2024 TSRA Board 

| Daniel Boone | ANDe Demetriou |Vinson Dill | Edwin Ford| Jonny Fussell| Steve Isbell |Buddy Koonce| Susan Korf| Jason Holley |Steve Morris|Michael Murphy|David Pelren |Paul Pitney |Donnie Safer | Samantha Satterfield | John Schneider |Shawn Shepard |Patty Shultz | Kevin Stitt |Charlie Wilkerson| James “Woody” Woodall

Daniel Boone

Daniel has been a TSRA member since 1980. He is a current board member, past president and vice-president, instructor, past canoe school chair, trip leader, and river adopter. He is also a TSRA representative with the TN Conservation Voters. He has been an organizer of the Mill Creek clean-up for 29 years and is on the Conservation Committee.  

Goals: To continue to make TSRA the leading organization for improving paddling skills and promoting river safety. Daniel would like to maintain and improve our excellent group of instructors, to focus our conservation efforts on protecting headwater areas and to build strong relationships with other groups whose goals are to protect our streams. Most importantly to make what we do FUN! 

ANDe Demetriou, Vice-President

ANDe joined the TSRA in 2022 and was elected to its Board of Directors the same year. He is the owner of Blues City Kayaks and is also a river guide and instructor for the company. An avid kayaker since 2013, ANDe is a certified American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 river kayaking instructor. As an active Scouts BSA Scoutmaster, he is trained in Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, and is approved by the Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America to teach Kayaking BSA and the Kayaking Merit Badge. He is also CPR/BLS certified by the American Heart Association and is Wilderness First Aid certified by the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI). In addition to the TSRA, ANDe volunteers with the Wolf River Conservancy as a river guide and the Bluff City Canoe Club.

In 2020 ANDe, along with his Blues City Kayaks co-founder, was actively involved in the rescue of five people on a swollen Wolf River in Memphis, TN and provided first aid to two victims of a car crash. As a result, he was one of two recipients of the Memphis Fire Department's Citizen Service Award and one of two inaugural recipients of the Chickasaw Council BSA's Distinguished Service Award.

Goals: In his role as a member of the TSRA Board of Directors, ANDe wants to help with the preservation, protection and restoration of the scenic, free-flowing rivers of Tennessee. While he enjoys all rivers of the state, he wants to bring more awareness to the rivers of West Tennessee. And try to expand membership in West TN.

Vinson Dill, President

Vinson has served for 4 years on the TSRA Board of Directors. He grew up on Lake Barkley and started paddling canoes at 10 years old.  Vinson caught the whitewater bug at the Boy Scout School on the Hiwassee where he was first introduced to TSRA members supporting the training.  He has been a member of TSRA for more than 10 years, involved in Leading Trips, Access Builds, Roll Schools, Canoe & Kayak Schools, Swift Water, Rescue for Rec Boaters and Basic River Rescue. He received his L2 ACA Kayak Instructor Certification in 2019, and is eager to get to use it more this next year.

Over the last several years, he has become very involved in Rendezvous and served as the Rendezvous Auction Chair in 2019 and in 2022, also serve as Co-Chair for Rendezvous.

Goals: Continue to find ways of letting the public know about our organization, and encourage more support and grow membership. We need to attract new and younger members to join and support TSRA. I will continue to support Rendezvous and other TSRA events, help find ways to make improvements, in order to improve membership experience. And finally serve as 2024 President and secure a President for 2025.

Edwin Ford Ed has been a member since the middle 1970’s. Past board member, past president and on the present board. Member of the Safety, First Aid and ACA Training, River Access, Schools and Followup Events Committees. Taught at all three of the 2021 Canoe and Kayak Schools. Goals: Goals would include more white water trips of the members.

Jason Holley

Jason has been a TSRA member for three years. He first started whitewater paddling in 2019 at the TSRA Paddle School, making new friends and learning the ropes. He has attended both basic river and swift water rescue and sees the great value these learning opportunities present to the club and the general population. He is interested to see the club continue to grow and promote water safety and stewardship of these great Tennessee rivers and waterways. He is active in support of Cumberland River Compact, Tennessee State Naturalist Program, and other paddling communities in the southeast.  

Goals: As a new board member he will co-chair the 2023 Rendezvous and is looking forward to paying back all that he has gained as a member these last 3 years. Also, he plans to advocate for introducing more people to the sport of paddling and water conservation.

Johnny Fussell

I’ve been a member of TSRA for over 40 years, past board member, past newsletter designer, contributor to the Rendezvous auction, TSRA certified Canoe instructor, taught at Canoe & Kayak school, instructor at the Boy Scout paddling school on the Hiwassee, worked on access builds on Mill creek and the Harpeth, helped on Mill creek clean ups, led trips on Clear creek, the Hiwassee, Buffalo & Piney rivers.

Goals: Spread the love. Spread the love for our rivers, paddling and our environment. I’ve met some incredible people and seen some incredible sights while paddling. Sometimes while padding I look around and think this can’t be real- this is not Tennessee. My mission will be to spread love and share it with others.

