2019-20 Election Bios

2019-20 USRowing Election Nominee Bios

Board Positions

Northeast Regional Representative

Daniel Gorriaran

1. How have you served the sport of rowing?

As an athlete, I came to rowing later in life than many, at age 23 in 1989. This was after a decade of competition in track & field, wrestling, and football, and two major knee surgeries. Narragansett Boat Club is my hometown rowing club. After just a few strokes on a warm summer afternoon, I knew I had found my calling for a lifetime of fitness. Since then, I’ve rowed over 45,000 miles on the Seekonk, and am proud to have won many medals at US National Championships, Canadian Henley, Head of the Charles, and Open Water World Championships.

Gratitude for what the sport has given me has compelled me to give back. After one year at NBC, I was asked to coach an introductory sculling class, which led to advanced classes and years later to coaching a number of elite rowers and scullers. Since then, I have developed training programs for countless rowers and started a free daily workout program that currently serves over 1900 rowers training on all levels of competition. From 2015 to 2019 I was head coach of a high school girl’s crew of 45 at Lincoln School in Providence.

In 1993 I ran for a position on the Board of Governors at NBC where I championed diversification of the membership base and a focus offering rowing for everyone. I’ve served for over twenty-five years and because of the efforts of a forward-looking Board of Governors, as of 2017, NBC has more women than men as members, and the women of NBC now row almost 65% of all miles. However, coming from a Latino family, it’s clear to me that we have a long way to go in introducing the sport to everyone in our community. We are now making progress through a grass roots middle school programs, and new public high school outreach efforts.

I have also been involved in race development, organization and support. Along with a fantastic group of highly motivated volunteers from NBC, we expanded many races at NBC. In 2009 we formed the Jamestown Counter Revolution, an open water rowing event that served as the North American Open Water Rowing Championship. Since 2008 I have served as Referee for Brown University Crew home races.

My love for the sport and the rowing community has continuously drawn me to leadership roles in governance, compliance, coaching and development. If selected to serve on the USRowing Board, I know I can continue to provide this energy to make rowing more inclusive.

2. Please elaborate on your leadership experience with organizational management. Have you served on a Board of Directors or had oversight responsibilities for another organization?

I have served on eight corporate and non-profit boards since 1991. In 1988 I began my career at Hook-Fast, one of the nation’s leading Badge and Insignia manufacturers. In 1991 I bought the company and have served as board chair ever since. I have also served on several other corporate boards and am currently committed to two. In addition, I have extensive work as a volunteer and board member with Rhode Island based non-profits. This includes recent work with two international refugee education and resettlement organizations, International Institute of Rhode Island and Dorcas International. Under my leadership as chairman, these organizations merged into Dorcas International, one of Rhode Island’s largest non-profits. Additional service on the board of the International Charter School has provided insight in education and community outreach. These organizations have significant budgets that face year over challenges that require focus on grant-writing and other creative development ventures. Below is a list of the above service.

Corporate Board Work: • 1989-1990 Member, Board of Directors, Hook-Fast, Inc. • 1990-1992 Vice President, Board of Directors, Hook-Fast, Inc. • 1992-current CEO and Chairman of the Board, Hook-Fast, Inc. • 1994-1999 Member Board of Directors, TME co., Inc. • 1999-2015 Vice President, Board of Directors TME Co., Inc • 2016-present President, Board of Directors TME Co., Inc • 2016-present Member Board of Directors, Haydenrock Solutions, LLC

Volunteer Board Work: • 1993-1995 Member, Board of Governors, Narragansett Boat Club, • 1995-1996 Vice President, Board of Governors, Narragansett Boat Club • 1997-2007 President, Board of Governors, Narragansett Boat Club • 2010-2013 President, Board of Governors, Narragansett Boat Club • 2015-current Member at Large, Board of Governors, Narragansett Boat Club • 2009-2014 President, Board of Directors, Jamestown Counter Revolution • 2002-2005 Member, Board of Directors, International Institute of Rhode Island • 2006-2008 Treasurer, Board of Directors, International Institute of Rhode Island • 2009-2012 Vice President, Board of Directors, International Institute of Rhode Island • 2013-2017 President, Board of Directors, Dorcas International • 2013-2015 Member, Board of Trustees, International Charter School

3. What skills would you bring to the Board of Directors and how do you feel they would make an impact on the organization? If you have specific experience with senior-level marketing and sponsorships and/or P&L responsibility for business unit operations, please so indicate. If you have specific experience as a high-level volunteer with an organizational success, please so indicate.

