"We were very impressed with Ted in his interview. When we gave him scenarios to evaluate, his responses were spot on," Warwick said.
Offit, 51, is a co-founder of the law firm Offit Kurman, which has more than 65 staff members with offices stretching from the Washington suburbs to Philadelphia. A graduate of Pikesville High, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 1977 and received his law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1981. He and his family live in Glyndon.
Despite not knowing the difference between the headfirst skeleton and feet-first luge, Offit said he applied for the federation board at the urging of a friend who had a son in skeleton.
"It took me about two seconds to agree. I put together a resume and sent it in," said Offit, an avid skier with an admitted case of Olympic "five-ring fever."
The new board, consisting of businessmen and present and former athletes, chose Darrin Steele, a former bobsledder, as executive director.
The athletes have noticed a difference.
"As an athlete, you don't have to worry about funding," said Lund, last year's World Cup champion. "The board has a great business sense, and they have great connections and they know what they're doing. That's the biggest thing we've gained. Our board in the past had been the weakest of the federations, and it affected everything else below it. And I think now that we have a great board, it's just going to rub off on everyone else."
Steele said he wants to continue to support the elite athletes while looking for the new generation. Two years out from the next Olympics, he predicted great things.
"When we did well in 2002, a lot of countries thought it was because we had a home-track advantage. Then in Italy, we didn't do well, which reinforced that perception," he said. "I think we're now in a position where we're ready to show the world that 2002 was not a fluke."
Offit smiles when he thinks ahead to the Winter Games in Vancouver.
"Everyone is focused on 2010. I think the USOC has a vested interest in this board. We're hand-picked, and I know they're keeping a close eye on us," he said. "But I really do believe we will turn this thing around and there will be a lot of medals."
candy.thomson@baltsun.com
