Board of Directors - Working/Advisory Committee
Click on a Board Member to View Their BIO
Board of Directors
- Judy McLennan, President
- Sarah Everhart-Skeels, Vice President
- Ron Hopkins, Vice President
- Stephanie McLennan, Vice President
- Dan Dwyer, Treasurer
- Nanette Gifford, Secretary
- Bob Conner
- John Marshall
- Robin Wallace
- MaryJo Carr of Counsel
Clinic/Regatta Working Committee
- Judy McLennan, Chair
- Betsy Alison
- Annette Bourbonniere
- Bob Conner
- Kim Cooper
- Sarah Everhart-Skeels
- Nanette Gifford
- Jan Harley
- Gene Hinkel
- Ron Hopkins
- Chris Luppens
- Stephanie McLennan
- Arthur O’Neill
- Robin Wallace
Advisory Committee
- Jerry Kirby
- Jim Mattingly
- Steve McGowan
- Rives Potts
- Tom Rich
- Pieter Taselaar
- Robie Pierce
- David Pedrick
Board Member BIO's
JULIETTE CLAGETT MCLENNAN
Juliette Clagett McLennan, known as Judy, is retired from The U.S Government where she served as The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women under President George H.W. Bush. Under President Ronald Reagan, Judy was The Manager of Blair House, The President's Guest House. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and she is a member of the U.S. Sailing Committee for Sailors with Special Needs. Judy is the founder and serves currently as the Chair and President of the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic/Regatta for sailors with disabilities. She is a member of the Board of Directors of The Seamen's Church Institute of Newport and Athenaeum in Newport RI.
Judy has been involved with Republican politics and has served at the National, State and Local levels in a variety of positions from 1975-2004. Throughout her life Judy has been very active on numerous International, National and Local charitable and civic Boards of Directors.
Judy is an Associate Member of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance and was once co-owner of a ski school in Canada. She is also an Associate Life Member of The Fraternal Order of Police.
Judy currently resides in Portsmouth, Rhode Island with her two yellow Labradors. She has two grown children and one grandchild.
January 18, 2011
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SARAH EVERHART SKEELS
Sarah Everhart Skeels has sailed in the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta since its' inception in 2003. Her responsibilities for the organization involve sailor recruitment, coordination and consultation. Sarah strongly believes in the ideals and mission of the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta and credits this regatta and organization for pushing her to pursue more extensive involvement in sailing for those with disabilities. Sarah is currently a member of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics SKUD-18 team. Outside of sailing, Sarah teaches classes at Brown University and Boston School of Occupational Therapy at Tufts University, is a volunteer adaptive skiing coach with New England Disabled Sports, and serves as a Commissioner on the RI Governor's Commission for People with Disabilities. She is also the proud Mom of Ellie.
Ron Hopkins
Ron is a popular, Principal Race Officer and Judge for major sailing championships. He is known for his expertise in several sailing sectors, large youth events, one design championships and disabled sailing regattas. He enjoys working with volunteers from around the country and internationally. Ron is also a highly sought instructor of Racing Rules, Judging and Race Management, and has several fun educational and entertaining presentations for club programs.
An active sailor and US Sailing level B Sailor Athlete, he has participated in numerous Newport to Bermuda Races, PHRF and IMS regattas, OD Sunfish and 505 events.
In 2008 he was selected to be PRO of the US Sailing Olympic Trials for the Paralympic classes and ran both the Pre-trials and Paralympic Trials in Newport, RI. The diversity of competitors, classes, venues and regatta experience provide him the background to run the best possible racing and get the most out of each venue for the benefit of the competitors.
Recent major regattas include events for the International 12 Meter Class, Lightning Class North Americans, Melges 32 Class, J105 Class, Swan 42 Class, Club 420 Class and numerous others.
Well known on the Opti racing circuit, he has been PRO of multiple USODA Team Trials, Nationals, and Regional Opti events.
He is known for his almost famous mantra,"Safe, Fair, FUN"!
Certifications:
- US Sailing Regional Race Officer
- US Sailing Senior Judge
Appointments
- US Sailing - Area Race Officer (ARO-A)
- US Sailing - Race Management Instructor - (basic)
- NBYA-RSA - Chairman Appeals Committee
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STEPHANIE MCLENNAN
Resident of Newport, Rhode Island. Member of The Ida Lewis Yacht Club. Graduated from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida December 2005 with an AA in General Design. Experience in Retail, Hospitality Management as well as State and National Political Campaigns and the Federal Government. I have two yellow labs MacKenzie and Millie.
NANETTE GIFFORD
Newport native. Graduated with honors, Delta Mu Delta & Golden Key Honor Society, from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth with a BS degree in Accounting. Limited partner and owner of Innovative Construction, Inc. since 2005. Working Committee Secretary for Clagett Regatta since 2006.
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ROBERT CONNER
Robert “Bob” Conner resides in Newport with his wife Ann. He graduated from Brown University, served in the U.S. Navy, and worked for the Raytheon Corporation. Bob is Past Commodore of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Past President Narragansett Bay Yachting Association, Past Treasurer U.S.Sailing, Past President RI Olympic Sailing Trials, and a former syndicate member of the 12 Meter Liberty Syndicate. He currently is a U.S. National sailing Judge and an International sailing Judge and is a member of the New York Yacht Club Juror’s Committee.
DANIEL F. DWYER, III, CPCU, ARM
Owner of DF Dwyer & Associates, an insurance brokerage specializing in designing insurance programs for small business owners and non-profit organizations. A third generation Newporter, Dan shares his love of the water with his wife Kerry and three young children – all avid sailors. Prior non-profit experience includes two years as Vice Chairman of the Museum of Yachting and a term as Trustee of the International Yacht Restoration School.
JOHN MARSHALL
John E. Marshall, III is a resident of Little Compton, RI and a graduate of Brown University. After serving in the Naval Reserve, he was Associate Development Director at Brown University, Executive Director of The Rhode Island Foundation and concluded his career as President, CEO and Trustee of The Kresge Foundation in Troy, MI. Marshall serves on five nonprofit boards plus the Clagett Regatta.
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DR. ROBIN WALLACE
Semi-retired physician. Certified Race Officer at US SAILING and International Sailing Federation. Chairman/President of Rhode Island State Yachting Committee and Rhode Island Sailing Foundation. ISAF Medical Commission member. Trustee Stride Memorial Foundation.
MARYJO CARR OF COUNSEL
MaryJo Carr is a partner in the law firm of Harvey, Carr & Hadfield, in Newport, Rhode Island. She worked her way through law school as a sail maker for Linthicum Sails, on the New Jersey shore. She formerly served as a coach to the United States Coast Guard Academy, and as a board member of Sail Newport.
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