Tsalteshi Trails Association has two seats open on its Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 term. Below are board candidate bios, as well as information about our current and retiring/resigning board members.
If you are a member in good standing with TTA, you should have gotten an email link to our online voting poll. The poll is open through Dec. 18.
If you did not receive a link to the poll, please contact us at info@tsalteshi.org.
2023 Tsalteshi Trails Association Board of Directors candidates:
Tony Doyle, Soldotna
Skills:
Maintenance/facilities operations, construction and building design. I have operated my own business, first as a general contracting design/build business from 1983 to 1996, and currently as a building designer from 1996 to the present. I also own rental property that I have operated and maintained since 2001.
Previous nonprofit organization experience:
Kenai Peninsula Builders Association local chapter president and 2 years of service as state president for Central Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. I was the construction leader of several Habitat homes.
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors for Tsalteshi Trails Association:
I love sliding on snow and sharing the joy with others. I have used the trails on a regular basis and want to give back to this special resource because it has given me so much fun! I also am already involved in the design of the new maintenance building and want to be involved with that experience as a board member.
Share a little bit about yourself:
I am passionate about backcountry skiing in our home mountains, especially around Summit and Turnagain Pass. I enjoy being with people whenever and wherever there is music and a good cause to support! I’m skilled as a builder and as a business owner. And I enjoy mountain biking and running on the trails in the summertime.
Daniel Keck, Soldotna
Skills:
Maintenance/facilities operations and recreational management
Previous nonprofit organization experience:
I have been volunteering with Tsalteshi, coaching both youth skiing and Sprockets. I have been active with the Boy Scouts since earning Eagle Scout, including helping with the local Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop.
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors for Tsalteshi Trails Association:
Both of my children have enjoyed skiing and biking at Tsalteshi and participating in the events provided. We are lucky enough to have an amazing trail system so close to home with amazing year-round opportunities. I look to support Tsalteshi in continuing to provide community-focused activities and offer a world-class trail system.
Share a little bit about yourself:
I am a Physician Assistant with over 11 years of orthopedic experience, including sports medicine and volunteering with multiple sports teams. Prior to attending PA school, I majored in Outdoor Recreational Leadership at the Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Co. While in Leadville, I volunteered with Lake County Search and Rescue and worked as a Snowcat operator grooming trails. I have helped with and have led many trail maintenance projects while earning Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts.
Pat King, Kenai
Skills:
Maintenance/facilities operations, recreation management and race organization. My 30 years in the oil field have given me plenty of experience in project management and maintenance.
Previous nonprofit organization experience:
I have previously served two terms on the TTA Board of Directors, one as President.
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors for Tsalteshi Trails Association:
Now that I am retired, I have plenty of time to devote to the trails. I would like to see the trails continue to grow and thrive.
Share a little bit about yourself:
I am a 38-year resident of the Peninsula. I enjoy most outdoor activities and traveling. My kids grew up using the trails. As they got into competition, I started volunteering at races and eventually organizing them. I have served as Chief of Competition for several Besh Cup races and Chief of Stadium for Arctic Winter Games. The last few years, I have been helping groom the ski trails and organize/inventory race equipment. I am interested in race organization and further helping with equipment and grooming.
Stephanie Lambe, Soldotna
Skills:
Finance. I am a certified public accountant with over 14 years of nonprofit bookkeeping, accounting and auditing experience.
Previous nonprofit organization experience:
Tsalteshi Trails Association Board, 2011-2013
Appointed to fill vacant Tsalteshi Board seat, Oct. 2022 — currently serving as secretary and treasurer
Buildup, Inc. – Board treasurer/ co-founder 2019-current
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors for Tsalteshi Trails Association:
I feel that during this growth period for TTA, that the board could use some financial expertise. I can strengthen financial reporting and oversight. I put my name out there for the Board to consider when a board director resigned earlier this fall (2022) when their family moved to Anchorage. I was appointed to fill that director’s position this fall. Then, at the November Board meeting, I was appointed Board treasurer. This position I willingly stepped up to, knowing my accounting experience and knowledge of the organization (from my prior term served as treasurer) would serve the organization well. At this same meeting, I was also appointed secretary, an officer role that is not as sought after. Although my strengths as secretary are not as strong as the ones for treasurer, I will step up to the role as needed and continue these roles if I am elected to a full Board term.
Share a little bit about yourself:
I grew up on the TTA trails during my middle/high school years when I learned how to cross-country ski. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered these trails in a different way — on a bike, where I really started to appreciate the over 15 miles of trails we have so readily accessible from Soldotna. I bought my first mountain bike the summer of 2021, where I felt quickly welcomed into the Thursday night mountain bike series that TTA puts on with the support of Beenum’s, where I REALLY learned all the trails that I would have otherwise been intimated to go on without the strict rules of, “Don’t cross the pin flags.” I also volunteered for the Sprockets youth bike program this year, as a substitute coach and in other capacities, as needed.
