Mark Pagon presenting Maria Toorpakai with the President’s Cup
In Olympic lingo, a “quad” is a thing. The Olympic Games are contested every four years, so the natural planning cycle for each sport’s national governing body is the quad. As US Squash looks ahead to LA28 and beyond, we checked in with Marshall “Mark” Pagon who has been out of US Squash governance for a “quad”, having chaired the organization for the quad which was arguably the most consequential period in US Squash’s history.
US Squash was the first national squash governing body in the world, established in 1904, and Pagon is one of only four people to have served in the role of Board Chair for four years or more in its 120 year history. Mark served on the US Squash Board for nine years, and as US Squash’s 46th Chairman of the Board from 2016 – 2020 with his term culminating in the completion of the twenty-court Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia, PA.
In a recent conversation reflecting on the current state of the sport having been outside of squash governance for a while, Pagon said he missed it, has the energy and desire to help, to move the sport forward internally, particularly due to the inclusion of squash in the LA28 Olympic Games.
This appears to be the reason he has been nominated by US Squash to serve as one of four Vice Presidents of the World Squash Federation (WSF). The WSF is the main and only official point of contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the LA28 Organizing Committee. The WSF will partner closely with US Squash and the PSA (Professional Squash Association) Tour in supporting the execution of squash at the LA28 Games.
In our discussion, Pagon applauded what’s been achieved by the WSF and PSA to date and noted that he had been to several WSF Annual General Meetings (AGMs). He said, “I have real respect for the institution, and believe it’s critical that it continues its positive momentum. I also believe I have skill set to support WSF in its efforts to make the most of the opportunities that LA28 inclusion presents. Our network in the U.S. should be activated to advance the sport, and I would do whatever I can in this regard.”
Pagon’s experience seems to back up his assertion. According to members of the International Relations team at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), it’s important to have representation from the U.S. in international federations of any sport. The USOPC is a key strategic partner to the LA28 Organizing Committee. Pagon made it clear that he has made contacts throughout the Olympic movement and with LA28 having served as a representative US Squash on the USOPC National Governing Body Council for four years.
Asked about what he felt was a priority, Pagon shared, “Having attended several Olympic Games, including Paris 2024, I’ve seen it from many perspectives. The Games are presented at a level that can be difficult to get your head around, and this is the time for WSF to develop the strategic plan for the next quad. My sense is that it’s a priority that WSF leads in the engagement for LA28 in coordination with US Squash and PSA so that squash is presented as well as possible. My understanding is that it’s a real working Board, and I am ready and willing to do the work to advance the sport globally, its regions and member nations. It’s going to be important to increase global participation, enhance the financial sustainability of WSF and work to ensure squash remains part of these major international events like the Olympics.”
Pagon continued, “I have spent a lifetime in squash, as a participant, in governance, and I have seen nearly every aspect. It’s a passion point for me. The Specter Center was an extraordinary project. I also believe the Olympics opportunity eclipses it in its potential to advance the sport even further, globally.”
Pagon has deep experience in the business world as the founder and CEO of The Pegasus Companies, a family of closely held companies active in an extremely broad range of segments including the development, construction & operation of solar and renewable energy projects, acquisition and development of wireless and satellite spectrum, provision of telecommunications services to agencies of the U.S. government, and management of an investment portfolio. He also has a very personal connect to the OIympics in that his wife Holly was a competitive skater growing up, and who went on to work in the Olympic arena at CBS and Sports Illustrated as a career so as a family they are all-in on the Olympics.
Pagon summarized it this way, “I understand how important it is, and how impactful it can be, I have experience in governance, orbitational leadership and pulling together resources to a degree that I can be helpful.”