Click on the title to see his biography:
Big Sir: Dan Smith
Little Sir: Thom Watkins
Secretary: Carl Ludwig
Assistant Secretary: Peter Jordan
Assistant Secretary: Leo Dominguez
Treasurer: Peter Shapiro
Assistant Treasurer: Terry Baldwin
Attendance Secretary: John Vallor
Asst. Attendance Secretary: Manuel Dominguez
Membership Secretary: Rich Knowles
Asst. Membership Secretary: Arte Chan
Director: Mike Frey
Director: Terry Mason
Director: Tom Draeger
Director: Greg Konsavage
Big Sir: Dan Smith
I was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and have family there. I like to say that I grew up from Maine to Florida so as to include upstate New York. It turned out that during these years we lived either close to or on various bodies of water; thusly I spent a lot of time on the water. This and my mother’s family having operated a shipyard influenced my decision to become a naval architect. I graduated from Virginia Tech (BS) and MIT (MS) with degrees in naval architecture and marine engineering.
I went to work at Newport News Shipbuilding when I graduated. While there I got to research the application of a newly developed computer based structural analysis (NASTRAN) to the design of the Los Angeles Class submarine. I left Newport News because of a divorce and came to California by way of Texas. I met my wife Lynda in LA. We soon ended up here in the Bay Area. We have been married over 50 years, now. I’ve worked for several different companies here before going back to Rosenblatt 30 years ago where I became their Chief Naval Architect. I worked part time after retirement, mostly in the engineering of the ShipLift dry dock system.
There have been two aspects of the marine field that I have particularly liked; the diversity of work and the worldwide travel. When I tell someone that I weigh ships, I get a quizzical look in response as to how you do that. I tell them that we measure the hole it makes in the water, which is pure Archimedes. I’ve lost count as to how many vessels that I have either performed a deadweight survey or a stability test (or inclining, a test where we heel the vessel to determines its VCG). I’ve inclined drill rigs, naval ships, ferries, oceanographic ships, a cruise ship, even floating caissons (gates) for dry docks. I have also been involved with structural analyses for many different projects, frequently using NASTRAN, and I get involved with marine systems.
My hobbies range from genealogy, gardening, and to carrying out home projects. I like to play cribbage and bridge with the guys. I also like the sociability of walking. I became the editor the Hotline, relieving Chuck Joyce after he moved to Arizona. I assist Dennis Mierzwa with cribbage. And I took on attendance under Bill Peterson, later assisting Manuel Dominguez, which is a BEC position. I will pass on the Hotline to Chris Wehling and Assistant Attendance Secretary to John Vallor when I take on Little Sir in 2025. I will state that Sir has become a community to me with all of its guys and what we do.
Little Sir: Thomas Watkins
I was born in Houston, Texas. When I was 6years old, my family moved to Washington, DC. Graduated from Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1961.
After graduation, I enlisted in the Air Force. After a tour in Alaska, I went to Navigator School. I was assigned to the 416th Bomb Wing in upstate New York as a Navigator/ Bombardier. Our Wing rotated to Viet Nam where I flew about 35 missions over North Viet Nam.
My other tour of duties include Communications Squadron Commander, Titan II Missile Crew Commander, and Chief of Budget for USAF Recruiting Service (Northern California and Nevada).
I retired in 1981 after 20 years. The GI Bill paid for my MBA from Golden Gate University. I went to work for Pacific Telephone in 1982 (later known as Pac Bell) and then AT&T. I left AT&T due to Company downsizing in 1998. In the meantime, I was an adjunct Professor at Solano community College in Fairfield teaching Engineering, Business, and Economics. In 1998, I became a full-time instructor in the School of Applied Technology and Business. I retired from Solano in 2015 as Dean.
My grandson was attending De La Salle High School in Concord, and I volunteered as a tutor in their Learning Center. During the Covid era in October 2020, I was asked to be a full-time substitute teaching Algebra II, Geometry, and Trigonometry. I taught for a year and a half. Side note: during his senior year, my grandson was in my Algebra II class.
During my time in Branch 8, I served as a Director, and Activities Committee Chairman. I started the Woodpeckers Activity and serve as its Chairman.
Treasurer: Peter Shapiro
Peter Shapiro grew up in Western Massachusetts, the nephew of a Chevrolet dealer and son of a Dodge dealer. He has degrees in Automotive Marketing and Business Management. In his high school years, he worked on a dairy farm and was active in Future Farmers of America. But his future was not to be in farming. He worked for auto parts giant NAPA, Goodyear, ADP and 3M, all in automotive-related capacities. Peter is an alumnus of a small group of ADP employees who worked for three out of four of ADP’s divisions, two of which were automotive-related the third being payroll.
In 1993 Peter bought a home in Walnut Creek where he was elected to the Board of Directors of the HOA. He enjoyed overseeing the finances and maintaining the property. He eventually changed careers and completed fourteen years in HOA Management in December 2022 when he retired for the second time.
