Russ Downs is an avid paddler and outdoor enthusiast with a passion for the sport of Dragon Boating and the Arizona Dragon Boat Association in particular. With over a decade of service and leadership in non profits and multiple decades of business leadership, he looks forward to using the skills and understandings he has developed in operations and continuous process improvement, along with a strong work ethic and common sense to lead the board and the association this year.
Board of Directors
Elected Officers
Russ Downs
President
Member
Ash Lagazo
Vice-President
Member
Ash Lagazo is an avid paddler, who has a strong desire to help grow and bring awareness to the sport of dragon boating in Arizona. As co-founder and head coach of Arizona’s first youth dragon boat team, she strongly believes that growth starts with setting the foundation for our youth. It is her goal to continue to grow the sport through our youth, as well as through continuous community involvement, both locally and internationally.
Laura Rasmussen
Treasurer
Member
Introduction coming soon.
Melissa Adams
Secretary
Member
Introduction coming soon.
Manager Positions
Bud Adams
Media Manager
Member
Bud Adams has a history of non-profit involvement and brings his 15 years of design experience as a creative director to help with the AZDBA’s website, advertising and general design elements.
John Glitsos
Coaches & Captains Manager
Member
Introduction coming soon.
Michele Laye
Membership Manager
Member
Introduction coming soon.
Additional Board Members
Emil Benov
Member
Introduction coming soon.
Stephen Butler
Member
Stephen Butler is an equal opportunity paddler and has paddled with almost all of the Arizona based teams. He has been paddling since 2014, and has found some of his most rejuvenating and rewarding times on the water with his paddling family. His goal for being on the board is to promote growth in the sport and community unity.
Ben Choi
Member
Ben Choi is a SW Engineer with Intel Corporation, and brings a wealth of technology knowledge to the AZDBA board. He has been paddling with multiple AZDBA crews since 2015, but his passion has always been working with Corporate Dragon Boat teams and growing the sport from the Corporate environment.
Betty Flores
Member
Betty Flores has over 18 years of customer service, non-profit association management experience that will support the strategic planning of the AZDBA Board. Paddling with the AZDBA for over four years, Betty understands the great sense of community the association is built upon and wishes to grow the community statewide.
Desiree Simmons
Member
Introduction coming soon.