The Outstanding Program Director Award is presented to an individual that has made notable contributions to promote public access sailing in the development and organization of a sailing program.
This award recognizes a Program Director who has had a significant impact on their organization by:
- Optimizing the quality of education in their program
- Providing training and development opportunities for other instructors and educators
- Empowering individuals to reach their greatest potential
- Providing a safe and well maintained working environment
- Introducing creative programming that introduces new demographics to sailing
- Showing sustained growth in the overall size, or financial footprint, of their organization
- Provided strong leadership and mentorship.
The Outstanding Director of a Seasonal Program Award (1992-2012) and the Outstanding Director of a Year-Round Program Award (1992-2012) were combined in 2013 to become this award.
Previous Award Recipients
- 2023 – Emily C. Taylor, Nantucket Community Sailing
- 2022 – Whitney Kent, Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center
- 2021 – Emily Zugnoni, Alameda Community sailing center
- 2020 –
- 2019 – Alexe Taylor, Hudson River Community Sailing
- 2018 – Nino Johnson, Sail Sand Point
- 2017 – Matt Thompson, Wayzata Community Sailing
- 2016 – Mary Horrigan, New England Science & Sailing
- 2015 – Mark Zagol, New England Science & Sailing
- 2014 – Alicia Martorella, The Waterfront Center
- 2013 – Margie Graham, Crooked Lake Sailors
- 2012 – Greg Fisher, College of Charleston (Year Round) / Tommy Stewart, Sail Sand Point (Seasonal)
- 2011 – Kate Neubauer, Lake Champlain Comm. Sailing (Year Round) / Marcin Kunici, Community Boating, Inc. (Seasonal)
- 2010 – Amy Lyons, Community Boating, Inc. (Seasonal)
- 2009 – Ed Neubauer, Redondo Beach Park & Rec. Sailing (Year Round) / Rob Knect, Duxbury Bay Maritime School (Seasonal)
- 2008 – Stu Gilfillen, Sarasota Youth Sailing Prgm. (Year Round) / Rob Crafa, SUNY-Maritime (Seasonal)
- 2007 – Dave Bowen (Year Round) / Amy Zang, Washington Sailing School (Seasonal)
- 2006 – Steve Serafino, Westwind Sailing (Year Round) / Jerry McNamara, Crescent Sailing Assoc. Adult Learn to Sail Prgm. (Seasonal)
- 2005 – Ashley Sullivan, Shake-a-Leg Miami (Year Round) / Tom Moore, Community Boating, Inc. (Seasonal)
- 2004 – Sail Schumsky (Year Round) / Jeff Doubek, Geneva Lake Sailing (Seasonal)
- 2003 – Joshua Ross, Challenged America (Year Round)
- 2002 – Ben Ferris,Traverse Area Community Sailing (Seasonal)
- 2001 – Brian Hill, Lake Forest Recreation Department (Year Round) / Kirk Culbertson, Downtown Sailing Center (Seasonal)
- 2000 – Alisha Raish, Dana Point Youth and Group Facility (Year Round) / Hart Kelley, Community Boating, Inc (Seasonal)
- 1999 – Rachael Miller, Lake Champlain Comm.Sailing Center (Seasonal)
- 1998 – Bill Mountford, Boy Scout Sea Base Orange County (Year Round) / Gene Nuth, Baltimore County Sailing Center (Seasonal)
- 1997 – Jean Kryshak, Schulman, Milwaukee Comm. Sailing Ctr. (Seasonal)
- 1996 – Not given
- 1995 – Kim Hapgood, US Sailing Center of Martin County (Year Round) / Cappy Capper, Lake Minnetonka Sailing Ctr. (Seasonal)
- 1994 – Leo Robbins, Sail Ventura (Year Round)
- 1993 – Mickey Harnge, Newport Beach Sea Base (Year Round)
- 1992 – len Brandenburg, Mission Bay Aquatic Center & Dave Ellis, St. Petersburg Sailing Center (Year Round) / John Kantor, Dick Pfund, and Jane Piereth (Seasonal)