D16 Board of Directors Election
Paul Cuneo – Candidate for District Director D16
A leader who gets things accomplished!
- What do I bring to this position?
- Extensive Business and Board experience
- Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Officer for Shell Oil Products U.S. Budgets up to $700 million and 1300 people in the organization
- Served on Boards of business, government and nonprofits for 35 years
- Consultant to boards for Strategic Planning, Board Development, Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership Development for 10 years
- Leadership through:
- Strategic thinking to build consensus for change and improvement
- Bringing innovation and creative problem solving
- Managing change for successful implementation of initiatives
- Clear communications for all levels
- Strong work ethic; no one works harder
- Endorsement - Nancy Strohmer, Unit 174 Board Member and Current 2nd Vice President D16
I was elected to the Unit 174 Board in the spring of 2012 and at my first meeting Paul was elected President. We served together for two years and in 2015, I began serving with him on the D16 Board. Paul is proactive and works hard to make improvements at all levels. He accomplishes a lot and has always been willing to help others. My husband Hans and I travel to lots of tournaments and we've met a lot of ACBL Board members. Since the Orlando Board meeting last fall, whenever we meet an ACBL Board member they tell us what a significant impact Paul has already made by immediately getting involved on task forces, how hard he is working and how glad they are to have him on the Board. Paul has my support as District Director.
- Endorsement - Bert Onstott, Former D16 President, Current Webmaster, Membership Chair
I worked at Shell's Westhollow Technology Center (WTC) in Houston for several years while Paul was Vice President of Technology for Shell US and the head of WTC. Paul was the consummate leader, a terrific communicator, and a great strategic thinker. Paul really understands business and technology, two areas that I think the ACBL needs to improve in. I lend my support to his candidacy; he would be my choice for District Director and a great asset to the ACBL leadership.
- ACBL Board Achievements since January 2017 (Serving on Strategy, Governance, Finance, Tournament Taskforce and Club Taskforce)
- Motion passed to raise masterpoint awards by 15% for regionally rated events at NABCs.
- Identified the primary reason for regional tournament attendance decline of 5%/year since 2014 as the 0 – 500 masterpoint players with 65% of the decline. Led a small group discussion on Board decisions to address the decline. Motions to be offered in San Diego.
- Club Taskforce is developing proposals to better support clubs and stimulate growth. Achieved general consensus that Clubs and Teachers need a better incentive plan for sharing the value of a new member as a stimulus for growth. Developing proposals to be discussed with the Taskforce and presented in San Diego. Also championing improved support from Horn Lake.
- Led the work to identify best practices for recruiting, retaining and recognizing our volunteers in response to the 2016 Volunteer Taskforce finding that some Districts and Units have significant problems finding volunteers. Next steps are a survey and a webinar to provide resources.
- Circulated a discussion piece to the taskforces describing that growth, club relationships, volunteers and tournament attendance is inter-related and solutions must take a systems approach.
- Alpha tester for ACBL Score replacement; project is on track for release in 2018.
- Helped design board workshop for Kansas City. Recruited a pro bono facilitator. Facilitated two Board team-building workshops during the Toronto meeting.
- Proposed restructuring Board positions and officer elections to provide more continuity and improve skills utilization. Motion to be offered in San Diego.
- D16 Board Achievements
- I/N monthly newsletter published monthly since 9/1/15
- Proposal for D16 to pay ACBL's fees for Director Refresher Course and Teacher Accreditation Course at two regional tournaments per year. Active since 2015
- Proposed Gold Point events on Monday afternoon at Regionals in 2013 to D16 and ACBL Board President Don Mamula – approved by ACBL Board in 2014
- Fast Results adopted by D16 summer 2014 for Regionals
- Actively visiting Unit Boards, emphasis on membership growth, new member retention, and sharing best practices from each Unit across the District - 2015
- Proposed changing the payout date for Grass Roots Fund. Approved in 2016 by ACBL Board returning $12,000 to D16.
- Championed Dealing Machine for D16; approved in 2013
- As 1st alternate proposed a bridge puzzle app for mobile devices. Ed foundation is supporting development.
- Unit 174 Board Achievements
- 4 years co-chairing Lone Star Regional, 2010 first over 3000 tables since 1998, all 4 years over 3000 tables earning D16 an extra Regional
- Initiated Gold Rush Pairs in 2010 and Bracketed Swiss in 2011
- Initiated 10 am "main events" schedule in 2010 Sectionals and 2011 LSR
