About Us – Executive Bios
Executive Bios
Kathy Fennel – Executive Vice President & General Manager
Kathy Fennel has been a key figure in the FLW organization since 1982 and has become one of the most influential people in the fishing industry. Her strength and experience were recognized in 1996 when she was promoted to operations manager. The following year she was appointed vice president of operations, and in 2004 she was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Fennel then became president of operations in 2010, a position she held until MLF and FLW merged in the fall of 2019.
As executive vice president & general manager of FLW, Fennel oversees day-to-day operations at FLW, making sure the organization continues to provide prestigious, well-organized tournaments of which participants, fans and sponsors are proud to be a part of.
The growth of FLW has Fennel overseeing and working directly with tournament directors, site solicitation, logistics, information technology, Bass Fishing magazine, “FLW” television, angler management and numerous other daily responsibilities. She also works with the marketing division to ensure exposure for the organization and its partners.
Fennel is a 2015 inductee into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and a member of the USAngling board of directors and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) board of directors.
Dave Washburn – Vice President of Operations
Dave Washburn joined FLW as a Communications Specialists in 1999 and was promoted to Communications Director and Executive Editor of FLW Bass Fishing magazine in 2002. In 2004 he was promoted to Vice President of Communications and currently serves the company as Vice President of Operations, a position he has held since 2011.
Washburn’s responsibilities include oversight of domestic tournament operations and management of FLW’s international partnerships, which include tournaments in 10 countries outside the United States. He is a husband and father of two with a passion for youth sports.
Washburn graduated from Murray State University in 1995 as “Outstanding Senior Man.” Prior to joining FLW, he worked as a communications specialist for Ralston Purina in St. Louis following internships with the St. Louis Rams and Fleishman-Hillard International Communications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and a master’s degree in mass communications.
Washburn is active in his community as booster for Marshal County High School fishing team and South Marshall Middle School basketball teams. He has served as president of the Murray State University Alumni Association and chairman of the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Wildlife Forever board of directors and as chairman of the American Sportfishing Association’s 60 in 60 committee.
Forrest L. Wood
The late Forrest L. Wood is the namesake behind FLW and its fishing tournaments. Born in 1932 in the tiny town of Flippin, Ark., Wood’s passion for angling, boat building, boat safety and wildlife conservation made him a legend in his industry. Known internationally as the “Father of the Modern Bass Boat,” Wood founded the now-famous Ranger Boat Company in 1968. A well-known angler and guide, he brought innovation to the simple boat design of his day. Over time, Wood heightened his passion for angling and boat building by helping to pioneer the competitive sport of bass fishing. He even competed in two Bassmaster Classics.
Wood and his wife, Nina, were both honored with induction into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in 2009.