Flag Officers
The Board is made up of five Flag Officer positions (Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, and Treasurer) and up to five additional Directors. Contact the Commodore if you are interested in serving on the Board and giving back to the OWSA Community.
Jen Wiseman, Commodore
Jen didn't grow up sailing, but always knew she wanted to experience sailing. When she joined OWSA in October of 2017 all of that changed. In 2018 she served as the Class Registrar and also participated in the BOAST program. She learned to sail that year and will never look back. In 2019 Jen stepped up to serve as the Education Director and she is currently serving as the Commodore. She is grateful to be of service to such an amazing sailing community.
Laura Gadley, Vice Commodore
I learned to sail on a day sailer called Whistler on Lake Pymatuning in NE Ohio. My Dad taught each of us (4 out of 5 kids) how to sail in preparation for a year long cruise. My parents sold our home and property in Ohio and had a 42 steel hulled junk rigged schooner built in the Chesapeake Bay. We left the Chesapeake - motored, sometimes sailed, down the Intercoastal Waterway down to Florida and into the Bahamas where I left to get married.
Years later I joined my parents to sail the islands of French Polynesia for 6 weeks flying into Tahiti (delivering a prop) and eventually leaving from Bora Bora. I have joined them for a couple week trips to the San Juan Islands. I have also sailed through Deception Pass and sailed with my Dad on their Catboat from Anacortes across Puget Sound to Sequim, WA. I always went sailing whenever I visited Anacortes, WA.
I have been a member of OWSA since 2014 and have made many of the Wednesday Night Sails. I was a Minnesota Outward Bound Instructor and have spent a lot of time on canoes, sailing with tarps too, and feel very comfortable around water. I am a strong swimmer and have my SCUBA certificates.
I have attended the Sailing Fundamental classes, am First Mate certified, taken Cool Maneuvers class. I have volunteered with the educational programs (am currently a Guppy in Sailing Fundamentals), volunteered at the Boat Show and attended a lot of meetings and annual parties. I attended the SYSCO Race Clinic in May 2020 in a Zoom format.
Maintenance of a boat- I have twice painted the cramped engine room on my family boat. I used to paint interior and exterior houses. I am a practical, handy person who believes no task is too small or too hard to take on. I can sew very well, am resourceful and enjoy physical labor. I have a strong background in Safety.
My professional background is in Human Resources. I have a BA degree in Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management and Labor Relations. I am skilled across all areas of Human Resources with full-cycle recruitment, employee relations, performance management, strategic planning, policy and legal compliance. I have a strong work ethic and the ability to develop solid working relationships. I also have my SPHR certification- senior professional in Human Resources and another certification SHRM-SCP.
I am currently working on getting my Oregon Boater Education card and am studying the book now.
Shancy Holland, Rear Commodore
Shancy started sailing in the 90's on Lake Minnetonka when an opportunity to race came her way on a Ranger 23 and she was hooked. She joined OWSA in 2009 and has served in a variety of volunteer roles supporting technology and operations for OWSA. Shancy had the opportunity to race on a Martin 24 on the Columbia River with an amazing skipper and crew and has cruised in the San Juan Islands, the BVI and Lake Michigan. She loves being on the water and gets out as often as possible on her Catalina 22. Any day sailing is a great day and it is even better when she can get other ladies out on the water!
Carin Berg, Secretary
OWSA has opened the door to the joys of Sailing. Joining in 2015, I took all classes OWSA offered which created a solid foundation for many adventures over the years. Thrilled to give back to this powerful network of Sailing Sisters, I previously served as Secretary in 2016-7, was Event manager for Set Sail for a Cause, and an adult leader with Sea Scouts ship Sunsail. Volunteering has been a fantastic way to build many friendships in the Portland Community. Friendships that have fostered invitations to sail SYSCO races on Merit 25, CYC Offshore on J105, and Columbia River long distance racing on a Beneteau and S2. The journey continues with repairing and learning to sail my beautiful boat, s/v Grey Riesling a 30' S2 8.0c. I look forward to learning your journey, and help to find ways OWSA can support your sailing goals.
Tanya Seely, Treasurer
I have lived most of my life in the Pacific Northwest. I have always loved being around water. Growing up if I was not on horseback, I was in my neighbor's swimming pool! Later I spent my summers with friends on the Willamette river water skiing and wake boarding. Most recently I have discovered sailing. I was enchanted so I looked for ways to be able to continue sailing. I learned about OWSA while shopping at West Marine. I thought that OWSA was exactly what I was looking for and I joined soon after. I have been an OWSA member for five years now.
Thank you to the amazing Commodores that have provided vision and leadership to OWSA over the years:
2021 Jennifer Wiseman
2020 Shancy Holland
2019 Delona Lang
2018 Tressa Yellig
2017 MC Rydzewski
2016 April Deines
2015 Dondi Kathman
2014 Ashley Patterson
2013 Ellen Van Rossum
2012 Susan Gierga
2011 Kitty Church
2010 Wendy Hatchadourian
2009 Julia Tucker
2008 Edie Felix
2007 Cathie Dluehosh
2006 Susan Estes
2004 Sue Johnson
2003 Donna Mac
2002 Mary Stupi Brocks
2001 Mary Woiccak
2000 Linda Wanitschek
1999 Alice Patten
1998 Cheryl McNaughton
1997 Gail Taylor
1996 Susan Burns
1995 Sherry Robinson
