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 Program Director Award is given annually to an individual that has made notable contributions to promote public access sailing in the development and organization of a sailing program.
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)