I started paddling 28 years ago at Camp Mondamin in Tuxedo, North Carolina. Since those first strokes on Lake Summit, paddling has been a major part of my life. After graduating from camper to counselor I went on to teach canoeing for another four years. I've worked for an environmental consulting firm, an association offering environmental services to airports, and now the Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco. As a federal employee, I have helped to coordinate EPA?s comments on the recreational aspects of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to make sure our whitewater concerns are addressed. Specifically, I hope to help open more river reaches so that we can all play and enjoy these resources for years to come. I can bring a lot to the AW board including prior board and association experience, dedication to the environment, a love of the river, and a passion for river preservation. I think that AW has made a substantial contribution to the whitewater community, and I would love to be a part of its growth as AW moves beyond its 50th anniversary.