Matt Lacey New Director On Board for Pocock Rowing Center

By Julian Allen

In May the Pocock Rowing Center welcomed it’s new Director, Matthew Lacey. Lacey is a graduate of the University of Washington, and holds a Masters in Public Administration from Seattle University.

Lacey, 34, began rowing as a Junior on the Potomac River in Washington DC as part of the Yorktown High School team. With a connection to Seattle (his mother was born and raised in West Seattle), Lacey moved across the country to attend the University of Washington and row for the Huskies. During his second year of involvement, Lacey sustained a back injury which put a halt on his rowing career, but not his attachment to the sport. In order to maintain his connection to rowing, Lacey began coaching shortly after his diagnosis.

His coaching career began at Green Lake, where he was a staff coach for four years. In 1997 Lacey moved on to coach at Lakeside, where he spent another four years helping the team move towards a string of Regional championships.

Immediately prior to his involvement at PRC, Lacey was the Director for the Everett Rowing Association. During his tenure as Director, ERA won 4 National Championships, 3 Brentwood Points trophies, placed 7 athletes on the Junior National Team, and raised over $500,000. In Lacey’s eyes the success of the program is best demonstrated in the 25 athletes participating in collegiate athletics, and the sense of community and pride that has become attached to the program. Lacey also acted as the US Rowing Jr. Men’s NW Development Camp coach in 2000 & 2001.

Lacey’s vision for PRC? “PRC will be known as one of the top rowing facilities in the country, and defined by the members and staff associated with it. The Pocock legacy is truly significant, and provides a standard that the Center (and it’s Director) will always be working to meet. I’m lucky to be here.”

Lacey and his wife Shannon have a son, Finnian, and live in Everett. He is an avid photographer, and hopes to find himself on the water regularly getting shots of PRC boats winning some races!

What’s Happening at the Pocock Rowing Center? The Center has refocused its energies towards administration and programming. Updates on each are below:

ADMINISTRATION

The committees are getting together!

The Management Committee is working on the future of PRC. Development of the Strategic Plan for PRC has begun, and the MC is heading up the project. The relationships between the Center & Foundation, policy & practices, and mission statement will be some of the topics tackled.

The Budget & Finance Committee has dropped the Budget from their title, but not their involvement. The Finance Committee, or FC, is meeting regularly to keep an eye on the financial position of the PRC. The minutes of their meetings are located in a binder right outside of the office.

The Events Committee met the 2nd week in July and is planning the calendar of activity for the fall. Look for the PRC Oktoberfest, Sushi Races, and Open House events on the horizon.
A bookkeeper has been hired! The office has retained the services of a former CPA to keep an eye on the PRC financial house. Not only will her part time involvement cover Center payroll and tax reporting, the new bookkeeper will be preparing valuable new financial reporting tools to the Management and Finance Committees.

PROGRAMS

Several committed PRC members have joined together to get the PRC Women’s Team on the water! Coached by Kim Armstrong, a recent graduate of the University of Washington, the group is composed of sculling & sweeping and various ages. The main focus of the group is to have a women’s community team down at the boathouse – well done & good luck to this dedicated group.

The ‘Ergomaniacs’ are starting. PRC will be starting a new indoor rowing program in the morning. From 7:15 to 8:15 the Ergomaniacs will be hitting the ergometers in a structured, coached session taking you on virtual team oriented workouts. Want to get fit but don’t want to bounce around in boat wakes during the summer? Become an Ergomaniac!

For more information go to:

www.pocockrowingcenter.org