2025 USBC Convention wraps up at South Point in Las Vegas
May 08, 2025
LAS VEGAS – Delegates elected three board members and voted on four legislative proposals at the 2025 United States Bowling Congress Convention and Annual Meeting, which concluded Thursday at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa.
The ballot for the USBC Board election had four candidates slated by the USBC Nominating Committee – Cindy Akin of Placerville, California; Zachary Boulanger of Green Bay, Wisconsin; Chrissie Kent of Newark, New York; and Nathan Shock of Brighton, Colorado – for three open board positions.
On the first ballot, incumbent Kent (564 votes) was reelected, with Boulanger (472 votes) and Shock (436 votes) also gaining election. Akin received 313 votes. A candidate had to receive a majority of the 611 votes cast to be elected.
Additionally, Team USA athletes elected Mark Van Meter of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the USBC Board.
The newly elected board members begin their three-year terms Aug. 1, 2025.
Congratulations also are in order for Christopher Floyd of Lockport, Louisiana; Brooke Johnson of Olympia, Washington; and Angel Metsch of Statesville, North Carolina, who have been appointed to serve three-years terms on the USBC Youth Advisory Group beginning Aug. 1, 2025.
In addition to the board elections, delegates voted on four proposed bylaw amendments (one national, two state and one local). Voting results for all the proposals are noted at the end of this press release.
In other news, in what is annually a surprise announcement, Chicagoland USBC was awarded the USBC Association Excellence Award. The presentation of national and youth awards also took place and featured seven more recipients, including the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Award to Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois, and the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award to Rylan Edwards of DeWitt, Iowa.
USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy introduced a new tiered certification structure for bowling centers and updates to its certification program. The changes aim to provide greater clarity, reduce costs and streamline the inspection process for centers nationwide. Details about the program can be found by clicking here.
Murphy also introduced a new era for one of the most successful grassroots youth events. Beginning with the 2025-2026 season, the tournament previously known as the Pepsi Youth Championships will be rebranded as the USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART.
This rebranding represents more than just a name change; it reflects a new increase in scholarship funding at the grassroots level driven by SMART. The foundational structure of the event remains unchanged, continuing to connect youth bowlers through league-level qualifying into regional or state-level competition with age- and gender-based state champions being awarded an entry to the Junior Gold Championships. To learn more about the USBC Youth Scratch Championships, click here.
USBC President Dennis Hacker and Murphy presented their annual reports, and delegates also heard reports and updates from a number of USBC committees, including the Strategic Planning Committee and USBC Youth Advisory Group.
During Convention week, delegates attended a variety of educational seminars. The agenda also featured presentations from USBC industry and charity partners, including Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL), which provides recreational and therapeutic programs and services to America’s active duty and veteran service men and women, and Bowl for the Cure®, the year-round fundraising initiative sponsored by USBC in partnership with Susan G. Komen®. A milestone was reached this year as the 25th anniversary of Bowl for the Cure was celebrated at Convention.
In 2026, the USBC Convention will head to the Silver Legacy Resort, Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada, in conjunction with the USBC Open Championships, with the event scheduled to run from April 27-30.
Visit BOWL.com/Convention to learn more about the USBC Convention and Annual Meeting.
RESULTS OF 2025 USBC ANNUAL MEETING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
2025 LEGISLATION
Bylaws (two-third votes needed)
Bylaws Proposal No. NB 1 – Rejected (38 approve, 563 reject)
USBC National Bylaws
Article III, Membership and Dues.
Section B. Dues.
Makes the payment of state dues optional.
Bylaws Proposal No. SB 1 – Rejected (38 approve, 553 reject)
USBC State Bylaws
Article V, Board of Directors – Management.
Section E. Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.
Removes the ability to reappoint an individual to a state board who has been removed due to a lapse in their RVP status.
Bylaws Proposal No. SB 2 – Approved (564 approve, 29 reject)
USBC State Bylaws
Article VII, Meetings.
Section A. Annual Meeting.
Allows states to host a virtual Annul Meeting.
Bylaws Proposal No. LB 1 – Rejected (31 approve, 563 reject)
USBC Local Bylaws
Article V, Board of Directors – Management.
