Zach Braaten Named Chief Strategy Officer of Fenworks

Fenworks, a North Dakota-based company specializing in scholastic esports and drone racing, has appointed Zach Braaten as its new Chief Strategy Officer. This leadership change, announced in September 2023, follows Braaten’s departure from the Chicago-based tournament platform LeagueSpot, where he held various executive sales and client success roles over a four-year tenure.

The appointment aligns with the strategic mission of Fenworks, a STEM.org accredited organization that facilitates after-school video game and drone racing competitions for K-12 students. By leveraging Braaten’s background in enterprise-level partnerships and scholastic competition management, the company aims to further its objective of promoting teamwork and STEM education. While current operations are concentrated in North Dakota, the leadership move suggests potential plans for regional expansion.

Fenworks maintains a robust network of institutional and corporate support, including partnerships with the Broadband Association of North Dakota, Microsoft, EMAX USA, and several prominent state universities such as the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University. This transition highlights the ongoing professionalization of the scholastic esports sector, as companies increasingly recruit experienced talent from established tournament platforms to scale their educational and competitive offerings.