Your Board of Directors
WSA-OC 2025
Your all-volunteer Board of Directors shape club events and activities.
Candice Coleman
Commodore
When Candice moved to Orange County, she joined a yacht club with dreams of getting out on the water. After her first sail, she was hooked and began taking sailing lessons. Within months, Candice and her husband purchased a mooring in Newport Harbor, a 35' Coronado sailboat they named Candy Shop, and continued to learn how to sail her. The Colemans spend most weekends working, playing, and sailing Candy Shop. Catalina Island is a favorite destination.
Looking to meet more like-minded people, Candice and Captain Jim joined the South Shore Yacht Club in Newport Beach, and this year, Jim is the Commodore. While attending the Women's Sailing Convention, Candice met and was so impressed with WSA-OC members that she joined the club. This year, Candice is ready to serve as Commodore. The Colemans have a busy, fulfilling year ahead!
Candice has extensive Board experience from a variety of interesting clubs. She spent several years on the American Society of Interior Designers—Palm Springs Board, was President of the Junior League of Palm Springs Desert Communities, and was Vice President of the Marrakesh Lady Putters Palm Desert; they wear pink on Thursdays. Professionally, your Commodore owns and operates Candice Coleman Interior Design, Inc.
Karen de Peralta
Vice Commodore
Karen has been sailing intermittently for years in San Diego, where she earned her ASA 101 and 103 certifications. She has enjoyed crewing in the Beer Can races for five years and the Yachting Cup, Hot Rum, and NOOD races.
She also volunteered as a crew member on the San Salvador tall ship for a year and a half before the pandemic. Karen moved to Orange County in 2022 and became a co-owner of the 26-foot Andrews sailboat Ladies First with two other WSA-OC members. She crewed in the Taco Tuesday races last summer and has since sold the boat.
Professionally, Karen was a Physical Therapist for 35 years (working primarily in outpatient orthopedics), a high school gymnastics coach for 3 years, and the president of an investment club.
Since retiring, she enjoys sailing, playing pickleball and Pilates, wine tasting, attending film festivals, and volunteering for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. She recently got married and enjoys spending time with her new husband, her scientist daughter in San Diego, and her firefighter daughter in Vancouver, Canada.
Debby J Platt
Rear Commodore
Debby recently served as Membership Director of WSA-OC and is currently serving the Association as the Rear Commodore. She is excited to continue serving the membership of this wonderful organization of sailing/boating women.
Debby comes to WSA-OC as an experienced boat owner, skipper, sailboat racer, instructor, and bareboat charter cruising skipper with a passion for sailing and water sports. In the sailing community for 20 years, she raced her first boat, a J/80, in Colorado and then as a Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club member. She has been racing and cruising sailboats in Colorado, Central and Southern California, and around the globe.
She has extensive leadership experience serving on the boards of professional organizations and many non-profit organizations. She also served for over 12 years in the Junior League of
Denver, culminating in serving as President of the 2,200-member organization and then
President of the Junior League of Denver’s Foundation. Professionally, for the past 25 years, Debby has worked in real estate development, redeveloping closed military bases. She worked most recently at the Orange County Great Park.
Elena Yuasa
Communications Director
Elena brings over 26 years of management, communications, and volunteerism expertise to WSA-OC. Her impressive career includes managing communications for government organizations and volunteer-driven associations, focusing on enhancing public engagement and crafting messages that resonate with diverse audiences.
Elena’s experience spans leading impactful communication campaigns that drive engagement, designing successful event marketing strategies, and fostering community connections through volunteerism. She has supported causes like the Ronald McDonald House and ROTC Scholarship programs. She has held key leadership roles in the yachting community, including the 2024 Navy Yacht Club Long Beach Commodore. She is currently serving as the Rear Commodore of the Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) for the year 2025. With a bachelor’s degree in finance and certifications in leadership and management, Elena combines strategic thinking with a passion for building connections and inspiring participation.
