Michele Laye has been a part of AZDBA for over 8 years as a paddler, steer, and coach. She previously served on the Board as the Secretary for 5 years. Currently Michele coaches Team Blue, Gilas, and SunGi. Michele has also volunteered as the in-state and corporate team coordinator for the AZDBA festival for the last 6 years.

Michele also helps fundraise for AZDBA. She volunteers as an Ironman and RnR captain and volunteer coordinator. She also leads corporate team builders for AZDBA.

Michele is looking forward to growing the sport and the organization during her term.

Dorra Tang was introduced to AZDBA through the Asian Corporate & Entrepreneur Leaders (ACEL) Corporate Dragon Boat Team right after Covid had forced a hiatus for all. She recalls the small numbers to be met to take a small boat out and the days of filling out daily waivers. She now paddles passionately year-round with the Blaze Canoe Club!

Professionally, Dorra has been the Director of Client Solutions at Exeter Financial LLC since 2007. Prior to that, Dorra received her broker’s licenses at Charles Schwab & Co where she worked with affluent investors & financial advisors from 2000-2007. She has served previously as COO/Treasurer for Platform Scottsdale. She is currently serving with the Phoenix Compliance Registered Investment Advisor Roundtable as well as the Sun Devil Swimming Association. Dorra is proud to have found a sport that ties into her rich Chinese heritage and plans to help AZDBA grow, encourage community service, and mentor future leaders within AZDBA to help sustain the organization’s mission.

Binal Patel was first introduced to AZDBA through the Mayo Clinic Corporate Dragon Boat Team in 2007.  She served on the AZDBA board from 2008-2012. She has held the treasurer position in the past to help organize AZDBA’s financials and introduced use of electronic technology (Quickbooks & PayPal) for efficiency and control.  She has been part of the festival committee and served in other roles such as festival chair, sponsorship coordinator, vendor coordinator and volunteer coordinator.

Professionally, Binal has a financial background and currently works for Mayo Clinic as a System Analyst.  She took a break from paddling in 2016 after having two kids but is ready to be on water again with the PFD team. She plans to help AZDBA grow, encourage community service, and mentor future leaders within AZDBA to help sustain organization’s mission.

Amy Thomas is a member of Phoenix Fire Dragons, MonGi, SunGi, and PFD Haboobs. She has over 15 years of experience paddling outrigger canoe and 8 years paddling in dragon boating. She’s previously served on several boards, including for Team Arizona Outrigger Canoe Club, where she held the positions of Vice President and Secretary over multiple years.

Amy brings an open mind, experience and passion for these sports. Amy’s background equips her to contribute effectively to the board’s functions and foster a sense of community and fairness among paddlers at all levels. Amy is committed to bringing everyone together and ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment for all members.

Dr. Lori Berquam is an active member of the Phoenix Desert Dragons. She joined the DDs in 2022 after moving to Mesa from Madison, Wisconsin, where she’d been a member of Team Survivor dragon boat since 2017. Being a Board member gives her the opportunity to give back to the sport she loves by promoting and growing interest in dragon boating. She considers it a privilege to represent the interests and needs of all the teams who use Tempe Town Lake and continue to build on the work of current board members to improve the facilities and equipment for dragon boat paddlers.

Prior to her retirement in 2022, Lori served as the interim President of Mesa Community College where she represented the college on the Mesa United Way Board. Additionally, she was chair of the Partners in Giving Campaign (a United Way affiliate) and served as the Vice Chair of the Badgerland Council of Girl Scouts while working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Logan Cameron is an accomplished Dragon Boat enthusiast and a founding member of the AZ Blaze Canoe team. He is a data scientist and the owner of Data Wranglers, LLC. Logan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Informatics with a minor in Statistics from Arizona State University. Since 2019, he has worked with ASU and the state of Arizona conducting data analytics and providing actionable recommendations to work toward addressing critical issues. Currently, he is a Security Officer and Database Manager for the Arizona Homeless Response Initiative which requires him to complete data analytics with internal teams and multiple stakeholders to improve outcomes for the state.

Logan first became enthralled with Dragon Boat in 2022 when he realized he was motivated to exercise when part of a united team. Dragon Boat has become a significant aspect of his life because of the community, rich culture, the addictive fitness, and overall fun.