Sylvia Steinback Sariola, Soldotna
Skills:
Maintenance/facilities operations, finances, fundraising, marketing/public relations, personnel/human resources. I have a career in the financial industry, where I lead teams and am responsible for budgets and revenue goals that are aligned to client priorities.
Previous nonprofit organization experience:
I have been a member of the Rotary Club in Anaheim and Costa Rica, as well as Toastmasters and the Project Management Institute (Orange County Chapter). Other Board/Committee service: Finance Club (Cal State Fullerton, undergrad), Thunderbird (Global Society, grad), Capital Group Office Safety Team, Credit Education Ambassador (at Experian), Dun & Bradstreet Office Safety Team, Barclays Women in Technology, U.S, Army Running Club, Experian Running Club, Barclays Running Club and Synchrony Running Club.
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors for Tsalteshi Trails Association:
I have a love and respect for the outdoors. My husband and I were fortunate to find Tsalteshi Trails about 10 years ago and were impressed with the quality of trail system. We are Bronze members and donate every year (with Employer Match), but I feel it is time to give back to the organization.
Share a little bit about yourself:
My husband and I live in the Funny River area with our dogs, Barker and Bailey. During the nonwinter months, we enjoy running the trails with Barker and Bailey. During the winter, we use the ski trails many times a week, skiing and snowshoeing. When we are not using the Tsalteshi Trails system, we hike throughout Alaska with Barker and Bailey, enjoy music, golf and travel.
Ed Schmitt, Soldotna
Skills:
Business management, finances, maintenance/facilities operations, recreational management. I have managed two large businesses in my career. I had a surgical practice in which I managed both the practice and outpatient surgical centers. I also had a cattle business that I started from scratch and built into one of the largest cow/calf outfits in Colorado, selling natural beef along the front range.
Previous nonprofit organization experience:
I have previously served on the Tsalteshi Trails Association Board of Directors, as well as the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Colorado Whitewater Association and Kenai Area Fisherman’s Coalition. Other board/committee service: Multiple hospital, insurance, and surgicenter boards. I was also on the Pikes Peak Cattleman’s Board.
Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors for Tsalteshi Trails Association:
I have been on the board for two previous terms. I enjoyed the planning and building of the mountain bike trail system. I liked helping make decisions that strengthened the organization for years to come. I have served on the Tour of Tsalteshi race committee since the inception of the race. The Tour is significant to me in that it is the only Nordic ski race I have ever raced in. I ride a lot in the summer and ski a lot in the winter. I want to help the trail system continue to be world class.
Share a little bit about yourself:
I am an avid skier, having alpine skied most of my life. I didn’t get to start Nordic skiing until I moved to Soldotna. I didn’t get to move to Alaska until after I retired (I am learning that is not the usual situation). Having Tsalteshi so close helped me learn how to skate and classic ski. What I know about Nordic skiing, I learned at Tsalteshi. What I know about mountain biking, I learned at Tsalteshi. My life has been enriched by self-powered outdoor activities. I want help provide more opportunities for those activities in our community.
Current TTA Board of Directors
Larissa Arbelovsky — Board Chair, previous board vice chair and previous Youth Ski coach
Skills: Business management, safety, board organization, event planning/volunteerin
Interests: Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, biking
Dave Edwards-Smith — vice chair
Skills: Business management
Interests: Biking
Makenzie Jorgenson — director, Sprockets coach, represents competitive biking
Skills: Maintenance/facilities operations; singletrack planning, building and design; organizing and supervising volunteer maintenance groups
Interests: Biking, cross-country skiing
Stephanie Lambe — secretary/treasurer and Sprockets substitute coach
Skills: Finance, event volunteering
Interests: Cross-country skiing, biking, hiking
Bill Larned — director
Skills: Business management, finances, fundraising, marketing/public relations, recreation management
Interests: Biking, hiking, cross-country and alpine skiing
Joel Todd — director, liaison with Kenai Peninsula Borough, Sprockets coach and previous treasurer
Skills: Business management, recreation management, finance, event planning/volunteering, youth programming
Interests: Cross-country skiing, biking, hiking
Julie Williams — director
Skills: Recreation management, event volunteering and volunteer organization
Interests: Cross-country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing
Retiring/resigning board members
Kent Peterson — director, Tour of Tsalteshi steering committee, represents schools/competitive skiing
Skills: Recreation management, race planning/coordination, event volunteering
Interests: Cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, running
Adam Reimer — previous secretary and Kenai Peninsula Borough liaison, former Youth Ski assistant program coordinator, Youth Ski and Sprockets coach, represents competitive skiing
Skills: Recreation management, race planning/coordination, event volunteering, grants/contracts management
Interests: Cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, running
Angie Sulley — director, Youth Ski and Sprockets coach
Skills: Fundraising
Interests: Biking, hiking, skiing, youth programs