Meet our team.

The Community Sailing Center team is enthusiastic, energetic, and diverse. We have a small group of year-round staff that is supplemented by seasonal employees each summer and supported by dedicated volunteers, board members, and trustees throughout the year.

Management Team

Owen Milne, Executive Director

Owen is passionate about community service and civic engagement and has a long-standing history of non-profit work through volunteerism and board leadership.  He has served on the board of directors for United Way of Northwest Vermont, Generator, Leadership Champlain, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, SerVermont, VT Green Building Network, Partnership for Change, Governors Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities and Northeast Disabled Athletics Association.  Prior to the Community Sailing Center, Owen was a workplace consultant for Red Thread and had previously worked as the Development Director for VT Businesses for Social Responsibility.  Owen resides in Burlington and is a two-time graduate of Champlain College with both undergraduate and masters degrees in Business Management.  In addition to his role at Community Sailing Center, Owen continues service in his role on the Board of Directors at Spectrum Youth and Family Services.

 

Colin Davis, Operations Director

Colin, a native of Rochester NY, has been part of the team since 2004. With his rich background of sailing instruction and management, he has held a variety of positions including instructor and program director. After helping to create many of the successful systems within the organization, Colin now devotes his time to maintaining our vast fleet and intricate dock system. He is often seen out and about in the boat yard keeping all the nuts and bolts of the CSC in line.

 

 

John Nagle, Program Director

John was raised in NY on the shores of the Hudson River. He has 20 years of experience in the field of customer service and office management. John was the Office Manager here at the CSC since 2018. In VT, he was the Office Manager at Adirondack Audiology, then Manager of Bistro de Margot. He spent ten years as the Operations Manager of the Atrium, a food service and establishment in NYC. He is also the co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Vermont Shakespeare Festival. He has been a professional actor, director, as well as adjunct faculty at UVM and St. Michael’s College.

 

Emily Ridgeway, Development and Communications Manager

Emily is originally a Hoosier from Indiana who realized her love for the water early on. She comes to the Community Sailing Center with over 2 years of experience in the disaster response and nonprofit field as well as volunteering within communities all around the country. She is super excited to be working with the Community Sailing Center and providing lake access to everyone. She is passionate about empowering others and providing opportunities for communities to thrive. Emily can be found kayaking, skiing, and drinking iced coffee in all seasons.

 

Janet Callison , Grants and Capital Campaign Manager

Janet learned to sail as a kid on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, taught sailing, built sails, married a sailor, and raced for 25 years. Newly transplanted to Vermont from Ohio, Janet has 20+ years of experience fundraising for nonprofits, specializing in increasing diversity, equity and inclusion for people with disabilities. She is thrilled to have found the perfect convergence of fundraising, sailing and inclusion at CSC, and spends her spare time kayaking, biking, reading, quilting and enjoying time with her husband and two sons in and on Lake Champlain.

 

Tilly Ettlinger, Office Manager

Tilly was raised in Massachusetts and grew up splashing around in both the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Champlain. With over five years of customer service and office experience, as well as volunteering and community organizing, she’s excited to join the non-profit sector. She’s passionate about CSC’s commitment to bring lake access to all, and believes everyone regardless of background or identity can find a way to enjoy paddling, sailing, or learning on Lake Champlain.  She can be found answering phones, outside in the sunshine, or paddle boarding on the water.

 

 

Justin Shay, Program Manager

Justin grew up dinghy racing in Buzzards Bay before relocating to Vermont to study physics. He has a background in emergency response, including years spent with Saint Michael’s Fire and continued work in Emergency Communications. His passion for education has led him to teach in a variety of capacities, ranging from High School Chemistry and College Physics to Fire Engine Company Operations and Sailing Instruction.