Elena joined WSA-OC to elevate its communication efforts, champion inclusivity, and strengthen member engagement through innovative outreach strategies.
Linda McCrerey
Philanthropy Director
Penny Nelson
Treasurer
Penny brings over 25 years of accounting experience to our WSA-OC board. She is currently the CFO for an architectural firm in Irvine, California, and the Past National President of the Society for Design Administration (SDA)–a professional nonprofit organization for operations professionals in architectural and engineering firms.
Penny and her husband own a 34-foot Mainship Trawler, Shindig, in Newport Beach, California. They spend most of their free time onboard Shindig and love spending weekends at Catalina Island.
Penny is serving her second term as WSA-OC Treasurer and is looking forward to another great year of philanthropic events, on-the-water fun, and getting to know her fellow WSA-OC members.
Lisa Woods
Ship Store
Lisa joined WSAOC in 2023. Being new to Orange County, she wanted to meet new friends who share her love of the water. Although she has been boating most of her life, she only learned to sail in 2020 after taking courses from Marina Sailing in Newport Beach.
She is serving her 2nd year as the Ship Store Director, bringing over 25 years of experience in product customization, wholesale and retail sales.
Lindsay Steinmetz
Secretary
Lindsay loves all activities in or near the ocean, and she became a WSA-OC
member in February 2022 without prior sailing experience but with a desire to make
new friends and explore a new hobby. After joining WSA-OC, she quickly discovered that she wished to become more involved and was especially drawn to the philanthropy efforts of the organization.
Lindsay served as the Communications Director of WSA-OC from 2023-2025 and
was responsible for directing and overseeing WSA-OC’s communications and
marketing for events through various platforms, including email communications,
newsletter, and WSA-OC social media.
Lindsay brought tremendous value to the
Board through her leadership and work behind the scenes, as she developed and
implemented new operating procedures for communications, leveraged social
media and communication channels to attract new members and re-engage inactive members, and provided a high level of attention to detail and organizational
support. During Lindsay’s tenure as Communications Director, WSA-OC doubled
its membership, which Lindsay’s efforts helped achieve.
After completing her two-year term as Communications Director, Lindsay jumped
at the opportunity to continue serving on the Board of Directors, taking on a new
role as Secretary. Lindsay enjoys the sense of community and responsibility of
serving on the Board and hopes to continue to make a positive impact on the
organization.
Professionally, Lindsay is an attorney working for a law firm in Irvine, representing
public school districts in special education matters. Her background and skill set
make her an asset to the WSA-OC Board of Directors.
Sarah Sepulveda
Membership Director
Sarah comes to WSA-OC as an experienced boat owner with a passion for water sports. Sarah took an interest in sailing in 2017 when she became a member of WSA-OC.
Since joining, she has developed skills in sailing, racing, and water safety. Sarah enjoys crewing in the American Legion Sundowner Series, volunteering at events such as Sailing for the Blind, and participating in WSA-OC on-the-water events.
Before joining WSA, Sarah retired from operating an emergency restoration business in Los Angeles. Outside of boating, she belongs to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
She enjoys spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren in North San Diego on their small regenerative family farm. She is excited to serve the WSA-OC as Membership director in 2025.
Interested in Serving on the board or a committee?
Serving on the Board for WSA-OC is a tremendously rewarding experience. It affords you the opportunity to leverage your existing skills and learn new ones as you endeavor to evolve the club and reach the goals of our non-profit organization. By volunteering as a Flag Officer or Director Role, you will have the opportunity to fully engage with boat owner members, general membership and your fellow board members. You efforts will be rewarding and fun, while making a difference for women and our philanthropy partners.
If the Board isn't for you, please consider assisting the Board by joining one of the many committee opportunities we have available and volunteering to help at WSA-OC events and Philanthropic events.
If interested, contact the Commodore via email at commodore@wsaoc.org