What recent leadership changes has the NDBC announced?

Updated

The National Duckpin Bowling Congress announced a change in its top staff position in a notice posted to NDBC.org under "Latest News." Executive Director Laura Bowden, who held the role for eight years, advised the Board of Directors earlier in 2026 of her intention to retire effective by the end of August 2026. The Board then conducted a search for a new Executive Director in accordance with the NDBC By-Laws, and approved a new Executive Director at its quarterly meeting on August 8.

What was announced

The notice, titled "Changing of the Guard," was addressed "To the Duckpin Community" and covers three points:

  • Retirement: Laura Bowden, Executive Director for 8 years, told the Board of Directors earlier in 2026 that she intended to retire effective by the end of that month (the notice is dated August 26, 2026).
  • Search process: A search for a new Executive Director was conducted in accordance with the NDBC By-Laws.
  • Approval: The Board approved a new Executive Director at its quarterly meeting on August 8.

The announcement does not name the incoming Executive Director or give a specific start date beyond the Board's approval.

Why the Board credited Bowden

The notice credits Bowden with two main accomplishments during her tenure:

Area What the notice says
Financial stability She "stabiliz[ed] the NDBC financially"
Keeping the sport alive She sustained the organization "despite the daunting challenges presented by the COVID epidemic and numerous lane closures"

The Board also noted that her "love for duckpin bowling was always evident in the countless hours she spent in her efforts to promote the game both as a competitive sport and a recreational" activity.

How the process worked

The sequence described in the notice is straightforward:

  1. The Executive Director informed the Board of Directors of her retirement intention.
  2. The Board ran a search for a replacement "in accordance with the NDBC By-Laws."
  3. The Board approved the new Executive Director at its quarterly meeting on August 8.

If you want the governing details behind that search — for example, how the By-Laws define the Executive Director's term or the Board's hiring authority — the NDBC Rule Book is listed as a separate section on NDBC.org, alongside "Latest News," "Award Recognition," "Tournament Flyers & Results," and "Suspension List."

What this means if you follow NDBC

For bowlers, tournament organizers, or member lanes, the practical takeaway is that the organization's day-to-day administration is changing hands at the top. The notice frames the transition as orderly and by-the-book: a planned retirement, a By-Laws-governed search, and a Board vote at a scheduled quarterly meeting. Anyone who needs to contact NDBC leadership about rankings, tournaments, or suspensions should check NDBC.org for updated contact information, since the announcement itself does not list new contact details.