Section E. Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.
Removes the ability to reappoint an individual to a local board who has been removed due to a lapse in their RVP status.
The ballot for the USBC Board election had four candidates slated by the USBC Nominating Committee – Cindy Akin of Placerville, California; Zachary Boulanger of Green Bay, Wisconsin; Chrissie Kent of Newark, New York; and Nathan Shock of Brighton, Colorado – for three open board positions.
On the first ballot, incumbent Kent (564 votes) was reelected, with Boulanger (472 votes) and Shock (436 votes) also gaining election. Akin received 313 votes. A candidate had to receive a majority of the 611 votes cast to be elected.
Additionally, Team USA athletes elected Mark Van Meter of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the USBC Board.
The newly elected board members begin their three-year terms Aug. 1, 2025.
Congratulations also are in order for Christopher Floyd of Lockport, Louisiana; Brooke Johnson of Olympia, Washington; and Angel Metsch of Statesville, North Carolina, who have been appointed to serve three-years terms on the USBC Youth Advisory Group beginning Aug. 1, 2025.
In addition to the board elections, delegates voted on four proposed bylaw amendments (one national, two state and one local). Voting results for all the proposals are noted at the end of this press release.
In other news, in what is annually a surprise announcement, Chicagoland USBC was awarded the USBC Association Excellence Award. The presentation of national and youth awards also took place and featured seven more recipients, including the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow Award to Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois, and the Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow Award to Rylan Edwards of DeWitt, Iowa.
USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy introduced a new tiered certification structure for bowling centers and updates to its certification program. The changes aim to provide greater clarity, reduce costs and streamline the inspection process for centers nationwide. Details about the program can be found by clicking here.
Murphy also introduced a new era for one of the most successful grassroots youth events. Beginning with the 2025-2026 season, the tournament previously known as the Pepsi Youth Championships will be rebranded as the USBC Youth Scratch Championships presented by SMART.
This rebranding represents more than just a name change; it reflects a new increase in scholarship funding at the grassroots level driven by SMART. The foundational structure of the event remains unchanged, continuing to connect youth bowlers through league-level qualifying into regional or state-level competition with age- and gender-based state champions being awarded an entry to the Junior Gold Championships. To learn more about the USBC Youth Scratch Championships, click here.
USBC President Dennis Hacker and Murphy presented their annual reports, and delegates also heard reports and updates from a number of USBC committees, including the Strategic Planning Committee and USBC Youth Advisory Group.
During Convention week, delegates attended a variety of educational seminars. The agenda also featured presentations from USBC industry and charity partners, including Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL), which provides recreational and therapeutic programs and services to America’s active duty and veteran service men and women, and Bowl for the Cure®, the year-round fundraising initiative sponsored by USBC in partnership with Susan G. Komen®. A milestone was reached this year as the 25th anniversary of Bowl for the Cure was celebrated at Convention.
In 2026, the USBC Convention will head to the Silver Legacy Resort, Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada, in conjunction with the USBC Open Championships, with the event scheduled to run from April 27-30.
Visit BOWL.com/Convention to learn more about the USBC Convention and Annual Meeting.
RESULTS OF 2025 USBC ANNUAL MEETING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
2025 LEGISLATION
Bylaws (two-third votes needed)
Bylaws Proposal No. NB 1 – Rejected (38 approve, 563 reject)
USBC National Bylaws
Article III, Membership and Dues.
Section B. Dues.
Makes the payment of state dues optional.
Bylaws Proposal No. SB 1 – Rejected (38 approve, 553 reject)
USBC State Bylaws
Article V, Board of Directors – Management.
Section E. Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.
Removes the ability to reappoint an individual to a state board who has been removed due to a lapse in their RVP status.
Bylaws Proposal No. SB 2 – Approved (564 approve, 29 reject)
USBC State Bylaws
Article VII, Meetings.
Section A. Annual Meeting.
Allows states to host a virtual Annul Meeting.
Bylaws Proposal No. LB 1 – Rejected (31 approve, 563 reject)
USBC Local Bylaws
Article V, Board of Directors – Management.
Section E. Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.
Removes the ability to reappoint an individual to a local board who has been removed due to a lapse in their RVP status.