Whether it be on the water, in the launch, the factory, the boardroom and in the community, I’ve been driven to leadership roles and have strived to create an inclusive and accepting environment for all to excel. I have championed fair play in all aspects of my life and have done so while competing at the highest level I am able. My career running several businesses and serving on many boards has provided me with intimate

experience with financials and I’ve helped drive success on all those P&L’s by driving marketing and development efforts in every organization that I am involved with, many of these entities have budgets that exceed USRowing’s annual budget.

4. If you could change one thing at USRowing today, what would it be and why?

Without being a part of leadership at USRowing, it’s difficult to pinpoint definitively why something should change. However, I understand that with a limited budget, USRowing cannot be everything to everyone. However, communication of the stated policy detailing where and why resources are being directed is critically important to all stakeholders. I find most people to be very reasonable with tough decisions if you take time to explain, in detail, why decisions are made. Transparency and clear communication are vital. As a person who is always reading about rowing, I feel I don’t know enough about the present priorities of USRowing. So I would say more frequent and detailed communication to all USRowing stakeholders would be very helpful.

Benjamin Quick

1. How have you served the sport of rowing?

As the full-time Executive Director of the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club (PVRC) since 2016, I have led our organization to provide professionally-coached competitive and recreational rowing to the adults and youth of Western Massachusetts. We employ one full-time Head Coach and up to 11 assistant coaches and support staff to serve our programs of 50 youth and 60 adult athletes. PVRC competitive programs encompass sculling and sweep rowing, and we teach the sport to about 100 new faces each year through free and paid introductory programming. PVRC coaches are required to pursue USRowing Level 2 training, and two of our coaches have provided observation experience to coaches from outside programs pursuing Level 2. Our staff also engages interns and volunteers interested in learning more about coaching rowing. We provide rowing programming all year, engage in extensive outreach in our community, and award need- based scholarships and financial aid funded by grants and other philanthropic contributions. We attend regattas regionally, nationally, and internationally and have hosted a head race for the past 13 years, and an indoor erg race for 5 years with increased involvement with each year. I have attended USRowing annual conventions each year from 2015 to 2018, will be attending the 2019 convention, and was closely involved in our hosting the 2016 convention in Springfield. I have volunteered at several regattas not hosted by PVRC. I also row, training year-round and racing with PVRC Masters.

From Day 1 as ED, I have engaged in collaboration with regional rowing organizations and other non-profits, to the mutual benefit of all involved. I founded a small club networking group which now has over 20 member clubs whose needs were not being met elsewhere. The facility I run has enormous potential to the rowing community for its centrality in the Northeast as a convening point for collaboration, training, networking, competition, and more. I would be an advocate and participant in this type of community-building among rowing organizations.

2. Please elaborate on your leadership experience with organizational management. Have you served on a Board of Directors or had oversight responsibilities for another organization?

I currently work full-time as the Executive Director of a non-profit organization and report to a Board of Directors. I serve on the Board of Directors of a local private school, and I have served on the Board of Directors of the Holyoke Youth Soccer League where I was also in charge of sponsorships.

My skills include: small club representation, vision, networking, perspective, travel, foreign language (Russian, German), marketing, public speaking, expense management, event planning, fundraising. I currently manage a $300K budget, am primarily responsible for corporate relationships in our market, and have been adept at managing expenses to ensure a break-even budget in each year of my leadership. Before being hired as ED, I was the volunteer Chair of the Marketing Committee of our riverfront organization which encompasses rowing, dragon boating, community outreach, events, and more.

4. If you could change one thing at USRowing today, what would it be and why?

Small community-based clubs are under-represented at USRowing. By giving a voice to these organizations, their experiences of innovation and outreach will strengthen the foundation of USRowing and provide a channel for small clubs to become large ones, with more profound effects on our sport. Today US Rowing is rich with content, stories, achievements, and lessons that need to be shared.

