Port Washington webmaster comes full circle

Once a youth baseball player in organization, Brandon Kurz now runs it

Webmaster of the Week: March 7-13

NAME:
Brandon Kurz

SITE:
Port Washington Youth Activities

POSITION:
Director, webmaster

USE OF PLATFORM:
Advertising Network, Dibs, Sitebuilder, Registration, Verify

BACKGROUND:
Kurz grew up playing multiple sports in Port Washington, a Long Island town 17 miles from New York City with a population of about 33,000. A baseball player in Port Youth Activities programs from age 5 to 18, Kurz went on to play at the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. Kurz, who earned a degree in marketing, took over the PYA director position from Ronnie Henderson, who ran the organization for 23 years and is best friends with Kurz’s father. “I’ve come full circle now,” Kurz said. “I’m now in charge of helping Port Washington kids, when I was one of those kids once myself.”

WHAT HE DOES:
Kurz oversees 18 programs related to baseball, basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, softball, tennis and wrestling. He said Port Washington Youth Activities serves 3,500 families with children ages 5 to 13. Kurz moved the PYA onto the Sport Ngin plaftform last spring, and he’s since incorporated a wide array of products including Sport Ngin’s advertising network and the Dibs volunteer management tool. He’s also using Registration in several ways that go beyond the basic individual program signups. Sponsors can purchase a field sign, sponsor a team and make additional donations directly through the website. Kurz also integrated the Verify background screening system so that coach background checks can be done online. Content flows regularly onto the home page News Slideshow, showcasing upcoming camps, clinics, academies and other offerings.  “We will be a lot more interactive with our players and families,” Kurz said. “I can’t wait to show them all the features. They are going to be fired up.”

MAKING HIS MARK:
Kurz created a Hall of Fame section that lists all of Port Youth Activities inductees dating back to 1991. He also has full PDF biographies linked to each inductee.