February 12, 2016 – James Southam has been executive director with the NNF since 2014, but his role supporting the organization goes back farther than that. The former Olympian announced he will move on from the NNF. Here’s a Q&A with Southam as he talks about his work with NNF and his upcoming plans.

James Southam © courtesy of NNF

When did you start with the NNF?
James Southam: 2012

How has the organization changed since you began?
JS: We have grown from providing a relatively small amount of funding to the U18 trip and a World Juniors to a force in the development of US skiers. We have become The amount we have been able to fund has increased dramatically since 2012 and a side effect we have become a unifying force in US skiing uniting the American skiing community. Everyone pulling together during our D25 fundraising campaign and the athletes and coaches from accross the US training, racing, and coaching together on the trips we support we have created a shared national experience. That has been huge!

What do you think it needs to keep growing?
JS: We need to continue to grow as an organization. The NNF has been around since the mid 1990’s and in its current from since 2012. We are a small group striving to make a big impact in our sport but have a lot of room for growth. We also need to find a way to reach outside of the core racing scene and connect with the broader skiing population. People who we fund and those who follow elite US racing know who we are or have at least seen the NNF logo but there are many more skiers out there who don’t know who we are or what we do.

What are your plans heading forward?
JS: I have been in skiing for the past 20+ years and it’s time to make a change. I am going to be stepping away from skiing and going back to school to become a nurse practitioner.

Anything else to add?
JS: I started working with the NNF because through my career I came up at a low point in US development and I could see a If you weren’t one of the few people on the World Cup or racing at World Juniors there wasn’t a clear path to race internationally outside of making a major championship team. It has been a privilege to be a part of enabling todays skiers have a clear path to international skiing and that the NNF is able to make that path more affordable.

The NNF will conduct a search for James’ replacement beginning this month. Interested parties should connect at nnf@nationalnordicfoundation.org.