Rudy Ortiz - 2024 Candidate for Commissioner

Candidate Biography and Application

1. What is it about the Board position you would like to hold that most interests you in running for office?

Commissioner: It is time for new leadership that will allow the Council the power to assist the league to grow, govern their league with activities and ideas to improve the image of Softball Austin and develop ways to encourage participation at league functions. With more league members contributing to the league’s success, its growth provides a positive environment, fostering leadership among young teams and facilitating collaboration as traveling tournament teams. This helps the league become a safe place for our league members, fans, LGBTQ+ allies, and sponsors to enjoy Sunday Funday at the fields (Austin or other cities) and other league functions.

2. How will you contribute to the Board as a whole if elected?

To continue improving the league’s communication with league members, revise league forms, and continue developing policy and procedures. Best practices for recruitment and developing a more inclusive environment will be my focus, along with providing activities or cookouts at league games and fostering a positive environment where teams work together to have an enjoyable season. To execute the duties as outlined in IOG and further the mission of Softball Austin. Additionally, assist the Board where needed and continue to conduct Bylaws and Rules of Play Committee meetings to ensure the Board and Managers/Coaches clearly understand and adhere to IOG. TOGETHER we can rebuild our softball community back to being fun like it used to be.

3. Please list other volunteer commitments you have at this time.

Assistant Commissioner for Softball Austin league and Manager for Varsity team (D Division). If elected commissioner I would seek a replacement for the Open Assistant Commissioner vacancy immediately.

Summarize your experience with Softball Austin.

Started playing, coaching, and managing teams since Spring 2005 until Spring 2019. During that timeframe, I served on the Board as Membership Coordinator, Assistant Commissioner, and Commissioner, and again as Assistant Commissioner. Recently returned to Softball Austin in Spring 2023 to assist Varsity with ratings, rules of play, and as manager. It feels great to be back and be asked by several teams to please run for Commissioner as it's finally enjoyable since we have new Board members who serve the league in what’s best for the league and not for themselves.

What skills and knowledge are you willing to bring to our Board?

Planning - Very Experienced
Fundraising - Very Experienced
Program planning and evaluation - Very Experienced
Recruiting, hiring and evaluating personnel - Very Experienced
Financial management and control (budgeting, accounting) - Very Experienced
Communication, public and media relations - Very Experienced
Public speaking - Very Experienced
Information technology - Very Experienced
Writing, journalism - Very Experienced
Special events (planning and implementing) - Very Experienced
List other skills, knowledge needed by your board:
Higher Education Administration experience
Counselor Education Specialist--counseling
State Auditor – budget finance reconcile etc. and State financial laws
State Resolution Specialist – resolve administrative and fiscal findings state financial laws
Financial Aid Officer – budgeting finance loans and financial laws
Recruiting
Travis County Election Judge—integrity election laws adhere and follow State Election procedures and laws

For the items you checked as “very experienced” or “some experience,” please provide details.

Previously employed in the field of Higher Education in the areas of financial aid officer, loan officer, recruiter, academic advising, counseling services, grant writing, higher education accreditation experience, writing State official letters, sponsorship and fundraising for Rusty Spurs, Chaos Assault, and Softball Austin, planning University and State events, planning and attending recruitment events. Serve as Committee Chair or member for State and University for hiring department potential staff and faculty members. Serve on State IT Committee and department employee improvement program. Previously conducted public speaking engagements for secondary schools, higher education institutions, and community organizations' events. Serve as Travis County Election Judge for Federal, State, and Local elections which requires planning, organizing, training election clerks, interpreting and enforcing election laws, and supervising clerks and election poll location center.

Resume Highlights

State Auditor
State Resolution Specialist
Assistant Dean
Senior Academic Advisor
Financial Aid Officer
Assistant Residential Hall Director
Graduate Coordinator
Admissions Officer
Budget and Procurement Officer
Reconciliation for Procurement and Lease Agreements
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program: Celebrated 30 years in November 2023
National Drop Out Association
National Academic Advisors Association
National Student Financial Aid Association
Emporia State University Board of Directors member
Emporia State University Sigma Phi Epsilon Board President
Hispanic Faculty/Staff Association member
UT Academic Advisors member
Travis County Election Judge
TWC IT Committee Member
TWC SRM Committee Member
At Risk (Middle School and High School) Program member
Tutoring Services Director
UT Football Academic Assistant (Under Coach Mac Brown)
Fundraising Committee for minority faculty staff and students
Professional Development and Leadership Committee member (events)
Engage with potential sponsors for university/community college welcome events/activities and for softball team expenses

Please email the completed form to the Election Committee Chair: elections@softballaustin.org

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