September 23, 2005 – USA Taekwondo Chief Executive Officer Bob Gambardella has announced the appointment of the Amateur Athletic Union’s Mike Friello as Affiliated Organization Director to the USAT Board of Directors. Friello is the first person to be named to the newly formed Board. The remaining nine positions on the 10-member board will be filled by October 14. “We’re looking forward to working with the AAU and feel Mike will be a strong asset to USA Taekwondo in his position on the Board of Directors,” said Gambardella.

AAU Taekwondo National Chair Mike Friello appointed Affiliated Organization Director with USA Taekwondo

In 1988, Friello was appointed Adirondack Chairman of the AAU's Taekwondo program and three years later was appointed National Sport Chair for AAU Taekwondo - a position maintained to this date.

"This is a tremendous opportunity not just for me personally and the AAU Taekwondo Program in general to have its representative chosen to serve as the Affiliated Organization Director on the new USAT Board of Directors, but for all of Taekwondo,” Friello said of his appointment. “It clearly demonstrates that a new day is dawning on the United States Taekwondo scene and the new USAT is ready to promote itself as a more all-inclusive, forward thinking organization.”

An active competitor himself from 1972-1990, Friello has personally directed the last 20 National AAU Taekwondo and Junior Olympic Games competitions as well as training several dozen National Champions.

“It should also serve as an indicator or beacon for those who have shyed away from the Olympic Program, for whatever reason(s), that now is the time to make the commitment and get involved with what should be the world leader in Taekwondo,” added Friello.

“On a more personal level, as National Sport Chair for the AAU Taekwondo Program, I am forever optimistic regarding the true potential of the USAT and the AAU Taekwondo Programs working more closely together towards a common goal. I am truly honored to have this opportunity to serve."

Friello and his wife, Lisa, reside in Schenectady, N.Y. and are the proud parents of four boys: James (22), Alexander (18), Andrew (14) and Matthew (7).

The nine remaining positions to be filled on the USAT Board of Directors include three appointed independent directors, two elected athlete directors, two elected grassroots directors, one elected coach director and one elected referee director.