sTACI Brown- Executive director
As a lifetime resident of the Chicagoland area, it is a personal mission of Staci to lead an organization that serves the under-resourced youth in some of our most economically disadvantaged areas on the South and West sides of Chicago. Through the vehicle of competitive rowing, we will give children an opportunity that is usually reserved for a select few. Staci brings experience in social media marketing, fundraising, and extensive non-profit leadership skills to CTC. Her work in youth development fitness programs will serve as a great framework for the future planning of CTC programming. She is excited to see CTC flourish in the near and distant future and looks forward to uniting the ideals, mission, and values of CTC with the emerging youth of Chicago. In the coming years, CTC will continue to pursue its mission to help our student-athletes thrive in the community and set a course for success after they leave our program through the common bond of rowing. With that comprehensive mission comes several initiatives our organization is proud to lead, including:
Michael J. Scott - COACH
Michael J. Scott is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has a Bachelor's degree in philosophy from Harvard University, and MS and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from Caltech. He rowed heavyweight crew at Harvard from 1983-1986 and rowed with the U.S. national lightweight team at the World Championships in 1985 (8, silver medal) and 1987 (straight 4, 7th place). He also won the Ladies' Challenge Plate (1983) and the Wyfold Cup (1986) at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England. 
alexander roman - community outreach intern
Alex began rowing for CTC in the Summer of 2013 and stayed on the team for 4 years. During that time, he competed in many regattas, met tons of new friends, and developed his leadership and social skills. These skills, in no doubt, helped Alex become a Posse Scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and receive plenty of merit based scholarships to pay for his education. As of May 2022, Alex has earned a B.S. in Educational Studies and a B.S. in Political Science along with a minor in Chican@ and Latin@ Studies. Since the Spring of 2021, Alex has worked as CTC's Community Outreach Intern and has enjoyed seeing new students join the team and thrive! |
samantha reyes - Program director
Sam was ten years young when she first came across the amazing sport of rowing. Given that Sam’s mom was always hard at work, Sam would often find herself at her brother’s practices. Still too young to participate, she would sit on the launch with Joe as he coached. Sam eagerly waited for the day she could practice what she studied from afar. Her first day stepping foot past the rusty gate as a newfound member of CTC was one of the most exhilarating moments in her thirteen years of life. Never before had Sam left her neighborhood, seeing the new world CTC opened up for her as she competed, young Sam was captivated. Having had unpleasant encounters at regattas Sam set her sights on a new goal, to someday return to help create positive change within the rowing community. Eight years later, Sam now finds herself leading the very team she was once eager to be a part of. 
Odin Slade Byrd - COACH
Odin first started rowing in eighth grade with CTC. Getting faster every year, he set his sights on collegiate rowing. After rowing at the University of Washington, he has returned to CTC to build fast boats and a strong team spirit. Though he rarely gets to row nowadays, he loves whipping it in the launch. 
Kaylie Mei - Marketing and social media vista
Kaylie joined the team during her freshman year of high school after being introduced to the sport the summer before at one of CTC's learn-to-row camps. She rowed with CTC until the summer after her senior year, with her most recent race being the 2022 Youth Summer National Championships. Kaylie now attends Northwestern University studying statistics and computer science, and she also works as the Chicago Training Center Marketing and Social Media VISTA. |
nya stroud - head coach
Nya joined CTC in the summer of 2012 as an incoming freshman in high school. Nya was introduced to the sport through her elementary school gym teacher. Before joining the team, Nya's teachers and family would describe her as shy. However, through CTC and coaching from Joe, she became more outspoken. Since leaving the team for college, Nya has graduated with a B. A in Human Services and a minor in Psychology. She is now pursuing a master's degree in social work at Depaul University. Nya is excited to see the team grow and sing through the megaphone. ^.^ 
Rachel clendenning - COACH
Rachel started rowing with CTC as a junior in high school. She fell in love with the sport and proceeded to spend a gap year in Seattle, WA working for the George Pocock Rowing Foundation. She rowed four years at Smith College, becoming co-captain of the team her senior year. She is excited to be back at CTC helping the next generation of rowers find their way in the sport! 
Llovizna miranda - Academic enrichment
Sports have always been an integrated part of my life, especially in high school: cross country, soccer, swimming and softball. At Valparaiso University, where I studied mechanical engineering, I would go for daily runs or join an intramural sport. As a first-generation and low-income student, rowing seemed out of reach for me. CTC gave me the opportunity to see the beauty that lays within the waters on a calm and sunny day as you row down the lake. I’m excited to provide both academic enrichment and community support to the kiddos through an organization that just “Wow!” me every time. Fun fact, I minored in electrical, mechatronics, and theatre. I’ve interned with Caterpillar, Fermilab, and Oak Park Theatre. That’s all, can’t wait to catch you on the water! |
JOE BYRD - COACH
Joe Byrd thanks his older brother Bill for connecting him to rowing. During one of his first experiences in a racing shell, “shocker!”, he flipped. Bill was explaining how to get back in the shell, Portland’s Willamette River was pushing them through downtown, bridges were rushing past, and he could only think, “This sport is SO MUCH FUN!” Joe rowed four years at the University of Washington in Seattle. His most memorable thought: “How can you flip a straight four with really good rowers?” as he went from dry to totally submerged in a slow motion train wreck. What really sealed the deal, was exclaiming “This is going to be so funny in the future!” after he flipped at the dock with a pair partner 3 years ago because they just didn’t bother to close the oarlocks. Maybe he’s just coaching until he can be part of an eight or octuple that flips? Time will tell… 
Brianna McDaniel - Seasonal Coach
Brianna McDaniel started her rowing career her freshman year of high school at Saint Ignatius College Prep. She grew up and still resides in Blue Island, IL. During her sophomore year of high school, Brianna rowed in Ignatius's varsity 4+ boat at the Scholastic National Championship. Her boat placed 10th in the nation. Since then, she now rows for Santa Clara University's D1 program. At Santa Clara University, Brianna studies public health in hopes to one day work at the World Health Organization. She is so excited to be working with CTC! Brianna wants to share her love for rowing with others all while trying to create a fun environment at CTC as a coach. |