About

Peter Phillips

President

Peter is a fourth generation San Diegan who has been sailing his entire life. He graduated from San Diego State University and worked in Healthcare, primarily in the Information Technology space, getting his start at (Rady) Children's Hospital. Volunteerism has been one of his core life values. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Southern California Yachting Assoc, where he still chairs the Adaptive Boating committee and, the Board of the Recreational Boaters of California. He started sailing with CSSD in 2018 and in 2022 he became our President.

Steve Bridge M.D.

Vice President

Stephen Bridge M.D. is a retired urologic surgeon who grew up in Pacific Beach and started sailing around the age of 5. He sailed competitively in the junior program at Mission Bay Yacht Club and competed in many regattas in the San Diego area and around Southern California, winning numerous awards skippering a Sabot, OK Dinghy, and Lido 14. He learned of CSSD from one of his patients in 2019 and started volunteering shortly thereafter as dock help and, subsequently, as a companion sailor.

Morgan Wright

Secretary and Safety

Morgan moved from Paradise, CA to San Diego in 2014 and was introduced to sailing though the UCSD Sailing Team on CFJs. Shortly after graduating, he started racing on bigger yachts (47-59’) in the San Diego Bay and eventually found a competitive team to race with (Team Fiasco on a S2 10.2). To support his sailing habit, he has worked as a behavioral therapist, and has held various teaching positions across San Diego community college districts and SDSU in biological sciences. Morgan started volunteering with CSSD in 2018, and is always happy to help people learn how to sail safely and race competitively.

Sam Graber

Communications

Originally from Washington, D.C., Sam Graber grew up sailing during NY Adirondacks summers on Upper Saranac Lake when his Mom forced him to get in the damn boat. He became a crazy foredecker, never reefs and sails his Seaward 25 into shoal waters. But as a Coast Guard licensed Masters captain he is VERY responsible with CSSD when companion sailing. Sam is thrilled to be using his time and talents to serve the disabled community. Every day is a joy when we can give the gift of making memories on the water. Let's go sailing!

Fritha Matus

Volunteers

With professional experience covering 33 years in Health Care Management, Fritha lives a parallel life as an accomplished sailor. She has sailed the San Diego waters with her husband Eric on Impulse (Cal 29), Infringer (Catalina Capri 37) and Navy Rental boats (Great Lakes and San Diego). Toss in the occasional sunset wine and cheese cruising with Eric on Balding Eagle (Santana 525). Fritha is proud to be a longtime CSSD volunteer and supporter, having been behind many of the volunteer events. It has been a joy to be involved with Challenged Sailors San Diego!

Micah Shanks

At Large

Micah, originally from Los Angeles, has been sailing throughout Southern California from an early age, sailing on all kinds of sailboats from dinghies to performance sport boats. After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Micah moved back to SoCal to pursue a career in advertising. He has been a volunteer with CSSD since 2024 and enjoys getting on the water with CSSD sailors and volunteers to help teach, foster, and share a love for sailing and the ocean with others.

Chet Howe

Treasurer and Director of Development

Chet was born and raised in Southern California. He moved to San Diego in 2015, after living in Florida, Connecticut and Arizona. Chet has been a recreational sailor since high school and his favorite vacation time is spent on sailing catamarans in the Caribbean. Chet has over 30 years of experience in software engineering and IT. Chet began volunteering with Challenged Sailors in 2024 and has a passion for sharing the thrill and fulfillment of sailing with anyone who has an interest.

Craig Dennis

Waterfront Lead

Craig is a 2nd generation Californian having lived in Southern California all his life. Craig started his career in the motion picture industry and moved into the competitive multifamily housing market, then grape farming and finished his professional career/s in the custom home building industry. Now retired (again), Craig found his new passion in helping keep CSSD’s fleet in working condition. Craig lives in Olivenhain with his wife Kerry, their two Corgi’s and CSSD’s unofficial mascot Fergie.

Jane Dunn

As a founder and former President of Challenged Sailors, Jane has developed many components of the CSSD program. Jane’s enthusiasm for sailing began during childhood summers spent racing on Cape Cod. Since then, she has enjoyed sailing and racing boats of all sizes, including her current 23’ Sonar. Jane has been a US Sailing Small Boat Sailing Instructor since 2009, and received her Adaptive Sailing Instructor certification. Jane is always looking forward to exploring new opportunities for CSSD, and spending time on the water with our wonderful sailors and volunteers.

David Geffen, Esq.

David G. Geffen is a former trial attorney, now devoted to mediation, teaching, and consulting. Mr. Geffen, who uses a wheelchair after a serious diving accident at 21, was accompanied at law school by one of the country's first service dogs. Over decades of public service, Mr. Geffen has been guided by his passion for helping others and his deep appreciation for the beautiful diversity of people.

Dale Burchby

Training

Dale has lived and sailed in Southern California for 50 years. He has sailed, raced, and taught on boats from Windsurfers to ocean racing catamarans, and he loves all of them. He especially loves sharing the sport with others—the freedom and beauty of being on the water, the aerodynamics of harnessing the wind, and the camaraderie. He discovered Challenged Sailors San Diego in 2018 after retiring from a career in Air Force flight test and aerospace project management. He cherishes the opportunity to share the beauty of sailing with folks with disabilities.

Mike and Sylvia Swall

Founders

Two of our founders rescued the adaptive sailing program, part of Challenged America, back in 2014. They invested their own money to pay dockage and insurance costs for the program's eight specially designed Martin 16s. Eventually, they formalized the arrangement, along with other volunteers, and created a new non-profit corporation called Challenged Sailors San Diego. They're regulars at our Friday and Saturday sails as well as special events!

Sue Taetzsch

Scheduling

Sue was born and raised in California, having lived in Simi Valley, Napa Valley and currently in San Diego. She grew up sailing with her family, and discovered Challenged America when she was going for her master’s degree at SDSU. Sue was exposed to adaptive sailing and the Martin 16s and now never loses a race. When Challenged Sailors San Diego was created over a decade ago Sue became the organization’s scheduler on day one. There hasn’t been anyone else since. Sue enjoys meeting new sailors and volunteers and getting them out to sail. They always come back to the dock smiling.

Ryan Sullivan

Technology

Ryan grew up in San Diego and first learned to sail at nearby Mission Bay. In 2023 Ryan discovered Challenged Sailors and immediately recognized what a great organization it is that facilitates the adventures provided by San Diego's waters to those who otherwise might not be able to. He volunteers as a companion sailor and as a tech lead to keep the organization's digital tools in tip-top shape.