Kathy Kalstrup, President
Kathy’s rowing journey started the very day she landed on Bainbridge Island in 2020—literally before her furniture had arrived. Fresh from the Midwest and ready for a new adventure, she’d already researched rowing as the perfect way to dive into island life. She and her husband, Mike, jumped into Learn to Row at their first chance and were instantly hooked—not just by the sport, but by the welcoming community around the boathouse.
A Chicago native, Kathy built an impressive career leading global businesses in technology and professional services. Today, she channels that expertise as COO of IslandWood, helping steward one of the island’s true gems. BIR is lucky to have her expertise, steady leadership and enthusiasm on board.
Passionate about giving back, Kathy also serves on the board of Housing Resources Bainbridge, working to keep the island a thriving and inclusive community. When she’s not rowing in Eagle Harbor or competing at away regattas, you might find her hiking, biking, zipping around on her scooter, paddle boarding, or exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Drew Marlar, Vice President
Drew Marlar recently joined the Board of Directors as Vice President in March 2025. Drew earned his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Florida College of Law in 1996. After 28 years of practice as a finance and commercial real estate attorney, he is working his dream job as a full time scuba dive instructor.
Drew is a member of the adult rowing team and lives near the row house with his husband Bryan and his dog Chuck.
Kayla Holbeck, Secretary
Originally from South Dakota, Kayla has worked and lived around the world, including the UK, Russia, Australia, DC, and the Bay Area, arriving on Bainbridge during the early pandemic. With 20+ years of experience, she’s worked at the intersections of advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and mission-driven initiatives, focusing on issues like climate change, criminal justice reform, immigration, healthcare, and conservation—everything from registering first-time youth voters to partnering with high-net-worth individuals to amplify social impact efforts.
Kayla took up rowing three years ago as a novice and is working to convince all her friends and family to join the boathouse in some fashion. Outside of work and rowing, she keeps up with her two young daughters, dabbles in surfing with more enthusiasm than skill, and is looking forward to dusting off her skis after years of snowboarding.
Lisa Mudgett, Treasurer
Lisa Mudgett is a Seattle native and Holy Names rowing alumna, living on Bainbridge Island with her three boys, including a BIR varsity junior rower. Lisa is an Actuary at Regence Blue Shield, with over 20 years of healthcare analytics and leadership experience. When she’s not traveling with BIR to regattas and volunteering in the Regatta Kitchen, Lisa can be found hiking Bainbridge Island trails with her husband, Dan, or working out at Elevate gym. She also enjoys reading, knitting, baking, and couch time with her dog, Piper.
Gabriela Pinto, Development Officer
Gabriela attended the University of Texas at Austin where she served as a Lock for the Longhorns’ Women’s Rugby team for four years. As a lifelong athlete in rugby, volleyball, shot put and powerlifting, she credits her time in sports as the catalyst for her passion of all things teamwork and community building. After moving to Bainbridge Island in 2022, Gabriela tried rowing for the first time ever in March of 2023, as a member of the coldest Learn to Row class in BIR history. Even in frigid temperatures, she fell in love with the sport right away and was racing in her very first Master’s regatta by June of that same year.
As a career Development Director for nonprofits focused on breaking down barriers of access for children and families, Gabriela is excited to use her fundraising background to support board initiatives around donor stewardship, corporate sponsorships and community engagement.
Gabriela lives on Bainbridge Island with her partner William, their two sons Viggo and Jack, and Clutch – their rowdy family pup. In her spare time, she’s likely volunteering for other local nonprofits, finding ways to compete and win, or listening to epic audiobooks while cleaning the house.
Aaron Leong, Safety Officer
Aaron earned a varsity letter with the United States Naval Academy’s lightweight rowing team. In 2001, he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. In 2008, he earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Since then, he has continued a career of public service managing technical projects for the federal government.
Aaron, his wife Stephanie and their children Audrey and Charlie have lived on Bainbridge Island since 2020. Together, they run Bluetree Farm and Forest – a lavender farm on the north end of the Island. He has rowed with BIR adult team since 2024, but also enjoys travel, running, hiking, surfing, paddling, mountain biking, working on and driving old cars, and any excuse to take a photo.
Erik Ludwig, Facilities Chair
I grew up in Oregon and Washington, attended Olympia high school and WWU. I rowed lightweight crew in high school and college. I graduated from Western with an engineering degree and later completed my MBA from Northeastern. Elizabeth and I were living in Ballard when Hayden (18) and Noah (15) were born. We moved to Woodinville for a while until I took a job offer from Far Bank (Sage fly rods) here on the island, as the director of operations. We relocated to the island in 2022 and live in the Meadowmeer neighborhood.
Kim Dalan, Adult Programs Liaison
Despite attending UW for undergrad, Kim only got around to a learn to row program at the ripe old age of 30. Stints at Lake Washington Rowing Club and Lake Union Crew inspired a new passion for being cold and wet among friends. After moving to Bainbridge in 2020, she inevitably found her way to the boathouse and was quickly talked into rowing competitively. Kim lends her skills to fostering community among the adult rowers through program improvements, effective communications, exciting new team swag opportunities and good clean fun.
Laura Bocchetti, Junior Parents Liaison
Laura and her husband Aaron, and kids Marcus and Liv, moved to beautiful Bainbridge Island 5 years ago after living in West Seattle for 20 years. They are no strangers to the water, but their introduction to rowing came just 3 years ago when they signed Marcus up for Learn to Row as a rising freshman. He was instantly hooked and is now in his 3rd year of rowing as a junior in high school with plans to be a lifelong rower. There is no better feeling than seeing your kids in their element, working hard and seeing gains, all while having a blast!
