Board and Coaches

Board Members



2025 Governing Board

Voting:

Club Manager / Board President: Doug Elkins

Secretary: Peggy Partnoff

Treasurer / Finance Director: Jan Miles

Coaches: Kevin Kelly, Dee Foster, Cat Hobis

Safety Director / Sweep Coordinator: Ginger McDonald

Communications / Media Co-Chair: Rob Thrush

Non-voting:

Communications / Media Co-Chair: Deb Hyde

Coaches / Training Chair: Denise Burns, Deb Hyde

Club Liason: Paula Doherty

Social Committee Chair: Marita Kelly

Doug Elkins

Club Manager, Recruitment Sub-Committee Chair, Race Sub-Committee, Steerer

Kevin Kelly

Level II Coach

10 Person Boat Sub-Committee Chair

Cat H.

Coach, Training, Endurance

Planning Committee

Cat joined Tellico Heat in 2022. She brought with her over six years of experience in international dragon boat racing including many years in the role of lead stroke. She also has over 15 years of diverse athletic coaching experience in running, triathlon, personal training and cancer exercise specializations with corresponding industry certifications from American Council on Exercise (ACE), Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), and Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI.) She also has many personal accomplishments including various marathons/ half marathons, triathlons and Ironman events in addition to her dragon boat pursuits which now include coaching certification. We are very fortunate to have Cat as a teammate and coach.

2024- 2025 Club Manager, Doug & Coach Kevin

Coaches and Club Manager Team Gift – Please Click to Watch Tribute Thank You to Doug for his service as Club President for the last two years and to Kevin for his coaching.

Dee Foster

Level II Coach Certification

Race Committee Chair

Denise Burns

Level II Coach Certification, Coach/Training Sub-Committee Chair

Deb Hyde

Coach & Communications Co-Chair/ IT Committee, Planning Committee

Deb Hyde reveals 2025 Logo & Banner

Denise and Deb with Paddlers at Johnson City

Coaches: Kevin, Deb, Denise, & Dee

2025 Coaches

2nd Annual Intraclub Races

Peggy

Secretary, Planning Committee

Kevin K., Doug E., Dee F., Denise B.

Coaches (2024) and Club Manager

Kevin K., Deb H., Denise, and Dee (Cat not pictured)

2025 Coaches

Marita K.

Planning Committee

Social Committee

Destination: Unknown Body of Water

Ginger M.

Steerers & Safety Sub-Committee Chair

Steerer Guides Paddlers to the No Wake Zone

Paula D.

Team Liaison & Steerer

Email: liaison@tellicoheat.com (For Club Members Only)

Club Liaison Liaison@tellicoheat.com

Christine

Planning Committee

Social Committee

The Lady Dragons throw a “Hat Party” for our fiercest Dragon! You will recognize many of our wonderful ladies who have held positions both in the past and currently: Active Paddlers, Coaches, Treasurer, Social Committee, Steerers, Liaisons! We love you all!

Dee, Jodie, Jane, Karen, Rob, Deb, Louise, Denise, Mary Pat, Virginia

Community Events

Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club - 2026 Board and Coaches

This page will be updated after Club Meeting) If you would like to volunteer for any committee position, please contact Virginia Kendrick or any board member or coach.

Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Bylaws

Click Here

Bob - Endurance Paddle Steerer

Both Bob and Doug have led Endurance Paddles on Thursdays! The practice is about an hour and a half and is sure to take you and your fellow paddlers on a tour of beautiful Tellico Lake. Tellico Crocodile, Howard Johnson’s, Totem Pole Visits, Powerlines and Silos. You will paddle in some of the coves pending water level along the Eastern Lakeshore, see wildlife, take an occasional drink of water, build endurance, and partake in drills of their choosing. It is a club favorite. Many have plans to join in the fun for as many Thursdays as allows in 2026.

Click Here to View Bob’s Endurance Adventures

Race Sub-Committee

The Race Sub-Committee undertook the responsibility of researching the upcoming Festivals and Races, utilizing a comprehensive questionnaire and checklist as essential tools for gathering insights from various events, event organizers, sponsors, and managers to effectively determine our race schedule.

Donna Byers

Race Sub-Committee & Port Paddler / Drummer

Jan Miles

Treasurer

Planning Committee

Jodie Kelly

Race Sub-Committee

Marla S.

Planning Committee

Peggy

Secretary

Planning Committee

Rob T.

Communications / IT Voting Chair

Governing Board Member

Steerer

Mary Pat Hall

Race Sub-Committee

Dawn Franz

Race Sub-Committee

Julie Walter

Race Sub-Committee

Virginia Kendick

Port Pacer, Race Sub-Committee, Planning Committee

Our Journey and Mission

Founded in 2015 as Tennessee Heat by two passionate Floridians, Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club has grown from a small group of enthusiasts to a vibrant community.

Our mission is to promote dragon boating through fitness, team-building, and competitive racing, all while upholding values of honesty, integrity, respect, and sportsmanship. Join us as we paddle forward, fostering a supportive and dynamic environment for all.