Ep 68 – Keeping Sponsors Engaged w/ Tom Stuessy of VMBA & VOICe in Vermont

Executive Director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA), Tom Stuessy, returns to the podcast. Tom shares how the Vermont Outdoor Innovation Coalition (VOICe) has evolved in earning the organization and it’s Chapters consistent funding. And a key part of the success of VOICe has been preventing donor fatigue from sponsors and adopters, insuring funding partners are engaged and included.

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Ep 67 – Morgan Lommele of People For Bikes & Martin Littlejohn of the BC MTB Tourism Symposium

Our first episode back after our Summer hiatus we hear from two guests. The first, Morgan Lommele of People For Bikes, fills us in on what the order signed by the Secretary of the Interior allowing e-MTBs on Federal Land actually means. And second, we hear from Martin Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association, he tells us about the BC Mountain Biking  Tourism Symposium happening in Whistler, BC, October 2nd to 4th.

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Ep 66 – Mountain Biking Impact Review by the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz

This episode we hear from the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz out in California, they share their Mountain Biking Impact Review and the findings made by their Science Committee. We’re joined by Matt De Young, Executive Director and Emma Kelsey, Science Committee Chair. This also marks the final episode of the Season with the podcast slated to return in September. Have a great Summer!

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Ep 65 – Father’s Day Panel Discussion

We hear from four Mountain Bike Dads: Anthony Duncan, of the International Mountain Bicycling Association and father of 7yo son, Miles. Blake Rowsell, Capilano University Instructor, Board Member of the BC Mountain Bike Tourism Association and dad of Clark, who’s almost 3 and Roy, who is 16 months old. Ben Hall, AKA MTBBen, host of the New England Dirt Podcast, and recently launched the Backyard Boys podcast, father of 4yo son August, 12yo daughter Anika,  and oldest son, Aidan who is 16. And finally, Brice Shirbach, Pivot Ambassador, creator of Pinkbike’s Local Flavours series and Dad to two boys, Logan who just turned 4 and Henry who is a couple months shy of his 1st birthday.

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Ep 64 – Panel Discussion on Trail Association Paid Staff

As a follow up to last episode where all three guests were staff of their local organizations, we’re going to dive into the topic of Paid Employees. Sara Gress, Executive Director with the Wood River Trails Coalition and Ernest Saeger, Executive Director for the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance join us for another episode. In addition, we’re joined by long time friend of the podcast, Susie Murphy, the Executive Director for the San Diego Mountain Biking Association and Cory Sutela, the current President for the Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates in Colorado Springs; the later organization is currently looking at hiring their first paid employee.

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Ep 63 – Panel Discussion on Rebranding into a Trail Organization

We hear from three Executive Directors from three different trail organizations: Christine Reid of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association in North Vancouver, BC, Ernest Saeger of the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance is Colorado and Sara Gress of the Wood River Trails Coalition in Sun Valley Idaho. The later two groups have recently rebranded from Mountain Bike organizations into more all encompassing Trail Organizations. We discuss the reasons, advantages and possible disadvantages of the switch and most importantly, we talk about the conversation your group should be having.

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Ep 62 – Mother’s Day Panel Discussion

In celebration of the 2nd Annual Women’s Mountain Bike Day on May 4th and Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12th we hear from three mountain bike moms. Skii Fleeton of the San Diego Bike Coalition, Jules Gujer: NICA Coach in the Minnesota League and Kim Bradley: President of the Southeastern Connecticut Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association: discuss motherhood, advocacy and mountain biking.

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Ep 61 – Panel Discussion with the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA)

This episode we hear from a panel of guests about the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, better known as SORBA. Guests include the SORBA Executive Director from Greenville, South Carolina: Tom Sauret, SORBA Executive Committee President and former President of the Northwest NC MTB Alliance Chapter, from Boone, South Carolina: Paul Stahlschmidt and finally, SORBA Associate Director for Elijay, Georgia: Terry Palmeri.

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Ep 60 – Understanding Your Community Members: User Profiles with Brennan Morrow of COTA

Brennan Morrow is a Board Member of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) and Madras Chapter Rep. Brennan is sharing COTA’s User Profiles; essentially characters they’ve created to help predict community engagement for programs, events or initiatives they roll out. Commonly used by Website and App Developers to ensure optimal User Interface (UI) experiences.

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Ep 59 – NICA’S Teen Trail Corps: Interview w/ Phil Waidner

Wrapping up our 5-Part series on Conservation, we hear from Phil Waidner, Program Manager of Camps and the Teen Trail Corps at the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, otherwise known as NICA. Phil shares the past, present and future of the Teen Trail Corps and offers some great inspiration for those looking to start a similar program for Youth or Adults alike.

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