Waits Named RTCA Executive Director

The Race Track Chaplaincy of America has named Dan Waits as the new executive director of the organization.

Waits will support and assist training of chaplains in their work to meet the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of those associated with the horseracing industry across the United States, the RTCA said in an April 25 release.

Waits replaces Craig Wiley, who recently retired as executive director.

"We believe he is the man God handpicked to lead this organization into a brand new era," said Chaplain John Shumaker, who serves as RTCA president. "We are looking forward to a future filled with opportunities to reach more people in the industry that we love for Christ."

Waits, an ordained pastor, most recently served as executive pastor at two Kentucky churches.  He also has extensive business and planning experience, having served as an executive director in the Kentucky Governor's Office for Local Development and as a program/account manager for two of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world--Asahi Glass Corporation and Johnson Controls.

In reference to the retiring executive director, Chaplain Shumaker said: "Chaplain Craig Wiley did an outstanding job, being used by God to bring this organization to a place of unity and love. I'm proud that Craig and his wife, Jean, will be able to enjoy the retirement they so much deserve."

Waits said he is "thrilled to be joining the RTCA family. The chaplains and councils of RTCA are diligently showing the love of Christ to the horseracing industry on a daily basis, and I am honored to serve alongside them."