MEET OUR TEAM

LEADERSHIP STAFF

After facing her own hardships growing up as a female skater, Kristin has dedicated her life to creating a radically inclusive skate community. Kristin’s experience working for the YMCA and as an Up2Us Sports AmeriCorps Coach informs her youth-driven approach to Skate Like a Girl’s programs. Year Joined: 2005

After two years in Skate Like a Girl's YES program, Kwame continued to work for Skate Like a Girl while earning a BS in Commerce from Santa Clara University. He enjoys philosophy podcasts, spreadsheets, and working to create a more accessible skate community. Year Joined: 2013

Tedx speaker, founder of MAHFIA.TV and Partner of the Women’s Skateboarding Alliance, Kim has over a decade of experience advocating for women in skateboarding. Finding her own strength, freedom, and self-expression through action sports, she is committed to creating accessible opportunities for everyone to participate. ​Year Joined: 2014

Ashley is a lifelong skateboarder, youth and fitness coach and has 10 years of experience instructing skateboarding and working with youth. Sports and skateboarding has given Ashley a lifetime of freedom and joy coupled with self-discipline and confidence. Ashley has a BA in Community Studies/Education from the University of California Santa Cruz and is passionate about creating a healthy, safe and supportive environment for young girls and women to participate in skateboarding regardless of age, gender, background and ability. Year Joined: 2016

Finn started skating during the pandemic as a way to while away the quarantine hours, but soon realized that this would be a lifelong passion. As soon as Finn came across Skate Like a Girl, they knew they had found the community they were looking for — people who didn’t just love skating, but also saw the potential for skating to be a catalyst for social change and belonging. Skateboarding has given Finn a space to connect more with their queer identity and meet some truly incredible people. Year Joined: 2022

Sarah first fell in love with skateboarding after moving to Denver, CO in 2016. She views skateboarding as a tool for radical self-expression, and truly values the genuine connection and community she finds with skateboarders wherever she goes. Sarah moved to Portland in 2021 to take on the role of program and partnership development with Skate Like a Girl PDX, bringing with her a passion for community building and social justice. She believes that skateboarding is not just a sport, but an opportunity to foster strong, positive social change and empowered individuals. Year Joined: 2021

Sima started with Skate Like a Girl in Seattle and then transitioned to the Portland chapter. She attributes Skate Like a Girl to being the community platform that pushed her to facilitate her authentic voice. By understanding the power of skateboarding as a forward-moving social tool, she has held multiple independently organized fundraising events that brought her local skate communities together. Sima will be your number-one hype person forever, and thanks the Skate Like a Girl family, campers, and participants alike for bringing so much color into her life. Year Joined: 2014

Alexa grew up with a passion for skateboarding from a young age. Not knowing if there was space in the community for her after coming out as trans, she decided to stop skating. Until she found an exclusive space for women & trans people provided by Skate Like a Girl. Inspired by a new, inclusive environment she’d never seen within skateboarding, she has since dedicated herself to empowering people from marginalized communities through skateboarding. Year Joined: 2019

Carlyn is a skateboarder, filmmaker and photographer. She is also the founder of Tempo SFC, a skateboard brand dedicated to uplifting athletes and artists who are otherwise underrepresented in the industry. She is passionate about helping people pursue their dreams and succeeding on and off the board. Year Joined: 2021

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PROGRAM STAFF

Jai is a former Americorp Up2Us Coach and a lead program staff for Skate Like a Girl Bay Area. Coming from a small town, Jai moved to the Bay Area to help people find their confidence through skateboarding. They truly believe in being an individual and having your own style. Jai loves skateboarding and the determination it takes to do it. Year Joined: 2018

Hora is a long life skateboarder who loves to promote and motivate women and trans skaters to keep skating all over the world. Originally from Venezuela, she graduated from college with a degree in Engineering and helped to supervise the construction of a skate plaza in her hometown. 8 years ago, she moved to the Bay Area and began volunteering with Skate Like a Girl’s SF Bay Area chapter. In addition to being a lead instructor for Skate Like a Girl, Hora founded and continues to run Patineta Pa’ Rato (Skate Forever) a non-profit that hosts events in Venezula and helps distribute skateboarding gear to those that don’t have access. Year Joined: 2016

Osha is a two-spirit Afro-Indigenous folk who has been skateboarding off and on for over ten years. As they got older, Osha started to feel as though there wasn’t a safe space for them to continue skateboarding. He didn’t let that stop him from being on a board and continued longboarding as much as they could. Being able to be a part of such an uplifting community is what he’s been seeking for as long as he can remember, and they are so grateful to work with and see the younger generation thrive. Year Joined: 2021

“I was first introduced to skateboarding through my brother in law, Andrew. One spring season, he decided to meet up and teach me how to skateboard. Being a human with a passion for filmmaking, not easily adaptive, I would end up filming him and his friends instead. Slowly but surely, I was able to find a lot of love through the art of skating. I grew and started feeling a sense of community and belonging after attending WT Sessions hosted by Skate Like a Girl. Since then, I’ve been thrilled to not only empower myself in skating but to be able to empower others in the most energizing, accepting, non-traditional and loving way possible. Year Joined: 2021

Mia grew up skating in Eugene Oregon. She had dreams of moving to Seattle ever since she was a teenager. During the beginning of her transition, Mia felt as though she didn't have a space in her skate community anymore. After a brief hiatus from skateboarding, she attended her first Women &/or Trans Session in Seattle. Captivated and inspired by the Seattle Skate Like a Girl community she decided to move there less than a month later. With a newfound sense of confidence and community, she hopes to inspire and support others with similar experiences. She is thrilled to help create and participate in a more inclusive community.

