CENTRAL CAROLINA BRIDGE ASSOCIATION
ACBL District 7 Unit 169
Board of Directors
Judy Hellen
President, Greensboro / term expires July 1, 2028
I took up bridge for the first time after retiring. At some point I expected to relocate and I wanted an interest so I could meet new friends wherever I landed. I'm still in Greensboro, my hometown. And I have new friends! My "role" lately has been to help grow the game locally by teaching and encouraging our new players.
Robert Powell
Past President / term expires July 1, 2028
Being the son of a Baptist preacher, I have lived all over North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast. After attending Wake Forest (BS Chemistry) and UNC-Greensboro (MS Chemistry), I remained in the Triad and spent 32 years in R&D for RJ Reynolds. I was a NC certified EMT and volunteered 20 years with Forsyth Rescue Squad, and 23 years with Colfax Volunteer Fire Department, where I currently Chair their Board of Directors. Besides duplicate bridge, I am an avid golfer and cherish time spent with my two granddaughters Morgan (6) and Caroline (8 months).
Peter J. Boyd-Bowman
1st Vice-President (Tournaments), Greensboro / term expires July 1, 2028
Peter grew up in Greensboro and has lived here most of his life (except for some time in NY for school and CA for youthful wanderings). He started playing in mid/late 2006 after he was on a cruise ship with a friend, along with his dad (Peter C. Boyd-Bowman) & Mary Ann Young. He’s read countless bridge books, many good, some not so much, but likes to recommend Bridge Master, a free tool you can find on BBO that will help you learn to be a better declarer.
Peter is a Professional Bridge Player with about 15,000 Master Points, Club Owner, Director, and Bridge Teacher. He loves that “there are countless new problems to solve with every hand! It's great for an active mind. Plus, the social aspect of the game is very enjoyable.”
When not involved in one of his bridge pursuits, he loves spending time with family, travel, watching basketball (season tickets to the Hornets!), and tending to his plants. He’s also currently learning Italian for a family trip next year.
Donna Hancock
2nd Vice-President (Membership), Winston-Salem/ term expires July 1, 2028
I started playing bridge in 2013, when I retired from the federal government. Bridge has been an on again-off again relationship largely due to the humbly reminders I do not know how to master this game. But, I keep coming back, because of the wonderful people in our bridge community.
When not playing bridge, I enjoy quilting, gardening and traveling with my family.
Looking forward to meeting you at the bridge table.
Mary Morgan
Secretary/Treasurer, Greensboro / term expires July 1, 2028
Mary and her husband, Richard moved to Greensboro, NC from Houston, TX in late 2018 following their retirement and upon the birth of their first grandchild. (Their son and his family lived in Greensboro and their daughter lives in Washington, D.C.) Mary spent her career in the computer industry (both hardware and software) in a variety of senior management roles in Sales, Operations, and Product Delivery. She chaired several industry Best Practice Committees and served as a guest speaker at industry forums. She has served on various non-profit boards in Houston, serving as President, Board of Directors at Crisis Intervention and UH Board of Directors Alumni Organization, among others.
When not playing bridge Mary works with AARP as a Tax-Aide preparing tax returns (at no cost to the
client), as an Election Judge in Guilford County (continuing work she did in Houston) and spends copious amount of hours fighting weeds in her garden.
Brenda Garzia
DirectorAt Large, Greensboro / term expires July 1, 2027
I am a graduate of Brooklyn College, and gave over 40 years to the insurance industry. That time was spent as Agency owner and insurance educator. I attained the national designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and worked a number of years with WFMY’s Call for Action in that capacity.
I played rubber bridge for many years, but discovered my real passion when I became involved with duplicate bridge in Greensboro. For many years I have combined my love for bridge with my love for feeding people. I have been “food chairman “ for quite some time, and feel that I have contributed to making Greensboro a beacon of hospitality for those coming to our tournaments.
Patricia Gutzwiller
​Webmaster, Greensboro, term expires July 1, 2027
Patricia brings her experience as a software developer to serve as our Unit 169 webmaster. She’s worked for a number of tech firms in both New York City and here in Greensboro where she’s lived since 1994.
Retired now, she got into bridge when a friend asked her if she wanted to attend a bridge class in 2022. Her friend didn’t catch the bridge bug but Patricia did! She loves the mental challenge of the game as well as the chance to meet people.
When not playing bridge Patricia enjoys walking her standard poodle, Sadie, hiking high mountains, and supporting the local arts scene. She plays piano, and her husband Alan is involved in barbershop singing and community theater.
Bob Hale
DirectorAt Large, Greensboro / term expires July 1, 2028
More to come.
