Our Staff
Sound Experience has a small, enthusiastic office staff who work to support exceptional development and delivery of inspiring, educational programs aboard Adventuress. From our office at 211 Seton Road, Port Townsend (above Edensaw Woods), our staff members combine their daily efforts with a strong board leadership, hundreds of members/volunteers, talented ship's crew and our ever expanding community of friends and supporters.
Catherine Collins, Executive Director
Catherine has over two decades in non-profit fundraising and management, and has worked with youth development organizations such as Outward Bound and City Year. She spent a decade helping to develop strong local economies throughout the U.S. with ACCION USA - a subsidiary of worldwide microfinance leader ACCION International. A native of Massachusetts, Catherine grew up sailing Cape Cod waters. Her interest in environmental work aboard ships was sparked many years ago as a volunteer educator aboard the Sloop Clearwater on New York's Hudson River. Catherine received her MBA from Seattle University in 2001, and was a finalist for the Earnst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the category of Education/Nonprofit for founding Clickerz, a summer technology camp for children from low- to moderate-income families. She currently serves on the board of the Environmental Education Association of Washington (EEAW) and Seattle University's Entrepreneurship Center. Like many involved in Sound Experience, Catherine followed her son to the organization, as he was a participant and then for several years a Ship's Apprentice.
Click here to read Seattle University's article about Catherine.
Captain Korie Griffith, Port Captain
Korie joined the permanent staff/crew of Sound Experience during the 2006 sailing season. She first sailed aboard Adventuress as relief mate in 2002, then returned for two more years as First Mate. She has sailed both U.S. coasts, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Caribbean aboard sail training vessels including Tole Mour, Spirit of Massachusetts, Denis Sullivan, and Pilgrim of Newport. Capt. Korie has also worked aboard research vessels Nathaniel B. Palmer in Antarctica and the NOAA ship McArthur II in the Central Pacific. She brings a Master's Degree in Geochemical Paleoceanography from the University of California, Davis, and a Bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of Wisconsin. Korie will not be "driving" this year as she and her husband, Tupper, are expecting their new baby.
Captain Joshua Berger
Joshua has sailed aboard Adventuress as captain and relief captain since 2004. During his leadership-driven career, he has proven abilities as a skilled and passionate professional mariner, educator and advocate of Puget Sound health and restoration. Joshua brings a history much like the Adventuress herself: a history full of spirit and intention; honored and privileged to explore and learn, engaged deeply as a hard working vessel and integral in the work towards healthy and sustainable communities. He earned a Master’s Degree from Antioch University in Seattle and a Bachelor’s Degree from The Evergreen State College. He has worked on everything from tall ships to tug boats and research vessels across the country and is deeply engaged in sustainability education as a community development consultant for statewide and regional participatory planning and socio-environmental change. He has been engaged with stories, visions and goals of thousands as they come together in partnership and collaboration. He cherishes his wife Miranda and raising his children as stewards and sailors.
Captain Daniel Evans
Elizabeth Becker, Special Projects Director
Elizabeth is responsible for Outreach and Partnership Development for Sound Experience, as well as coordinating membership and volunteer programs. She brings to her job a wealth of knowledge gained from a previous career in water quality research and regulation, as well as a passion for old wooden boats. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in the Applied Earth Sciences Department at Stanford University, with a focus on Environmental Geochemistry. Her research work in the field of trace metal contamination in San Francisco Bay with the U.S. Geological Survey and her experience in water quality assessments with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have provided her with a unique perspective on ecological issues. She has lived in Port Townsend since 1997, employed in her own business as a professional writer and photographer specializing in maritime stories and images. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding and is a former Board Member of the Port Townsend Sailing Association and the Port Townsend Main Street Program.
Megan Addison, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Megan joins the Sound Experience ‘office watch’ after spending most of the 2009 sailing season onboard Adventuress as an Educator/Deckhand and Program Coordinator. As the Education and Outreach Coordinator, she is responsible for coordinating educational programs aboard Adventuress. A native of Western Washington, she graduated in March 2009 from Western Washington University and the North Cascades Institute with a Masters of Education in Environmental Education and a Certificate of Leadership and Non-Profit Administration. Prior to her graduate studies, Megan worked for environmental education organizations, was an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Washington Reading Corps, and received her teaching certificate from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY in 2004. An avid skier, backpacker, and general outdoorswoman, Megan is excited to add sailing to her many outdoor hobbies.
Zach Simonson-Bond, Development Associate
Zach has joined the "Office Watch" after four seasons aboard Adventuress working as an Educator/Deckhand, Bosun, and Winter Volunteer. Recently graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Communication, Zach has taken on the role of "Development Associate" and is excited to fundraise for Sound Experience. As a recipient of the University of Washington's Jody Deering Nyquist Award for Excellence in Public Speaking, Zach loves speaking with individuals and crowds to get people excited about Adventuress. Zach has also crafted Sound Experience's presence on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Blogger. Raised in Coupeville, WA, Zach now calls Port Townsend home and enjoys sailing, hiking, biking, photography and a little cinematography on the side.