Director of the Tri-City Water Follies is stepping down after 15 years

The director of the Tri-Cities signature community event, Tri-City Water Follies, is retiring.

Kathy Powell has been the event’s director for 15 years.

She began as a volunteer for Water Follies, which draws thousands of visitors to the Columbia River hydroplane races and airshow each summer. Then in 2007, she was recruited to take over the bankrupted event.

Water Follies struggled through several different management organizations after Ken Maurer, one of the founders of the event in 1965, retired and sold his interest in the Maurer Company in 2003 after 38 years, said a news release.

“In 2006 the organization was $35,000 in debt with minimal sponsor support and stressed relationships with the cities and boat race fans,” said Kathy (Balcom) Lampson, who was asked to serve as president to help make the organization profitable again.

“Past presidents and volunteers jumped in, reorganized the management structure/compensation, developed creative sponsorship incentives and gave Kathy Powell the ball to run with. From that day forward the organization has been very profitable,” Lampson said.

Powell said she’s ready to step back from the massive annual undertaking.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve as the event director for the past 15 years. I lost my dad to cancer last spring and I’m turning 60 in January. I’m ready for a summer off to enjoy my pool and explore a lot of campgrounds in the region,” she said in the release.

Powell, who plans to leave in February 2022, will continue to help the organization and next event director with the 2022 races.

This story was originally published December 1, 2021 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Director of the Tri-City Water Follies is stepping down after 15 years."