;
• MS from UW-Whitewater in school counseling in 1989;
• Teacher and School Counselor in Janesville School District for 34 years, retiring in 2012.
• Coached middle school to varsity high school volleyball (and swim) from 1978 to 2016;
• Coached various indoor volleyball clinics from 1985 to present;
• Started with USAV as a coach & co-director for Milton Aces from 2004-2015.
• Club Director and coach for Crossfire VBC, Milton, WI, 2016 to present.
• Certified USAV IMPACT and CAP I for coaching.
• Officiated WIAA volleyball in the 80s, then again in 2012 to present.
• Officiated club volleyball from 2012-present.
• USAV Provisional Scorekeeper and Provisional Official from 2012 to present.
• Scorer and libero tracker at WIAA State Volleyball Tournament, 2022.

She has been married to a saint of a guy, Keith, for 33 years. She is a diehard Brewers fan, plus Packer, Bucks and UW Badger sports, but especially volleyball fan, of course. She has two grown daughters who played high school and club volleyball. The oldest, Erin, is now a National level USAV scorer and currently coaches with her club, Crossfire VBC. They both continue to play sand and adult indoor volleyball.

Why would the nominee be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors?

I have several years of experience in coaching, officiating, scoring, being a director of a smaller club and a parent of volleyball players. I was an educator and school counselor, who feels strongly about the mental health of young athletes and focuses on the love of the game. I can bring a balance and advocate for the smaller clubs and their needs.

Alyssa Uhlir:

I grew up playing volleyball in middle and high school and continued to have a love of the sport, both playing and coaching, throughout my adulthood. I am a former 8th-grade volleyball coach with a knack for inspiring young athletes and fostering a love for the game. Currently I am serving as a dedicated 14’s club coach, committed to nurturing talent and developing well-rounded players both on and off the court. I am also serving as the Director of Boys Volleyball on the SVO board, where I strive to promote and grow the sport at all levels. As the head coach for McFarland Boys Volleyball, I have started this boys volleyball program with enthusiasm and dedication, to grow the sport of volleyball while guiding my team to success while instilling values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. I am passionate about empowering athletes to reach their full potential and fostering a strong sense of community within the volleyball world. Let’s connect and continue to grow the sport together!

Why would the nominee be a valuable addition to the Badger Region Board of Directors?

I believe the dedication to the sport shows through my involvement not only in coaching but establishing a boys team and being actively involved in getting our youth on the court and to grow the love and skills of volleyball. I believe I would be valuable to the board by bringing a unique perspective as a parent of a player, a girls youth coach, girls teen coach and boys teen coach.