Santiago Bernal, President

I have always been active, paying and coaching soccer, martial arts, and riding my bike. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and I knew I needed to become more active as well as watch my diet to keep my A1C levels in control. I decided to do a sprint triathlon about 6 years ago and I loved it so much I was hooked. In addition, my doctor recognized a significant improvement on my health, so I just keep going.

I have now completed one full Ironman event, and multiple halves, Olympics and sprint distance triathlons. Love racing and love being a cheerleader to everyone competing in this crazy sport. Look forward to being part of this great community for years to come as I love to help new members become more comfortable with this sport and feel welcome.

I have been very fortunate to find the STG as it has become my second family. Love the members and how we all come together to support each other.

I am an age grouper triathlete who enjoys triathlon as a sport and the people attracted to it. They are positive and root for everyone to do their best. Racing is fun!

In a race, the swim is the hardest part for me. I am always happiest on land, with the bike portion being my favorite.

Chris "Hattie" Hatfield, Vice President

I’m excited to get back to volunteering with our group and continue serving the community that has given me so much.

I was one of the founders of the Seattle Green Lake Triathlon group in 2014 and served as president for two separate terms. What began as a small local training group has grown steadily over the years and recently evolved into the Seattle Triathlon Group to better reflect the broader community it serves.

My triathlon journey started in 2013 when running friends convinced me to try a tri after completing a couple of marathons. I quickly fell in love with both the sport and the people. Since then, I’ve completed three full Ironman races, ten 70.3s, and numerous shorter triathlons—but what keeps me coming back isn’t just the racing. It’s the community.

For me, triathlon has always been about more than personal achievement. I’ve seen firsthand how the right environment—one that’s accessible, encouraging, and built on genuine relationships—helps athletes stay engaged and grow over the long term. Through building and supporting grassroots training groups, I’ve learned that what athletes need most is connection, accountability, and a culture that meets them where they are.

I’ll bring that same community-first focus, working to ensure our group remains a place where everyone—from first-timers to seasoned athletes—feels welcome and supported.

Maggie Qian, Treasurer

I’m Maggie, a data-driven triathlete and Ironman 70.3 finisher based in Seattle, currently training for my first full Ironman in 2026. I’ve been training consistently for several years, and endurance sports have become central to how I approach life—with discipline, intentionality, and a love of continuous improvement.

My background is in biostatistics, where I spent a decade designing and analyzing clinical trials at organizations including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. I now run an independent statistical consulting practice and my startup Zetyra, a SaaS platform for clinical trial sample size calculations. That analytical mindset carries into my training: I use physiological testing and structured planning to optimize performance and prevent injury. I genuinely enjoy helping others think through their training in a systematic way.

Kavita Kamani, Secretary

I joined STG as a member when I decided to embrace triathlon as a new challenge in late 2023. Realizing I had to first learn how to swim and then get over my fear of open water, I knew I had to commit and take small steps. I started swim lessons in Oct 2023, and then did my first freaked out swim in the lake in Jul 2024 and kept at it and with the help of some amazing folks, built some confidence to do my first sprint triathlon in 2024 (Lake Meridian) and then my first Olympic triathlon (Lake Wilderness) and two Ironman 70.3s (Salem, OR and Tri-cities, WA) in 2025. I enjoy setting goals and challenging myself. Prior to triathlons, I used to be an avid hiker and mountaineer having done all the volcanoes in WA and co-led the Asha for Education climbing program as a volunteer. I also enjoy running, skiing, and biking. I embraced sports later in my life in my 30s and now being outdoors is my therapy and me/sanity time. I love being part of a community and would like to help bring the Seattle triathlon community together and help other newbies find their joy in it.

Professionally, I am a Partner Product Management leader at Microsoft, working on the M365 Copilot team, at the center of our AI work, which is both demanding, challenging and rewarding. I am married, and have two kids, a high schooler, and a middle schooler.

Paul Paradise

I grew up a swimmer and beach lifeguard, but took a 10-year hiatus from most exercise upon entering college and immediately after. When I returned to swimming, a friend talked me into doing a triathlon and I have been hooked ever since. I started at the Olympic distance, which I consider to be long enough to scare me into training but short enough I can accomplish it while still having a life outside of triathlon. More recently I managed to step up to 70.3s, but then jumped back down to Olympic distance with a new baby at home eating up my free time.

