USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The USA Fencing Board of Directors on Friday appointed three new U.S. Fencing Foundation Trustees, each bringing a unique set of skills and experiences to the table. 

Kurtis Fechtmeyer, Lilly Huang and Robin McGraw join the Foundation’s Board of Trustees at a crucial time for the sport, as USA Fencing aims to expand its reach and impact from the grassroots level to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Fechtmeyer, an investment banker and legal expert, brings a wealth of experience in corporate governance and a passion for Olympic sports. 

Huang, Managing Director of Citi Private Bank, offers more than two decades of experience in venture capital and technology, along with a personal connection to fencing through her daughter. 

McGraw, a community leader with a diverse background in service and philanthropy, adds his own leadership acumen and athletic prowess as a national team saber fencer and All-American soccer player.

Together, these new Trustees are poised to leverage their professional expertise and personal passion for athletics to help the sport grow and ensure its financial future.

Kurtis Fechtmeyer is a seasoned investment banker and legal expert with a career spanning multiple decades and continents. Initially practicing corporate and securities law in New York, he transitioned to Silicon Valley to focus on technology investment banking. Fechtmeyer has been instrumental in more than 150 transactions, including IPOs and cross-border deals.

Beyond his professional achievements, Fechtmeyer is passionate about Olympic sports, inspired by his wife, Alison Townley, a two-time Olympian and board member at USRowing. He believes in the transformative power of competitive athletics to foster unity, health and inspiration globally. His expertise also extends to corporate governance, where he has served as an advisor on financial and legal matters for public, private, and nonprofit boards for more than three decades.

In 2022, Fechtmeyer and his wife were the masterminds and benefactors behind the USA Fencing Experience, a pop-up fencing space in Minneapolis.

Lilly Huang serves as Managing Director of Citi Private Bank, following a successful tenure as Managing Director at HSBC Global Private Banking. With more than 20 years of experience in venture capital and technology sectors, Huang specializes in crafting tailored financial strategies for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Her multidisciplinary team focuses on Investment Management, Trust and Estate Planning, Family Office Services, Lending and Philanthropy.

Before HSBC, Huang led the Entrepreneur Services Group at Silicon Valley Bank and was San Francisco's first representative to China, endorsed by former Mayor Gavin Newsom. She holds a seat on the CEO Advisory Council for USA Fencing and serves as a Board Director for the Hong Kong Association of Northern California. 

“Having experienced the diverse cultures of Asia and England while growing up, I've witnessed fencing's remarkable rise over the past 30 years, inspiring countless athletes, children, and communities,” Huang says. “Now, as a proud fencing parent residing in San Francisco, my 11-year-old daughter has reintroduced me to the world of fencing, allowing me to witness its wonderful impact on her.

“I'm excited to join this exceptional organization committed to fostering and propelling the incredible sport of fencing, with the aim of making it accessible to all communities. I look forward to leveraging my background and expertise in finance and technology to contribute to its mission and make a meaningful difference.”

Robert L. W. McGraw, who goes by Robin, is a multifaceted community leader with a rich history of service and philanthropy. Serving as an Ambassador at Large for Berkshire School, his alma mater, Robin also holds key roles in The Donald C. McGraw Foundation and Black Rock Foundation, focusing on human services, education and healthcare in Berkshire County. His diverse career includes a 16-year stint as a tactical paramedic, and he's an accomplished athlete — an All-American Soccer player, national team saber fencer and member of the U.S. Masters Hockey Team.

Robin's leadership extends to various boards, including Hospice Care in the Berkshires and The Play to Lead Foundation. As a Deputy Sheriff, he's also a member of the Opiate Task Force, focusing on inmate re-entry programs. Robin and his wife, Buzz, reside on a farm in South Egremont with their pets.

As for his fencing credentials, Robin trained under world-renowned masters like Jean Michel Oprendek and was attached to the French National Team from 1978 to 1980. He earned his Maitre des Armes title at the 1981 World Championships. He then retired from competitive fencing in 1982.