Steve Isbell

My first whitewater paddling experience was with the Boy Scouts on the Buffalo river in West Tennessee sometime around 1972. This was also my first encounter with TSRA. My paddling partner and I had poked a hole in our aluminum Grumman, and had pulled over to the river bank to try to repair (with a chewed up Tootsie Roll). A couple of other canoes paddle up, and asked if we needed help. They were TSRA members, and introduced us to the wonders of duct tape. I didn't paddle any for about fifteen years, until I moved to Cookeville, and became aware of the paddling opportunities near here. I thought back to that time on the Buffalo and looked for, and joined, TSRA. This organization taught me how to roll a canoe, introduced me to the Ocoee river, and helped me make lasting friendships in an amazing community. I later used some of the knowledge I acquired from assisting at TSRA and CHOTA canoe schools to reorganize and conduct an annual school for the Boy Scouts here in the Upper Cumberland (the Hubert Bennet Junior canoe school). I have been active in this school for over 25 years.  With the enthusiasm for paddling comes knowledge of how important water resources are, and how we need to conserve these resources. Free-flowing streams are now a very important part of who I am.

Goals: The primary goal would be to promote river conservation. This can be accomplished through increased membership, and public awareness through recreational activities such as frequent group trips, schools, and safety training. 

Buddy Koonce

Canoe and Kayak School helper; Litter cleanup organizer; Conservation issue helper

Goals: "Continue to work on conservation/water resource issues; Help with paddling trips; Help with creek cleanup events

Susan Korf

I am new to the TSRA Board and am just getting started! I have attended Rendezvous the past 2 years and paddle school a few times. I've been whitewater paddling for about 6 years and I love it!

Goals: I would like to increase the visibility of TSRA in the eastern part of Tennessee. I hope to work with the Hiwassee/Ocoee State Parks to improve access to our waterways as well as advocate for safety.

Steve Morris

Steve served on the board for the last 8 years. He has been involved in several schools,access builds, conservation efforts, river clean- ups, trip leading and special events. These involve: Canoe and Kayak School, Intro to Paddling, Lost Loon Triathlon, Dragon Boat and trip leading numerous river trips and hiking trips. He has also assisted in the Team River Runner and Adopt a River endeavors.

Goals: As a ninth-year board member he wants to continue all the efforts mentioned above. He plans to continue trip leading both paddling and hiking trips. He plans to continue organizing 3rd Saturday paddle trips each month. He plans to offer the annual Canoe Basics Class. In 2016 he received L3 ACA canoe instructor certification. 

Michael Murphy Michael has been associated with TSRA since the mid-1970’s.  He has participated in canoe and kayak schools (C-1, K-1 and tandem canoe) as a student, assistant, and instructor in addition to several roll schools over the years.  He has attended white water camp in the early years and rendezvous in later years as well as swift water rescue.  He has led and assisted with both whitewater and pastoral trips over the years and still loves to be on the water.

Michael has undergraduate degrees in both Business and Accounting and a masters degree in Taxation.  He is a retired CPA and spent his last thirty -five years before retirement managing the tax department of a large local CPA firm.

Michael has agreed to step into the treasurer’s role and looks forward to involvement in TSRA initiatives in the future.

David Pelren

Dave is a lifetime TSRA member, joining in 1993.  As a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ecological Service’s division for 31 years, Dave has enjoyed opportunities as a past TSRA board member (for about 8 years) to assist in Conservation Committee actions and would welcome re-entering that role.  His main interest as a board member would be in seeking out wise options for investing TSRA's resources in river conservation.  He is a strong advocate for TSRA’s balanced focus on both conservation and paddling initiatives.

Dave has instructed at kayak school for about 15 years and one year at intro. canoe school, assisted at a Becoming an Outdoorswoman weekend, instructed at about 3 roll schools, served as Adopt-a-River program coordinator for about 8 years, assisted at Lost Loon Triathlon for about 10 years, and assisted with two access project builds (Big South Fork and Stones River at Donelson).

After paddling class 3-4 waters for a decade and a half, DP has more recently spent the majority of his boating time on class 1-2 with his daughter.  It’s looking like he’ll be able to up his game to at least 2’s and easy 3’s after sending her to college (ETSU – yeah, Nolichucky!) and after retiring in the next year or two.  Yep, you can bet he’ll also be flipping a few rocks in search of those mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies – maybe some snorkeling, fishing, photography…

Goals: My main interest is in seeking out wise options for investing TSRA's resources in river conservation. I believe my 31 years of experience as a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Ecological Services division would be helpful in that regard. I am also strongly interested in TSRA's maintaining a good balance between conservation and paddling efforts.

Paul Pitney Paul joined TSRA at Canoe and Kayak School in 2020 and has been an active member ever since. He has volunteered to teach a First Aid/CPR class in 2022.  He is currently the Director of the Dickson County YMCA and has served on other non profit boards. He will be a great asset to our organization. 

Donnie Safer

Donnie has served on the Board since 2010. He is an active member of the Conservation Committee. He has been an instructor at quite a few TSRA paddling schools and been a support boater for skill building trips. He has also led a couple of first Saturday trips. I love volunteering at our Lost Loon Triathlon!

