PACIFIC SECTION NOMINATIONS FOR SERVICE on the 2017-19 NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Included in this document is a brief bio of each U.S. member interested in serving on the 2017-19 Nominating Committee. Registered delegates in attendance will vote on one person from each region below at their sectional meeting to be held on Friday, April 29 in Columbus, Ohio.

Northwest Pacific Southwest Pacific

Linda Chihara – Seattle, Washington Janis Engel – Valencia, California Mary Zammit – Spokane, Washington Dorian Valles – Carlsbad, California

NORTHWEST PACIFIC

Linda Chihara Lakewood Winter Club Seattle, Washington

Linda lives in Seattleand is a member of the Lakewood Winter Club in Spanaway, Washington. She works at the University of Washington in Compliance and Risk Services. She is the past chair of the Rules Committee (2012-15). Currently, she serves as a member of Competitions Committee, Ethics Committee, Judges Committee, Singles Committee and the Referee Education Subcommittee. She has also served as vice chair on the Rules Committee, vice chair for Exams on the Judges Education & Training Subcommittee, sectional vice chair for singles and pairs on the Judges Committee, regional vice chair for singles and pairs and dance on the Judges Committee and regional vice chair on the Competitions Committee. Linda has also been a member of the Adult Skating Committee and Grievance Committee.

Linda is a national singles and pairs judge and referee, a novice sectional dance judge, a sectional dance referee, a regional technical controller and data/video operator in singles. She has served as test chair, vice president of the Pacific Northwest Interclub Association and has volunteered in an unofficial capacity at qualifying and nonqualifying competitions. She has attended over 20 Governing Council meetings as a delegate representing her club. Through these roles over the last 30 years, she has had the opportunity to meet and work with U.S. Figure Skating members in all three sections.

Mary Zammit Lilac City FSC Spokane, Washington

Mary’s introduction to figure skating was as a parent of a child who tested to the gold level. While her daughter was skating, she chaired one Northwest Pacific regional competition (2001) and four nonqualifying competitions as well as helping with various committees for other competitions including practice ice, ice monitor, hospitality and registration. Mary also served as a volunteer for skaters’ services and trial judges room at the 2007 and 2010 U.S. Championships, respectively. From 1999-2002 she served on the Lilac City FSC Board of Directors. She is currently serving another three-year term with the Board. While serving on the Board, she has held the position of test chair, helped implement strategic planning for the club, worked with the president to develop better relations with the rink, coaches and hockey associations, and helped update the club’s bylaws and standing rules. As a skater, Mary is working on the adult pre-bronze MIF test.

In 2007, she received a bronze appointment as a singles/pairs judge. She received her silver appointment in 2010 and is currently working toward a gold appointment. As a judge, Mary has enjoyed traveling throughout the Northwest Pacific Region and getting to know the various clubs, skaters and officials in the area.

Mary has additional board experience with another non-profit, The Friends of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, a Partner of Public Lands for US Fish and Wildlife. While president she has received board training at the National Conservation Training Center. The organization is currently working on implementing a strategic plan, which will include updating the organization’s bylaws, agreement with the refuge and planning for the future. In addition, she has also overseen the updating of their website and finding members to serve on the board.

Presently, she teaches part-time at a private school in Spokane. As a teacher, she has developed the ability to work with a wide variety of personalities and groups of people. Over the years Mary has been part of committees that hired teachers and a head of school using a collaborative process with teachers and administration.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC

Janis Engel All Year FSC Valencia, Calififornia

A gold medalist in , Janis comes to this position with depth and long-term global experience in many capacities within skating. Locally, she is the secretary for the All Year , having also served as president and treasurer and on the club’s Board of Directors since 2000.

Organizationally, Janis served on the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors from 1999-2002 and again from 2004-05. Her involvement as an ISU championship ice dance judge, national referee, judge and technical controller has taken her to several ISU Junior Grand Prix events, ISU World Junior Championships and many regional, sectional and U.S. Championships. Janis has judged countless nonqualifying competitions nationwide.

Janis acted as the officials’ liaison for the 2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships (Los Angeles) and volunteered in the kiss and cry area at the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships (Los Angeles). She has also enjoyed experiences as a team leader and serving on many LOC teams to produce successful competitions.

At the committee level, Janis has supported U.S. Figure Skating by participating (past and present) on the following committees: Dance Committee (chair), Sanctions & Eligibility (chair), Athlete Development Committee (national vice chair/dance development subcommittee), Competitions Committee, Singles Committee, Judges Committee, International Committee, Test Committee, Memorial Fund and Marketing Committee.

Dorian Valles Glacier Falls FSC Carlsbad, California

Dorian has been involved in skating since 1962 and is a current member of the Glacier Falls FSC serving as secretary and board member since April 2012. She has held a national singles technical specialist and video operator appointment since 2010. Dorian currently serves on the U.S. Figure Skating Technical and Singles Committees, is a PSA Master rated coach and has more than 40 years coaching experience working with all levels through international in Southern California. For the past two years, Dorian has served as a technical panel representative for the U.S. Figure Skating "On the Rise" mentor program. Dorian was the volunteer chair at the 2010 U.S. Championships and served as the co- chair of the International PSA Conference in 1991.

In her amateur days she became the 1970 U.S. novice ladies champion, completed her gold figures and freestyle tests and her junior pairs test. Dorian has served on past U.S. Figure Skating Music and Sanctions committees and has been a delegate to Governing Council several times. Off the ice, Dorian and her husband Kevin have volunteered as co-chairs for the Capital Campaign at their parish in Carlsbad. Dorian and Kevin have 23-year-old twin sons.