Lisa Stone

1. How have you served the sport of rowing?

I have been active in rowing since 1972, the year Title lX was passed. I served on the Olympic Women’s Rowing Committee 1976 -1980, following the first appearance of women’s rowing in the Olympics. I raced in those first Olympics with women in 1976 in Montreal as a member of the quad with coxswain. I also raced on National teams from 1974 through 1979 winning a bronze medal in the women’s double with Liz Hills O’Leary in ‘77 and ‘78.

From my love of our sport and a desire to share that love with others, I started coaching right after retiring from elite competition. I coached at Harvard Univ./Radcliffe College, running the women’s lightweight program from 1980 - 1983 and then as Head Coach of the heavyweight program from 1983-1986. I retired from the Radcliffe program in 1986 to stay at home with my children and returned to coaching in 1999 at The Winsor School where I remain.

As a current member of the USRowing Board and as a member of the Cambridge Boat Club Board- 2010 - 2016, I have worked to make our sport inclusive to all.

Watching my daughter, Gevvie, train and compete as the USA single sculler in the London 2012 Olympics and in the Rio 2016 Olympics was an education in how athletes can be encouraged and

how they can be discouraged by an NGB. In learning from that experience I hope my contributions to USRowing are helping to make USRowing a ‘Big Tent’ organization.

2. Please elaborate on your leadership experience with organizational management. Have you served on a Board of Directors or had oversight responsibilities for another organization?

I have served on boards both in social services and sport. I have enjoyed the diversity of these boards and have enjoyed contributing to the advancement of each of their missions.

2017 - Present - USRowing, Board 2007 -2017 - United South End Settlements, Board 2002 - 2017 - NEIRA Board of Management (New England Interscholastic RA) 2010 - 2016 - Cambridge Boat Club, Board 2008 - 2016 - CRASH-Bs, Board 2006 - 2014 - Charles River Conservancy, Board 1985- 2008 - Circle Program, Board (NH at risk teen girls) 1985- 1990 - Dartmouth (Massachusetts) Children’s Museum, Board

As an athlete and a coach I have participated in all that USRowing offers. From my junior year on Lake Merritt, California, to elite rowing in Long Beach, California (National Women’s Rowing Association and National Association Of Amateur Oarsmen era) and onto a coaching career on the Charles River encompassing championship level college, high school and club rowing I bring a passion to help guide USRowing toward providing the best services for its’ membership.. I have worked to make sure that USRowing is inclusive and that no part of our organization ends up marginalized. My mantra is ‘Athletes First’ and I work to make sure that the answers to questions and solutions to problems are defined by that mantra.

In 2006 I saw a need for a summertime sculling racing program for young women and filled part of that need initially using the Boston Rowing Club name and then a few years later starting Charles River Scullers LLC... Running an independent program was a rewarding and exhausting endeavor. Budget, travel, recruitment were all necessary building blocks alongside the joy of coaching and participating in the young women’s training and racing experiences.

In addition to my rowing experiences I have many years of experience sitting on a number of boards. I contribute a focus toward making sure that we work toward ‘good’ and not towards ‘good enough’. I am unafraid to ask the hard questions.

I know this board needs a diversity of members. It also needs those that have been in the trenches and have experienced how USRowing presents itself to its community. I am in the trenches on the elite, high school and community level.

4. If you could change one thing at USRowing today, what would it be and why?

If I could change one thing and only one thing it would be the racing calendar. I would expand the options for all levels of USRowing members, making sure the locations are easily accessible, provide as much side by side racing as possible (Canadian Henley format for Nationals), FISA format where needed and new options when possible (around a stake racing, a series with different length races, combination offshore and flat water series etc. ). And making sure that each event is financially stable.

Northwest Regional Representative

Letcher Ross

1. How have you served the sport of rowing?

I have been a referee is the sport of rowing since 1995, and have served as the Chief Referee of many local regattas as well as Deputy and Chief Referee of the USRowing Youth National Regatta. I am also the current Board President of the NW Rowing.