Goals:To continue to keep the Board and membership informed about conservation issues and opportunities that affect water quality and paddling access in Tennessee. To continue to contribute to TSRA's ongoing success.

Samantha Satterfield

I  have volunteered to teach children paddle safety at Mad Musky, and the community I live in, and obtained my ACA level 2 river kayaking instructor certification to teach others in the future. I am working on opening my own kayaking outfitters, and conservation for the Calfkiller River as well. I am working hard in the community to help with parks and recreation events as well! I am a nurse, working towards starting a path to becoming a wilderness nurse through a FAWM's fellowship. I love working to help my community especially if it's on the water! I recently took a travel nursing contract in Colorado just to be closer to a Whitewater school to obtain more experience while I work on my swift water rescue skills!" Samantha has served as 2023 Chair of Conservation and Conservation activities. 

Goals: Further our Conservation efforts, and implement more hands-on projects.

John Schneider

John has been a TSRA Board member for the past 8 years and is seeking re-election. He has been involved in many areas of TSRA, including serving as theRendezvous Chair and as a Committee member and chairing the Auction. John has assisted with instruction at the TSRA Roll School and organizes the Boater Support at the Obed WaterFest on behalf of TSRA. He has assisted in leading TSRA trips down the Ocoee, BSF, Tellico and Hiwassee for Rendezvous and the TSRA Canoe & Kayak Schools. He has assisted with several access builds and solicited and organized the volunteers. Since joining TSRA, John has completed the TSRA Basic River Rescue course, Swift Water Rescue course, and Canoe & Kayak School and Roll Schools.

Goals: We need to promote and re-establish TSRA as the path for new boaters to learn safety and the necessary skills to enjoy all levels of paddling. Increasing new membership is vital to this process. I would like to assist TSRA in marketing the resources we have to drive interest and membership. This will include efforts in the access projects, fundraising, and membership growth and increase the awareness of TSRA among the non-paddling public and government agencies. In the past I have had the opportunity to serve as President on several non-profit boards and feel this experience would help me be an asset to TSRA.

Shawn Shepard

Shawn is a lifelong whitewater paddler and conservationist who got her start on Arkansas’s Buffalo River and spent her college and young adult years kayaking in Tennessee. She has been a TSRA member since 2016. Early on in her membership, Shawn participated in Canoe and Kayak School, Swiftwater Rescue, and Rendezvous. She has since served as a volunteer at Rendezvous, a support boater at Canoe and Kayak School, and as a supporter and participant on many first Saturday paddle trips. Shawn is an urban planner by training and spends her summers teaching canoeing skills and water safety to girls at a camp on the Cumberland Plateau. Shawn believes strongly in the value of wild rivers and wild places and in the communities of people that support and protect them. Shawn was elected to the board in 2023 and is currently serving as Secretary. 

Goals: To increase awareness of opportunities to volunteer and participate outside of major events for members who are not currently serving on the board.

Patty Shultz

Patty has been an active member since 2005 and has served on the board for a number of years. She loves to be in and on the water so it's natural to be involved in TSRA. Her main focus has been in making the waters of TN more accessible for paddlers, fishermen and swimmers. She has been involved with the access committee since its beginning, writing grants and helping with over 20 access builds. Patty has also been involved with cleanups, TSRA projects and conservation efforts.

Goals: I would continue to work on access issues with the goal of making more of Tennessee's waterways available to paddlers, fishermen and swimmers.

Kevin Stitt

Kevin has been an active member in the outdoor recreation community since experiencing hiking and camping in the Colorado Rockies as a child. He discovered kayaking while working for Tennessee State Parks as a Seasonal Interpretive Ranger in college. Since then, Kevin has become an ACA L2 Kayak Instructor and developed a passion for teaching open water recovery and other kayaking skills. His goal is to provide hands-on experience to other paddlers so they can safely enjoy kayaking with friends and family. 

Kevin's involvement with TSRA began in 2012 when he first learned about the education and volunteer opportunities offered by this organization while working for REI Brentwood. During this time, Kevin worked with TSRA to raise grant money each year for the Access Build program and participated as a volunteer in several builds. Graduating from TSRA's Rescue for Rec Boaters class inspired Kevin to seek out training with ACA to become a leader in sharing this knowledge with others.

Goals: Kevin has previously served as a TSRA Board Member in 2020 and is excited to rejoin this passionate group of leaders and continue to make a positive impact on people and the environment for years to come.

Charlie Wilkerson

Having been a Board Member for over 20 years Charlie has served in the following positions: Past President, Vice-President, School Chair, and Rendezvous Chair. He still maintains Canoe Instructor and SwiftWater Rescue Instructor certifications plus assists with access builds, river adopter, and trip leader. He teaches multiple first responder SwiftWater Rescue courses a year with his team of Instructors.

Goals: To continue to help grow TSRA's membership and programs while continuing our core mission and striving to improve our instruction programs. And to assist in mentoring new leaders, instructors, and board members while being a resource of knowledge to assist TSRA's leadership.

James "Woody" Woodall