Founder and President

Founding Board Member

Elizabeth Madin is a mother of three, the founder of Surfing Moms, and an Assistant Professor of marine biology in Hawaiʻi. She started surfing in her 20s - first in Hawaiʻi, then in California, and most recently in Australia. She took an unintended surfing hiatus after her first two children were born, which might have continued indefinitely had she not found Surfing Mums. Getting back into surfing - regularly, and with an amazing group of supportive and fun mothers - was such a game-changer for her that when she moved permanently to Hawai‘i, she knew she had to start a Surfing “Moms” group there. Elizabeth’s research focuses on ocean health. Likewise, she sees Surfing Moms as a way to help moms keep themselves happy and healthy (and catch some awesome waves at the same time!).

Vice President

Amanda holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and provided group and individual therapy before shifting to offering surfing/relationship building workshops for mothers and daughters through Blue Zone Marin. Amanda lives with her husband and three kids in West Marin, where they raise animals and grow food. After having a deep love of the ocean her whole life, she learned to surf in her 40’s, and embraces being a beginner with a beginner’s mind. Amanda joined Surfing Moms as a coordinator for Marin, and enjoys the community and opportunities for connection that moms are able to have at the beach.

Executive Director

Terry Kush is a nonprofit leader and change agent with over two decades of experience advancing racial, economic, and social justice. She has helped organizations scale and strengthen their operations, serving as a consultant and advisor to nonprofits around the world.

A lover of the ocean and a firm believer in the healing power of water, Terry found personal transformation through learning to surf in her 40s (or you could say “much later in life”). This journey not only helped her navigate life’s challenges but also deepened her connection to surf therapy and its ability to restore and heal.

With a background in business administration from Howard University and a Master’s in International Service from American University, Terry’s career spans the U.S., the U.K., the Caribbean, and Africa. She resides in Washington, D.C., and wants to promote growth, change, and wellness for all women through surfing.

Communications Director

Founding Board Member

Candace Stalder has over twenty years of experience as a graphic designer, director, writer, cinematographer, editor, motion graphics artist, branding, marketing and communications specialist, and more. She is a full-time Digital Media & Visual Design Specialist currently at the University of Southern California. She also mentors work-study students in digital media and coaches surfing. Her passion lies with powerful storytelling and offering new perspectives on social issues. Candace is an avid surfer. Growing up in the ocean, she appreciates the connection the ocean holds in our lives and draws that energy to her passions and creativeness. Outside of creating and surfing, she spends her time volunteering for various children’s cancer organizations. She has volunteered with Camp Ānuenue, a children’s cancer camp in Hawaiʻi, as the camp videographer/photographer/editor. She also volunteers at Sunshine Kids, a children’s cancer program, as a videographer/photographer/editor. She shot, edited, and produced the fundraising trailer for Surfing Moms.

Secretary

Holly is a mama to three little girls, a wife to her high school sweetheart, a middle school teacher, and a long-time runner. Holly moved from Chicago to Hawaii in 2020 and found out about Surfing Moms via social media. Hoping to connect, Holly took a chance and reached out to join the first ever AGM weekend of sun and surf in Waikiki. She spent the whole weekend getting to know some of the original Surfing Moms and was inspired to learn more about surfing and the budding Surfing Moms community. Three years later, Holly has taken her little girls to countless surf swaps around Oahu; she’s learned to surf, helped coordinate Honolulu’s chapter, participated in Dr. Borofsky’s Surf Therapy workshop, traveled with other Surfing Moms, and made life-long friends. Holly is so excited to help Surfing Moms continue to promote its mission and grow its community!

Treasurer

Elizabeth Leytem leads the strategy function at a Fortune 100 tech company, bringing over 15 years of experience in strategic planning, corporate development and management consulting. She lives in North County San Diego with her husband and is a mom to two beach-loving preschoolers. Originally from the midwest, Elizabeth spent her summers at camp, along the shores of Michigan, and lifeguarded in Chicago. These early experiences instilled in her an appreciation for the outdoors, adventure, and the importance of community. Learning to surf not only offered a new challenge but also led her to discover Surfing Moms, where she felt a strong connection to the organization's mission to cultivate a warm, inclusive, and supportive network for mothers and families. Elizabeth is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board of Surfing Moms and is dedicated to helping the organization’s programs thrive, expand, and positively impact even more families. She envisions a future where every mother feels a sense of belonging, support, and joy.

Finance Committee Chair

Bio Coming Soon!

Strategy and Development

Bio Coming Soon!