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Joanne Hawks
DirectorAt Large, Greensboro / term expires July 1, 2028
Though born in Kansas City, MO, I grew up in the south – Corpus Christi, TX; Louisville, KY; Tyler, TX; and Atlanta – attending 13 schools in 11 years. My first husband’s job with Gilbarco brought me to Greensboro in 1977. I left Greensboro twice, returning in 1997 after seven years in northern CA, and in 2017 after five years in The Villages, FL. With my moving history and my only family being a sister in Tennessee, I feel like I have no roots, but I now consider Greensboro my home with no plans to leave again.
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A gentle suggestion from a long-time friend and Life Master sparked my interest in duplicate bridge. I started reading Bridge Basic 1, made contact with Judy Hellen and Cecelia Ray, and played my first duplicate game in their Supervised Play on June 21, 2024. I was hooked!! I now play 3-4 times a week, have taken many of the courses offered by our excellent instructors, and play in most tournaments within a 3–4-hour drive. In my free time, I shoot pool, read, and make quilts for cancer patients.
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David Hurd
DirectorAt Large, Winston-Salem / term expires July 1, 2028
David grew up in Rockford, Illinois and did his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. He was drafted in 1969 into the Army and, after Basic and AIT, was assigned to the Walter Reed Army Institute of Dental Research as an administrative assistant in Washington, DC. He left the military in November 1970 to attend Medical School at the University of Illinois, Chicago, continuing on to the University of Minnesota for 15 years as a House officer in Internal Medicine with advanced training in Medical Oncology. He was recruited to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine (previously known as the Bowman Gray School of Medicine) in 1989 and was on the Faculty until he retired in 2023 specializing in Medical Oncology.
David started playing Bridge in College and began playing duplicate around 1966. He maintained his membership in ACBL over the years and returned to Duplicate Bridge after retirement.
Barbara Seagram’s book on “25 convention that you should know” provided much of the information he needed to restart playing in February 2023. He credits Mentors and Club Directors with teaching him a lot over the past three years.
David likes bridge for both the playing/competing and the opportunity to meet new people. When he’s not at the bridge table he enjoys time with his family, reading, and college sports.
Joanne McClusky
DirectorAt Large, Greensboro / term expires July 1, 2028
I learned bridge as a child and have played pretty much since. It’s the greatest hobby of all time --social, stretching what’s left of your mind, exercise (when I play EW). I love it. If I could bring my cat it would be perfect! Unit 169 has so many interesting and kind people, it’s been a privilege to get to know them.
Martha Meyer
Unit 169 Representative to District 7
Director-at-Large, Winston-Salem / term expires July 1, 2027
I began playing bridge in 1987 with my husband’s (Mark) family. His mother is an excellent teacher and player. While I was teaching beginners at the Robinhood YMCA in 2014, Ellen Lowdermilk asked me to play duplicate bridge with her in a “new game that Cindy Wright was starting”. The duplicate journey began. Mark and I have played duplicate together since 2015 and we became Life Masters in 2018. Team games are where we were most successful, playing second in the District 7 GNT in 2018 and first in 2019. Our personal best is 65 gold points playing teams at the NABC in Providence, RI. We finished third overall in a National Event in Atlanta in the Blue Ribbon Pairs. Both of us love to teach and mentor newer players. By teaching, you learn. My favorite convention is Ogust over a weak two opening because it helps you go to game or sign off in a partial score.
I was graduated from the University of Virginia’s School of Commerce and got a MBA from UNC. After working for U.S. Steel, in investment banking, and AT&T National Accounts, I handled accounting and marketing for Mark’s pediatric dental practice. That allowed me to work part-time doing his payroll and taxes, build a website, and volunteer in the community.
My hobbies outside of bridge include stained glass, hiking, directing and teaching bridge on cruise ships, organic gardening and cooking. We have two children of whom we are very proud. Carson is serving in the United States Army currently at Ft. Benning. Claire and her husband, Payton, have our amazing granddaughter, Ellis. Both of our children have learned to play bridge and, in a few years when she can count to 13, we will teach Ellis.
Mary Claire O'Brien
DirectorAt Large, Winston-Saem / term expires July 1, 2028
I grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. My husband Francis and I met in medical school at Temple University-- we have the same surname and were seated next to each other alphabetically. We moved to NC with our three daughters about 28 years ago. My specialty is emergency medicine and I am a professor emeritus in both EM and in Social Sciences/ Health Policy (WFUSM).
I started playing bridge only 17 months ago. I wondered, “How can I keep my brain active in retirement? Hey, I’ll play bridge! How hard can it be?” Ouch! It’s REALLY HARD! But my Bridge Friends keep me coming back to the table. I am so grateful for their patience, their encouragement, and their laughter.
My current bridge books are: “Eddie Kaplan Teaches Modern Bridge Defense,” Mel Colchamiro’s “How to play like an Expert (without having to be one)," “Winning No Trump Leads” by David Bird and Taf Anthias, and Ron Klinger’s “100 Winning Bridge Tips.”
Besides bridge, we enjoy ballroom dancing, gardening (daylilies!), and traveling. We love spending time with friends and family, especially our adorable granddaughter Gwen.​