About

Executive Director: Dorothy Bassett

Dorothy Bassett was born and raised in Chatham on Cape Cod. She grew up swimming and sailing in Pleasant Bay and learning about the Cape’s ecology during walks in the woods and clamming trips with her grandfather, father, and brother, who were all commercial fishermen. Through Cape Cod Community College, she earned an Associate’s degree and completed two internships at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. She later graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a certificate in Geographic Information Systems and bachelor’s degree in Earth, Ocean, and Environmental Science.

After working as an environmental specialist and hazardous materials chemist in Boston, she took a solo trip around the world through thirteen countries across four continents, learning about different environments from the African Maasai Mara to the New Zealand glow worm caves. After returning to the US she worked in robotics at MIT, at the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center’s Wireless Technology Museum and STEM Education Center, and at the Chatham Conservation Foundation.

Since 2014 she has been working with Cape nonprofits and earned a Tufts certificate in Leadership and Nonprofit Business Management. Dorothy volunteers as a trustee of the Friends of Pleasant Bay, a member of the Scholarship Committee for the Cape Cod Association, and is an enthusiastic founding board member of the Sipson Island trust. She previously volunteered her time with the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts. She brings nonprofit experience, a passion for science and conservation, and a drive to increase public access to waterways and conservation land on Cape Cod.

Dorothy can be reached at bassettd@pbcb.cc

Development Director: John Maggioni

John has been a lifelong South Chatham summer resident turned year-round Cape Codder who recently joined the PBCB team to spearhead the development effort and continue its strong growth path. John’s transition to the non-profit sector follows a long career in financial services across Baltimore, New York City, and Boston.

An alumnus of Trinity College and the Fuqua School of Business, John pairs his professional experience with a deep-rooted passion of the local maritime community. His history with the Chatham Yacht Club as a sailor, parent, and dedicated volunteer informs his mission-driven approach to expanding PBCB’s reach.

When he isn’t working on development initiatives, John is likely exploring the Cape’s natural beauty whether sailing on the bay, hiking, or biking.

John can be reached at maggionij@pbcb.cc

Program Director: Ali Hogue

Ali grew up in North Attleboro, where she spent her childhood exploring the woods with her dog (and visiting the Cape, of course!)

Ali graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colgate University with a major in Biology and a minor in Spanish. She researched invasive earthworms, lifeguarded, picked vegetables at a CSA farm, and sailed with Colgate’s club team. She spent an unforgettable semester abroad in South Africa’s national parks, where her team studied everything from aquatic snails to butterflies. Ali worked at Seacamp in the Florida Keys, where she taught sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving, and marine science using a fleet of floating classrooms. She also worked at Cape Cod Sea Camps, where she was the Department Head of Bay Sail for the day camp. She has dabbled in just about everything else…baking, boat maintenance, philanthropic work, and working on a dive boat in Australia. She loves working with people of all ages and walks of life, especially on the water. She’s a USCG Launch Tender, a US Sailing Level 1 and Adaptive Sailing Instructor, and a PADI Divemaster.

When not on the bay, dock, or in the office, Ali can be found spoiling her sheltie, Rudy. She also likes to run, cook, read, watch documentaries, hang with her houseplants, and travel.

Ali can be reached at hoguea@pbcb.cc

Catboat Program Director: Suzanne Leahy

Suzanne Leahy joined the staff in 2019 to develop PBCB’s Catboat Program. When she came onboard, the fleet had grown from four to seven catboats in a very short time. She was able to see the tremendous potential that a full-fledged adult catboat program could become, and how perfect the fit was for her at PBCB.

Suzanne grew up sailing in Marblehead, and left the States to attend undergraduate studies in Brussels. In 1979, she received her MFA in Sculpture at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where she continued to work as a sculptor and graphic designer. Her sculpture reflected her love of boats and sailing. It was inevitable that at some point she would build an actual boat, which marked the end of one career and the beginning of another. For the next few years, she spent as much time as she could racing A-Cats on Barnegat Bay, NJ, where she slowly started to absorb the catboat mystique.

After moving to the Cape in 1993, Suzanne began working as a boat builder and designer. She owned and operated Pleasant Bay Boat and Spar Company in Orleans, where along with her crew, she built, restored and maintained catboats, Baybird sloops and many other boats as well. Her business developed a solid reputation for wooden spar fabrication and had the great fortune to collaborate with boat builders across the country.

In 2014, Suzanne retired from Pleasant Bay Boat and Spar Company and went to work for Bill Womack at Beetle Inc. helping them set up their spar fabrication. When Jim Donovan and Woody Metzger bought Pease Boats of Chatham in 2016 she was again enticed back to boatbuilding and spar fabrication as she proudly watched a First Light Boatworks take shape and grow.   After four years, she made her final retirement in 2018…until Pleasant Bay Community Boating opportunity appeared on the horizon.

