May 31, 2016
Madison United Rugby Hires Executive Director
Photo: Madison United Rugby – Jake Winkler
Madison United Rugby Press Release
Madison, Wis. — The Madison United Rugby Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Jake Winkler as the organization’s first-ever Executive Director.
Winkler, a local rugby athlete, referee and former technology project management professional, began his duties this week for Madison United Rugby (MUR) through outreach to stakeholder groups in the greater Madison community.
“We’re excited to welcome Jake as our new MUR Executive Director and look forward to the energy and focus he’ll bring to this new leadership role,” said MUR Board President Skip Heffernan. “Jake will be leading our efforts to provide more administrative support for our members and helping MUR to grow youth rugby in our region.”
Winkler, who formerly worked in technical services and project management at Epic, is a longtime member of the local rugby community as a player, team administrator, and referee.
He captained the Wisconsin Rugby Club to win the 2013 USA Rugby Division 2 Men’s National Championship and played a key role in the team’s other recent national qualifications. Winkler also serves as a local Crossfit coach for adults and youth, and he mentors youth through Madison Urban Ministry. He is a 2007 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with dual degrees in Ecology/Evolution and the History & Philosophy of Science.
“I am eager to help MUR grow and thrive in the greater Madison community,” Winkler said. “It’s been motivating to meet some of our local stakeholders this week, in addition to digging into the plans and ideas that our MUR Board of Directors and teams have for the future of our organization. Their excitement is contagious!
“I’m ready to start building greater connections for MUR with local businesses, school districts, and community service groups. The positive and value-laden culture of rugby with its emphasis on respect and acceptance, especially here in our region, has many benefits that I believe will be welcomed by new fans and supporters.”
For more information, contact Jake Winkler at MURugbyDirector@gmail.com.
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Madison United Rugby (MUR) is a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization that supports nine adult, collegiate and youth men’s and women’s rugby teams, in addition to youth flag rugby.
The mission of MUR is to support education, health, wellness, and innovative community services through the culture of rugby. The home of MUR is the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex and future Heritage Center, one of the nation’s top rugby facilities and a thriving community hub serving the greater Madison region. Learn more about our thriving community at http://rugbymadison.org/.
