Have you ever wondered how we manage to have a well-maintained fleet, a yearly auction that is hugely successful, and how we use our resources so efficiently, despite only having two full-time employees? For that, you can thank our volunteer Board of Directors!
Our dedicated Board of Directors bring decades of experience in their respective fields to making our organization run successfully and sustainably. From managing our budget, to handling insurance, applying for grants, and managing our web systems, our Board works behind the scenes to make sure the structure, resources, and policy are in place for us to run our sailing programs and better serve our community. Get to know our board members and the crucial role that each of them plays in our organization!

Joan Storkman
Program Director
She and her family have been fortunate to enjoy a lot of time in boats. Joan sails and races their Thunderbird (including women’s races in the 1970’s-90’s), taught sailing, and has cruised around the northwest on the family trawler. She and her husband also enjoy spending time with friends, family and their 3 grandkids
My great grandparents boated in the early 1900’s so sharing my love of boating is a family tradition. I feel so fortunate to work with this amazing group of volunteer Board members who are so skilled, eager, hard-working and have so much fun providing sailing opportunities…for the kids!

Kathleen Carlson
Asst. Program Director - Website, Registration, Marketing
Kathleen and her husband are very active in the local sailing community and have for years run the local sailboat races. They can't wait to get their grandkids into camp and teach them the joy of sailing.
My husband grew up on sailboats and I had so much fun joining in the adventure of sailing. I love the ease, yet complicated part of sailing, the quiet yet sometimes noisy. I enjoy being able to help this organization grow..for the kids!

Mary Godwin Austen
Secretary of the Board
Mary is happily retired from a wonderful career as a primary school teacher and principal. She was fortunate to work in three districts including Sumner, Peninsula (principal of Harbor Heights) and University Place. Now Mary enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
As Secretary I take minutes at the monthly GHYC JS meetings and consult with the personnel committee. I joined the board because I support the vision and work of Junior Sail, especially helping local sailors build their skills and confidence on the water.

Greg Olsen
Fleet Manager
Greg is responsible for the maintenance of 7 older Boston Whalers coaches’ boats and 2 RIB Rescue Boats, plus 30 some sailboats and trailers. He is available during the season for timely repairs and heads up a crew of volunteers during the winter for annual maintenance and restoration. Greg has a goal to electrify the coaches’ fleet.
“Having people come up to me when I am at the launch ramp and tell me how much they enjoy the kid’s laughter coming over the water when they are out sailing and how much they appreciate our service is what drives me.”

Dale Reiman
Boat Donations & Sales
Now in retirement I love traveling with my wife and still hope to take her to some northern places I have been. Diana and I have been a cruising couple here in the NW and Canada for more than 22 years on our 37' trawler.

Rachel Rainbolt
NRT Parent Representative
With a master's degree in marital and family therapy, she carries this volunteer role alongside her professional work as the founder of Sage Family, where she has spent decades coaching thousands of families through gentle parenting, natural homeschooling, and simple living.
"I choose to invest my time, energy, and resources into this program because I believe in the good it does for our children—I witness it every day in the responsibility, joy, confidence, grit, friendship, bravery, and skill that these kids bring off the water and into our community. We have a profoundly positive effect on the hundreds of kids we serve each year, but also on everything and everyone those kids touch. This is how we change the world, one little sailor at a time."

Don Bernard
Treasurer
“Being a retired CFO allows me to utilize my skills while helping give back to my community with an incredible nonprofit organization focused not only on teaching sailing, but building confidence and leadership in kids.”

Mary Theo Hoeksema
Equipment Inventory & Licensing
It's been a joy for me to be a part of an organization that's offered so much to my children and to others in the community.

Greg Hoeksema
Personnel, Medical & Long-Term Facilities
From his home in historic Gig Harbor he draws inspiration everyday from the laughter of the "little kids in the boats" while they learn to sail and appreciate our magical harbor.

Pete Clement
Grants & Fundraising
Pete and his wife Jackie are also involved in maintaining their home, gardens and landscapes, as well as entertaining, traveling, grandparenting, and just enjoying life in beautiful Gig Harbor.
A quote that has served as a lifetime guide for Pete is Calvin Coolidge’s “Press On”, and the key phrase: ‘Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent.’

Tom Mitchell
Investments & Insurance
His interest in GHYC Junior Sail started through his observations of local youth learning how to sail in Gig Harbor. After a few days on the water, the kids became in charge of their own vessel. The sheer joy (and occasional terror) was palpable. The coaches were amazing and very involved. He soon learned about the group of dedicated volunteers that made the organization what it is today, and took heed of the call to action. He is proud of the Gig Harbor community that has embraced our organization, made to make a difference for kids.
My job is keeping track of the insurance needs. I am also involved with helping Greg, Dale and crew maintain boats both power and sail.
Committees
Narrows Race Team Committee
Joan Storkman - GHYC JS Rep.
Joe Guizetti - TYC JS Rep.
Rachel Rainbolt - Varsity Rep.
Michelle Valiani - Opti Rep.
Jennifur Newhouse - JV Rep.
Lisa Embick - Gear Sales, Bellarmine Rep.
Tanya Starke - Party Planning
Melissa Deprez - GHHS Rep.
Mario Lee - CWA Rep.
Nathalie Op de Beeck - At Large
Ashley Nelson - Sailing Director
Niko Twilla - Assistant Sailing Director
Budget Committee
Don Bernard
Tom Mitchell
Kathleen Carlson
Mary Theo Hoeksema
Joan Storkman
Ashley Nelson
Niko Twilla
Personnel Committee
Greg Hoeksema
Kathleen Carlson
Ashley Nelson
Joan Storkman
Mary Theo Hoeksema
Mary Godwin Austen
Fleet Maintenance Committee
Greg Olsen - Fleet Manager
David Holsinger
Dick Strand
Gordon Robilliard
Randy Henrickson
Dale Reiman
Barry Bookman
Jim Drake
Frank Sreck
Registration/Web Committee
Ashley Nelson
Kathleen Carlson
Rachel Rainbolt
Niko Twilla
Scholarship Committee
Joan Storkman
Ashley Nelson
Auction Committee
Marti Anderson - Galley Chair
Mary Theo Hoeksema - Donations Coordinator
Kathleen Carlson - Registration/Web
Joan Storkman - Auction Chair
Jill Bernard - Sponsors