COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Van Pulley
President; Experienced Trip Leader; would-be Powder Master
Nathalie McGregor
Vice-President; Experienced Trip Leader
Tom Murphy
Treasurer
Gail Davenport
Secretary
Frona
Experienced Trip Leader; Powder Lover
Nikola Spatafora
Membership Chair
Van retired from the World Bank in 2015 after 28 years service in a wide variety of operational and corporate roles. Among his responsibilities, he managed the Bank’s global travel for many years and now enjoys organizing and leading great ski trips for the Club.
The Fund & Bank Staff Ski Club is a fantastic option for skiers because we visit the top resorts, obtain the best prices, plan everything for you, and bring along a congenial group of “ski buddies” for Club Members of every ability level.
Van Puley
President; Experienced Trip Leader; would-be Powder Master
Nathalie McGregor was born in Russia during the Soviet Era. When she was 17 she won her first title of the National Water Ski Champion of the USSR. Became a member of the Moscow downhill ski team. And all of this in parallel with serious professional career. After 20 years of water/downhill ski career, 27 medals, including 6 gold and one National Record she moved to Washington, DC and spent 18 years working for the World Bank.
Her educational background includes: MSF from George Washington University, CFA and Ph.D in Economics. Married, has four sons/stepsons. Hobbies: sailing, golf, tennis, horse back riding. Her mojo: ”Sports make your life beautiful!”
Nathalie McGregor
Vice-President; Experienced Trip Leader
Gail recently reconnected with the Fund Bank Ski Club after many years of self organized trips. She is thrilled to again share her passion for skiing with colleagues and friends from the Bank-Fund community. Originally from Canada, Gail has skied at most of the resorts in Western Canada. She is looking forward to many skiing, and hiking, adventures with club members.
Gail Davenport
Secretary
“The mountains are calling and I must go”. Nikola typically spends his winters either ski mountaineering in British Columbia, or dreaming about it. But he is always on the lookout for new, remote mountains where the powder is deep! And, whenever he gets into trouble, he consoles himself thinking that “Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.”
Nikola Spatafora
Membership Chair
I joined the Bank in 1971 and have been an active member of the Ski Club Committee since 1972 including several stints as Club President. In the early days we did mostly bus trips on the East Coast. These were extremely social and the club developed a strong following of regulars and some are still active to this day. After the deregulation of the airlines in the 80s we started to run trips more to the Rockies and included an European option. There were very few trips I did not go on! Gradually through investment in hours of lessons, and the encouragement of people I met through the club, I improved my skiing ability. I have become both a bump skier and a powder hound – the latter extending to my passion for heli-skiing.
Skiing is a sport which encourages camaraderie. By joining a group trip, you benefit from arrangements which are taken care of by an enthusiastic trip leader. Experiences are shared and stories are created. Friendships are made which don’t just stop at the end of trip. Importantly too, there is no hierarchy and shop talk. I count the club as an important part of my life.