Our Staff
Mary Trester
Executive Director
Mary joined AWA in October 2022 as the Executive Director. Mary has a passion for learning, community and boating which makes her work with the AWA a great match.
Mary brings over two years experience in leadership training as the Program Manager of Leadership Skagit. She also has decades of experience in higher education, workforce development, equity and diversity training, and program management as the Director of Continuing Education at Edmonds College. Mary obtained her B.A. from the University of Washington before obtaining her K-8 teaching certificate from Central Washington University. She earned a Master’s in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Mary loves the water and in her free time you will find her boating in the San Juan and Gulf Islands with her husband, Chuck, and Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Finley. She also loves crabbing and zipping around in her Boston Whaler in pursuit of the catch of the day. Mary is a member of the Anacortes Yacht Club and serves on the Board of Directors for the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce.
Shawn P. O’Connor
Waterfront Program Manager
Shawn O'Connor learned to sail when he was 11, and has been racing and coaching ever since! Shawn started his racing career at Race Week on a Peterson 37, racing that boat through middle and high school. A founding member of the Oak Harbor High School sailing team in 2014, Shawn taught sailing camps since 2013 with Oak Harbor Youth Sailing. He was announced as the head coach of Wildcat Sailing in August of 2020, leading his alma mater to program best finishes at NWISA Fleet Race Championships twice (2021 and 2022, 6th at both) and NWISA Singlehanded Champs (4th in 2021, 3rd in 2022 and 2023). In 2024 as the coach for the Anacortes High School Team, Shawn led the Seahawks to three program best finishes, 7th in the ranking season, 6th at NWISA Fleet Race Championships, and 4th at NWISA Team Race Champs. In 2025, Shawn led the program to a new best 6th in the ranking season with the two championship regattas coming soon
Shawn is a NWISA board member and is dedicated to expanding competitive youth sailing access to communities in the Pacific Northwest, with a special focus on North Sound communities. Shawn is also an extremely active keelboat racer, winning back to back North Sound Championships aboard the San Juan 24 'Juan Solo' in 2022-2024, San Juan 24 North Americans in 2022, Round Whidbey in 2021-23, Whidbey Summer Classic in 2021-2024, PITCH in 2023 and 2024, and the Puget Sound Sailing Championships in 2024 among others. Shawn is excited to help lead a competitive team in Anacortes!
Austin Hauter
Middle School Sailing Team Coach
Austin has been Sailing since he was nine years old. He has raced for the Oak Harbor high school Sailing team from 2013 to 2017. After graduating high school Austin went to college at the University of Washington and raced for the University of Washington Sailing team from 2017 to 2020. In the summers, Austin worked as a summer camp instructor first at Oak Harbor Youth Sailing, and then at Sail Sand Point. After graduating college, Austin volunteered as a coach for the University of Washington Sailing team for around a year until he moved back to Oak Harbor, where he is currently volunteering to coach the Oak Harbor High School Sailing team. Austin is very excited to have another coaching opportunity and to share his knowledge with future sailors!
Alex Parkman
Junior Rowing Coach
I started rowing during summers at my grandfather’s house on the coast of Maine. Then I entered the world of racing shells at college in Connecticut and after transferring to the University of California when I experienced the wooden boats made by George Pocock.
I first rowed in Washington against the Huskies on Opening Day. Although we lost, the UW crew was friendly enough and I returned after graduation. I worked in the maritime industry as a ships’ agent where one of my first ships was a tanker to Anacortes, and later for a stevedore company based on Harbor Island as a ship planner and contracts manager helping start up the cruise terminal in Seattle.
As part of Sound Rowers I have rowed around Mercer Island, Bainbridge Island, and Shaw Island. I am currently a US Rowing referee and enjoy giving back to the sport that has given me so much by helping others learn to become accomplished rowers and enjoy being on the water.