Professionally, I serve as a Production Engineering Manager at Meta, supporting a team focused on infrastructure reliability. I have a background in software development, security, and systems administration.

Claude Brun

Originally from France, I have been living in the US for over 20+ years, including over 15+ in the Seattle Area. I started my career as a Software Engineer in Telecom and transitioned to the Business side after my MBA, with roles in Finance, Business Development and Strategy, always in the Tech sector. I currently lead the Strategy Team for the Wholesale Business at T-Mobile.

My experience in boards and volunteering includes President of the Seattle Chapter for the UCLA Anderson Alumni Group for several years and a Board Member of both the UCLA Alumni and UCLA Anderson Alumni Chapter .

I joined the Board of the Seattle Green Lake Triathlon Group back in January 2023 to lead our partnerships and sponsorships efforts until I started the initiative of creating the Seattle Triathlon Group which I am one of the founding members and the current President.

In terms of triathlon, I started back in 2016 with a miserable Sprint and slowing made my way up to all distances. I have completed 3 IronMans, closing on IronMan 70.3s including one World Championship, and many Sprints, Olympics and Relays, and over 100 in person and virtual triathlons overall.

Ram Kakkad

I am Ram, and I live in Ballard with my wife.

I joined the world of triathlon in 2023 after sustaining a minor back injury the week I turned 40. I figured I needed to work towards more all-around fitness, so on a whim, I signed up for the Lake Stevens Sprint—even though I didn't know how to swim and was phobic of open water.

The STG community was the sole reason I crossed the finish line that year, and since then I've grown with help from the group in more ways than I can imagine. So much so that I was able to complete Ironman California in 2025! I am extremely grateful for the friendships I've built through STG and the personal growth and joy I've experienced.

Outside of triathlon, my wife and I love to enjoy the natural beauty around Seattle, especially hiking in the summer and hanging out at Golden Gardens. We don’t have kids, but that doesn’t stop me from cracking dad jokes (beware!).

I’m running for the board to help grow this supportive and welcoming community.

Allison Snow

I fell into triathlon in 2006 when a friend talked me into signing up for my first sprint tri. I borrowed my mom’s bike and started going to the local pool to teach myself how to swim – one of the single most humbling experiences of my adult life. I managed to back, breast, and side stroke my way through that first race – a panic-inducing but also empowering experience that planted a powerful seed for me: if I could accomplish that, what else could I do?

In the 20 years since, triathlon has become the tool by which I’ve crafted my life. It helped me learn to identify priorities and make time for what mattered as I established my career as a classroom teacher in the Bellevue School District. As I moved into public school leadership and served as head of the labor union through the Covid pandemic, triathlon kept me keenly grateful for physical health and helped me get clear on what I truly value. I stepped away from my teaching career in 2022 to start my own coaching business and pursue work rooted in those values. As a coach with the PR Performance tri club, I have partnered with many great people on their triathlon journeys and continued my own across many events, including six Ironman and Ironman 70.3 world championships.

I would never have gotten to where I am today if it weren’t for the incredible people in the triathlon community. Groups like the Luna Chix and other local tri clubs played a huge role in opening the doors for me to this crazy sport and building my confidence to believe I could do it. I would love to play a bigger part in creating that same opportunity for others through a role with Seattle Tri Group.

Efren Hernandez

“Relentless Forward Progress” is my personal mantra and resilience is my superpower. Born among the mountains of North East Mexico, have been living in the USA for almost 25 years and in Seattle for the last three. I always dreamed of living among big trees somewhere between the ocean and the mountains, so when the opportunity to move to the PNW came up, I just could not resist. Professionally, I am an automation professional with over twenty years of experience dedicated to pushing the boundaries of digital transformation and data integration in the pharmaceutical industry.