As a new retiree, Peter keeps busy. He is now back on the board of the HOA where he lives, is active in SIR Car Enthusiast, Single Dine Out, and Bocce Ball. He walks around the Lafayette Reservoir frequently and attends lectures and various activities with friends. Peter is also on the board of the East Bay Jewish Film Festival.
Assistant Treasurer: Terry Baldwin
I became a Realtor in 2002 and have dedicated my career to helping clients navigate the home buying and selling process with confidence. Outside of real estate, I stay active by playing racquetball for 10 years and I started playing golf consistently three years ago.
In 2015, I joined the Civil Air Patrol, where I serve as the Safety Officer for my squadron and act as a Mission Observer during missions—roles that allow me to support aviation safety and emergency services in our community.
I’ve been married to my wife, Cathy, for 33 years, and family is at the heart of my life. I’m the proud parent of two kids and the grandparent of three wonderful grandkids.
Secretary: Carl Ludwig
I was born and raised in California, then attended Oberlin College in Ohio where I met my future wife, Virginia. We moved to Ann Arbor Michigan where I received an MPH in Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Wanting to return to California and the SF Bay Area, we packed up belongings in 1975 and landed in San Francisco. There, I worked for several healthcare companies over the next ten years before joining Delta Dental, a company what would employ me until I retired in 2018. My family had made a final household move to Orinda in 1988.
I find the entire field of healthcare fascinating. I have leveraged my statistical background into the use of analytics and visual presentations for interpreting all types of healthcare data.
Retirement finds me fortunate to enjoy my two sons and their families (five grandchildren), both of whom live in the Bay Area. I joined SIRs in 2019 and have been active in the Hikers group. I became the Hikers activity chairman in 2022. The Covid pandemic brought me indoors and into the SIR Book Group and the What I’ve Been Reading Recently meetings. I accepted the BEC Secretary position in 2023.
Assistant Secretary, Peter Jordon
Attendance Secretary and Email distribution: Manuel Dominguez
I was born in Glendale California. Moved from Southern California to San Mateo California in 1983. I have been a resident of Pleasant Hill since 1997. Married to Mona for 42 years. One son living in Pleasant Hill with his wife.
A forty-three-year career in Information Technology with an emphasis on Data Architecture. Worked at multiple Bay Area companies as a consultant for thirty-four years. Finally became an employee at the University of California Office of the President in 2010, where I retired in 2018.
My primary hobby is listening to music via my audiophile stereo system mainly via vinyl records.
Joined SIR in 2018, Presently Attendance Secretary and responsible for the SIR Branch 8 email distribution. Currently active in Hiking, Heads Up Walkers and Winefinders #2
Membership Secretary: Rich Knowles
Born in 1948 in Los Angeles County and lived first ten years of life there. Then lived in Los Alamitos, just over the county border in Orange County until after finished college. Then went to Chicago, Washington, D.C. (technically Reston, VA), and then came back to California in 1982 and have lived in Contra Costa County ever since.
Got a B.S. from UC Davis and then M.S. and M.B.A. from University of Chicago. Decided could not be a professional student at that point (1975).
Worked as a consultant with titles like statistician, economist, and just plain consultant for 14 years. Only company still existing I worked at is SAIC (Science Applications Incorporated Company I guess – it was just SAI when I was there).
I then officially became a programmer (though I had been that too all along) and worked for 20 years at the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco as a programmer and then manager of programmers. I was really good at training computers – not so good but not bad at training people. I ended up as a Vice President at the Bank.
Twice in this working period I was self-employed, and both times I decided to become an employee again after a while. Though being a consultant is fairly close to being self-employed.
Once retired I became involved in several volunteer efforts – the civil grand jury of Contra Costa County and the California Grand Jury Association. I also did programming for Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services in Walnut Creek. I served on the board of Earthteam, and eventually became president. I was co-chair Shipmates, a large singles social group (over 3,000 members and a group of 200 volunteers to manage over 200 events per month). In 2016 I joined SIR (having been retired since 2009).
And now I mostly play golf. Sometimes with SIR and sometimes with other friends I have made. I also play bridge with SIR, belong to book clubs, and sponsor the SIR podcast and model train activities. I have also joined Singles Dine Out. I like to take vacations and make it a point to several times per year. Sometimes overseas and sometimes not. And lastly, I can’t leave out that I am on a number of SIR committees because I really like Zoom meetings.
Assistant Membership Secretary: Arte Chan
I was born and raised in Sacramento. I attended Junior College before getting into Architecture School at Cal Poly Pomona. My degree was interrupted by the Draft (lottery number 7) where they sent me to Missle School to maintain the Nike Hercules missles in Germany. After the Army, I continued and completed my degree in Architecture at the University of Texas in Austin.