2. Please elaborate on your leadership experience with organizational management. Have you served on a Board of Directors or had oversight responsibilities for another organization?

I am the current Board President of the NW Rowing Council and have acted as Deputy Chief and Chief Referee of USRowing's Youth National Regattas from 2013 to 2015.

I bring a well-rounded wealth of experience from supporting the needs of the USRowing member ship as most members interact with USRowing through regatta participation and also have balanced those needs with the needs of the organization as a whole. I understand how most members feel unrepresented today.

I have had to deal with the needs of the organization as a whole and the needs of the individuals who are members most pointedly through working as a referee at the local and national level.

4. If you could change one thing at USRowing today, what would it be and why?

I would strive to improve the communication and representation of the individual members of USRowing. All too often decisions come from the USRowing board without explanation or communication to the local level. If you are out of the mainstream loop, you have no representation.

Steve Shure

1. How have you served the sport of rowing?

I have actively served the sport as a member of the USRowing Board of Directors since March of 2017, when I was selected to serve as the Northwest Regional Director.

I was first exposed to the sport twelve years ago when, after our family moved to Seattle, the first of my sons took up rowing in the 8th grade. Over that time I have become deeply involved in the sport on many levels. I have been a parent of juniors from novice through the elite junior ranks. I have seen the college recruiting process, experienced the heavyweight vs. lightweight debate first-hand, and been a collegiate rowing parent for seven years. I became involved with the US national teams, first as a host family for U-23 athletes and then as a friend and mentor of athletes. I have attended nine straight Northwest Junior Regional Championships, eight Youth National Championships, five Head of the Charles Regattas, five Eastern Sprints, three IRAs and one FISA World Championship. I simply LOVE rowing!

2. Please elaborate on your leadership experience with organizational management. Have you served on a Board of Directors or had oversight responsibilities for another organization?

In addition to experience serving on the USRowing Board these past two plus years, I was the inventor, founder and original Chairman of the Board of the Amazon Smile Foundation—the charitable foundation, run by Amazon, which has given over $50 Million to charities designated by Amazon customers.

In the last nearly three years, I have brought and will continue to bring the following to the USRowing board: a constructive but skeptical perspective, challenging existing assumptions; marketing and organizational management expertise and P&L management insight; business process management; experienced business judgement; and a drive to do what is right, always, for athletes, members, rowing families and member organizations.

Professionally, I am presently the Vice President, Optimal Sourcing Systems, for Amazon.com, where I oversee the organization responsible for purchasing and arranging the transport of all inventory into Amazon warehouses around the world, for eventual delivery to customers. I manage over $100 Billion in annual expenditures. Prior to this role, I served as Amazon’s Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and joined the company in 2006 as the first ever Vice President of the Amazon Prime program.

Prior to Amazon, I worked for 20 years in Consumer Marketing at Time, Inc. where I was the head of marketing for Sports Illustrated, People, and a series of other magazine brands. At Sports Illustrated, I served as the Publisher of the “Sports Illustrated Olympic Daily,” a 48 page, full- color magazine, published daily and sold at venues at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. I acted as one of SI’s primary contacts for the USOC and managed the company’s direct marketing relationships with the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball.

I bring to the USRowing Board 30 years of experience running large enterprises with complex financial structures. I have deep expertise in online and offline marketing, sports marketing, sponsorship, and especially subscription membership management. Amazon Prime grew from 100k to over 20 million members during my tenure. I have longtime operating experience as a senior executive at one of the world’s leading technology companies and extensive people management background, leading teams of 6 to 600 members.

4. If you could change one thing at USRowing today, what would it be and why?

I am proud of all the things the USRowing leadership team and Board have accomplished in the past two and a half years since I joined.

And yet the one thing I would like to see us change is to become even more transparent toward, accountable to, and trusted by our member base. I want every member, national team athlete and member organization to understand exactly why USRowing has made every decision that affects them. Members may not agree with all strategies, tactics or decisions, but USRowing should be very clear and forthcoming on why that direction was chosen and willing to explain and defend that decision in public view. Above all, members must trust that USRowing is employing fair and consistent processes and criteria in all dealings with members, member organizations, and athletes.

