USA Karate Board of Directors Holds First Meeting of 2025, Re-elects Elisa Au as President
by USA-NKF
USA Karate’s Board of Directors convened on January 23, 2025, for their first meeting of the year, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the sport and its athletes. During the meeting, Elisa Au was re-elected as Board President for another two-year term, continuing her leadership in guiding the organization’s strategic growth and development.
Additionally, two members were confirmed to the Ethics Committee:
Darren M. Brenner, MD, FACG, AGAF, RFF
Professor of Medicine and Surgery
Director—Northwestern Neurogastromotility and Interdisciplinary Bowel Dysfunction Programs
Northwestern University—Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Brenner is a Professor of Medicine and Surgery in the Division of Gastroenterology at Northwestern University and serves as Director of the Neurogastromotility and Interdisciplinary Bowel Dysfunction programs. He has published more than 175 articles, abstracts, and book chapters on disorders of gut brain interactions and serves as a member of the board of directors for the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, on the Rome Foundation committee on clinical trial design, and serves or has served on multiple American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) committees including research, education, and digital publications and communications. He is the current ACG Governor for the State of Illinois. Dr. Brenner is a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and Rome Foundations. He has been named to the Healio 200 top innovators in gastroenterology and hepatology and Best Doctors in America lists. In his free time, Dr. Brenner is an avid practitioner of Shotokan karate, holds a 3rd degree black belt in this art and was the head coach of the USA Jr. Maccabiah Karate Team in Israel in 2022.
Sharadha Kodem
Managing Attorney at Kodem Law Firm
Ms. Kodem combines her personal immigrant experience with legal expertise to provide unique insights and strategic counsel to her clients. With a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from India, she pursued a Master’s degree in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, gaining firsthand knowledge of the immigration process. Now a U.S. citizen, Sharadha is dedicated to empowering clients with tailored legal strategies that reflect her own journey through the immigration system.
Sharadha specializes in Business, Immigration and Federal Litigation, assisting IT organizations, start-ups, and research facilities with non-immigrant visas and PERM sponsorships. Her expertise extends to H-2A, H-2B, and H-1B visas, as well as alternative immigration pathways for businesses and skilled professionals.
As the founder of Kodem Law Firm and Affiliate Partner of Kodem Son Tang Law Group , Sharadha is committed to mentoring the next generation of attorneys.
Outside of her professional work, Sharadha is deeply involved in her children academic and extracurricular pursuits in Music, Table Tennis and Swimming. She enjoys reading a good book and has been working on developing a green thumb.
With a reputation for excellence, innovation, and strategic advocacy, Sharadha Kodem continues to shape the landscape of business, immigration and federal litigation, helping clients navigate complex legal challenges with confidence.
Their expertise and commitment to integrity in sport will further strengthen USA Karate’s governance.
New Committee Appointments
USA Karate also recognizes key committee appointments made in 2024:
Tony Mendonca was named to the Selection Committee, bringing his extensive experience in process development and competition standards.
John Limcaco was appointed to the Technical Committee, where he will contribute his deep knowledge of karate to enhance the sport’s technical framework.
These appointments reinforce USA Karate’s dedication to excellence in governance, ethics, and competitive integrity.