 

 

 

Hannah Walton, Education Manager

Hannah recently moved to Vermont from Boston, MA, and was born and raised in New England. They enjoyed spending their summers growing up sailing with their dad. They have worked in education in various capacities, first in special education, working with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related disabilities. They then transitioned into teaching experiential nature-based STEM education at schools throughout the Northeast for Nature’s Classroom New England and Citysprouts in Boston, MA, before joining the CSC team. In their free time they love to sail, ski, hike, read, and spend time outdoors.

Community Sailing Center Seasonal Staff

A few staff members grew up in the Community Sailing Center’s learn-to-sail program. Several race competitively in the local high school and national collegiate sailing circuits. Others are seasoned racers and cruisers who have sailed in different places around the country and even all over the world. Many are students, teachers, and professionals looking to spend their spring, summer and fall outside, on the Lake, doing what they love. While each person brings their own experiences and reasons for joining the CSC team, what unites them is a shared passion for Lake Champlain and sailing, as well as a commitment to expanding the horizons of the students of all ages that they work with.

 

Claire Walker, Marketing and Events Intern
Claire’s from Dubuque, Iowa, where she grew up near the Mississippi River. During the summers, she would sail on Little Traverse Bay in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Currently a junior at UVM, Claire’s majoring in Business Marketing and Economics. This summer Claire is with us as the Marketing and Events Intern. She’s eager to contribute to the organization’s mission of making a positive impact on the community, while also capturing the many events on the water.

Name: Atley Sanders
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: Exploring the ancient magic of sailing and sailing adventure
Fun fact: I go to work at sea
Memorable/funny sailing memory: A regatta of rain/thunderstorms, a sinking boat, racing with my brother, and laughing the entire time
Sail anywhere in the world: The Sky
Likes: Radish w/ peanut butter
Dislikes: Sunburns

From Buffalo, NY, Atley joins the CSC as a Sailing Instructor this season, driven by a passion for sailing’s history and adventure. One of Atley’s most memorable moments involves a regatta in rain and thunderstorms. Off the water, Atley can be found enjoying a unique snack of radish and peanut butter.

Name: Sawyer Bouley
Hometown: Banford, CT
Position: Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: Its very nice
Fun fact: I play guitar
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Getting trapped under the mainsail while tangles in the main sheet
Sail anywhere in the world: South georgia and south sandwich islands
Likes: Music, food, two stroke smoke
Dislikes: Milk, lyme disease, cancer, taxes

From Branford, CT, Sawyer joins CSC this season as a Sailing Instructor. Sawyer has a passion for playing the guitar and aspires to sail in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands one day. Sawyer enjoys music, food, and the Community Sailing Center.

Name: Will Nye
Hometown: Hinesburg, VT
Position: Youth camp manager
Why you love sailing/CSC: I love sharing the sport of sailing with others
Fun fact: I’ve sailed in every month and skied in all but 3
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Getting caught out in a bad squall. Carrying around the mooring field looking for a place to tie up and making a perfect docking in 30 knot winds.
Sail anywhere in the world: Sail around the world. The great loop.
Likes: Sailing fast!! Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain!!!
Dislikes: No wind august days

From Hinesburg, VT, Will takes on the role of Youth Camp Manager at the CSC with a passion for sharing the sport of sailing. A seasoned adventurer, Will has sailed in every month and skied in all but three. Dreaming of future adventures, Will’s ultimate sailing goal is to navigate the globe via the Great Loop.

Name: Margie Bowen
Hometown: Webster, New York
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I love sharing my love for being on the water to people and kids from all walks of life
Fun fact: I live on a farm back home
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Sailing sunfish on upper saranac lake with my family
Sail anywhere in the world: Mediterranean
Likes: New World Tortilla and Cooking
Dislikes: Wet Socks

From Webster, NY, Margie joins the CSC this summer as a Sailing Instructor, driven by a passion for sharing the joy of being on the water, especially with kids from diverse backgrounds. Margie lives on a farm back home and dreams big of one day sailing on the Mediterranean.

