Geneva Lake Sailing School, Fontana WI

Building the Future of Sailing,
Building the Future Through Sailing

Since 1938, the Geneva Lake Sailing School has served the community with youth sailing programs that emphasize self-reliance, confidence and teamwork.

PHOTO: The Geneva Lake Sailing School lakefront.

Our Mission

We are a non-profit school dedicated to enhancing personal development through teaching the skills of sailing. Using the unique resource of Geneva Lake, we provide the means to advance sailors to their full potential resulting in life-long enjoyment of the sport of sailing and racing. We are committed to creating an atmosphere where sportsmanship, teamwork and competitive spirit can all be enjoyed.

GLSS sailors are winners when they try to do their best.

Our Goals

Function With:
- Safety
- Fun
- Education

Inspire Personal Development:
- Self-Confidence
- Self-Reliance
- Teamwork
- Environmental Appreciation

Teach Sailing Education:
- Boathandling
- Seamanship
- Respect for Equipment
- Progression

Promote Sportsmanship:
- Respect for others
- Respect for property
- Respect for self

QUICKFACTS

- Name: Geneva Lake Sailing School, Inc.
- Location: 1250 South Lakeshore Dr., Fontana, Wisconsin
- Type: Non-Profit Community Educational Facility, 501(c)3
- Origin: Organized 1938, Incorporated in 1953
- Service: Community Sailing Programs, Yacht Club Junior Racing program
- Youth Sailing Discovery: 7-18 years old
- Youth and High School Racing Teams: 8-18 years old
- Adult Sailing Discovery, and US Sailing Certification
- Capacity: 250-350 Youths; 40 adults; 300 hosted in Regattas
- Leadership: 11-member Board of Directors
- Staff: 1 Executive Director (full-time); 9 Instructors (seasonal); 4 Junior Instructors
- Equipment: 24 Pram dinghies; 6 Optimist dinghies; 6 X-boats; 12 C420s; 3 Open Bics; 8 Windsurfers; 9 Safety boats
- Operating Budget: $175,000

DIRECTOR BIO

Kevin Jewett was hired as the executive director of the GLSS in January of 2008. He and his wife Hannah were married in 2005 and live in East Troy, WI. His son Augie is a competitive sailor and ski racer. As a sailor Kevin has been a member of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association's All-American Team, and the US Sailing Team and is a former ILYA Champion. He was US head coach at Youth World Championships in 1997 and currently coaches at the University of WI on a part time basis when he is not busy with the GLSS.

He began teaching sailing at the age of 16 on Lake Minnetonka , where he grew up, and was the head Racing instructor there at 18. In his college years he worked to develop a racing program on Lake Calhoun, in Minneapolis. Today the Lake Calhoun Sailing School teaches over 700 kids a summer how to sail. After graduating from college Kevin worked as the sailing and windsurfing coach at Eckerd College in FL, an experience that later inspired him to try out for the Olympics on a sailboard. After finishing 3rd at the 2004 Olympic trials Kevin took a position as the Head Racing coach at the GLSS, lhelping the GLSS X-boaters place first and second in the senior fleet at the ILYA Championships that summer.

After three years in the business world Kevin began searching for opportunities to get back to his first love, sailing. Timing was perfect as the GLSS was searching for a new director. As the Executive Director of the GLSS, Kevin has worked hard to continue the excellent junior sailing programs in the Optimist, 420's, X-Boat's and Lasers while expanding the adult sailing programs, adding windsurfing, and starting a community outreach program focused on adaptive sailing for students with special needs.

EXPERIENCE:

- Executive Director: Geneva Lake Sailing School, 2008 - Present
- Duties: Overall Vision Development, Short-term Business Planning, Sales, Marketing, Boat & Equipment Maintenance, Public Relations, Staff Hiring & Management, Fundraising Support, Risk Management, and Racing Instruction.
- Certifications: US Sailing Association Levels 1&2 Dinghy Coach; Former US Sailing and Collegiate All-American Sailing Team Member
- Education: Benilde St. Margaret's High School '92; St. Mary's College of MD '96 (BA Economics);
- Key Skills: Teaching/coaching, Curriculum development, Professional Marketing, Live Presentation, Customer fulfillment;
- Previous Sailing Positions: Private Racing Coach- Midwest Optimist Sailing Team: Head Racing Coach- UW Madison Sailing Team, GLSS, LCSS, LMSS, Eckerd College, and US Sailing Youth Worlds Team 1997

- Other Experience: Ski Instructor, Alpine Valley Resort; Financial Advisor, AmeriPrise Financial: Special Education Paraprofessional Minnetonka High School

-Volunteer Positions: YoungLife Volunteer Leader, Kettle Morraine High School, Rotary Club of Fontana
- Home: East Troy, Wisconsin