Fred Hagedorn, Secretary
From: Chicago, IL
Education: Tufts University, Kellogg and McCormick Schools of Northwestern University
Fred Hagedorn, 49, is a lifelong sailor and consultant / executive coach. Fred has worked in manufacturing on both the east coast and Midwest as an engineer, supervisor and ultimately as the head of manufacturing for two different international businesses based out of the Chicago-area.
Fred began sailing at the Winchester Boat Club at the age of 10. He taught sailing there and then served as a member of the boat club’s Board of Directors for a number of years before moving to Chicago. In 1980, Fred was the first new leader to be invited to join the Southern Massachusetts Instructor Workshop Faculty (at the age of 20) with a focus on how to coach children. This was one of the forerunners to the evolving US SAILING Instructor Certification Program.
After college, Fred became a certified judge in Area A, and in 1988 became a Senior Judge, doing a lot of work in the Boston-area intercollegiate sailing circuit. In 1994 Fred became Secretary of the US SAILING Appeals Committee and held that role until 1998, when he became increasingly occupied with his role on the Olympic Sailing Committee.
In 1987, Fred began his long-running relationships with the Olympic Sailing Program when he was asked to serve on the Jury for the 1988 Olympic Sailing Trials – Finn. He has had a role in every Olympic Selection Trials – Sailing, ever since. Fred became the Chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee. He had the honor of serving as our Team Leader and Rules Advisor to the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo, DR, and in 2004 at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Bringing Rolex to the Miami OCR, introducing annual Team Gatherings with the athletes, improving sponsor relations and initiating fundraising for the program by US SAILING are a few of the initiatives during his tenure.
In 2006, Jim Capron asked fred to serve as Secretary of the Board of Directors, and in 2009, Gary Jobson asked him to take a second term of 3 years.
Fred is married to Sarah Alger, and they have two sons, Tyler and Alex. All sail dinghies at the Chicago Yacht Club where they are members, and Fred occasionally gets out on some larger boats as well. In addition to his involvements in sailing, Fred is a National Judge and Referee in the sport of Figure Skating, primarily Ice Dancing, and is the co-founder of the largest competitive youth soccer club in the city of Chicago.
Words from our Secretary
I know the breadth of US SAILING, from its small boat clubs to its highly competitive sailors, from the locally based community sailing center to the large, internationally know yacht clubs, from teaching small beginners to supporting our most elite competitive sailors. I support Gary’s commitment to raise the visibility of our sport and his commitment to partnering with our many constituents.