Name: Alexander “Zander” Preis
Hometown: Shelburne, VT
Position: Waterfront Manager
Why you love sailing/CSC: Being outside, making sailing memorable, impactful, accessible, and fun.
Fun fact: I’m a dual citizen
Memorable/funny sailing memory: My first overnight sailing race… and many more memories from doing it in following years
Sail anywhere in the world: Around the world!!
Likes: Photography, cooking, aviation, nature
Dislikes: Cyanobacteria!!

From Shelburne, VT, Zander takes on the role of Waterfront Manager at CSC, driven by a love for making sailing impactful and fun for everyone. Zander is a dual citizen and enjoys photography, aviation, cooking and nature. Zander one day hopes to sail around the world and eliminate cyanobacteria in Lake Champlain.

Name: Jansen Hill
Hometown: Addison, VT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I love our mission and community
Fun fact: Favorite candy is Reeses
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Falling out of the boat multiple times due to hiking strap malfunctions
Sail anywhere in the world: The mediterranean
Likes: Sailing, music, architecture
Dislikes: Rhodes 19’s

From Addison, VT, Jansen joins us this summer as a Sailing Instructor, drawn by the community and mission of the CSC. Jansen has had a fair share of falling out of the boat due to hiking strap malfunctions, but that doesn’t change the love of sailing and hoping to one day sail the Mediterranean.

Name: Hannah Head
Hometown: Stratford, CT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I love being out on the water and being in the environment
Fun fact: I have a pet axoloft names samia
Memorable/funny sailing memory: My first time of the trapeze
Sail anywhere in the world: Caribbean/Virgin Islands
Likes: Crocheting, art, the environment
Dislikes: Bananas

From Stratford, CT, Hannah brings a passion for the environment to CSC as a Sailing Instructor, finding joy in being on the water. Hannah owns a pet axolotl named Samia, and hopes to one day sail in the Caribbean…maybe bringing Samia along. Outside of work Hannah can be found crocheting or appreciating art.

Name: Sami Gibbons
Hometown: Port Washington, NY
Position: Waterfront coordinator
Why you love sailing/CSC: Being on the water with children
Fun fact: I have two newfoundland dogs
Memorable/funny sailing memory: The friends made along the way
Sail anywhere in the world: Mediterranean
Likes: Science, the color pink
Dislikes: Seaweed

From Port Washington, NY, Sami helps coordinate the waterfront activities at CSC, finding joy in sailing with children and building lasting friendships. Some of Sami’s favorite things include science and the color pink. Sami has two Newfoundland dogs and hopes to one day sail the Mediterranean.

Name: Julia Bartlett
Hometown: Middleburry, VT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I love the independence sailing brought me as a kid and I want to share that with as many people as I can at the CSC
Fun fact: As a child I was a vegetarian with the exception of bacon
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Trapezing for the first time or quite nearly sinking a mercury
Sail anywhere in the world: All the way down the west coast
Likes: Cats, baking, hiking, coffee
Dislikes: Rats and mice, living in warm areas year round

From Middlebury, VT, Julia loves the independence sailing has created and hopes to share that with others through working at the CSC. A fond memory of Julias is the first time trapezing, and hopes to continue creating sailing memories by sailing all the way down the west coast. Out of the water, Julia enjoys cats, baking, and hiking.

Name: Jay Sullivan IV
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: It is a fun place to sail and hang out
Fun fact: I love to bowl!
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Sailing catamarans with friends
Sail anywhere in the world: Caribbean
Likes: Nature, animals, photography
Dislikes: Tomatoes

From San Diego, CA, Jay is a Sailing Instructor at CSC this summer, finding it a fun and relaxing environment. Jay has some great experience from sailing catamarans with friends, but he also has skills off the water especially when it comes to bowling. Additionally, Jay enjoys nature and photography.

Name: Alex Boni
Hometown: Needham, MA
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: lake access and stewardship
Fun fact: Irish step dancing world champion
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Chugging Arizona Ice Tea to make balers
Sail anywhere in the world: San Fran Bay
Likes:
Dislikes:

From Needham, MA, Alex brings a passion for lake access and stewardship to CSC as a Sailing Instructor. Alex has many talents, from being an Irish step dancing world champion to chugging Arizona Ice Teas to make balers. If there is anywhere Alex could sail, it would be the San Fran Bay.

