A native of the Milwaukee area, Karner was named Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Wisconsin State University Conference, effective July 15, 1996. Karner came to the conference from the National Collegiate Athletic Association headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas, where he had served as a compliance services representative beginning in 1988.

In 1975, he received his undergraduate degree in education from UW-Stevens Point and a master’s in educational administration from UW-Madison in 1978. While earning his doctorate in educational administration at UW-Madison he served as an intern in the division of intercollegiate athletics (1982-83) and was an administrative assistant in the WSUC office in Madison (1983-84).

The commissioner taught and coached in the North Fond du Lac and Waunakee school districts. He was also an assistant district administrator for the Arbor-Vitae/Woodruff school district from 1979-82. After completing his doctorate in 1984, Karner served as district director of athletics and activities in Woodland Park, Colorado, until joining the NCAA staff.

His first major undertaking as commissioner was to facilitate the merger of the former WWIAC and WSUC, which had functioned as separate men’s and women’s conferences for over 25 years, into the WIAC. During Karner’s tenure, the conference has solidified its status as the premier Division III conference in the country. Karner has directed a number of highly successful initiatives including the development of the WIAC Corporate Partner Program and conference web site, as well as events such as the “Border Battle” and the men’s and women’s postseason basketball tournament.

Contact Karner:
Work: (608) 263-4402
FAX: (608) 265-3176
Email:gkarner@uwsa.edu

Matt Stanek was named Sports Information Director for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in May, 1999. Stanek served as an intern in the same position from August, 1998 - May, 1999. Before working with the WIAC, he completed an internship in the Media Relations Department of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club from January - May, 1997. He also assisted the club for the Amateur Draft in June, 1997. Stanek graduated from UW-La Crosse in May, 1997 with a bachelor of science degree in exercise and sport science with an emphasis in sport management.


Contact Stanek:
Work: (608) 265-6406
FAX: (608) 265-3176
Email: mstanek@uwsa.edu

Mark Braden has served as the league’s Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials for over 16 years. Braden has been involved with women’s college basketball for the past 21 seasons and has worked numerous NCAA Tournament games, twice working the Championship game of the Elite Eight, along with the 1998 NCAA Division III Final Four. He has worked the Great Midwest (1995), MCC (1996,1997), Horizon (2000, 2001) and the Mid-Continent Conference (2002) Postseason Tournaments. He has worked on the staff of the WIAC, Lake Michigan, Midwest, Great Lakes Valley, Mid-Continent, Conference USA, Horizon and Big Ten Conferences.

Braden began his officiating career in 1975, officiating freshman and sophomore football and basketball. He has officiated college football in the WIAC for the last 21 seasons. Braden has also worked numerous high school playoff games, along with five state high school championship games and the 1996 and 2003 Shrine All-Star games. He has officiated high school basketball for over 20 years and has worked numerous WIAA Tournament games, along with the State Boys High School All-Star Game.

Braden attended UW-Madison and was a linebacker on the 1971 football team. He pursued a history major with a business minor before transferring to UW-Whitewater to complete his requirements for Dental School. In 1980, he graduated from Marquette University with a Doctor of Dental Surgery. He set up his General Dentistry practice in Lake Geneva, Wis. that same year.

Work: (262) 248-0120
Home: (262) 248-1982
FAX: (262) 249-0140
Email: braden@genevaonline.com

Julie Voeck was named WIAC Coordinator of Women’s Volleyball Officials in July, 2001. Voeck also serves as the coordinator of volleyball officials for the Lake Michigan Conference and Midwest Conference.

Voeck is the Official’s Training Camp Director for the Professional Administration of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) - the national training and certification organization for volleyball officials. She is also the Referee Chair for the Badger Region, a local region of USA Volleyball.

Voeck is a National PAVO and USAV volleyball referee, as well as an international volleyball referee candidate. She is on the volleyball referee staff for the following conferences: WIAC, Lake Michigan, Midwest, Big 10, Horizon, Conference USA and Missouri Valley. Her postseason experience includes officiating the first round and regionals of NCAA Division I Tournament in 2003 and first round of NCAA Division III Tournament in 2003 and 2004. Voeck officiated the conference tournaments for Conference USA in 2002 and the Missouri Valley in 2004. She line-judged for the NCAA Division I Tournament finals in 2000 and the Division III Tournament finals in 2001.

Voeck holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and obtained a master’s degree in business administration in 1994. She is Manager, Regulatory Policy and Strategic Planning for American Transmission Company, an energy delivery company in Wisconsin.

Contact Voeck:
Work: (262) 506-6846
Home: (414) 607-9918
FAX: (414) 607-9023
Email: jvoeck@attglobal.net

Eric Bertun was named WIAC Assignor of Women’s Soccer Officials in October, 2003 and added the title of Coordinator in June, 2006. He is a certified referee assignor by the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA).

As a NCAA Division I soccer official for 16 years, Bertun has worked numerous NCAA Tournament and conference championship matches, including twice as the center referee for the WIAC championship match.

After playing top-level amateur soccer for many years, Bertun began officiating in Virginia in 1989 where he quickly ascended to NCAA Division I status, working matches in the ACC, Colonial and Sunbelt Conferences. Bertun moved to Madison in 1993 and began working Big 10, Conference USA and Big East matches.

Bertun has also officiated many high school tournaments; being selected four times as the center referee for the WIAA Division I state championship match. He is a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) State Level referee, assessor and instructor. Bertun holds a USSF National “D” coaching license.

Bertun received a bachelor of science in biology from Christopher Newport University (Va.) and served as a graduate research assistant while studying sports medicine at Old Dominion University (Va.). Recently, Bertun completed all coursework at Edgewood College to become certified in 2005 as a secondary level broadfield science teacher.

Contact Burton:
Home: (608) 251-3671
Cell: (608) 225-8662
Email: ericbertun@tds.net

Jim Doden was named WIAC Assignor of Baseball Umpires in October, 2003 and added the title of Coordinator in June, 2006. He has officiated in many capacities for the conference, including 29 years as a baseball umpire, 26 years as a basketball referee and 17 years as a football official.

In addition to his experience with the WIAC, Doden has served as a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) official for 41 years. He has been the conference commissioner for the Valley 8 Conference since 1998 and the Fox Valley Association since 2000.

Doden is a member of the National Education Association (NEA), Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA), Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO), National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) and Green Bay Officials Association (GBOA).

Doden received a bachelor of science degree in math and physical education from UW-La Crosse in 1970. He was a member of the Eagle baseball team from 1967-70.

Work: (920) 731-1556
Home: (920) 731-1556
Cell: (920) 540-4116
Email: jdoden@sbcglobal.net