BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Favorite Surf Break: Zuma

Steven is one of the founding members of AWOW and has overseen our surf instructors since the beginning. As a child, Steven was a pro skateboarder and then competitive surfer, before turning his eye to photography and commercial directing. Steven lives in Malibu with his wife Ana and children Ryder and Reilley, whom he describes as a “family of watermen and artists.”

For Steven, taking a child with special needs into the ocean for perhaps the first time is “incredibly humbling, allowing him to give back and not expect anything in return other than pure stoke.”

Favorite Surf Break: Hanalei Bay, Kauai

A lifelong surfer, Swampy puts his experience in the water to practical application ensuring the safety of our athletes and volunteers. An Emmy Award Nominated creator, writer, and producer of such shows as Phineas and Ferb & Pete the Cat, his gregarious personality and natural leadership abilities make a day of water safety a great experience for everyone. Swampy lives in Venice with his wife Bear. He has two children, Django (also a seven year AWOW safety volunteer and ambassador), Jenny, four grandkids -Adyson, Nolan, Jakob, and Chloe, & Timmy, a 15 year old Border Collie.

Swampy has been a part of AWOW since 2013. One of the first events at which he volunteered, a child that he was helping into the water told him, “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to do because of my brother” It made him realize just how special AWOW is because of the way they include the whole family and has been involved ever since.

Favorite Surf Breaks: Most Days: El Porto, C-Street Ventura or County Line when I can get up there and Pipes in SD when I’m visiting my family.

Matt has been involved with AWOW since 2014. His cousin Jason Logan was one of the founders and invited him to help out early on at an event at Hollister Ranch. Starting out selling merchandise, Matt soon found his place on the beach ensuring the safety of athletes and volunteers.

Living in Hollywood, CA and working in TV as a comedy writer and producer, Matt’s happy personality and insane height make him easy to spot on the beach. His favorite part of leading beach safety is all the little conversations he gets to have with his team, getting to know them in small snippets as they watch the horizon waiting for surfers to come in and seeing the athletes grow over the years as they make immense strides.

Favorite Surf Break: Not a surfer, but loves every break where AWOW holds events.

Agatha has been involved with AWOW since 2014. She and her husband Jason have two sons on the autism spectrum that started surfing with AWOW when they were 7 and 5. They fell in love with the magic from their very first day, gained confidence and have grown socially with AWOW’s involvement in their lives.

Agatha, her husband, sons Mason & Trevor, dogs Crosby, Monty & Gelly, and cats Ivan and Sergei live in the Syracuse area of New York but the human Wallens travel extensively to AWOW events on both coasts. A born leader and communicator, Agatha was a Respiratory Therapist at ARMC/San Bernardino County for 13 years, seven of which she was a supervisor. She also worked in the Education Department at the same hospital teaching all the various life support and resuscitation classes to hospital staff.

Agatha feels extremely honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the AWOW magic for other families as a fellow parent and board member.

Favorite Surf Break: Silver Strand, Oxnard

Jason is one of the original founders of AWOW. The father of two boys, his youngest has severe autism and CP so he has experienced first-hand the power of surf therapy.

Managing Director & Founder of Spears & Arrows, a commercial production company that represents international storytellers for advertising, Jason lives in Malibu with his two sons Lucas and Dylan, and his wife Dina whom he calls his “rock.”

Jason brings his expertise and creativity in production and content to all of AWOW’s events, fundraisers, and films and is incredibly committed to helping spread awareness and engagement for surf therapy.

Dale has been a part of A Walk On Water since 2013, when his childhood friend Steven Lippman invited him to an event. From the moment he took his first athlete surfing, the experience was magical and inspirational. Dale cried all the way back to the shore, and so it began.

A former pro surfer, Dale won the NSSA Non Student Men’s Division in 1985 and NSSA Master’s Division in 1995 and 2000 before discovering an ability to help retailers market their brands. Working with groups such as Hurley, he honed his experience and connected retail with the surf culture. Currently Dale works as the SVP of Katin, AWOW’s official merchandise partner.

Dale has a 20 year old daughter Saxon, currently a student at CU Boulder, who also shares the love of surfing and philanthropic endeavors.

Favorite Surf Break: Wilderness, Puerto Rico!

Benjamin Chateauvert is a photographer, filmmaker, and lifelong surfer with a deep connection to the ocean and the disability community. He joined A Walk On Water in 2019 and has served as both a Surf Therapist and Vision Lead for the photography team, helping support athletes in the water while documenting the people and stories that make the AWOW community special. With a professional background in visual storytelling and ten years of experience as an EMT, Benjamin brings a unique combination of creativity, service, and hands-on experience to the A Walk On Water Board of Directors.

Favorite Surf Break: North Bar, NY and Punta de Lobos, Chile

Ally became involved with A Walk On Water in 2017, inspired by both her love for the ocean and passion for supporting the special needs community. Her older sister, who has nonverbal autism, has always been one of her biggest inspirations, and growing up together showed her firsthand the joy and freedom the ocean can bring.

A lifelong East Coast surfer working in New York City, Ally is passionate about bringing the community together and helping more families experience the healing power of the ocean. Having grown up in Montauk, she spends as much time as possible near the water, whether surfing, traveling, or supporting the communities that make the surf world feel like home.

For Ally, AWOW is about creating a space where every child can experience the fun, freedom, and connection of the ocean in their own way.