Volunteer Chairs
Carisa Bohus, Wednesday Night Sail Chair
Carisa Bohus, (Kah reese sah Bow hooosh!) who does statistics in agriculture, joined OWSA in 2010 and has been learning how to really feel the wind ever since. I appreciate the many interesting areas OWSA brings to the membership, like volunteering at the Boat Show, and Sail for the Cause, as well as taking OWSA classes and attending sailing community talks. I love the monthly meetings and have learned so much from all my sailing sisters. Being in the BOAT program has been a great way to get more time on the water.
Some of the benefits of Wednesday Night Sails are meeting other OWSA members, the skippers in the area, the river, and all the different boats we have the pleasure sailing on. I'm looking forward to a fantastic 2017 sailing season. Please don't hesitate to give me feedback on the WNS program. I want to meet you and hear about your adventures.
Katie Braun, Fireside Chair
Katie Braun was born and raised in Dallas, Texas where she learned to sail with her parents on a Flying Scot (19-foot centerboard sloop). She relocated to the Portland area after earning business and history degrees at Southern Methodist University then becoming a flight instructor, corporate commercial jet pilot and realtor.
Before joining OSWA- she crewed in the Caribbean around British Virgin Islands, St.Martin, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Aruba to Panama and from there down to Columbia, plus San Fransisco to Portland. Although she
might circumnavigate the world one day, she currently enjoys logging time for her future commercial boating license by cruising east and west on the Columbia River right next to the Portland International Airport on most Wed. night OSWA sails and weekends with friends. She loves being fireside orientation chair to encourage sailors - both young and old - to get more involved participating and volunteering in all aspects of the Oregon Woman's Sailing Club.
Beyond Katie's passion for sailing & selling houses since 2003 - she enjoys dating, traveling, reading, gardening, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, remodeling houses, repairing boats,cars and airplanes, plus water and snow skiing.
Julie Demaree, B.O.A.S.T Program
Julie has spent a lot of time on both power and sailing boats on rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Most of her sailing experience was gained on 32 foot Gulf sloop cruising from Portland north to British Columbia and south to the Sea of Cortez in 2001 through 2012. She enjoys the responsiveness and simplicity of small boats and has done some racing on 20 footers. Being the chair for the BOAST program and a skipper for Wednesday Night Sail gives Julie the opportunity to do what she enjoys most — seeing womens' confidence grow as their sailing skills develop.
Mary Marks, Webmaster
Mary is relatively new to sailing. She lived in Austin, Texas until 2018 when she moved to Portland. She immediately fell in love with all the sailboats on the Columbia, joined OWSA, signed up for sailing and boat maintenance classes, and even lived aboard for a short while. Passionate about all things water, you can often find her fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding and freediving in her spare time. She is looking forward to supporting OWSA and getting more women out on the water.
Allison Chown Communications - Contact: communications@owsa.net
Stephanie Thompson, Fleet Manager
I was born in the Summer of Love, and raised in Beaverton OR, Raced BMX Bicycles since 1983. American Bicycle Association National #3 in 1997, and #9 in 1998. Four time NBL Oregon State Champion 1984-1990's. Built and founded Eichler BMX Park in Beaverton Oregon 1995. Studied Graphic Design at PCC and Northwest University in the 1980's & '90's. Worked as a Mechanical/Graphic Artist at Nike & Adidas during the 1990's and am currently self employed as a graphic artist, specializing in boat and car graphics.
Worked part time as a bicycle mechanic since 1982 to present. 2009 Restored a 1959 School Bus, traveled and lived of the grid in the mountains for 5 years in it. My desire to be more independent and meet people all over the world inspired me to traded up to sailing in 2013. Joined OWSA in 2014. In addition to sailing, activities include riding motorcycles, bicycles, surfing, playing guitar, and singing rock and roll. Cool old stu is irresistible and the challenge to restore old cars, motorcycles, bikes, skateboards, surfboards and boats, then drive them really really fast.
Contact: fleetmanager@owsa.net
Tiffany Levesque, Chandlery Chair
Tiffany comes to OWSA with a background in scuba diving, surfing, and a lifelong dream of becoming a sailor. After picking up a floating keychain at the 2014 Portland Boat Show, she signed up for Set Sail for a Cause, joined OWSA, and has not looked back!
While not spending time on or under the water, Tiffany enjoys photography, watercolor, and trekking around the globe. She is fluent in Spanish and ready to help you sail to warmer climes!
She would like to add, "OWSA has given me a new passion for the Pacific Northwest. I would love to see that passion ignite our young women with a thirst to explore, be self-sufficient, and self-confident in all life's pursuits! "
Feel free to let her know if you have any recommendations for our merchandise department!
Jamie Alexander, Class Registrar - Contact: classregistrar@owsa.net
Julia Tucker, Race Captain
My first real memory of sailing was as a small child of 4, dangling over the downside of our friends' Cal25, my hands in the water as we sailed the San Joaquin river. My dad had tied my life jacket to the winch and was holding on to my shorts, he says I was laughing at the water and when we tacked, came up with a huge grin on my face.
When I was 8, my brother and I helped Dad paint and finish our 16-foot racing sloop (a Windmill). That summer he began teaching us to sail, and the following year we began racing with him on Sundays.
When I was 15,I helped launch a "sailboats only" Sea Scout ship a tour sailing club. And when my family moved up to a Columbia Challenger (24 footer) we gave our Wind mill to the Sea Scouts to further their mission in teaching others the art and science of seamanship.
After a way-too-long hiatus, I found my way to OWSA in 2005 and have enjoyed participating in our programs. I find the more I sail, the more I learn, and the more fun I have.
Liv Ormond, First Mate Chair
Liv has been sailing since 2002 and previously served as the Treasurer, volunteered for various events and was the Fireside Coordinator for three years. Liv loves OWSA and offers her boat Mischief on Wednesday Night Sails. She joined OWSA in 2009 and can't get enough of supporting women in learning to sail.
Leeta Anderson, Technology Chair
I have always been a water baby, but growing up in landlocked Utah meant skiing was a better bet than boats. In last 5 years that I've jumped into the sailing community and joined OWSA 3 years ago for Wednesday night sails. After taking the OWSA racing class, I started racing 2 years ago. There is no faster way to develop skills than to be out on a race! This year, I plan to crew on the Offshore race to Victoria in May.
This is my first all-in volunteer position with OWSA, and I hope I'll be able to help get more women out on boats. I'm looking forward to another great year on the water with this awesome group.
Karis Lindvall, Membership Chair - Contact: membership@owsa.net
Katie Schruth, Volunteer Coordinator - Contact: volunteer@owsa.net
