Race Director University Launches RDU Academy — A Hybrid Training Program in Chicago That Gives Teens a Career Edge Before AI Takes the Jobs They Haven’t Applied for Yet

March 27, 2026

For $399, young people ages 15–18 get a professional credential, 22 Quick Reference Guides, merch, and a sidekick career in a $40 billion industry that robots can't automate

DeKalb, Ill. (March 27, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Race Director University (RDU) has announced the launch of the RDU Academy, a hybrid training program combining live instruction in Chicagoland with online coursework, designed exclusively for a diverse group of young people ages 15 to 18. The program, scheduled for summer 2026, teaches the business of endurance event management — giving teenagers a professional credential and a career pathway in an industry that generates more than $40 billion annually and cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence or robotics.

The timing is not accidental. Every major economic forecast projects that AI and automation will eliminate between 30% and 50% of current jobs within the next decade. The teenagers entering the workforce in 2026 will graduate into an economy where the careers their parents trained for may no longer exist. RDU Academy is designed to give them something that survives the automation wave: a skill set built on human leadership, community engagement, public safety, and live event operations — work that requires people on the ground, not algorithms in the cloud.

“Robots can’t direct a race,” said Gregory J. Evans, founder and CEO of Race Director University. “They can’t manage a volunteer team at mile 8. They can’t make a split-second decision when weather turns dangerous and 10,000 runners are on a course. They can’t look a scared first-time marathoner in the eye and say ‘you’ve got this.’ That’s human work. And it’s the kind of work that will still be here when half the jobs on a career fair table are gone.”

RDU Academy is not a running camp. It is a professional development experience that teaches young people how endurance events are built, managed, marketed, and operated. The program covers event operations and logistics, business fundamentals including budgeting and sponsorship, community engagement and marketing, safety and crisis response protocols, leadership and team management, and the role of technology in modern event production.

The hybrid format combines live, in-person instruction in the Chicagoland area with online coursework that students can complete on their own schedule. The live component delivers hands-on training that cannot be replicated in a virtual environment — course setup, volunteer coordination, safety drills, and real-world problem solving. The online component covers foundational knowledge, case studies, and assessment modules.

“We designed this program for a diverse group of 15, 16, 17, and 18 year olds,” Evans said. “Every background. Every neighborhood. Every income level. This industry needs people who look like the communities these events serve. And right now, most of these young people don’t even know this career exists. We’re changing that.”

The endurance sports industry produces more than 35,000 events annually in the United States alone. Each event requires trained personnel across operations, logistics, safety, marketing, sponsorship, volunteer management, and medical coordination. Yet no formal career pipeline exists for young people entering the field. RDU Academy is the first program in the country to create that pipeline — starting at age 15.

Evans calls it a “sidekick career” — a professional skill set that works alongside whatever primary path a young person chooses. A student heading to college for business gets real-world event management experience on their resume. A student interested in healthcare gets exposure to sports medicine and emergency response protocols. A student who loves marketing gets hands-on sponsorship and community engagement training. And any student who wants to earn money on weekends — race staff positions typically pay $150 to $300 per event — has an immediate pathway to paid work.

“This is the career that rides shotgun with whatever else you do in life,” Evans said. “You can be an accountant and direct races on weekends. You can be a teacher and manage a community 5K in the summer. You can be a college student and work every marathon in your city for cash. AI is going to take food off a lot of tables. This puts food back on.”

Participants who complete the program receive a Certificate of Completion from Race Director University, positioning them for future advancement within RDU’s professional certification track. Graduates are eligible for paid race staff positions and can pursue RDU’s Associate certification at age 17 for accelerated career development.

RDU is calling on race directors, event management companies, park district administrators, school athletic directors, community organizations, and parents to identify young people who would benefit from early exposure to the endurance sports industry as a career pathway and a leadership development experience.

Evans brings more than three decades of hands-on endurance event experience to the program. He served as Chairman of Long Distance Running for the USATF Illinois Association from 1989 to 2022, served as Race Director for the Frank Lloyd Wright Races in Oak Park, Illinois for 19 years, produced 19 Race Director Conferences for the USATF Illinois Association, taught Sports Management for 10 years at Oglebay Parks in West Virginia in affiliation with North Carolina State University’s Parks and Tourism Department, produced his own events under SpecEvent Entertainment for a number of years in the western suburbs, and worked as an independent contractor on more than 600 sporting events and special events throughout Illinois. He brings his receipts.

“I’m asking every race director, every event company, every park district director who reads this to think about one young person in their life who deserves a chance to see what’s possible,” Evans said. “For $399, you’re not just sending them to a weekend program. You’re giving them a career that AI can’t take away.”

Tuition for the RDU Academy is $399 per participant and includes all training materials, online coursework, live instruction, and Certificate of Completion. Hotel, travel, and per diem are the responsibility of the participant or their sponsor. Dates and venue details for the Chicagoland program will be announced shortly. Enrollment is open now at racedirectoruniversity.com/academy.

About Race Director University

Race Director University (RDU) is the first national certification program for race directors in the United States. Founded in 2012 by Gregory J. Evans, RDU provides professional certification, educational resources, and industry tools for endurance event professionals. With over 30 years of industry experience encompassing more than 600 events, 19 years as a race director, and a decade of sports management education, RDU offers eleven certification programs, the RDU Academy for young leaders ages 15–18, and UNPLUGGED: Inside Race Management, a monthly professional development series for presidents, CEOs, COOs, vice presidents, race directors, and event management professionals. Learn more at racedirectoruniversity.com.

Media Contact:

Gregory J. Evans

Founder & CEO, Race Director University

greg@racedirectoruniversity.com

racedirectoruniversity.com

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