Dr. Gary Karner is entering his 13th 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 42 NCAA National Championships the conference has captured over the past 12 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 was named Sports Information Director for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in May, 1999. Stanek served 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 in May, 1997 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

Mark Braden has served as the league’s Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials for 18 years. Braden has been involved with women’s college basketball for 23 seasons and has worked numerous NCAA Tournament games, twice working the Championship game of the Elite Eight, along with the 1998 NCAA Division III Final Four. He has worked the Great Midwest (1995), MCC (1996,1997), Horizon (2000, 2001) and the Mid-Continent Conference (2002) Postseason Tournaments. Braden has worked on the staff of the WIAC, Lake Michigan, Midwest, Great Lakes Valley, Mid-Continent, Conference USA, Horizon and Big Ten Conferences.

Braden began his officiating career in 1975, officiating freshman and sophomore football and basketball. He has officiated college football in the WIAC for 22 seasons. Braden has also worked numerous high school playoff games, along with five state high school championship games and the 1996 and 2003 Shrine All-Star games. He has officiated high school basketball for 21 years and has worked numerous WIAA Tournament games, along with the State Boys High School All-Star Game.

Braden attended UW-Madison and was a linebacker on the 1971 football team. He pursued a history major with a business minor before transferring to UW-Whitewater to complete his requirements for Dental School. In 1980, he graduated from Marquette University with a Doctor of Dental Surgery. He set up his General Dentistry practice in Lake Geneva, Wis. that same year.

Contact Braden:
Work: (262) 248-0120
Home: (262) 248-1982
FAX: (262) 249-0140
Email: braden@genevaonline.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 Lake Michigan 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 Referee Chair for the Badger Region, a local region of USA Volleyball.

Voeck is a National PAVO and USAV volleyball referee, as well as an international volleyball referee candidate. She is on the volleyball referee staff for the following conferences: WIAC, Lake Michigan, Midwest, Big 10, Horizon, Conference USA and Missouri Valley. Her postseason experience includes officiating the first round and regionals of the 2003 NCAA Division I Tournament and first round of 2003 and 2004 NCAA Division III Tournament. Voeck officiated the conference tournaments for Conference USA in 2002 and the Missouri Valley in 2004. She line-judged for the 2000 NCAA Division I Tournament finals and the 2001 Division III Tournament finals.

Voeck holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and obtained a master’s degree in business administration in 1994. She is Manager, Regulatory Policy and Strategic Planning for American Transmission Company, an energy delivery company in Wisconsin.

Contact Voeck:
Work: (262) 506-6846
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. He is a certified referee assignor by the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA).

As a NCAA Division I soccer official for 18 years, Bertun has worked numerous NCAA Tournament and conference championship matches, including twice as the center referee for the WIAC championship match.

After playing top-level amateur soccer for many years, Bertun began officiating in Virginia in 1989 where he quickly ascended to NCAA Division I status, working matches in the ACC, Colonial and Sunbelt Conferences. Bertun moved to Madison in 1993 and began working Big 10, Conference USA and Big East matches.

Bertun has officiated many high school tournaments; being selected four times as the center referee for the WIAA Division I state championship match. He is a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) State Level referee, assessor and instructor. Bertun holds a USSF National “D” coaching license.

Bertun received a bachelor of science in biology from Christopher Newport University (Va.) and served as a graduate research assistant while studying sports medicine at Old Dominion University (Va.). In 2005, Bertun completed all coursework at Edgewood College to become certified as a secondary level broadfield science teacher.

Contact Bertun:
Home: (608) 251-3671
Email: ericbertun@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 19 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 has been the conference commissioner for the Valley 8 Conference since 1998 and the Fox Valley Association since 2000.

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 in 1970. 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