The second, less conceptual, change I hope to make is to relieve financial pressure on USRowing by transforming its sponsorship sales capabilities and generating at least $3 million in annual sponsorship revenue. I firmly believe it is possible to do so within the term of this board position.

Referee Coordinator Positions

Northeast Regional Referee Coordinator

Howard Meisner

1. How will you work to add relevance to USRowing through your work as a Coordinator?

There is a consistent trend of new regattas being run every month and as the recognized representatives of USRowing, our referees are on the front line to ensure the safety and fairness of every regatta. Ensuring that every referee has the training they need to perform at their best will improve the view that organizations have of USRowing. I will continue to work hard to provide every referee with the tools they need to be successful. After all, happy referees make the best regattas!

2. We are USRowing, fostering community, cultivating excellence and developing Olympic Champions is the vision statement of USRowing. What particular qualifications and experience do you bring to fostering community through the committee you seek to be elected to?

In the 6 years that I have been the Northeast Regional Coordinator, we have seen growth in the sport at all levels and we have expanded our capabilities to meet those needs. I believe that my practices of communicating with the region and supporting each referee on their officiating journey have resulted in a stronger and more capable group of officials that are ready to serve the

larger community. We focus on consistency and delivering a championship quality experience all season long at every regatta. This has resulted in increased confidence and understanding of the rules and procedures by both the competitors and officials.

3. What added value do you bring that separates you from other candidates in shaping the future of our sport.

I have been fortunate to be a referee for 20 years and lead the Northeast for the last 6. While I haven’t “seen it all”, I have the experience to continue to build the regional capabilities and develop the next generation of referees. The Northeast will see changes in our referee population in the coming years and we need to identify, mentor and support those referees who will take on new leadership roles. I have the communications skills and programs in place to help us continue to build the region into the best referees in the country.

Northwest Regional Referee Coordinator

Mariah Foster

1. How will you work to add relevance to USRowing through your work as a Coordinator?

Being selected for the role of a Regional Coordinator, includes being able to organize events or activities and to negotiate with others in order to ensure they work together effectively. I see myself being able to add relevance to USRowing as a Coordinator in a variety of ways. A few of those ways would be the work on RefCorps that I have been doing for the past year, to help improve the experience and tracking for the Referee Corps. Along with my work in RefCorps, I see myself helping working with the referees in region and out of region to work together through trainings, and support of the referees to work together to grow the corps. I am not one to be front and center, but I am one to work behind the scenes to ensure that things run smoothly, and I feel that that is part of what a coordinator does. They are not one to sing about how wonderful they are, but more about how they can support their representatives.

I have been a part of the sport of rowing, for over 20 years. This is not as long as many others, but through this time I have seen many things, worked many regattas, rowed at many races, and met many people. But through this time, I have found that the community within rowing is huge. People that have become family, and dear friends, all through our love of this sport. This is not just a US based community, it is worldwide. I believe that it is important to foster this community, it is more than just being a rower and find a team to row with overseas. It is about being involved at your level that you are able to travel with and grow within. In the position of NW Regional Coordinator, I would work to help ensure the referees within the region felt welcomed to travel out of region to regattas, to connect with referees from all over the US. Parts of this would come from the use of RefCorps, and ensuring the referees understand how to express interest in regattas out of region, contact chief referees, and overall be able to expand (if they choose) the regattas they work.

3. What added value do you bring that separates you from other candidates in shaping the future of our sport.

I feel that I can bring added value in shaping the future of the sport of rowing from the education of rowers & referees, tools that are available for referees, and love of the sport of rowing. We all are deeply involved with rowing for one reason or another; mine comes from the love of the sport. Education of rowers, parents, and coaches about referees, who they are, and why they are at regattas. Education of referees with their knowledge of the rules, policies, procedures, and application of the rules. The future of rowing is always changing as the sport continues to change and grow. With that, a coordinator has to be willing to grow with the changes, of new technologies, new ways of tracking, new training, and trial & error. Things will not always go right, but what we can take and learn from those moments will help the sport keep growing in a positive manner.

