Dr. Gary Karner is entering his 14th year as the commissioner of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), a Division III conference consisting of nine institutions from within the University of Wisconsin System. His first major undertaking as commissioner was to merge the former Wisconsin State University Conference and Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which had functioned as separate men’s and women’s conferences for over 25 years, into the WIAC.

During his tenure as commissioner, the WIAC has solidified its status as the premier Division III conference in the country as evidenced by the 44 NCAA National Championships the conference has captured over the past 13 years.

Karner also has directed a number of highly successful initiatives including the establishment of the WIAC Corporate Partner Program, a conference web site, a comprehensive sportsmanship program, as well as events such as the “Border Battle” and the WIAC Men’s and Women’s Postseason Basketball Tournament. Most recently, Karner achieved another milestone by brokering an agreement to have selected WIAC events (including all of the conference championships) televised on a regional sports network (FSN Wisconsin) - the first-ever such agreement in the history of Division III athletics.

Prior to becoming the commissioner of the WIAC, Karner spent nearly eight years with the NCAA national office as a compliance representative. During his tenure with the NCAA, he played a key role in the development of the institutional compliance review process as well as the NCAA Division I Athletic Certification Program. He also served as a NCAA liaison to a number of NCAA committees, the PAC-10, Big Sky, WAC and Big West conferences, and the College Football Association (CFA).

Karner also spent nearly 13 years in public education as a teacher, coach, and administrator in Wisconsin and Colorado. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1975 and his master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1978 and 1984, respectively.

Karner has served as the president of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators as well as on the executive committee of the NCAA Division III Commissioner’s Association, the NCAA Interpretations and Legislation Committee and the NADIIIAA Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Committee. He is a current member of the NCAA Division III Baseball Committee.

Contact Karner:
Work: (608) 263-4402
FAX: (608) 265-3176
Email:gkarner@uwsa.edu

Matt Stanek begins his 12th season with the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2009-10, and first as Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations. He was named Sports Information Director for the WIAC in May, 1999 after serving as an intern in the same position from August, 1998 - May, 1999.

Before working with the WIAC, he completed an internship in the Media Relations Department of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club from January - May, 1997. He also assisted the club during the 1997 June Amateur Draft. Stanek graduated from UW-La Crosse with a bachelor of science degree in exercise and sport science and an emphasis in sport management.

Contact Stanek:
Work: (608) 265-6406
FAX: (608) 265-3176
Email: mstanek@uwsa.edu

Becky Blank was named WIAC Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials in July, 2009. She worked as an official in the WIAC for the last 10 seasons and has worked Midwest Conference and Northern Athletics Conference contests. In 2001, Blank officiated the NCAA Division III national semifinals and championship games.

Since 1998, she has worked in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, as well as the Summit League, Horizon League, Missouri Valley Conference, Mid-American Conference and Big East Conference. In 2001 and 2008, she officiated the first, second and third rounds of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

From 1990-99, she served as an official for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association. On six occasions, Blank worked the state tournament finals.

Blank has served as a women’s volleyball official for the WIAC, Midwest Conference and Northern Athletics Conference for the past three years. Since 1990, she has worked high school matches throughout the state, including seven state tournament final matches.

For the past eight years, Blank has served as commissioner of the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference. In this role, she prepares schedules, hires and assigns officials for 13 varsity-level sports.

Blank earned her bachelor of arts in marketing from UW-Whitewater. She resides in Cedarburg with her husband and two children.

Contact Blank:
Work: (262) 375-3849
Cell: (414) 870-3834
Email: beckyblank@hotmail.com

Julie Voeck was named WIAC Coordinator of Women’s Volleyball Officials in July, 2001. Voeck also serves as the coordinator of volleyball officials for the Northern Athletics Conference and Midwest Conference.

Voeck is the Officials Training Camp Director for the Professional Administration of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) - the national training and certification organization for volleyball officials. She is also the commissioner for the Badger Region, a region of USA Volleyball encompassing the state of Wisconsin.

Voeck is a National PAVO and USAV volleyball referee, as well as an international volleyball referee. Her international experience includes officiating several world military volleyball championships (2006-09), as well as the NORCECA U20 championships in 2006 in Monterrey, Mexico. Voeck has also served as a reserve referee for World League men’s volleyball matches.

Voeck is on the volleyball referee staff for the following conferences: WIAC, Northern Athletics, Midwest, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Horizon and Missouri Valley. Her postseason experience includes officiating several first and second rounds and regional rounds of the NCAA Division I Tournament (2003-08), along with the NCAA Division III Tournament (2003-04). Voeck has officiated league tournaments for Conference USA in 2002 and the Missouri Valley Conference (2004-08). She was selected as a line judge for the finals of 2000 NCAA Division I Tournament and the 2001 Division III Tournament.

Voeck owns a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in business administration. She is Director, Regulatory Affairs for Next Era Energy, an energy company that develops and operates electric generation facilities, focusing on wind energy.

Voeck and her husband, Andy, reside in Wauwatosa.

Contact Voeck:
Work: (262) 814-2639
Home: (414) 607-9918
FAX: (414) 607-9023
Email: jvoeck@attglobal.net

Eric Bertun was named WIAC Coordinator of Women’s Soccer Officials in October, 2003. Beginning in 2009-10, he will oversee the WIAC men’s soccer officials - assuming the role of Coordinator of Soccer Officials. He is certified by the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) as both a referee assignor and referee assessor. He is a former United States Soccer Federation (USSF) State Level referee, assessor and instructor.

After a long competitive playing career, Bertun began officiating in Virginia in 1989 where he quickly ascended to NCAA Division I status. He has officiated matches throughout the country in the Big Ten, Big East, ACC, Horizon League and Conference USA. Bertun became a WIAC official in 1993 and is a veteran of many post-season assignments, including twice being the Referee for the WIAC championship match and four times as the Referee for the WIAA Division I state high school championship match.

Bertun, who holds a USSF National “D” coaching license, coaches varsity soccer at Madison East High School. He is also president of Madison FC, a competitive soccer club.

Bertun received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Christopher Newport University (Va.) where he also served two years as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team. He spent two years as sports medicine graduate research assistant at Old Dominion University (Va.). Bertun is a certified high school science teacher and is employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District.

Contact Bertun:
Cell: (608) 225-8662
Email: ncaaref@tds.net

Jim Doden was named WIAC Coordinator of Baseball Umpires in October, 2003. He has officiated in many capacities for the conference, including 31 years as a baseball umpire, 27 years as a basketball referee and 20 years as a football official.

In addition to his experience with the WIAC, Doden has served as a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) official for 43 years. He was the conference commissioner for the Valley 8 Conference from 1998 until the conference realigned in 2007. In 2000, he was named commissioner of the Fox Valley Association and continues in that position.

Doden is a member of the National Education Association (NEA), Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA), Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO), National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) and Green Bay Officials Association (GBOA).

Doden received a bachelor of science degree in math and physical education from UW-La Crosse. He was a member of the Eagle baseball team from 1967-70.

Contact Doden:
Work: (920) 731-1556
Home: (920) 731-1556
Email: jdoden@sbcglobal.net