As part of Patrick Wilson’s elevation to Little League® President and Chief Executive Officer taking effect on January 1, 2025, Little League International is pleased to announce its two new Vice Presidents as part of an evolution of its leadership team.
Effective as of January 1, Dan Velte has been promoted to Vice President of Operations and Little League International Tournament Director, while Jeff Bennett joins the Little League team as the Vice President of Finance, effective as of February 10.
“As we continue to drive the Little League program forward, we are excited to congratulate Dan on this well-deserved elevation and welcome Jeff to our team,” said Wilson. “Through Dan’s leadership in this new role, and with the knowledge and expertise that Jeff will bring to our organization, I am confident that our leadership team will continue to enhance our program to support our volunteers and, most importantly, provide our players with the best experience in all of youth sports at Little League fields around the world.”
Learn more about each of the two new Vice Presidents below:
Jeff Bennett – Vice President of Finance
A native of the greater Williamsport area, Bennett joins the Little League team after most recently serving as the Vice President for Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Lycoming College, his alma mater, where he has been working since August 2012. Prior to working at Lycoming College, Bennett spent nearly a decade serving as the Senior Manager at Baker Tilly (formerly ParenteBeard, LLC). Aside from his professional experience, Bennett has also served as a local Little League volunteer since 2018, serving as a team manager of the Loyalsock Township (Pa.) Little League program, while also spending two decades coaching for AYSO and time on the boards of both the North Central Chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPA (PICPA) and Big Brothers Big Sisters in Central Pennsylvania.
“A dedicated volunteer within the Little League program and throughout the greater Williamsport community and a highly skilled professional within the industry, Jeff is a natural fit for this leadership role within our organization and to be a part of the culture and mission that we embody each and every day,” said Wilson. “We look forward to welcoming Jeff to the team and bringing his knowledge and expertise to our organization as we begin this next chapter in the Little League program.”
In this role, Bennett will strive to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the organization to enable the implementation of key goals and objectives by creating and overseeing the finance and facilities operations of the organization, as well as managing the annual operating and capital budgets that are aligned with the organization’s vision, mission, and strategic plan. Additionally, Bennett will collaborate with the other members of the Senior Leadership team, as well as the organization’s Board of Directors, to set and drive financial strategies and create the appropriate financial reports to measure success.
“As someone who has lived and grown up in the backyard of the Little League program, I am honored to have the opportunity to take on this role as Vice President and help bring the Little League program to the next level,” said Bennett. “As not only a professional who has spent years working within this greater Williamsport community, but more importantly as a local league volunteer myself, I have experienced firsthand what the Little League program means to so many and am excited to be a part of bringing that to life each year.”
Bennett graduated from Lycoming College in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He went on to earn his MBA from Bloomsburg University in 2021. Additionally, he is a graduate of both the Leadership Lycoming program and the Leadership and Entrepreneurism at ParenteBeard (LEAP) program, and was a member of the Williamsport Lycoming Young Professionals from 2007-10.
Dan Velte – Vice President of Operations and International Tournament Director
As Senior Operations Executive, a position he has held since February 2021, Dan Velte has been responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Little League’s nine region offices, serving more than 80 countries around the world. In his new role as Vice President of Operations, Velte will continue these efforts, while taking on an increased focus of strategic league development, as well as the enhanced international development of the organization. Additionally, Velte will continue to serve as the Little League International Tournament Director, a role he held on an interim basis in 2024, where he will focus on enhancing the overall tournament experience for players, families, and fans.
“Since his time as an Assistant Region Director nearly 25 years ago, Dan has gone above and beyond to help enhance the Little League experience at the grassroots level in communities all around the world, and I am proud to see him continue to grow in his role within the organization,” said Wilson. “Additionally, his leadership serving as the interim Tournament Director in 2024 proved his ability to oversee the world’s largest youth sports tournament, and we look forward to him continuing in that role in 2025 and beyond.”
Velte first joined the Little League team as the Southwest Region Assistant Director in 2001 before relocating to Williamsport in 2004 to assume the newly created position of Director of League Development. In 2007, he was named Director of League Development and Affiliation where he remained until 2016 when he was elevated to Senior Director of League Development and Regional Operations. A graduate of Brockport State University, Velte is also a committed member of his community, volunteering as a Little League coach for Loyalsock (Pa.) Little League and has also served in the past as a chair of the board for North Central Sight Services and a former chair of the Williamsport YMCA Advisory Council.
“It is an honor to continue to serve as a leader within our Operations Department and to be trusted with the responsibility of serving as Little League International Tournament Director,” said Velte. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside the incredible staff throughout our organization, and most importantly working with the amazing volunteers who make this program possible in communities all around the world each and every year.”