Name: Yann Calderwood
Hometown: Branford, CT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I am one with the wind
Fun fact: I make a mean beef stew
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Having to stop mid regatta to let a submarine pass
Sail anywhere in the world: the sahara desert
Likes: Ice cream
Dislikes: Communism

From Branford, CT, Yann is joining the CSC as a Sailing Instructor and brings the rare talent of being “one with the wind”. Yann’s sailing experiences include once pausing a regatta to let a submarine pass, demonstrating unique skills. Yan also excels in the kitchen, especially when it comes to making a mean beef stew.

Name: Peter north
Hometown: Strafford, VT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I love sharing my passion for sailing
Fun fact: I used to live on a sailboat
Memorable/funny sailing memory: Having my dinghy motor stolen at West Point
Sail anywhere in the world: Aleutian Islands
Likes: Folk music and humid weather
Dislikes: Tomatoes

From Strafford, VT, Peter shares a passion for sailing as a CSC Sailing Instructor, having once lived on a sailboat. Peter enjoys folk music, humid weather, and hopes to one day sail around the Aleutian Islands. Hopefully that goes better than the time his dinghy motor was stolen at West Point.

Name: H Deacon Bowen
Hometown: St.George, VT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I’ve been coming here for 10 years
Fun fact: I am a collector of trinkets
Memorable/funny sailing memory: One time I almost sunk in Buzzards Bay Massachusetts
Sail anywhere in the world: Bolton Valleys Snowmaking Pond
Likes: Cool people, cars, music, pit vipers sunglasses
Dislikes: Goopr sunglasses

From St. George, VT, Deacon celebrates a decade-long association with the CSC and joins us this summer as a Sailing Instructor. When Deacon isn’t wishfully thinking of sailing in Bolton Valleys snowmaking pond, Deacon can be found collecting trinkets or on the verge of sinking in Buzzards Bay Massachusetts.

Name: Parker Monahan
Hometown: Richmond, VT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: Great people and ripping on fast wind days
Fun fact: I lost a bet to take a sailing class
Memorable/funny sailing memory: I once was asked to lead a class at a summer camp because the instructor didn’t show up (not at CSC)
Sail anywhere in the world: Fiji
Likes: Soccer, ultimate frisbee, skiing
Dislikes: Pistachio ice cream

From Richmond, VT, Finn embraces the spirited sailing community at CSC as an Instructor. Introduction to sailing came through a lost bet for a sailing class, but now Finn is always eager to get out, especially on fast wind days. Outside of the CSC Finn can be found playing soccer, ultimate frisbee, or skiing.

Name: Natashka Pankey
Hometown: Williston, VT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I love sailing and helping others experience it is a dream
Fun fact: I race go-karts
Memorable/funny sailing memory: I got hit with the boom and did a backflip off of the boat
Sail anywhere in the world: Typhoon alley
Likes: Candy, drawing, scary movies
Dislikes: Mint flavor, spiders

From Williston, VT, Natashka fulfills a dream of sharing sailing experiences with others as a Sailing Instructor at the CSC this summer. Hoping to sail through Typhoon Alley one day, Natashka’s off-water activities include racing go-karts and drawing.

Name: Owen Calderwood
Hometown: Branford CT
Position: Sailing Instructor
Why you love sailing/CSC: I like to explore
Fun fact: I play the drums @bandinpants
Memorable/funny sailing memory: sailing through NYC
Sail anywhere in the world: Mount Everest
Likes: Sawyer Bouley and Justin from CSC
Dislikes: When I can hear people watching TikTok loudly

From Branford, CT, Owen joins CSC this summer as a Sailing Instructor. With a passion for exploration, Owen brings enthusiasm and curiosity to the CSC team. Off the water, Owen can be found drumming for his band.