As a Federal Program Specialist, Laura had over 20 years experience overseeing Head Start non-profit grantees across 4 states. Laura brings expertise in grant review and funding, risk management, and strategic planning.
Laura looks forward to representing the Jr Parents on the board to highlight parent’s ideas and perspectives and strengthen parent engagement. Reach out to Laura for any reason at any time, and come have a chat at the Parent Coffee Corner at the next regatta! Go BIR!
Mandi George , Junior Parents Liaison
Bainbridge Island has been home to our family of four for the past seven years. Mandi, Clint, Sofia, and Karsten relocated from North Seattle after more than 25 years and settled in the Wing Point area.
Karsten discovered rowing during his sophomore year, joining in the winter session after a long involvement in competitive youth soccer. He quickly developed a strong passion for the sport and now aspires to continue rowing at the collegiate level and beyond. The connections, camaraderie, and sense of brotherhood he has found through rowing have been deeply meaningful and will remain a lasting part of his experience.
Mandi is pleased to serve as the new junior parent representative on the BIR board. In addition, she co-owns and operates a professional consulting business with her husband, which they have successfully run for over a decade. Through this work, she has developed extensive experience across operations, accounting, marketing, human resources, and organizational leadership. Previously, she leveraged her degree to design, manage, and implement community health and wellness programs across a variety of settings. She looks forward to contributing her experience, skills, and energy to the board and to the club as a whole.
Brandon Fleet, Equipment Chair
Brandon learned to row while attending Rice University on a Navy ROTC scholarship. He was assigned to the Pacific Northwest for submarine duty in the year 2000. While serving onboard the USS Henry M. Jackson, a shipmate told him about a rowing crew that was active on Bainbridge Island. Since joining the crew in 2002, Brandon has enjoyed training, competing, and spending time with the wonderful people who make up the BIR community.
Now in his 24th year of continuous membership, Brandon is looking forward to this year’s competitive rowing opportunities and to the completion of our long-awaited boathouse in Waterfront Park. He focuses his board activities on managing BIR’s rowing equipment.
Elisa Rogge, Member At Large
Elisa Rogge is a Senior Lead Events Manager at Lumen Technologies, where she manages global conferences and strategic events that bring people together in meaningful ways. She has built her career across companies including Microsoft, Workday, Broadcom, and Intuit, with a focus on creating thoughtful, high-impact experiences and keeping complex programs running smoothly.
She began rowing in 2014, when she signed up for a Learn to Row class at Bair Island Aquatic Center (BIAC) in Redwood City, CA and quickly developed a lasting connection to the sport.
In 2020, Elisa moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Bainbridge Island to be closer to her parents, who have been long-time Bainbridge Island residents, and shortly after began rowing with Bainbridge Island Rowing (BIR).
At Bainbridge Island Rowing (BIR), Elisa is an active member of the community, coaching Learn to Row and Learn to Erg programs, and was named the organization’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year. She values the teamwork, discipline, and strong sense of community that rowing fosters.
As a board member, Elisa is excited to help strengthen BIR’s welcoming community, support athletes at all levels, and contribute to a culture of commitment and excellence.
Paige Murphy, Junior Rowers Liaison
2025/26 School year
Paige, a member of the Junior Girls team, has been rowing since 8th grade. For Paige, rowing is unique in its demand for teamwork and synchronization, as she explains: “You really have to mesh with everyone on your team, and you’re only as good as your boat is.” Her journey highlights one of the true gifts of rowing—its accessibility to newcomers who discover the sport later and still have plenty of time to develop their talent.
Through hard work, a sense of fun, and an adventurous spirit, Paige has transformed from a novice 8th grader into a key member of her team, being the lead rower in many varsity boats in just a few years. Her focused effort, love for being out on the water, and unflagging support of her teammates has made her quickly into a very accomplished athlete.
Oscar Aitchison, Junior Rowers Liaison
2025/26 School Year
Oscar, a Junior Boys Team member, has been rowing since 8th grade and is now a rising senior. Rowing has been a transformative experience for him, offering purpose during tough times and forging lifelong friendships. At BIR, Oscar has found a supportive community where teammates grow together and help one another overcome challenges. He describes it as “a place I call home, where kindness and acceptance abound.“
Oscar’s dedication and positive energy have earned him admiration from both his peers and coaches. Known for his eagerness to step into leadership roles, he brings a mindset focused on performance and growth to every boat he rows in. His strong sense of teamwork and commitment make him a fantastic representative for the Junior team on the board.
Coming soon…
Helen Handeyside, Junior Rowers Liaison
2026/27 School Year
Karsten George, Junior Rowers Liaison
2026/27 School Year
About the BIR Board of Directors
Board meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Any current BIR member is welcome to attend Board meetings. Contact the Board Secretary to plan your visit.
View past Board meeting minutes
Bainbridge Island Rowing is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of a minimum of seven and a maximum of seventeen individuals who are voted on by the membership. The Board exercises all the powers of the Corporation according to the BIR Bylaws.
At least one-third of Directors represent Adult rowers, and at least one-third represent Junior rowers and include at least one current Junior rower (a member enrolled in the high school rowing program). Up to two “at large” Directors may be appointed by the Board.
Directors serve a term of two years, without limit to the number of terms served. Terms are staggered so that approximately one-half of the Directors stand for election at every annual meeting. Our custom has been to prepare a slate of candidates well ahead of the annual meeting. Candidate Directors are interviewed and recommended by a separate nominating committee appointed by the Board.
In addition to our monthly meetings, BIR invites our members to join our Annual Meeting of Members which is typically held in March. This meeting serves many purposes, several of which are mandated by our BIR Bylaws:
- Review the Financial Report presented by our BIR Treasurer.
- Vote on our Board of Directors Slate
- Review the challenges and successes of the previous year.
- Vote on our BIR Volunteer of the year
