The Little League Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Region has nominated one of its experienced volunteer leaders for election to the Little League International Board of Directors, it was announced by Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball.
Kristian Palvia, of Skovde, Sweden, is nominated to replace Giuseppe Guilizzoni, from Novaro, Italy. Mr. Palvia is expected to assume his seat on the Little League International Board of Directors at its November 2012 annual meeting.
Each of the nine Field Directors on the board, one from each of the nine Little League Baseball and Softball regions, serves a three-year term.
“Kristian will provide an interesting perspective for our board representing one of our international regions,” Mr. Keener said. “He has been a committed Little League volunteer leader for many years, successfully building new, and overseeing existing programs in Sweden, as the District Administrator. His experience with the national federation in Sweden also will provide a look at the baseball landscape as we continue to try to grow Little League in that country.”
Mr. Palvia, 41, has been involved with baseball and softball on the federation level since 1996 in different volunteer positions. In 2004, Mr. Palvia accepted the position of Secretary General of the Swedish Baseball and Softball Federation, a position he still holds.
Mr. Palvia has been the Little League District Administrator (DA) in Sweden since 2005 and attended Little League International Congress in Houston (2007) and Lexington (2010).
Prior to serving in his present position, Mr. Palvia was the club administrator for IFK Skovde, an elite handball club, overseeing all aspects of the club, including the management of a large youth handball tournament that featured more than 300 teams and 3,000 participants.
Mr. Palvia has been involved with youth baseball since 1989, when the baseball program in Skovde was founded, and presently is the treasurer for the Skovde Saints baseball and softball program. He also is the coach of a Tee Ball team in the Saints program.
“It is a great honor and joy to be nominated by my fellow District Administrators in the EMEA region,” Mr. Palvia said. “I will do my best to continue the work done over the last three years by Giuseppe Guilizzoni. I look forward to working together with the Board so we can extend the joy and passion of playing baseball and softball to children of all ages in the EMEA region.”
The Europe, Middle East and Asia region office is located in Kutno, Poland, serving 38 countries playing Little League Baseball and Softball. There were more than 155,000 players and 10,000 teams participating in baseball and softball in the EMEA region in 2011. In Sweden, there were more than 550 players and 37 teams in the Little League program last year.
The Little League International Board of Directors, a volunteer board, is responsible for the management of the property and affairs of Little League Baseball, Incorporated.