Experience:

Susan has over 25 years of marketing and management experience with a focus on new product and new business development.  Currently VP, Marketing at the International Yacht Restoration School, she has worked for several leading sailing companies including Vanguard Sailboats , Quokka Sports, and America3, the women’s America’s Cup team.  Before joining the sailing industry, Susan worked for ten years in advertising.

Susan grew up sailing on Long Island Sound and has competed at the national and international levels in a wide range of one-design boats including Lightnings, Shields, Sonars and J24s.  She has done extensive cruising and racing in big boats on the East Coast, in the Midwest, and in Alaska, including a recent 1300-mile delivery from Panama to Florida.  She is also active in event management having most recently co-chaired the 2008 ICSA National Championships.

Susan has been active in US SAILING since 1996 and currently serves on the Team Racing and Marketing Communications Committees, the Industry Council and the ISAF Team Racing Sub-Committee.  She is a board member of the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, the Yale Sailing Associates and the Southport Sailing Foundation.

Candidate's Statement:

"The challenge, and the opportunity, going forward is how to keep sailing and, by extension, US SAILING relevant and meaningful.  In a constantly changing environment where other sports, activities and lifestyle factors compete heavily for our time, we need to effectively understand and evaluate the needs and wants of both our current membership and emerging constituency groups—particularly youth, who are the future members and consumers of US SAILING’s services and products.  This requires a willingness to embrace and implement change—consider new disciplines, support new technologies and innovations—so that US SAILING can leverage its core competencies and strengths to meet these exciting needs and opportunities."