WNBA President Donna Orender to Address NASPE/AAHPERD Convention
October 12, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
RESTON, VA, October 12, 2006 - The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is thrilled to announce that Donna Orender, president of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), will be the organization's keynote speaker at its annual convention in Baltimore, MD on March 14, 2007. Over 5,000 physical education teachers, coaches and other physical activity professionals are expected to attend the 122th annual convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). NASPE is the largest of the five national associations which make up AAHPERD. The NASPE General Session, one of the highlights of the annual convention, has recently featured such well-known speakers as baseball great Cal Ripken, Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer Bob Greene, and Olympian Dot Richardson, vice-chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Responsible for all business and league operations for the WNBA, Orender will speak about the future of women's professional sports and the many exciting initiatives of WNBA Cares including Be Smart Be Fit Be Yourself! A former athlete, she will also discuss the important role of sport and physical activity in her own life. One of the highlights of the session will be a drawing for a WNBA athlete to visit a school as well as tickets for the All-Star Game and WNBA Finals. NASPE President Jackie Lund of Georgia State University will preside. HOPSports, an innovator of digital video-based fitness training headquartered in Valencia, CA, is the sponsor of the NASPE General Session.
Prior to joining the league, Orender spent more than 17 years with the PGA Tour, serving most recently as Senior Vice President of Strategic Development in the Office of the Commissioner. While at the Tour, Orender was responsible for the development and management of strategic direction across all business lines including new media, Internet, advertising and brand management. In addition, she ran the Tour's worldwide television and production businesses for nine years prior to being named senior vice president.
A graduate of Queens College in New York, Orender did graduate studies in social work at Adelphi University. When Orender moved to the WNBA, she brought with her not only her business acumen but also a significant basketball history and a true passion for the game. She played three seasons in the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL), where she was an All-Star. She also was an All-American basketball player during her collegiate years.
Orender's community and philanthropic activities include serving on the boards of the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc., the Jacksonville Film & Television Advisory Council, the University of North Florida College of Arts and Science Advisory Council, and Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel. In addition, she served as Co-Chair for the USA Women's Basketball team for the 16th World Maccabiah Games in Israel, and participates in the National Minority Golf Foundation Mentor Program.
Orender is married to MG Orender, honorary president of the PGA of America and owner/partner in Hampton Golf, Inc. She has twin boys, Jacob and Zachary, and two stepchildren, Morgan and Colleen.
The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 17,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. The mission of NASPE is to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information. It is the largest of the five national associations that make the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD).
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