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Curling stone

WHO
WE ARE

Our Team

Passionate. Believers. Curlers.

The OC Curling dedicated ice committee is backed by a number of talented volunteers working hard to make our dream a reality, and lead by the following team.

Mike Cassidy
Mike delivering a stone

Project Lead

Mike Cassidy

Mike and his wife joined the Orange County Curling Club together in 2011, and they have been active members of the Club ever since. Through their extensive bonspiel travels, they have built relationships with curlers across North America and Europe. Mike served on the OC Curling Board for six years and is now leading our drive to Dedicated Ice. By day, Mike serves as Area Director for the State of California for a major home storage brand.

Justin McBride
Justin Curling

Campaign Lead & Club President

Justin McBride

Justin is a founding member of the Orange County Curling Club, as a part of the original team that brought curling to Southern California in 2010, and also served on the Board during the club's inception and today serves as the club's President. Since then, he has represented OC Curling at multiple Club National events and traveled the world with his friends and family curling. When not curling, Justin is a Sales Executive for a software company working with the Fortune 500. 

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Board Liaison

Dr. Katherine Nielsen

Kate is an active member of both the OC Curling Board of Directors as Vice President, and the Dedicated Ice Committee. She joined the Orange County Curling Club in 2022 and quickly found a home on the ice alongside her sister and husband. When she’s not curling, she is a dedicated pediatrician, caring for children in her community. Outside of both the rink and the clinic, Katherine enjoys running marathons and embracing the challenge of endurance sports. 

Kyra Manayan
Kyra delivering a stone

OC Curling Treasurer

Kyra Manayan

Kyra is a CPA that loves creating Excel workbooks almost as much as she loves curling. In her two years of curling, she has qualified and competed in the 2023 Arena Nationals and the 2024 5 and Under Nationals. Her favorite Orange County Curling Club event is the Reindeer Games!

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Kevin curls

Real Estate Lead

Kevin Jones

Kevin is an Acquisitions Director for Pacific Life Real Estate Equity, where he purchases and manages industrial and multifamily investment properties on behalf of Pacific Life. In his free time, Kevin loves spending time with his wife, Emily, and daughter, Finley, and trying to convince them to come watch him pursue his dream of professional curling. Kevin has been an Orange County Curling Club member since 2022 and enjoys broomstacking with his fellow members.

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Bill Sr. curling team

Team Member

Bill Waddington, Sr.

Bill or "Dad" Waddington has been a member of the OC Curling Club since 2011. He has represented the club at numerous US Senior National Championships, including winning the C bracket once and finishing second the following year. Dad has also served on the club board as President and Treasurer, as well as a Founder of the Dedicated Ice project.

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Team Member

Shiloh Blacksher

Shiloh, and her husband Adam, joined Orange County Curling in 2018. Embraced by the OC community and captivated by the strategy and culture of curling, she quickly became an active member of the club. She is currently a member of the OC Curling Board of Directors. She is also fortunate to travel frequently to play in bonspiels around the world with her curling friends. Off the ice, Shiloh is a Professor of Psychology at Mt. San Antonio College and fosters kittens. 

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Team Member

Dr. Kori Fisher

Kori joined OC Curling in 2016 while searching for a little slice of home (Canada!). What started as a way to meet people quickly turned into a true passion. She served on the Club’s Board for four years and, in 2024, brought her enthusiasm to the Dedicated Ice Committee. Off the ice, Kori is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Cal State Fullerton and the Director of the university’s Center for Successful Aging.

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Ice Tech & Team Member

Marty Blomgren

Marty is retired from a career in the Fire Service.

He will be taking the lead as the Ice Tech for our new curling facility.  Marty has a World Curling Ice Tech 1 certification and is currently volunteering on the ice crew at the Coyotes Curling Club in Tempe, AZ  to absorb as much knowledge as possible. Marty has played competitively in three National Championship events and was on the 2025 Senior MoPac winning team.

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Team Member

Dan McCarthy

Dan McCarthy began curling in 2014.  In addition to being a long-time member of OC Curling, he has served on the board of Hollywood Curling and manages the leagues there.  When he isn’t curling, he is an attorney for the California Court of Appeal in Los Angeles.

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Team Member

Sean Franey

Sean Franey and his wife BriAnna started their curling journey at OC Curling in 2012. Sean has since performed on the national stage, including most recently the 2025 USA Curling Olympic trials for Mixed Doubles with BriAnna.  Sean currently resides and curls in Denver, CO.  As an Architectural designer, Sean is advising the OC Curling dedicated ice team on architectural design and planning.  

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Team Member

Mike Calder

Mike has been involved with OC Curling since 2010, serving on both the Board and Dedicated Ice Committee. Curling runs in his family, with relatives serving as Presidents of USA Curling organizations and his grandfather participating in the 1932 Winter Olympics demonstration. He recently retired from an international executive role in title insurance and enjoys youth soccer officiating, reading, and travel.

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