Board of Directors
Seth Faler
Director
Seth is a board member and former President of Lookout Rowing Club (LRC) in Chattanooga since 2010. LRC and the Atlanta Rowing Club (ARC) are the organizers of the Head of the Hooch. Seth has been an active rower for 35 years. He was a member of the varsity lightweight crew at Harvard College, 1986 - 1990. He has been a board member of the Hooch since 2025.
JASON BEAGLE
DIRECTOR
Jason Beagle began rowing in 2007 and went on to win three first place medals in pararowing event at the Head of the Charles Regatta including two course records. His first taste of international competition was the 2009 World Out Games in Copenhagen, Denmark winning a bronze medal in the men’s 8+ event. A 2012 member of Team USA, Jason was the alternate for the PR3 4+ event for the London Paralympic Games.
Jason began Pararowing coaching while a resident athlete at the Oklahoma City National High-Performance Center in 2013. After relocating to Atlanta, he has been the Pararowing Coordinator at Atlanta Rowing Club since 2015. In 2022, he assumed the role of learn to row program coordinator.
KERRY BROWN
President
Kerry Brown, Transformation Evangelist at Celonis, is a thought leader who helps companies achieve organizational excellence. She is an international speaker and expert adviser on the future of work, change management, learning, and workforce adoption, interacting with diverse global occupational cultures and industries, including many Fortune 500 companies.
Kerry previously served on the board of the Atlanta Rowing Club Board introducing club-wide coaching programs, broadening development opportunities and enriching club spirit and community. Kerry joined the FOTH Board in 2023, focusing on sustainability and event experience.
Originally from Vancouver, she studied Sports Marketing at the University of British Columbia where she was a four-year member of the Women’s Varsity Crew and Manager of the Men’s Varsity Crew. Kerry actively trains and competes in rowing both locally and internationally. Kerry has competed in the Head of the Hooch for over two decades with as many gold medals, encouraging growth and prominence of the regatta through the participation of others in the rowing community.
WILLIAM ESTERHUIZEN
DIRECTOR
CHRISTINE ZURAWSKI
DIRECTOR
William Esterhuizen, a native of South Africa, has been involved in rowing since 1972 when he started rowing at the age of 14. A former SA National team rower, he emigrated to the USA in 1985 and enjoyed a long, successful career with Dun & Bradstreet, and with Equifax and was fortunate to retire early. William has volunteered with the Hooch every year since moving to Atlanta with his family in 1994. You’ll probably see him around the launch and recovery docks working with his team of volunteers. William attended the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Christine Zurawski is the Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Infectious Disease Group and serves as the Medical Director of Antibiotic Stewardship and Infection Prevention at Piedmont Healthcare. Chris brings to the team a depth of professional experience running a business and serving the community.
Chris volunteered for 5 years on the board for the Atlanta Rowing Club. She wore many hats and oversaw club communications, facilities & equipment, and coached programs.
Chris' passion for rowing began in college at the University of Michigan. She revitalized her love of the sport in 2013, when she joined the Competitive Women's team at ARC. Today, she competes at the regional, national, and international levels with notable medals from the Head of the Charles, USRowing Masters Nationals, and the Head of the Hooch® regatta.
PETERSON HOSTETLER
DIRECTOR
.After graduating from Rollins College in 2006, Peterson moved to Martha's Vineyard and began working with Walter Cronkite's Maritime Foundation. In addition, he started his own Marine Consulting business and earned his USCG Captain's license. After leaving the foundation, he worked as a Strategic Business Consultant in the distribution industry where he assisted FedEx and UPS with their needs.
Peterson began his career in the financial services industry in 2011 when he began working with Morgan Stanley, specializing in Fixed Income & Cash Management. In 2017, after 6 successful years with Morgan Stanley, he was recruited to UBS.
Peterson is very generous with his time and serves the community on various non-profit boards. He currently serves on the boards of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Club. He is also the Treasurer of the Downtown Chattanooga Rotary and on the McCallie School Alumni council. In 2016, he was named as one of Chattanooga's Top 20 under 40.
Peterson is a lover of the sport of rowing who competed in his first HOTH at 15 and has raced in over 20 HOTH regattas. He Rowed in High school for McCallie placing 2nd in the Nation in 2002. He competed in the Henley Royal Regatta and secured McCallie’s first international victory in the Pair. He then went to row at Rollins College. Peterson also has coached several youth and high school teams in Florida and TN.
CHRIS THOMAS
DIRECTOR
Chris Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge about charities to the team. He is very familiar with the Head of the Hooch® regatta through his leadership of the Chattanooga Market that enables local vendors and artisans to share a taste of Chattanooga with our athletes, volunteers, and spectators. He brings a decade of 501(c)(3) non-profit administration, accounting and compliance experience to the team.
Chris is the Executive Director of Public Markets, Inc. -- a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization -- which organizes and operates public markets and community events, including the City of Collegedale July 4th Freedom Celebration; seasonal programming for the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza; and, other partnerships with local efforts. Chris is also the Executive Director of the Finley Stadium Complex where his leadership and creative thinking revived the facility to sustainable profitability.