October 2025 Board Meeting Recap: Rodgers Elected Chair; Mitchell, Inzerillo Join Board; Anthony Named Member of Honor

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Over a packed weekend of fencing leaders gathering for a shared mission to keep USA Fencing moving forward, the USA Fencing Board of Directors approved a bylaw change broadening eligibility for Board Chair, elected new and returning leaders, advanced a slate of policy updates, and honored a past president whose impact spans decades. 

• Scott Rodgers PLY elected Board Chair. In a secret-ballot vote, Rodgers received eight of the 11 votes from his fellow Board members. Per the bylaws amended Friday, the Chair is elected from among all voting directors at each annual meeting held in odd-numbered years — meaning the next Chair election will occur in 2027. Read more in the article here
• Bruce Mitchell elected Independent Director. Mitchell, of Denton, Texas, was chosen to complete the remainder of a two‑year term following a resignation. He is founder and president of Resilient Networks and a former chair of USA Curling. 
• From Bruce Mitchell: “I’m excited about the opportunity to join the board of USA Fencing. Having been involved with Olympic Sport since 2017, and as a former NGB Chair, I am passionate about supporting our mission.”
• Joe Inzerillo appointed Special Board Member, Alperstein retained. Inzerillo, a lifetime Saber and foil fencer originally from Chicago, is currently the Chief Digital and AI Officer for Salesforce and has previously served as Chief Technology Officer or similar roles for SiriusXM, Major League Baseball, Disney and the Chicago White Sox. He was a Sports Business Journal 40 under 40 recipient in 2009, serves on the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum board and has served as the Co-Chair of the U.S. Fencing Foundation Fête for several years.
• Dawn Wilson named DEIB Chair. The Board approved Wilson to complete the current term as chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee. 
• Don Anthony named Member of Honor. The Board unanimously approved the distinction, which requires a two‑thirds vote and may be offered twice per calendar year. Read more in the article here.

• Consent agenda approved, including minutes from Aug. 2, the USA Fencing Records & Document Retention Policy, and an amended Conflicts of Interest Policy. Reports from committees, resource groups and task forces were accepted. 
• Bylaw change: Chair eligibility. After a 45‑day member comment period, the Board approved allowing any voting member of the Board (athlete, elected or appointed) to serve as Chair. An amendment to limit eligibility to Athlete Reps and At‑Large Directors failed, as did a motion to hold the Chair vote by roll call. Final vote on the bylaw: yes 8, no 2, abstain 1. 
• Officer reappointments. Emily Bian (treasurer), Peter Barton (parliamentarian) and Jess Saxon (secretary) were reappointed to their roles on the Board. 
• Independent Director. Mitchell was elected to join the Board as a independent director. 

• Consent agenda item: Jessica Saxon appointed General Counsel; Paul Greene (Global Sports Advocates) appointed Outside Counsel, effective Nov. 1, 2025. 
• Rules update: The Board adopted FIE technical, organizational and publicity code changes from the 2023 FIE Congress (with noted exceptions), effective Jan. 1, 2026. 
• Special Board Members: By secret ballot, Donald Alperstein (reappointment) and Joe Inzerillo were selected as non-voting special board members. Terms began Oct. 26, 2025. 
• DEIB and Member of Honor: Wilson approved as DEIB Chair; Donald K. Anthony Jr. recognized as a Member of Honor (11–0). 

Rodgers will serve as Chair until the Board’s next annual meeting in 2027 under the newly approved bylaw. The FIE‑aligned rules changes take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The Board will next meet in December.

Editor’s note: These highlights summarize approved actions from the Oct. 24 and Oct. 26 meetings. For full details, please refer to the official minutes posted here.