Staff
WFTDA / WFTDI
Learn more about the people who work for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and its for-profit subsidiary, WFTDI.
WFTDA Staff
Karen Kauffman (a.k.a. Bones), Steel City Roller Derby
Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Global Programs
Pronouns: she/her
Karen Kauffman, or “Bones,” was initially hired as the WFTDA’s first Managing Director of Games in 2012, and promoted to Senior Director of Programs in 2017. Karen manages games and officiating initiatives related. This applies to: rules, standards, systems, and our tournaments program. In 2019, Karen’s position expanded to build and manage WFTDA’s global network of partners. This includes national governing bodies and the Junior Roller Derby Association, and support initiatives to develop and maintain the sport of flat track roller derby worldwide.
Karen holds a Masters in International Business Studies and French, and came to the WFTDA with extensive experience in project management and software translation. She was one of the original members of Suburbia Roller Derby in Westchester, NY, USA, where she skated for four years and officiated for five. Karen is an active alumni volunteer. She held positions of Public Relations Chair, President, and Tournament Director of the 2010 WFTDA Eastern Region Playoffs, “Derby In the Burbs”. Karen then volunteered for the WFTDA as the Chair of the WFTDA Tournaments Committee before being hired in her staff position.
Karen has volunteered extensively in her community as a board member of her two childrens’ nursery school and public school Parent Teacher Association. She managed the local American Youth Soccer Organization region for over 10 years as a Coach, Coach Administrator, Treasurer, and Commissioner and helped found her community’s highly successful Sleepy Hollow Football Club. Karen plays roller derby for Steel City Roller Derby and plays soccer and tennis in her spare time.
Lesley Wachsmann (Lesley Nope), Rockin’ City Rollergirls
Senior Director of Operations
Pronouns: she/her
Lesley Wachsmann transitioned to Senior Director of Operations in 2019. She was initially hired as a part-time Executive Assistant in 2012, and has expanded her role over her eight years with the organization. She has experience and knowledge from the corporate world of banking and sales, and is overjoyed to use her skills to support the mission of the WFTDA. She is responsible for all things business and operations in the WFTDA. You can usually find her behind the scenes working on a policy, spreadsheet, or budget.
Lesley is a graduate of Texas State University, with a focus on Business Administration. She lives just outside of Austin, in Round Rock, Texas; and skates with Rockin’ City Rollergirls.
WFTDI Staff
Visit wftdi.com for more information about WFTDI.
Erica Vanstone (Double H), Philly Roller Derby
Chief Executive Officer
Pronouns: she/her
Erica “Double H” Vanstone was named Executive Director of the WFTDA in 2019, after serving as interim Executive Director for over a year. In late 2021, Erica made the transition to Chief Executive Officer of WFTDI, to focus her energy and talents on managing our for-profit entity. Erica has been an integral part of the WFTDA since 2010, when she guided the development of WFTDA.tv, and was later hired as Director of Broadcast Operations in 2014.
Erica earned a Master’s of Science in Sports Business from Temple University. This has helped her shape the vision for infrastructure transformation in the WFTDA as the organization continues its mission to improve and grow the sport of roller derby and build out services for the community. She served on several Board of Directors. This includes her current work with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation in Philadelphia, where she is involved in equity-based and trauma-informed community development in one of the nation’s hardest-hit areas by the opioid epidemic.
She has secured partnerships for the WFTDA with organizations such as JRDA, ESPN, UN Women, and Twitch.tv. Erica has helped the WFTDA and its subsidiary, WFTDI, establish two new entities: WFTDI Canada, and Quad Media, Inc. Erica also served on the Board of Directors for Philly Roller Derby for more than six years. She served as an announcer and an official, a skater, as well as a coach for Philly’s junior program.
Shelli Wiggins (Toss’er Assout)
Senior Director of Insurance Programs
Pronouns: she/her
Shelli was WFTDA’s first employee, hired in 2009 to administer the WFTDA’s insurance program and oversee the Risk Management Committee, bringing with her over a decade of experience. In 2010, WFTDA filed Articles of Incorporation for WFTDI, its for-profit subsidiary, and Shelli became WFTDI’s first employee. Over the years, Shelli has facilitated the growth and expansion of WFTDA’s insurance options to include men’s derby, junior derby, and non-member leagues. In recent years, coverage has also expanded to include banked track, bowl skating, and worldwide coverage. Shelli continues to facilitate sustainable growth, risk mitigation, compliance, and skater wellness programs to help meet the expanding needs of the roller derby community.
Aimee Ward
Insurance Claims Assistant
Pronouns: she/her
Aimee joined WFTDI staff as the part time claims assistant in 2012. We’re glad claims administration doesn’t require a full-time employee! When it comes to derby, Aimee is a spectator and fan, sitting safely on the sidelines. In her non-derby life, Aimee is a special needs advocate, a nutritionist, and a full time mom of two very energetic young boys.
Trisha Newman (a.k.a. Sniperella)
General Counsel
Pronouns: she/her
Trish Newman was hired as WFTDA’s first in-house general counsel in June 2019. Prior to that, Trish Newman represented the WFTDA as a client through her firm Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester, LLP for approximately three years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from UCLA (2001) and received her Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law (2004). Trish began her legal career as a deputy public defender for Los Angeles County. While working as a public defender, she also started skating with the banked track league, the Los Angeles Derby Dolls. While with the Derby Dolls she was head of merchandising. After she left the public defender’s office and started her own solo practice, Trish handled various transactional matters, league policy revamps, and general corporate compliance as general counsel to the Derby Dolls. Trish also continued to advise and consult other derby leagues as part of a general corporate practice both as a solo practitioner and later as Senior Counsel at Manning & Kass, where she is still Of Counsel. She advises small, medium, and large businesses on corporate compliance, transactional matters, as well as handling state and federal appeals. Trish is admitted to the State Bars of California and Texas, the Central District of California, the 5th and 9th Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is Vice Chair of Social Media for the California Lawyers Association, and a member of Women in Sports Law and the Sports Lawyers Association.