NIAA Appoints Cate Sgroi as Executive Director
The appointment follows failed contract negotiations with the board's previous pick, stabilizing NIAA leadership.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in People
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Board of Control has appointed assistant director Cate Sgroi as executive director following a failed contract negotiation with the prior candidate. Sgroi becomes the seventh person to lead the organization and the first woman to hold the position.
Why it matters
The leadership change concludes a period of uncertainty for the NIAA board, which had previously split its support between two candidates. For stakeholders, this shift stabilizes organizational leadership after contract negotiations with the September-selected candidate, Dr. Todd Cutler, did not result in an agreement.
The NIAA Board of Control reached its unanimous decision on October 16 following a contentious September selection process that included a 7-5 vote in favor of an alternate candidate. Cate Sgroi now serves as the seventh executive director in the organization's history.
The players
Cate Sgroi
The newly appointed executive director of the NIAA and the first woman to hold the role.
Dr. Todd Cutler
The candidate who was initially approved for the position but declined to accept after negotiations.
NIAA Board of Control
The governing body responsible for overseeing interscholastic activities and executive leadership in Nevada.
The details
The Board of Control moved to appoint Sgroi after the primary candidate, Dr. Todd Cutler, declined to accept the role following stalled contract negotiations. Sgroi was originally designated by the board as the first runner-up during the selection process held in September. The emergency meeting held on Friday solidified the leadership appointment, effectively bypassing the deadlock that had marked previous selection efforts.
Timeline
September 2026: The board initially voted 7-5 to approve Dr. Todd Cutler for the executive director position.
October 16, 2026: The board held an emergency meeting and voted unanimously to appoint Cate Sgroi.
Market Landscape
This leadership appointment concludes the NIAA's internal search process that began with a split vote in September 2026. The board's unanimous pivot to Sgroi signals a final resolution to the governance uncertainty that followed the failed negotiations with the prior candidate.
Operators and member organizations should update their points of contact to reflect the change in executive leadership. Monitoring the board's upcoming session agendas will be critical for understanding any shifts in operational priorities under Sgroi's tenure.
The takeaway
The NIAA transition underscores the importance of maintaining an active runner-up pool during executive searches to avoid prolonged leadership vacuums. Stakeholders should review the organization's revised governance structure and upcoming board meeting minutes for updates on administrative policy.
Further reading
For more on administrative leadership in the state, see Nevada People.
