USRowing Announces Leadership Updates to Drive Member Impact and Sport Growth

• USRowing Announces Leadership updates to enhance member services and program delivery, strengthening support through operational excellence.
• Expanded roles focus on athlete care, access, and community growth, extending the transformative rewards of rowing to more people.
• Positions USRowing to deliver greater impact and value, aligned with long-term goals.

June 11, 2025 — USRowing is proud to announce a series of internal promotions and important structural updates as part of a broader effort to align its leadership and operations with the organization’s long-term strategic goals. These changes reflect USRowing’s mission to steward, strengthen, and grow American rowing by championing performance and igniting new passion for the sport.

“As we move into the next quadrennial, we’re looking ahead with a renewed focus on the future of the sport and opportunities that come with hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028,” said Amanda Kraus, Chief Executive Officer of USRowing. “These updates position us to better serve our members and grow sustainably, while allowing some of our outstanding team members to step into expanded roles that will positively impact the rowing community.”

Effective June 1, 2025, the following leadership changes have taken place:

Tom Rooks has been promoted from Director of Safeguarding to Chief Sport Officer. In this newly defined role, Tom will oversee competition, camps, referees, sport growth, safety, and risk management. In this role, Tom will leverage his 31 years of experience in the rowing community as an athlete, coach, board member, and club administrator to serve as a cross-functional leader driving strategic initiatives, operational performance, and community engagement throughout the rowing ecosystem.

Jennie Trayes will expand her role into Chief Community Officer. She will continue to oversee United We Row and other community programs, while adding the Membership and Learning & Development teams to her purview. Prior to her tenure at USRowing for the last three and a half years, Jennie served as the Community Engagement Manager at LeagueApps, where she provided learning and leadership opportunities for youth sports administrators and coaches. Jennie also spent 10 years at Row New York, where she made rowing accessible to thousands of young people in New York City, holding various positions, from middle school coach to Deputy Executive Director.

Chris Furlow has been promoted from Director of Member Services to Senior Director of Member Services. In this expanded role, Chris will continue to lead key member services—including member support, clinics, conferences, certifications, and The Launch—while working closely with the Community team to enhance member engagement and value. Chris brings decades of experience in non-profit management, learning & development, community programming, and membership operations. 

Sarah McAuliffe has been promoted from Director of Competition to Senior Director of Programs. She will continue to lead the competition team and oversee USRowing-owned regattas, such as the Youth National Championships and RowFest National Championships, while also taking on additional responsibilities that include camps and referee initiatives. Sarah steps into this role with 14 years of experience in the rowing community and 5 years at USRowing.

“These changes reflect not only the extraordinary talent of our team but also a deeper investment in growing and strengthening the sport across all levels,” Kraus added. “We’re confident this new structure will help us deliver even greater value to our community.”

As the national governing body for rowing in the United States, USRowing remains dedicated to our vision of advancing the legacy of rowing by extending its transformative rewards to all. These strategic updates align with the organization’s ongoing efforts to build an inclusive, safe, and high-performing community of rowers, coaches, referees, and supporters.

For more information on USRowing’s leadership team and initiatives, visit USRowing's staff page.