Crew/Staff/Board

Ships Crew

Our crew–the people that make it happen. Our crew is a tight-knit community of professional and volunteer mariners who come together to care for and sail the Lady & Chieftain. They are bright, skilled and hilarious, and many of them got their start in our Two Weeks Before the Mast program. If you want to join our crew, check out our Jobs and Volunteering pages.

Hawaiian Chieftain Crew, Spring 2013

hc_crew

Back row: Johann Steinke, Tyler Ling, James “Shiny” McClurg, Aaron “Whaler” Walker, Katherine Jackson. Front row: Eamon “Egon” Kennedy, Rosie O’Brien, Grace McDonough, Brandon “Knuckles” Webber. Not pictured Ashley Childers and Julia Swan.

Lady Washington Crew, Spring 2013

lw_crew

Robert Neel, Darryl “Elf” Hall, Mike Bucy, James “Chuck” Turner, Shana “Tank” Tinkle, Barb “Bomb” Kraler, Laura Cooney, Connor Maurer, Michael De La Cruz, Sabrina “Maple Syrup” Sandburg, Myron “No Funny Nickname” Kingsbury, John “JB” Morrison. Not Pictured Patty McLaren.

 

The Seaport Crew

Our wonderful staff and board do the behind-the-scenes work to keep our vessels sailing. Each individual offers a unique contribution to our organization, and we thank them for their tireless efforts. To find out more about joining our board or staff, please contact us.

 

Office Staff

Brandi Bednarik, Business Manager

Brandi Bednarik is a local Harborite, who is currently raising her own family in Montesano. She attended Aberdeen High School before getting an Associates degree at Grays Harbor Community College. Her background was mostly in the private sector of Construction Finance and customer service before becoming part of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority’s Crew. She has worked her way up the ranks to become our Chief Financial Officer. She believes strongly in our mission and in providing opportunities for education and maritime career growth. Go Seahawks!

 

Captain Les Bolton, Executive Director

After a successful career in the private sector, Captain Les Bolton joined GHHSA as Executive Director in 1990, leading efforts to refocus the organization on a new vision. Under his guidance, the organization has earned a reputation as a leading provider of training opportunities in tall ship and general maritime skills, hands-on heritage experiences for K-12 students, and cross-cultural experiences for individuals and families. Capt. Bolton is now coordinating activities aimed at achieving GHHSA’s vision for Seaport Landing, a new destination public education, maintenance and moorage facility in Aberdeen.

 

Joe Follansbee, Communications Director

Joe Follansbee joined GHHSA as Communications Director in 2007. He has previously worked as a newspaper reporter, radio reporter, web developer, and he occasionally publishes articles on Pacific Northwest issues in regional magazines. He has published five books on maritime history and heritage, including a history of the schooner Wawona, which called at Grays Harbor ports in the early 20th century.

 

Roxie Underwood, Vessel Operations Manager

Roxie is a resident of Montesano and a graduate of Montesano High School. Her background is in commercial and residential construction where she started out as a field laborer and worked her way up to project and permit manager. She enjoys interactions with the public, the schools, Seaport staff and crews of the Lady Washington, Hawaiian Chieftain and other Tall ships around the country. Roxie is an advocate for the Tall ships programs and believes in keeping our maritime history alive and preserved for our future generations to enjoy.

 

Spar Shop

Kent Wall
Scott Rubey
Jon Fox

 

Board of Directors

Board of Directors, February 2013David Cottrell
Dennis Crowley
Dave Douglass
Alex Kluh (Vice Chair)
Tim Howden
Paul O’Brien
Linda Orgel
Laura Pilgrim-Rust (Chair)
Price Chenault