Upon graduation, I moved to Boston Massachusetts where I practiced Healthcare Architecture for 21 years. I met my wife at the firm where we both worked. I was a partner in a firm until I moved back to California in 2000. My brother and sisters live between Sacramento and San Francisco and my Mother wanted her grandkids closer to home so we bought a house in Walnut Creek. I joined an architectural practice in San Francisco and worked full time until December 2020. I now work part time providing project management training for the staff.
I started playing golf around 1998 but didn’t play regularly until I got to California. I took up golf so I could attend my client’s golf tournaments. I’m not very good but I try to get better.
I signed up and active in the 18 hole golf group. I also participate in the 9 hole group and try to volunteer with the Food Bank when I can.
We have 2 kids: a son in Chicago and a daughter in Portland OR. Both are very happy in their respective careers. We are still waiting for grandchildren.
I look forward to playing golf with you guys.
My primary hobby is listening to music via my audiophile stereo system mainly via vinyl records.
Joined SIR in 2018, Presently Attendance Secretary and responsible for the SIR Branch 8 email distribution. Currently active in Hiking, Heads Up Walkers and Winefinders #2
Attendance Secretary: John Vallor
I was born in Salt Lake City Utah in 1950, the son of a career Army officer who, at the time was stationed at Fort Douglas Utah. As an Army family, we moved frequently in the US and in Europe until my dad’s retirement in 1961. I met my future wife Bette in 1973 while I was stationed in Monterey. After a few more moves, my wife and I ended up in Walnut creek. We were married 31 years until her passing. I have three great children and seven wonderful grandkids, all of whom live locally.
My career spanned 46 years and included years as an Army officer, a buyer with Procter and Gamble, and AVP with Amfac, Inc., and the head of corporate real estate for both Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. and AAA Insurance. In my Corporate Real Estate roll I was responsible for providing office, warehouse and data center space to my company’s needs. I retired from AAA Insurance in 2019.
I joined SIRs in 2022 and was happy to find a group of really nice people. I enjoy the Mixer group and single SIRs dining out and spent my first year as a book club member, a group that I intend to rejoin very soon. SIRs had given me the opportunity to meet great people who are fun to be around. Thank you fellow SIRs.
Assistant Attendance Secretary: Manuel Dominguez
Director: Michael Frey
I was born and raised in San Francisco, CA where I attended Grammar School, High School, and College.
In 1966 while attending college I joined Crown Zellerbach Corporation on a part-time basis working in their Mail Room. In 1968 I started working in their “data processing” department as a computer operator. Within a couple of years, I was offered the opportunity to become a programmer. I ended my 16-year career at CZ as a Programming Project Manager. For the remainder of my career, I worked in a number of Information Technology positions including Application Development Manager for a Transportation Services Company and VP, Consultant Operations for an IT Consulting Services Company.
Lorraine and I were married in 1973 in San Francisco and in 1976 moved to Walnut Creek where we have raised a daughter and two sons. We have been blessed with seven grandchildren.
I have been a member of SIR since 2012 and I am currently the chairman of the 9 Hole Golf. I am a member of the Activity Coordinating Committee and a Director on the Branch Executive Committee.
Director: Terry Mason
I was born in 1944 in Welland, Ontario, Canada and lived there for 14 years. My father’s job took us to Detroit, Michigan in 1958 where I graduated from high school and enrolled at Wayne State University.
During my 5+ years at Wayne I worked in various departments at Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company and married in 1964. I graduated from Wayne with a BA degree in business and had first son in1970. After a short stint with Republic Steel in Cleveland I was hired by Del Monte in Sales but after being relocated from Michigan to North Carolina to Virginia I quit in order to settle down in one spot.
Del Monte rehired me and my 8-month pregnant wife and I were immediately transferred to San Francisco where I initially wanted to be. Our second son was born in Sept. 1972 and as I started a 38 year career in Distribution Management.
In 1985 as we were moving locally from Concord to Walnut Creek, we adopted a 2-year-old girl.
My wife died in 2008, and I retired 2 years later as International Distribution Manager.
Joined Sir Branch 8 soon after and have enjoyed numerous activities like pinochle, cribbage, bocce, Mexican train dominoes, Oktoberfest, eat-ins, eat-outs, and 18-hole golf. Golf is especially mind-numbing because even though I suck the weather, exercise and comradeship are fantastic.
Director: Thomas Draeger
Tom Draeger PE, Fellow ASCE
Graduate of Univ of Washington 68. On Dean’s advisory Comm for 11yrs
Spent 37 years with Bechtel retired as a Sr Vp
President of Beavers Inc 2009 and member of the Beavers Trust for 11 years
Director: Greg Konsavage
Originally from Pennsylvania. A graduate of Penn State and a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan.
My career spanned 50 years as a technical Project Manager and Program Manager in the Telephony, Energy, Healthcare and OEM Auto parts industries. I also worked in government.
Will be retired 3 years come 4/26. A Sirs member coming up on 2 years. A member of the Woodpeckers and the Car Enthusiasts. I reside in Concord with my wife Connie and my two darling Dobermans.
updated 12/12/2025 dda
