About Us

Courageous Staff

At the core of the Center's success are the enthusiastic and professional efforts of the Courageous staff and management. The real work is done by a group of approximately 30 youth that teach and mentor young sailors. Professional instructors and staff employed by the Center give them guidance, with overall strategic management provided by the center's executive management and a volunteer Board of Directors and Board of Advisors. Eighty-five percent of Courageous' staff grew up through the Five Step Youth Program. Many are US Sailing certified, First Aid, and CPR trained. At Courageous, safety is paramount. But fun is not sacrificed in the process. Our staff is extremely customer-focused, with a mandate to make sure youth and adults alike enjoy their experience on the water.

Bryan Peugh, Executive Director
Bryan is the executive director of the Courageous Sailing Center. In this capacity he is responsible for creating and implementing strategies and tactics to effectively communicate Courageous’ value proposition to children, adults and corporate entities interested in improving the quality of urban youth programs. Bryan works with numerous constituencies to accomplish his charter, including Boston Parks and Recreation, Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), Carroll Center for the Blind, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club of Boston and The New England Aquarium.

During his tenure at Courageous, Bryan is credited with launching two highly successful fundraisers to benefit its youth program: The Courageous Challenge Corporate Regatta and Make a Mark Gala Charity Event. Other significant achievements include engaging Mellon Financial and Cabot Corporation as headline sponsors for the program. Bryan also created the Junior Rhodes 19 National Championships, where children from across the country compete in a bona fide one design regatta – free of charge!

Prior to joining Courageous, Bryan served in program management positions at San Diego Yacht Club and Cape Code Sea Camps. US Sailing certified as an instructor/trainer, he is an accomplished sailor and windsurfer who has competed in national and international regattas throughout his career.

Bryan attended San Diego State University, where he majored in speech communications. He has been admitted into the Eureka-Boston Fellowship Program, where he is studying non-profit management.

Leo Bronder-Girou Leo is a high school student who enjoys wrestling and soccer during the school year and sailing in the summer. He has been sailing at the Courageous Sailing Center for three years now. Leo was made a Junior Instructor last year and he sailed in the Rhodes Jr. Nationals. He enjoys the challenges that Boston Harbor poses and especially loves working with the youth sailing program.
James Douyon James is a High School student. He enjoys both soccer and working with his Dad as a carpenter. James has been sailing for five years now, the last three at the Courageous Sailing Center. James has also sailed in Haiti. He is a Junior Instructor at Courageous Sailing Center.
John Greene John attends Boston Latin School and really enjoys sailing. He has gone though all of the steps of learning to sail at the Courageous Sailing Center and is now an Instructor. John teaches both the youth and adult programs.
Janet Guarino Janet is currently a sophomore in High School. She enjoys soccer, swimming and the arts. Janet has been sailing four years at Courageous and is a Junior Instructor.
Amy Kavanah Amy is a student at Boston College. She has been sailing for five years now and considers Boston Harbor her back yard and the people at the Courageous Sailing Center her extended family. Amy has her own boat. She enjoys the pleasure of sailing and sharing the sailing experience with the youth of Boston. She is especially looking forward to the arrival of the Tall Ships.
John Lyons John is a High School student. He likes computers and basketball. John has been sailing at the Courageous Sailing Center and in Southie for the last 5 years. John is a Junior Instructor at the Courageous Sailing Center.
Grant Mathews Grant is a high school student and originally from Montana. He has worked his way through all of the steps in the Courageous Sailing Center youth program. This is Grant's second year as a Senior Instructor. He is an expert at sailing Lasers and has sailed on the HMS Bounty.
Joseph Poles A High School student and Junior Instructor at Courageous Sailing Center. Joseph has been sailing at Courageous for the last four years.
Alice Sodroski Alice is a high school student and has a passion for sailing. She has been sailing for eight years now and six of those years have been at the Courageous Sailing Center. Alice's favorite part of the Courageous Sailing Center's program is the Junior National Championship held every August. As an instructor Alice works hard to pass her own love for sailing to the sailing youth of Boston.
Jennifer Toscano Jenn is a junior at Lasell College and besides sailing she loves to dance and swim. This is her seventh year at Courageous Sailing Center. Jenn learned to sail at Courageous, and is now the Head Instructor. She manages the children's Taste of Sailing, as well as Learn to Sail programs. Jenn has sailed in four Rhodes 19 Junior Nationals, as well as aboard the tall ship, Bounty.

Back to top