I have always had the privilege of spending a lot of time enjoying what the great outdoors offers, and from an early age was fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to participate in just about any sport that tickled my fancy. This is how I was able to get into swimming, cycling, and running as individual sports at various points in my life. But it wasn’t until my early college days that I somehow got tricked into participating in my first indoor triathlon; from that moment on, I was hooked and never looked back. It took me ten years to go from an indoor super sprint to my first 140.6 finish -after two failed attempts- and made many mistakes along the way, mostly because it took me a while to understand that triathlon can be a social endeavor that should be enjoyed and not just endured.

Throughout my years in the sport, I’ve been honored to be part of various Triathlon oriented organizations, among them Silicon Valley Tri Club, Oceanside Multisport Group, Golden Gate Tri Club, and Seattle Tri Group. In all of them I have been able to find community and a sense of belonging. This did not happen organically or spontaneously; it happened because there was always someone putting in time and effort. Because others put in the effort to make me feel welcomed and included, I always felt encouraged to pay it forward. That is what keeps the wheels of community turning. Thus, I am determined to give back to the community that has given me so much by offering my time to help STG continue the great work that all volunteers and board members have been doing.

I envision more focused membership engagement by exploring activities like organized training weekends, targeted club-wide race trips, structured training plans, and more importantly, general community outreach to make sure the sport continues to grow among the younger generations.

Mark Ghazai

Mark Ghazai, Managing Director of Cloud at Microsoft Tech for Social Impact and Philanthropies, stands at the intersection of technology leadership and athletic passion. With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, I lead the development and delivery of Microsoft cloud solutions for global nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises.

My journey into the world of running and triathlons began as a personal challenge, intertwining with my commitment to fitness and mental well-being. Embracing the community spirit of the Seattle Green Lake Triathlon Group, I swiftly immersed myself in the sport, culminating in completing my first Ironman 70.3 race. Grateful for the support and camaraderie of the SGLTG, I’ve remained an active participant, driven by my love for both the sport and the community around it. I truly believe that triathlons impart valuable life lessons to those who embrace the challenge. It starts with commitment, dedication, discipline while the need for consistency, teamwork, community, and support groups while practicing adaptability, mental toughness, listening to our bodies while celebrating small wins and continuous improvements for people of all abilities.

Beyond my athletic pursuits, my dedication to social impact is what gives me energy and I stay involved with different nonprofits. Serving on the Board of Momentum Alliance in Portland (OR), I played a pivotal role in its growth, empowering underprivileged youth leaders and fostering social justice initiatives. Additionally, my longstanding commitment to Child Foundation reflects my passion for enriching the lives of gifted children in the Middle East while they don’t have easy access to food, school and proper education that drives then from poverty and extremism.

George Ramsdell

I completed my first triathlon in 1986, but my journey into the sport began a year earlier in November 1985, when I was recruited at age 20 to swim the relay leg of a corporate triathlon. That experience hooked me for life.

In the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, Southern California was the center of the triathlon universe, and I was fortunate to come up in that era. I continued competing in both individual races and high-level relay teams, often recruited for the swim leg. I completed my first Ironman in 1991 and went on to race Ironman Canada in 1993, where I placed 11th overall in the swim, including professional athletes.

At heart, I’m a swimmer masquerading as a triathlete — and I genuinely enjoy sharing knowledge, mentoring others, and helping athletes improve with confidence and perspective.

Over the years, I’ve been a member of several triathlon clubs and previously served on the board of the original Seattle Green Lake Triathlon Group. During that time, I helped design the club’s logos and contributed to the development of the kit that many still recognize today.

If elected to the Seattle Triathlon Group board, my focus will be on supporting our volunteers. I believe volunteers are the true drivers of the club — they are the people members interact with most, the face of the organization, and the reason the club functions as well as it does. My goal is to make volunteering easier, more supported, and more rewarding, because when volunteers thrive, the entire club thrives.

You!

We're always looking for more people that are interested in serving on our board or volunteering in other ways.

As an all-volunteer non-profit, we thrive based on the efforts of our volunteers. Please reach out if you'd like to volunteer helping with:

• Hosting events (leading rides, runs, swims, and team social events)
• Graphic design
• Social media and communication
• Community outreach
• IT and web development
• Securing additional sponsors, race and partner discounts, etc.
• Pro-bono professional services such as tax preparation and legal support