USA Weightlifting Foundation Announces Three New Board Members
The U.S. Amateur Weightlifting Foundation unanimously added three new board members following their May 16 meeting. The three new board members, who bring a wealth of business and weightlifting knowledge and experience, include Joe Berry, Mark House and Michelle Kaiser.
“As USA Weightlifting turns its gaze to gold in LA28, the Board of the Foundation is also building up our team to be able to meet the needs of our athletes and team as they train,” stated Chairman Tim Laney. “Michelle, Mark and Joe are three exceptional additions to our powerful board, and I look forward to working closely with them for the good of the sport.”
Berry serves as co-head of KBW’s Investment Banking Department and leads its fintech practice. He was recently named co-head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Stifel Financial Corp and is based in the firm’s New York office. A cum laude graduate from Bucknell University in Economics and English, Berry also serves on the Board of Directors for Lyndhurst Castle, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The frequent expert lecturer and speaker on the U.S. Financial Services industry is also a longtime amateur weightlifter.
House, a well-known IWF Category 2 Technical Official, has been a long-standing supporter of USA Weightlifting and, in particular, the women’s weightlifting program. He has been heavily involved in the Foundation since its resurgence in 2021, supporting the Tokyo Strong Gala and continuing to provide strong support for the sport through the Foundation, including participation in the Team28 Gold program. House is considered one of the top litigation attorneys in Arizona, where he specializes in litigation involving estates, trusts and financial exploitation.
Kaiser first engaged with the Foundation as a donor in 2021 to specifically support women’s coaching. Since then, she has continued to support the Foundation while also joining House as a Team28 Gold program member. She is a business consultant during the day while being a master Olympic weightlifter in her spare time.
“As someone who believes in the transformative power of strength training, I was driven to support the USA Weightlifting Foundation, particularly female coaches who serve as crucial role models in the weightlifting community,” stated Kaiser in a recent USA Weightlifting newsletter. “By investing in female coaching development, we’re not just building technical expertise - we’re creating a more inclusive future for the sport that will inspire the next generation of lifters to discover their own strength. I am proud to work alongside the USAWF to train and support female coaches who will help shape the future of weightlifting.”
The board is rounded out by Geoff Eliason, Tayler Harris, Mark Henry, Bruce James Oreck, Gunnar Peterson, Aimee Rice, Shane Sevcik, Gary M. Shiffman, Mary Theisen-Lappen and Kate Vibert. Meet our Board >