US Sailing has named two new members of the US Sailing’s Board of Directors, as well as one reelection, who were officially elected on Wednesday, November 8 at US Sailing’s Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA.
The newly elected and re-elected members of US Sailing’s Board of Directors are incumbent Tony Rey (Newport, RI) and newcomers Matt Gallagher (Chicago, IL) and Laura Grondin (West Hartford, CT).
Rey, Gallagher, and Grondin will each serve a four-year term.
“Our Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated team of sailing community leaders,” said US Sailing Board President Rich Jepsen. “We have worked diligently to ensure US Sailing’s board and leadership represents varied aspects of our sport, and Tony, Matt, and Laura are wonderful examples of this.”
Tony Rey grew up racing and sailing in Larchmont, NY, crewing on IOR boats in the area and racing dinghies year-round. He was a college All American and winner of the 1990 Hobbs Sportsmanship Award. Since college he has lived in Newport, RI and built a successful career racing and coaching at the highest levels of the sport; including 3 Americas Cup campaigns (2000, 2003, 2007), US Sailing Team coach (Athens 2004), and competing and winning internationally in regattas in a variety of classes from J70s to TP52s to Superyachts. Currently, Tony organizes race charters for some of the more prestigious regattas in the world through his company Cloud10 Racing and is the director of Doyle Sails Newport.
Matt Gallagher is a lawyer and Managing Member of Gallagher, Niemeyer & Abrams, LLC in Chicago, IL. Gallagher has been actively engaged in US Sailing for a number of years, and currently serves as Chair of the US Sailing Offshore & Technology Division; Chair of the Membership Committee and member of the Governing Committee at the Storm Trysail Club; Congressman for the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC); Board member of the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation; Chair of the Membership Committee at Storm Trysail Club; Sailing Committee member of New York Yacht Club; and Chair of the 2024 ORC Worlds.
Laura Grondin is the owner and CEO of V Industries, Bingham & Taylor, and Hartford Technologies. Grondin serves as Chair of the International Melges 24 Class Association and is a past Commodore of the Groton Long Point Yacht Club. She has participated on numerous boards, including membership organizations, as a chair, treasurer and/or director. Grondin has sailed for many years, and has been a sailing instructor, college racer, cruiser, crew, skipper, yacht club member and officer, and a one-design class leader. Among her many successes on the water, she has been nominated twice for the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award and was a finalist in 2022.
US Sailing would also like to thank outgoing board members Russ Lucas (2017 – 2023) and Justin Shaffer (2021 – 2023) for their service to the board and US Sailing.
“US Sailing is grateful to Russ and Justin for their exemplary service,” said Jepsen. “Your efforts have been instrumental in making the Association stronger, making sailing more enjoyable and popular in America, and driving excellence on the international sailing stage.”
US Sailing’s Board of Directors is also pleased to announce the appointment of four new committee chairs. Briana Provancha will serve as Chair of the International Selection Committee, the committee of volunteers responsible for developing the processes for selecting athletes to represent the United States in international sailing competition, including the 2024 Olympic Games, replacing JJ Fetter. Ed Cesare was named Division Chair of the US Sailing Offshore & Technology Division, replacing Matt Gallagher as he joins the Board of Directors. Taran Teague will retire from the Race Management Committee, replaced by new Chair Tom Duggan. Finally, Renae Mintz will serve as Chair of the DEI Committee, assuming the role in place of Donald Lawson, who has been missing at sea since July of 2023. US Sailing is grateful to those who have served on its dedicated committees, especially those in leadership positions, and would like to thank all outgoing leaders for their service to the board and US Sailing.
US Sailing held its annual election to fill the open seats on its Board of Directors from September 19 – October 29, 2023. All current adult and family members were entitled to vote online. In addition, members voted in person at the US Sailing Annual Meeting.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the National Governing Body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.