Executive nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, marketing and communications

Leslie Smart is an experienced nonprofit leader with a broad background across various sectors.  She currently serves as the CEO of Louisville Ballet and a faculty member at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence's School of Fundraising and Engagement. Smart holds the highly respected Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) certification, which is recognized globally. Throughout her extensive career in healthcare, she was honored to lead an autism project that received national attention, featured on Good Morning America and The Ellen Show. Leslie currently serves as a board of director for Leadership Kentucky and OperaLex. She is a passionate advocate for the role of arts integration in enhancing educational outcomes, health, and well-being, and is honored to support Surfing Moms, an initiative focused on maternal wellness. She is a proud mother of two children, Charles and Emily, and is married to John Smart.

Sharon is a trusted civic leader who honors commitments, attracts leaders to worthy causes, and fosters an equitable and positive environment in the organizations with which she is involved.  She is former Executive Director of the Louisville and Jefferson County Bicentennial Commission and Executive Producer of KentuckyShow!, the critically acclaimed multimedia documentary about Kentucky. In addition, Sharon has actively served on numerous national, state, and local Commissions and Boards. She received the Robert Bruce Spider Award for Tenacity and Leadership in developing KentuckyShow!, and is a graduate of Leadership Louisville, the Bingham Fellows, and Loyola University, BA Political Science. 

Emeritus Board Member & Founding Board Member

Anna Shoemaker is a founding member of Surfing Moms in Hawaiʻi. Surfing Moms is a way for Anna to care for herself on a regular basis as well as provide postpartum support to like minded moms in the community. Anna was posting for the Surfing Moms' Instagram and from there did much of the organization’s community outreach. In the Summer of 2020 she learned how to pilot a drone to film our Surfing Moms Documentary. This is a new skill that she loves to work on!

Former Vice President & Founding Board Member

Amelia Borofsky holds a doctorate in clinical and community psychology. She knows that Surfing Moms works because it has all the key ingredients of positive psychology: support, community, play, passion, purpose, giving, gratitude, friendship, and more. As a struggling new mother, she reached out to mom groups but none supported her to do what she loves. On a whim, she googled surfing moms and luckily found that such a group existed! Amelia grew up in Hawai‘i but didn’t start surfing until her late twenties. Girls didn’t surf back then! Now, she is obsessed. Even as a solo working mother of two young girls, she manages to surf 1-2 times a week. She is passionate about helping new mothers professionally and personally. Check her out here.s here

Former Secretary and Web Design Officer

KC is a family photographer now based in Missoula, Montana who joined Surfing Moms after her third daughter was born while living in Hawaii. Getting in the water, learning a new skill, and connecting with other moms was integral for her with two toddlers and a colicky baby. She so looked forward to her Thursday morning surf swaps and was bit by the surfing bug. When given the opportunity to help with the non-profit and help grow the movement to spread the joys of Surfing Moms beyond the beaches of Kailua, she jumped on board (pun intended). You can check out her photography work here.

Former Groups and Membership Officer

Mei-Li Restani is a surf and lifestyle photographer based in San Francisco, CA. While Mei grew up around the ocean and regularly visited extended family in Hawai’i, she didn’t start surfing until after she had kids. Surfing saved her soul, and the love of being in the water and the joy of photography drew her to begin shooting in the water to capture all the stoke. Mei connected with Surfing Mom’s on O’ahu while vacationing with her family. After hanging with the awesome mamas, she was hooked and knew that she wanted to bring Surfing Moms to the Mainland. Mei now runs the San Francisco chapter of Surfing Mom’s and is excited to be a part of an amazing group of women.

Former Treasurer

Lainy is a senior financial analyst for a global consulting firm primarily supporting the Department of Defense. Lainy learned of Surfing Moms after meeting one of the founders at a beach workout in Kailua. Not being a surfer, Lainy was intimidated to join a surfing group. After following along on social media, Lainy felt a calling to join after watching the Surfing Moms Instagram Live session held by the founders, which celebrated Surfing Moms officially becoming a non-profit. Lainy got hooked after attending her first surf swap and witnessing firsthand the overwhelming number of benefits for both mamas/caretakers and their keiki. She loves the feeling of being on the water and knowing her daughter is having fun on the beach with other Moms and new friends. Lainy stands behind the Surfing Moms mission and vision and is excited to contribute to the non-profit as a member of the board. She is also excited to catch some waves with all of the other Surfing Moms out there!ere

Strategy and Development

Michelle Gorham Dasic is a community benefit leader with experience building, developing, and guiding high performing teams and organizations. For more than 15 years she has worked with NGOs, start-ups, government organizations and impact investors to create structure and programs for optimized performance. She is a non-profit founder, seasoned facilitator, and volunteer for regional and national boards. This experience informs her work shaping teams to deliver social impact from strategy and implementation; fund development and management; research and evaluation; thought leadership and partnership development.

Michelle finds home on Oahu's shores and cresting waves and the rolling hills of her family's farm in Vermont. She currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland where she enjoys exploring the region's many waters, hiking, and mushrooming with her family.