Meet the Team
-
Shana Curd
PRESIDENT
In August of 2011, it was love at first sail, which led to driving more than an hour each way to Tacoma with a van load of teenagers every week for four years. For the last two of those years, Shana served as a one of the Skippers (Skippers handle the youth crew administration while the Captains handle all things boat related). Witnessing first-hand the life changing impact Odyssey has upon the crew, Shana is passionate about the opportunities Odyssey provides youth to learn hands-on adult responsibility, teamwork, and leadership.
Shana brings to Friends of Odyssey over 12 years of board experience with 5 different nonprofits, in addition to two years of fundraising experience. Shana’s drive and passion for Odyssey inspired her to expand on her nonprofit experience by completing both a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Washington in 2021. Creating Friends of Odyssey to support the continued opportunities and legacy of Odyssey is a dream come true. -
Emily Molina
VICE-PRESIDENT
Emily Molina is a freelance writer in the South Puget Sound region where she lives with her husband and family since his army service brought them to the area in 2014.
Originally from Ohio, the former American Airlines international flight attendant has spent a great deal of time abroad, and called several U.S. states home, including: Ohio, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, and Washington.
A lover of both history and the sea, it is these passions that led her to Odyssey, where one of her own children serves as a SSS 190 crewmember, and she, an adult female leader, and volunteer.
Seeing the first-hand skills, knowledge and experience gained in the co-ed youth program is a driving force behind her continued support and involvement in the future of Odyssey, and crews to come. -
Ralph Hitz
TREASURER
Ralph Hitz teaches earth sciences, including oceanography, at Tacoma Community College. Although he has lived and worked in Tacoma for twenty-five years, and raised a family here, he grew up in coastal southern California, where he developed a strong connection to the ocean through sailing, surfing and other water activities.
This interest led him to enroll one of his sons as a crew member of Sea Scouts Ship 190 Odyssey. This co-ed youth program has encouraged a phenomenal amount of inner growth and interpersonal maturity in his son. The adventure, the responsibility, the pride, the skills, the camaraderie, all blend in a unique way to create an incomparable experience. Ralph is now a big fan of this program and is committed to help make it sustainable, to benefit future participants. -
Margaret Mason
SECRETARY
Margaret Mason is an Application Analyst for a local School District. A Chicago area native, she did not realize her love of sailing until she moved to Seattle as an adult. Taking sailing lessons in small boats led to the purchase of a larger vessel and a 2-year adventure in Mexico.
Margaret is the proud parent of an Odyssey Alumni whose own experience as a Sea Scout and love of the water led to an education at Cal Maritime - California State University Maritime Academy, and a career in the maritime industry.
She looks forward to her volunteer time with the Odyssey program and is honored to use her skills to help with their operations. She is continually amazed at the experiences, responsibilities and knowledge that the Odyssey program teaches the Scouts, Captains and Volunteers and in particular her own Alumni Scout!
In her free time, she loves to hike, sail and garden. -
Natasha Curd
VOLUNTEER
As an Odyssey Alumni, Natasha has the first hand experience to say that the Odyssey program is a truly life changing opportunity. After joining Odyssey in 2011, Natasha embraced the program with zeal and earned her Quartermaster Award in 2015. After graduating high school and obtaining her Associate’s degree, Natasha worked with the Los Angeles Maritime Institute as a deckhand/educator teaching sailing to under-served Los Angeles youth and for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a mechanic.
As an occasional first mate, teacher, and web designer Natasha’s involvement with the Odyssey program has continued. As part of her determination to help the Odyssey program and continue its legacy for future generations, Natasha is our first volunteer. She has volunteered her time, experience in sailing and amateur web design services to Friends of Odyssey.