USRowing Executive Director Rich Cacioppo Stepping into Strategic Advisory Role After Driving Lasting Progress

January 28, 2025 – USRowing announced today that Executive Director Rich Cacioppo, whose leadership has been critical to the organization’s transformation, will assume a strategic advisory role for the organization over the coming months. This planned transition comes after three years of service to the sport and will see Cacioppo leverage his decades of experience and expertise across both strategy and execution to support USRowing’s plans for coastal and indoors disciplines, high performance and grassroots facilities, and the sport’s data-driven future. 

Rich joined USRowing in January 2022 to lead efforts across Membership, Competition, Learning & Development, and Safeguarding. To support the organization’s strategic goals, his scope expanded in January 2023 to encompass Finance, Operations, Marketing, and Communications, alongside deeper integration with High Performance programs. Throughout, Cacioppo developed relationships and partnerships across a broad range of stakeholders to deliver against USRowing’s mission to steward, strengthen, and grow American rowing by championing performance and igniting new passion for the sport.

“It’s often said that no one is irreplaceable, but if anyone comes close, it’s Rich. Working alongside him has been an honor," said Amanda Kraus, USRowing's Chief Executive Officer. His ambitious ideas have transformed our sport, turning visions into realities, modernizing our systems, and elevating how we work as an organization. He has inspired us all to reach higher and do better; he will be tremendously missed.” 

During his tenure, Cacioppo has materially contributed to USRowing’s growth and improvement across areas critical to the organization’s and the sport’s future, including record membership and operating performance; the recognition of USRowing’s hosted regattas as some of the country’s premier amateur sporting events; effective safeguarding as a key component for long-term sustainability; and more broadly, the development of USRowing’s people, processes, and technology to support the organization’s next phase leading up to LA2028.

“We are immensely proud of Rich’s accomplishments during his time with us. His efforts to professionalize USRowing will have a lasting impact on both the organization and the sport,” said Kirsten Feldman, USRowing Board Chair. “We are deeply grateful for his contributions to systems, technology, and operations, which have positioned the organization to meet our high standards of excellence in both the short and long term.”

As part of this planned transition, Chief Marketing Officer Lizzie Seedhouse and Chief Financial Officer Sarah May will report to Amanda Kraus, and Sarah will take on additional operations responsibilities in the coming months. USRowing is opening a public search for a new Chief Experience Officer to lead the sport’s grassroots efforts. Interested candidates can apply here. 

“It has been one of the great honors of my life to give back to the sport that gave me so much in this way,” said Cacioppo. “From day one, my focus has been on building a strong foundation for the organization to deliver against its mission well beyond my tenure. Thanks to the trust and partnership afforded to me by the teams I’ve supported, my leadership peers, Amanda, and our board. I enter this new stage more excited than ever for the future of our sport.”

USRowing would also like to afford this opportunity to members of Rich Cacioppo’s Experience team to express their appreciation:

Jules Zane, Director of Membership: "Rich's approach and vision brought necessary clarity to both risk and opportunity as our organization emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, and beyond. Having Rich transition to a role as strategic advisor is the logical next step at this juncture, but I will miss the trademark humor, directness, and transparency he brought to his day-to-day leadership."

Thomas Rooks, Director of Safeguarding: “Rich consistently led with unwavering integrity. His remarkable blend of vision, expertise, and genuine compassion for everyone around him has been nothing short of inspiring to me. Rich's impact on USRowing and our staff will be felt far beyond his time with us. I’d wish him luck, but with his combination of character and work ethic, his future endeavors are certain to be successful.”

Chris Furlow, Director of Learning and Development: “Rich elevated the professionalism at USRowing by setting high expectations for every team member, equipping us with the tools and guidance needed to succeed, and leading through his own example."