Dee McComb

1. How will you work to add relevance to USRowing through your work as a Coordinator?

I want to foster and improve recruitment outreach to encourage new candidates. I also want to continue to increase communication among the northwest corps to be aware of events and programs that can enhance their skill sets.

I have two-terms of experience as NW Referee Coordinator as well as involvement with my local rowing club community. I have served on the board of the NW Rowing Council and had increased interaction with the coaches and administrators of the USRowing organizational members in the Northwest. I have a strong desire to see the sport of rowing continue to increase and to participate in recruiting and training new candidates, as well as experienced referees, so that athletes at every level of competition can experience the safety, fairness and consistency identified in the Rules of Rowing.

3. What added value do you bring that separates you from other candidates in shaping the future of our sport.

I have extensive exposure to public speaking, educational presentations and professional workshop training from the work in my professional career. I have good people and listening skills and feel that I have the ability to work with differing personalities and perceive and defuse potential confrontations and conflicts. I bring level-headedness, maturity and an appreciation and respect for organizational structure - coupled with a great sense of humor. I have good organizational skills.

At-Large

Parthenia Izzard

1. How will you work to add relevance to USRowing through your work as a Coordinator?

I will initiate monthly conference calls with referees in my region, as well as a stand-alone email address for sharing all concerns and suggestions. Suggestions and concerns shared will be communicated to the Referee Committee and Board as appropriate. These direct and regular lines of communication will add and maintain relevance to USRowing.

I bring the above requisite skills and experiences by virtue of my life as a psychologist, as a college professor, as an educator, as a Student Body President during my Doctoral Program, as an Officer member of my sorority, as a member and officer of PGRC, as a member of Vesper rowing club, as a member of the referee corps, and as the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia Board Secretary, I have made others feel welcome, included, and appreciated in life and rowing. I will bring the same skills and experiences from all of the aforementioned to the committee.

3. What added value do you bring that separates you from other candidates in shaping the future of our sport.

I have been a rower since 1985, a referee since 1996, a member of two exceptional rowing clubs [one since 1986, a Secretary and Vice President for one], I have worked as part of the LOC for one club's regatta, I medaled gold in my single at the Navy Day Regatta, silver in my single at the King's Head, gold in a gig at the Atlanta Head of the Chattahoochee, and I am also a person of color. I have seen this sport from many unique perspectives, athlete, referee, spectator, and person of color in all three. Resultantly, I can represent and bring many unique perspectives to the table, hopefully shaping the future of our sport toward more inclusion. I am one of the only African American female referees in the referee corps.

Letcher Ross

1. How will you work to add relevance to USRowing through your work as a Coordinator?

I have served many years as a Referee, Chief Referee and Clinician. The events I have worked at include Chief Referee and Deputy Chief Referee at USRowing’s Youth Nationals from 2013 to 2015. I was the Chief Referee on short notice for the NE Youth Regional Championships in 2013. I have been an NTO at the World Rowing Championships in 2017, World Rowing II in 2018 and the World Rowing Championships in 2019, as well as volunteering for the Brazilian Organizing Committee at the 2016 Paralympics. I have been able to nurture the progress of many new Referees and would use my experience to assure that the Referee committee is committed to the success of Referees at all levels.

I have always strived to be inclusive with our rowing and Referee community including fostering through the sharing of knowledge and explaining the Rules of Rowing to many up and coming Referees including our most recent FISA Umpire.

3. What added value do you bring that separates you from other candidates in shaping the future of our sport.

I feel that my years of experience and my ability to connect, empower and educate Referees at all ages and years of experience makes me a unique tool for US Rowing to expand and improve the Referee corp.

Lyn Wylder

1. How will you work to add relevance to USRowing through your work as a Coordinator?

I believe that the committee needs to focus on providing a well-trained and consistent Referee Corps. We need to focus on continuing our update of the Internal Operating Procedures for Referees and tackle the tough changes needed in licensing, continuing education and qualifications of the Corps. We made a good start this past year and I would like to continue that work.

I have extensive experience as a rower, competitor (Masters) and referee having been involve in the sport since 1985. I have served in various leadership positions in my local rowing club and with USRowing and have the experience to work with and lead the Referee Committee.