Throughout the years of owning the boat shop, part of her mission was to train young people in a hands-on environment, developing skills in the workplace as well as in customer relations. Her shop had an open door policy- welcoming curious folks in to see what was being built. Teaching was always a core value and one that Suzanne shares with PBCB. Her position at PBCB is a dream come true, incorporating her love of sailing and teaching, and sharing the knowledge that she has gained from the many generous sailors and teachers she has met over the years.

Suzanne can be reached at catboats@pbcb.cc.

Waterfront Director: Matt Haas

Matt Haas is a Cape Cod native and grew up in Brewster.  At an early age, he had an affinity for boats, the ocean and waterways of any form.  Swimming lessons at the ‘Y’ and Brewster Green led to a record setting career on the Nauset High School competitive swim team.  Matt began to sail  at Elbow Pond and Cape Cod Sea Camps, then spent numerous years at the Orleans Yacht Club. Those experiences sealed the deal for his love of sailing. Matt went on to teach sailing for the Brewster Recreation Department and OYC, while also receiving numerous accolades himself in the many regattas he participated in around Cape Cod.

In 2010 Matt left the shores to head west to pursue his other passions, snowboarding and skiing. He soon discovered that Vail, Colorado held much allure for a young man starting out, and he found a place in the hospitality domain where he worked for six years at the highest ranking restaurant in Vail. Returning to the Cape in 2016, Matt spent a few seasons working for corporate high-end restaurants, and then joined the team at the Brewster Fish House.

Matt came to PBCB in early 2023 and is excited to take on this new challenge and share his love of sailing with others.

Matt can be reached at haasm@pbcb.cc

Adaptive Program Coordinator: Jeff Primeau

Jeff raised his family in Westborough, MA., and has recently moved full-time to Chatham, where his wife’s family has lived for over 40 years. Jeff graduated

from UMass Boston with a B.S. in Human Performance and Fitness, then continued there to earn an M.Ed. in Education. He worked as a physical education and adapted P.E. teacher for 27 years in Newton, MA. During his career, he held many coaching roles from middle school basketball and lacrosse to high school Special Olympics soccer and basketball. Jeff is excited to be joining the dedicated PBCB staff and to continue helping build an inclusive and accessible community on Pleasant Bay.

Jeff can be reached at primeauj@pbcb.cc

Science Coordinator: Miranda Van Allen

Miranda grew up in Connecticut, where her love for the ocean began at an early age going to Mystic Aquarium. She knew very early on that she wanted to become a marine scientist, a passion that led her to earn her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Rhode Island. Since graduating, Miranda has gained diverse experience across the marine science field. She worked as a Northeast Fisheries Observer, spending up to two weeks at a time at sea aboard commercial fishing vessels collecting critical bycatch data. In addition to fieldwork, she trained and mentored new observers, earned her Marine Safety Instructor certification, and led conflict resolution trainings to support professionals working in challenging offshore environments. Miranda also worked as a microbiologist at Associates of Cape Cod, where she tested pharmaceuticals for endotoxins using horseshoe crab blood, an experience that deepened her appreciation for the connection between marine ecosystems and human health.

However, her first job out of college, a seasonal role as a marine science instructor at a summer camp, confirmed what she truly loved most: teaching. Since then, she has been committed to educating young minds about the importance of protecting and preserving our oceans. For the past two years, she has worked as a science teacher in Yarmouth, and she joined Pleasant Bay Community Boating in 2025 as a Marine Science Instructor.

Miranda is thrilled to step into this role and looks forward to sharing her knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication with the PBCB community. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards both on and off the water.

Miranda can be reached at northrupm@pbcb.cc

Registrar & Business Operations Manager: Ellen Peterson

Ellen joined the Pleasant Bay Community Boating team in 2022 as the Program Registrar. A Cape Cod native, Ellen grew up swimming, sailing, and boating around Cape Cod. With her father’s boat being moored in Round Cove, she spent a lot of time on Pleasant Bay, fostering a lifelong connection to the water.

Ellen has an extensive background in recreation management  with golf courses, skating rinks and more. Her broad experience includes collaborating with various youth nonprofit organizations, handling everything from daily operations to program development and governance.

When not enjoying the Cape’s beautiful oceans, Ellen and her husband Roger can often be found hiking local conservation trails or hitting the links!

Ellen can be reached at info@pbcb.cc

Organizational Advisor: Jennifer Curran

Jennifer Curran was raised in Eastham and her fondest memories as a child are those spent in and around the water. She is grateful she had the opportunity to experience the joys of being outdoors as child and was also able to raise her two daughters on Cape Cod doing much of the same.

Following her passion for helping others, she pursued a degree from the University of New Hampshire in Child and Family Studies. Upon graduating, she worked as Social Services Coordinator for Head Start programs and as a Child Advocate. Through this work, she quickly learned that funding for community programs was one of the biggest challenges and began a career in fundraising. Jennifer comes to us with more than 25 years of nonprofit experience and remains deeply connected to the Cape community.

Jennifer can be reached at curranj@pbcb.cc