Susan Vasquez has been dragon boat paddling since 2004. She raced at the very first Arizona Dragon Boat Festival with her “drinking club with a running problem” team, the Zonie Hash House Harriers. She paddled with the Arizona Gila Dragons from 2005 to 2010. She served as president of the AZDBA in the past and has also co-chaired an AZDBA dragon boat festival. She moved to California in 2010 and paddled with LA Thunderdragons, Rogue Warriors and Aerodragons. Susie returned to Arizona in 2023 and is currently paddling with Sungi and the Gilas. She’s looking forward to working with fellow AZDBA members to ensure that we have another successful dragon boat festival in 2025 and onward.

Ivy McNeil joined AZDBA when she was 13 years old. Throughout her years with AZDBA, she has had the pleasure of forming connections and building relationships with many members and has developed a deep care about our dragon boat community. It is this genuine passion that has motivated her to step forward and serve on the board. Ivy aims to be the voice of the people, advocating for their interests and working towards the continued growth and prosperity of dragon boating in Arizona.

As president of the ASU Dragon Boat team, she has the necessary experience and leadership skills to effectively contribute to AZDBA. She has gained valuable insights into organization and communication – skills that are crucial for the successful operation of any team or association. She understands the importance of careful planning, effective delegation, and adaptability in the face of challenges. These experiences have equipped her with the ability to strategize, problem-solve, and deliver results. Ivy believes that clear and open lines of communication are essential for the smooth functioning of any organization. As a Board Member of AZDBA, her priority will be to foster transparent and effective communication channels. She believes in listening to the ideas and concerns of each member, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed and will strive to act in the best interests of AZDBA as a whole.

Ilona White has been an active member of the paddling (Outrigger and Dragon Boat) community at Tempe Town Lake since 2005. She has six years of dragon boating and 25 years of outrigger canoe paddling. She has also served as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Coach, Assistant Coach, SCORA Representative and paddler. She also assisted in organizing the Tempe Town Lake Outrigger Association that brought together the OC paddling community and the City of Tempe, though it only lasted 7 years.

Ilona has recruited many paddlers and encouraged them paddle both DB and OC for training. She has met so many inspirational people through AZDBA and would like to share that by bringing more enthusiasm and positive energy to the AZDBA Board.

Dr. Phillip Manning was born on the 23rd April 1971 in England. He studied electronics at the University of Manchester Institute of Science Technology where he gained a Bachelor Degree with Honors, followed by an Engineering Doctorate and Diploma in Management Sciences. He has worked in semiconductors for all of his career, starting at Oxford Instruments in the UK. He very quickly grew wings and hopped over to Philips Semiconductors in Zurich, Switzerland. Philips Semiconductors, now known as NXP, extended many privileges his way, enabling him to work in various roles and countries including Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, England, The Netherlands, Singapore and the USA over the last 22 years. Currently he holds the position of Senior Director of Operations, Product and Test Engineering in Chandler, Arizona.

Outside of work he enjoys hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, classic cars and of course Dragon Boating.

His first experience of Dragon Boating was in Taiwan, where he followed the Dragon Boat races at the annual Dragon Boat Festival on Kaohsiung Love River. With commitment, passion and honor, Phillip is proud to participate in Arizona Dragon Boating.

Danica Tuxbury started dragon boating in 2018 and credits her team (Team Blue) and the sport with helping her recover from the six reconstructive joint surgeries she had in 2012-2016. Danica has served on the AZDBA Board multiple times as an admin, web/tech manager, and captains and coaches coordinator. Danica currently splits her time between homeschooling her teenage son, creating and teaching art (mosaics, sculpture, and jewelry), tutoring math and science, and tending to her backyard orchard.

Danica has a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and has a wealth of experience with government and non-profits. She worked with a city in Florida to manage their recycling database and promote paper recycling, researched medical hazardous waste for a governmental working group, spearheaded a wilderness coalition to garner federal protection for public lands, and worked with the public as an energy auditor for Salt River Project. Danica also worked as a campaign director for the PIRGs and other environmental groups doing fundraising, canvassing, and advocate work such as lobbying. She has served as a math and science teacher in the public schools and as a bookkeeper with a local food cooperative.

Danica is an avid promoter of zero waste, permaculture, and solarpunk, and she looks forward to using her love of organizing to help AZDBA streamline its systems and increase its membership.