Jake Akstins
Candidate for Competition Coordinator
(708) 263-9664
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1. What is it about the Board position you would like to hold that most interests you in running for office?
I am excited to help elevate Austin’s presence with International Pride Softball and continue to grow our community here in Austin. I have played in many iPride leagues (Chicago, Washington DC, Nashville, Austin), served on the board of Softball Austin Board of Directors, and am currently serving the Board of Directors for the iPride 2025 GSWS. I would like to continue to build our community and ensure compliance with broader iPride. In this position, I will make sure to do the best with ratings and scheduling in an equitable way. Additionally, I am excited to collaborate with the other board members to assist with getting our league back on track with key initiatives: re-establishing ourselves as a non-profit, increasing local sponsorships, and invigorating our social community.
2. How will you contribute to the Board as a whole if elected?
From serving on our board, I have a deep understanding of our league’s history and potential. I also have a deep understanding of the International Pride Softball ratings and overarching structure from my GSWS leadership position. I want to work to help bring more unity into our league and establish clear guidance and governance within our league for player ratings and scheduling.
3. Please list other volunteer commitments you have at this time.
iPride GSWS Board of Directors & iPride DEI Committee Member
Summarize your experience with Softball Austin.
I joined in 2022 when I moved to Austin. When I first joined, Recruitment Day was canceled but the Flying Chanclas were kind enough to let me join their team via Facebook messages. We went to the GSWS in Dallas, and I continued with them in the Fall before joining the Dragons in Spring 2023. I have stuck largely with friends from the Dragons and played on the Trash Pandas and Austin Powers.
I served on the Softball Austin Board of Directors as the Public Relations Chair for a year. My biggest win was securing key sponsorships from Jackalope South Shore and The Austin Eagle. I’m proud of helping to revamp our social media presence – which Raul has done a way better job with than me!
What skills and knowledge are you willing to bring to our Board?
Please indicate your experience in the following areas:
| Area | Experience Level |
|---|---|
| Planning | Very Experienced |
| Fundraising | Some Experience |
| Program planning and evaluation | Very Experienced |
| Recruiting, hiring and evaluating personnel | Very Experienced |
| Financial management and control (budgeting, accounting) | Very Experienced |
| Communication, public and media relations | Very Experienced |
| Public speaking | Very Experienced |
| Information technology | Some Experience |
| Writing, journalism | Some Experience |
| Special events (planning and implementing) | Some Experience |
| iPride Softball Knowledge | Very Experienced |
For the items you checked as “very experienced” or “some experience,” please provide details.
- Planning: Every day at work as a people leader
- Fundraising: PR Chair experience, Founded non-profit ($100K+ per year)
- Program Planning & Evaluation: Recruitment day with Zac with record attendance
- Recruiting, hiring, evaluating personnel: work + above
- Financial Mgmt and Control: I am credentialed as an Actuary
- Communication, etc.: PR Chair Position with SA
- Public Speaking: Presented at many work conferences!
- IT: Helped review new website content to prepare for launch
- Writing & Journalism: Produced “The Dugout” newsletter for league
- Special Events: After Innings revamp when I was on board prior
Please attach a resume or provide a bio of your work experience, highlighting volunteer work.
Jake Akstins (Axe-Tinz), ACAS (he/him) is currently serving as Senior Manager, Global Inclusion, Volunteering & Giving Analytics at Visa and represents his team on the Global I&D and People Analytics leadership teams. In this role, Jake leads People Analytics reporting & strategic consultancy throughout the organization on Inclusion & Diversity. This includes initiatives like representation goal-setting, monitoring movement (hires, attrition, promotions, etc.), and data governance of employee self-identification data. He and his team also lead Volunteering & Giving Data Analytics at Visa.
Jake is a credentialed Actuary with experience in Insurance Pricing, Reserving, and Systems Management. Akstins is a social justice educator, a passion he practiced formally through his three-year tenure as a Multicultural Advocate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is an ally, advocate, and organizer for inclusion and social equity. Jake co-founded the Sexuality and Gender Actuarial Alliance of Actuaries (SAGAA) and served as the inaugural President for two years.
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