Xander has been attending Women &/Or Trans Sessions since the beginning of 2022 and they’re favorite skatepark in Seattle is the Northgate park.

Collin started skateboarding in 2018. At 51, they were struggling to find a skate community. Their first Women and/or Trans session was life-changing, and immediately they began volunteering and spreading the word about Skate Like a Girl to every non-traditional skater they met. A longtime Portlander, they are thankful for the opportunity to help make the city they love a better place for everyone — one skateboard at a time.

BOARD MEMBERS & ADVISORS

Stephani Smith brings 28 years of experience in the Sneaker/Sports & Fitness industry. In a recent role, she served as the Global VP/GM of Nike SB. It was then that Stephani first partnered with and fell in love with Skate Like a Girl. She too aspires to do all she can to promote social justice, build confidence in others and stoke the fire of the incredible community Skate Like a Girl serves. Year Joined: 2021

With 10+ years of experience in the skate community, Sara helps create branded experiences for young adults across the nation while helping to provide spaces for all to individuate and express themselves as desired. Sara was first introduced to SLAG through mutual friends and through joining multiple Monday night sessions. She strives to support the Skate Like a Girl mission and build a more inclusive community within skateboarding and advocating for those without a platform. Year Joined: 2021.

Andrew fell in love with skateboarding at the age of 12 and has spent the last 15 years producing digital content and branded social media campaigns within the skateboarding industry. He was introduced to Skate Like A Girl through a mutual friend and is passionate about Skate Like a Girl's mission to create a more inclusive and diverse environment within skateboarding. Andrew hopes that through unique and engaging TikTok content he can help build a more equitable skateboarding community. Year Joined: 2021

Jen fell in love with snowboarding the first time she strapped in on the sunny slopes of Big Bear Mountain, California. More than 20 years later, the passion still lives on stronger than ever in Truckee, California, where she now resides. Jen also enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and anything adventurous outdoors. After Jen graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting, she obtained her CPA license. She worked for Deloitte and Touche as a Senior Corporate Auditor for three years, and then went on to work for Avery Dennison, a Fortune 500 company, in their corporate financial reporting department. Jen was the VP of Finance and Corporate Controller at Cherokee, Inc. (renamed to Apex Global Brands) for over eight years. At Cherokee, she led the finance and accounting team and managed multiple processes, which included financial accounting, financial budgeting, financial planning, as well as financial reporting and systems implementations. Jen is the Finance and Admin consultant for Protect Our Winters and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Save a Brain, STAY (Somebody's Thinking About You), and Skate Like a Girl.

Beth is an employment and civil rights attorney, strongly committed to advocating for the rights of marginalized populations including women, girls, and the LGBTQ+ community. Beth was first introduced to Skate Like a Girl as a parent of young skater who has attended day, summer sleep away camp, and special events. As someone with a strong values of social justice, Beth immediately felt at home with the values and community of Skate Like a Girl. Year Joined: 2020

Lauren is a 3rd year law student at Seattle University School of Law. She will be graduating in May of 2022 and has primarily worked for legal aid organizations serving marginalized communities. Lauren began learning how to skateboard after leaving the military in 2019 and found Skate Like a Girl on Instagram. After attending Get on Board 2020, she immediately knew she wanted to get more involved with Skate Like a Girl. Year Joined: 2021

Tim, an elementary school teacher, first found Skate Like a Girl after his daughters asked to try skateboarding in 2018. He got his own board that same year to share the stoke with them. Tim was first involved as a parent supporter of his daughters and became more involved himself through the community Allyship workshops. Those workshops lit a fire to build a more inclusive skate community. He is always eager to advocate for Skate Like a Girl’s value to our community. Year Joined: 2021

Ashley-Nicole helps facilitate conversations around public policy and rule making at the city and state levels. She works to empower the Skate Like a Girl board, staff, and skaters to advocate for an equitable, inclusive and just community by building meaningful relationships. Also she loves fundraising stuff too! Year Joined: 2019

Branden is an advocate for Skate Like A Girl, for positive social change, and for the wonders that the right tech can bring to an organization. Branden brings a wealth of knowledge regarding software and technology that allows SLAG to run smoothly and have capacity to grow in safe and efficient ways as an organization.

Ripley has been a part of the SLAG community long before she joined the board as a avid volunteer in the bay area. Ripley is passionate about community outreach, fundraising, and beginner instruction for all ages and abilities. She enjoy sharing Skate Like a Girl’s mission with new community members and partners. Year Joined: 2018

Bill is a CPA who was introduced to skateboarding in Seattle when his child, Sage, kept bringing home a skateboard, sleeping with it, and boarding for hours daily. Sage had a lifetime love of skating, in many ways it was Sage’s life’s primary passion right up until the day in October 2017 when they lost a fight with cancer. Sage had a deep commitment and love for Skate Like A Girl and its mission. Sage did not like competitions and instead just loved shredding and being non-conventional in performing tricks, laughing, and staying positive with skateboarders at the park. Bill wants to honor Sage by continuing the work of Skate Like a Girl to promote inclusion, love, positivity centered around a deck, wheels, and trucks, while having fun and growing the skating community. Year Joined: 2021

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