ROWING HISTORY • USRowing Member #57997 (1985 - current) • Atlanta Rowing Club 1985-2003 o Learn to row program graduate -1985 o Competed in numerous master's races o Served on Board of Directors 1993-1997 o Treasurer 1996-1997 o Head of the Chattahoochee Regatta Organizing Committee 1992-1997 • Station L Rowing Club (Portland, OR) 2003-current o Competed in numerous master's races o Served on the Board of Directors 2006-2009 o Volunteer Coordinator 2007-2009 • USRowing o Associate Referee 1991-1994 o Full Referee 1994-current o Board of Directors 2000-2003 o Referee Committee 2004-2006, 9/2018 - current (as Committee Chair) o Chief Referee numerous regattas in the SE and NW o Chief Referee for Masters Nationals 2017

• NCAA o Chief Referee NCAA National Championship Regatta - 5 times • FISA o Licensed as FISA Umpire 2003 o Selected to work numerous regattas including Masters, U19s, U23s, the 2015 and 2019 World Championships, and the 2020 Paralympics • Highlights o While treasurer of Atlanta Rowing modernized invoicing, banking and accounting from a written ledger to Quickbooks o While a member of Station L's BOD worked with a committee to change the format of coaching and dues structure that has been able to support the tremendous growth in the club which has more than doubled in size in the past 4 years o While Volunteer Coordinator updated the method of soliciting and tracking volunteers making it easier to sign up, track needs, and assign personnel o Refereed at hundreds of regattas including novice, junior, collegiate, club nationals, trials, National and Elite Championships and World Championships o Worked on several local organizing committees for major regattas including the Head of the Chattahoochee, Row for the Cure Portland and Portland's Fall Classic o As Chair of USRowing's Referee Committee worked to update the Referee Corps' IOP

PROFESSIONAL-42 years in the planning, design, construction and commissioning of complex civil works projects primarily transit related • Education o BS Civil Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology o MS Civil Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology • Registered Professional Engineer (retired) in six states-GA, MA, NY, OR, WA, TN • Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) 1982-1991 o Various positions including Chief Civil Engineer, Manager of Facilities Maintenance Engineering and Project Manager for the $400 million East Line Expansion • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (1991-1993) o Chief Engineer responsible for the reconstruction of South Station and the environmental clearance, planning and preliminary engineering for the Old Colony Commuter Rail Lines o Managed a staff of 400 union and professional staff • Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (1993-2000) o Chief Engineer (1993-1996) § Responsible for all planning, design, construction and commissioning of projects ranging in value for $100,000 to $500 million § Managed a staff of 150 and the General Engineering Consultant o Executive Vice President for Operations and Development (1996-2000) § Responsible for all bus and rail operations and maintenance including vehicles and facilities § 1100 buses and 162 rail cars had to be in service by 6 AM every weekday § Managed an annual operating budget of $280 million and a capital budget of $800 million

§ Managed a staff of 3000 union, non-union, technical and professional people with backgrounds from a ninth-grade education to PhDs • David Evans and Associates, Inc. o Project Manager for the design and construction of many transit projects in Portland, Spokane, and Phoenix ranging in value from $1 million to $3.2 billion (Columbia River Crossing) o Managed the company's largest office (150 people) during the recession years (2008-2011) and made a profit o Managed the company's largest project - the Columbia River Crossing through the environmental and preliminary engineering stages o Managed the company's second largest project - Project Management Oversight Services contract with the Federal Transit Administration which required that I start an office in New York City and hire staff to oversight the federal interest in the reconstruction of the transportation systems that were damaged on 9/11 and later supported Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts o Served on the company's Board of Directors from 2007 to 2017 o Retired October 2016

3. What added value do you bring that separates you from other candidates in shaping the future of our sport.

I believe that my work experience combined with my rowing experience makes me uniquely qualified to add value to the Referee Committee. At work I led many complicated projects from conception, through design and construction to completion. I know how hard it is to get consensus on change and we need to update Referee Corps procedures and modernize some of our activities. In the rowing world I was on Station L Rowing Club's Board of Directors when we completely changed how we assessed dues causing great pain in the short run and allowing us to grow in the long run.