tobias vyseri – Candidate for Board of Directors 2025

Note: This is a candidate page for a Judge Foundry Election. Information on this page is provided by the candidate, and does not represent the opinions or positions of the Elections Committee or of Judge Foundry. For more information about this election, see the schedule and index for the Elections at the 2025 Annual Meeting.

Nomination Statement

Over the past year on the board, I’ve taken on a wide range of responsibilities—often stepping in to assist other members with their duties. I’ve handled secretarial work, addressed subscription and payment issues, managed our website, and responded to contact form inquiries. I organize meeting itineraries, regularly check in with other board members to offer support, and helped launch several key initiatives: creating the grant committee, filling out the bylaw committee, and kickstarting the annual meeting. I also finalized our partnership with JudgeCast and continue to produce assets for them.

Beyond my board role, I contribute heavily to the administrative and organizational work for conferences and submit questions for the update exams. I’m not afraid to stand up to people in positions of authority on behalf of our members, even when it comes at a personal cost. For me, serving on the board is a responsibility, not an honorific—and my priority is always to represent the needs of the many, not the few.

As we approach a potential sunset of the organization and the possibility of brokering a partnership with Wizards, it’s more important than ever for the board to work as a cohesive, united team. I bring strong diplomacy skills and a proven ability to collaborate effectively with others, even in challenging situations. I believe a successful board needs both visionaries and workhorses—and I’m a workhorse who keeps projects moving, supports my colleagues, and helps maintain a productive, respectful environment where we can tackle difficult transitions together.

Q1: Judge Program Direction

Question: It appears that one of this board’s main responsibilities will be to either navigate our relationship with Wizards of the Coast’s new Judge Program Manager, or manage a transition from Judge Foundry back to Wizards of the Coast. How would you navigate this situation?

This kind of transition requires careful attention to communication, transparency, and community impact. My approach would begin with seeking clarity: I’d prioritize building a direct and collaborative relationship with Wizards’ new Judge Program Manager to fully understand their goals, expectations, and the scope of any potential partnership. At the same time, I’d want to ensure that our values and the needs of our community are clearly represented in those conversations.

Q2: Non-Profit Administration

Question: What skills, experience, or plans would you bring to this role in non-profit administration?

Over the past year serving on the board, I’ve gained valuable insight into the inner workings of the organization. I’ve learned how to create and manage committees, process payments, oversee the shop, and handle website updates, including adjusting member levels due to subscription lapses, or other payment issues. I also contributed to administrative tasks related to conference planning, such as drafting meeting agendas and assisting with minutes when needed. I’m skilled at communicating with members and ensuring their concerns are relayed to the appropriate individuals or teams. I believe I’ve developed a strong foundation in non-profit operations this year and would be glad to continue supporting the organization—particularly as we look to responsibly sunset the program in the coming year.

Q3: Member Benefits and Resources

Question: How do you think Judge Foundry should best use its limited resources to benefit the members?

With limited resources, it’s essential to focus on efforts that provide the greatest direct value to members. I believe Judge Foundry should prioritize initiatives that support judges’ development, recognition, and connection to the broader community. I think in the upcoming year I’d like to see more money actually going to support conferences, as well as other independent projects that are of immense benefit to the program (like potentially judgingFTW, Yawgatog or judge core app).