Leadership

Board of Directors

Scott Shaw, Board Chair 

Alexandria Restaurant Partners

Serge Sarandinaki, Secretary

Guidehouse Consulting

Frank M. “Rusty” Conner III

Covington & Burling

Walter “Trip” Howell IV

Formerly with Jones Lang LaSalle

Clair S. Sassin

Tall Ship Providence Foundation

Tom Church, Treasurer

USN, Retired

Patrick W. Burchette

Prince Street Ventures

Henry Fonville

Rappaport

Valerie Ianieri

The Old Town Shop

Kirk Casey

Founder and Former Co-CEO of Metro Systems

Staff

Clair S. Sassin, President & CEO

Our commander in chief. Clair is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in strategic marketing, communications, development and operations. Prior to joining Providence, Clair served as executive director of the Naval Historical Foundation; and before that, she was the director of communications & corporate relations for the Association of the United States Navy. She headed her own consulting practice for more than 15 years. Earlier in her career, Clair worked at The Greater Washington Board of Trade, Potomac KnowledgeWay Project/Morino Institute, and KPMG.

 

Captain Jonathan Fay, Manager of Marine Operations

Our master & commander. Captain Jonathan has spent the last 20 years serving on and maintaining ships and boats. Some of the ships Jonathan has sailed with include H.M.S. Rose, Lady Washington (featured as the Interceptor in Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl), Resolute and Hjordis. He also served as a sailing instructor and boat maintenance manager for the Duluth Sailing Association and as an able seaman aboard R/V Blue Heron, a 197-ton Lakes Observatory research vessel on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Jonathan has served as captain for many chartered boats and, prior to commanding Providence, served as a volunteer and deckhand.

Dillon Coppersmith, Bosun

Our chief sail wrangler. Dillon has served as a yacht skipper in Tortola BVI and head sailing instructor and deckhand at Marine Corps Base Quantico Marina. He has significant experience as a maritimer including supervising crews, coastal navigation, rigging inspection and maintenance.

Will Downing, Manager of Operations

Our jack of all trades. An actor-turned-sailor, Will has served as our senior historical interpreter, our lead Captain John Paul Jones character interpreter, and as a deckhand. Will is our boots on the ground, overseeing TSPF’s daily operations. In addition to his other roles, Will also manages Providence’s social media.

Cleon McMillan, Manager of Sales & Events

Our go-to go-getter. Cleon has more than 20 years experience in the tourism and museum industry. Cleon’s experience includes serving as assistant director of sales, sales manager and/or group sales manager for the International Spy Museum, the National Law Enforcement Museum & Memorial, National Geographic Museum, Madame Tussauds, Prince William County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Top of the World Trade Center Observatories.