Our Team
Join our Board of Directors or a Committee
Interested in joining our Board of Directors or a Committee? Please review our commitment requirements and complete this interest form.
We review interested individuals on an annual rolling basis and when openings occur.
Board of Directors
Jamie Malin, President
After juggling a fast paced career that left minimal time to play outdoors, Jamie decided to make a lifestyle change and move to the Colorado mountains full-time. He traded a suburban fenced lot for a million acres of national forest as their backyard. Jamie’s favorite rides are when he leaves his car at home and rides out his back door. He likes to go for long rides followed by a cold beverage. When he is not looking for the next VVMTA project Jamie is outside biking or skiing. Powder days and flowing singletrack are his happy place. If you want more great places to ride don’t standby and wait for someone else to make it happen, get involved.
Kat Sedillo, Vice President & Secretary
Kathleen “ Kat” Sedillo has been calling the Vail Valley home for more than two decades. When she is not out searching for the perfect singletrack on her mountain bike or the best snow on her skis, she is busy researching her next outdoor adventure to take with her husband Guy and their puppy dog, Ajei. As an OSI certified trail crew leader, USFS trail steward, and IMBA Trail Care Crew-trained, Kat is always eager to give back to her playground. She happily blisters her hands to help build and maintain world-class trails throughout Eagle County, CO with the VVMBA. Recently, Kat was appointed to the Town of Avon, CO Trails Committee. She knows that trails don’t just happen – Trail Fairies wear boots and are real!
Casey Wyse, Treasurer
After graduating high school in Wyoming and college in South Dakota, Casey Wyse was lucky to land in Colorado with his twin brother Cody in 1996. Already an avid skier, mountain biker, hiker, and overall outdoor enthusiast upon arrival, twenty plus years in Colorado added a few more blessings. Casey got to add husband, father, trail builder and crew leader to the words that can describe him. With two budding trail builders/mountain bikers in the works(Jane & Thomas) you can be assured to see Casey with family and friends improving, building and enjoying trails in the future. Earn your dirt.
Mark Luzar, Board Member, Director of Dirt
Mark came to the Vail Valley as “the” director of leisure time activities for his wife Pegasus and dogs, Winston and Grayson. After serving as a microelectronics mercenary for 28 years in the silicon mines of a few US cities, Muenchen, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Taizhong and Kokubungi the Chips fell his way. Why Vail? Pegasus has had family living in Minturn since the early 1950’s and it’s not such a bad place to practice Mark’s new career. He is one of the initial VVMBA members and is a trail crew leader for weekly grubbing and special events. He is stoked to see the growth of the local trail systems and thanks all of those who have participated with time and/or scratch. Mark will be out there every season sustaining current, building new, and reclaiming old unsustainable trails: so go have some fun with Winston and him on the trails (Grayson is a bit too senior to participate any more)!
Fritz Bratschie, Board Member
Fritz moved to the valley in the late 2000’s from Michigan. He’s been involved in the local trail and racing scene ever since when not at his day job as a Sustainability Manager or with his wife and dogs ripping turns behind his ski boat.
Anne Walters, Board Member
Anne Walters is a Senior Director of Development with the Vail Health Foundation and has spent 20 years focusing her career on nonprofit philanthropy and leadership. Prior to moving to the valley in 2019, Anne was the Chief Development Officer of Girls Scouts River Valleys in Minnesota where she helped start a mountain bike program for girls. Anne is the coordinator for Vail Health’s Adopt a Trail team outings and also is an active participant and supporter of VVMTA’s Soul Dirt Program. Anne and her partner, Mark, live in Eagle and spend their free time outdoors biking, hiking, camping, and skiing.
Laura Turitz, Board Member
(Hardscrabble Trails Coalition President)
As of October 2024, Laura is the new Hardscrabble Trails Coalition President (HTC). Laura was an inductee into our Trail Steward Hall of Fame in 2023. Laura has been at HTC since the very early days. She’s been trying to heard the group and keep track of what’s going on for a long time. She’s an avid biker and co-author of the Mountain Bike Eagle guide book and has spent countless hours working with land managers, the town, and other interested parties to make sure biking continues to evolve down valley.
Lee Rimel, Board Emeritus
A native of Pennsylvania, Lee moved to Denver in 1969 where he was the founder and co-owner of an integrated real estate company. After selling his business in 1984, he moved to Vail with his two children, Wendy & Brent, so they could enjoy the benefits of growing up in a unique mountain-town environment. Lee retired from the Real Estate business December 31, 2016 to pursue his dream of building cabins that would become a part of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. Two cabins are now constructed, the Continental Divide Cabin and the Point Breeze Cabin. They occupy a unique 20 acres on the Continental Divide, 10 miles North of Leadville Colorado, the acreage completely surrounded by National Forest.
Lee has been long active in community activities. He was a founder of the Colorado Manufactured Housing Association, served as Treasurer for the Vail Board of Realtors, worked with Jimmie Heuga during the formative years of Can DO MS (formerly the Heuga Center), organized the Gore Valley Soccer Club, was on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Mountain Club, served on the Colorado State Parks Trails Committee, is co-founder of Unity of the Mountains Church and co-founded Eagle County Adopt A Trails, AAT, which coordinates with the Forest Service volunteer trail improvements & maintenance on 50 trails. The AAT Team was awarded the “Chief’s Award”, one of only 12 awarded nationally, in 2018, The award was presented in Washington, DC by the United States Forest Service. Lee currently resides in Edwards, CO with his life partner, Gracie Campbell. When not adventuring with Gracie or playing with his Grandchildren, Keegan, Chase and Kaiya, or serving his community, Lee is found hiking, back-packing, canoeing, backcountry skiing, camping and biking in Colorado’s mountains and Utah’s Red Rock Country. Among his recreational accomplishments are climbing all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, mountain biking extensively in Moab, Utah, sailing in the Caribbean and rafting the Colorado River from Grand Junction, CO to Lake Mead.
Pete Seibert, Board Emeritus
Pete Seibert Jr moved to Vail in 1962 for the first season of the fledgling ski area his father started. Three years of ski patrol in Vail lead to supervisory and management positions at Snowbasin, UT, Sun Valley, ID and Arrowhead Mountain now part of Beaver Creek. When the family grew from one child to three with a set of twins, Pete opted to stay in the valley and pursue a career in real estate. Now the fourth child is 26 and Pete has been in real estate 30 years. Pete and his partner, Kate Allan, live in the Chamonix neighborhood in West Vail, spending their time in the mountains on skis and bikes. They love to travel to Kate’s first home in Cape Town, South Africa. Pete volunteers with the Vail Veterans Program, sits on the Board of Directors of Access Unbound, is a member of the Minturn Economic Development Council, and member of the Town of Vail Planning & Environmental Commission.
Staff
Ernest Saeger, Executive Director
Ernest came to the Vail Valley in 2014 to work on events such as the GoPro Mountain Games and the 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships. Prior to that he ran so many events all over the country that he can’t even remember them all. Luckily one of those events landed him in West Virginia and North Carolina where he began to mountain bike and backpack and quickly fell in love with trails, mountains, and outdoor recreation. He currently resides in Eagle with his adventure partner Hailee. Ernest believes that like the reward of a downhill after a long climb or setting a skin track, trail work provides that same “earn your turns” satisfaction. When you can’t find him on a trail or skis, you’ll most likely still find him on the river, and if not there then he’s in an ice rink. Ernest is also a member on Vail Mountain Rescue. He is truly excited to help bring new and improved trails to our community for all to enjoy for many years to come.
Sam Chipkin, Trail Operations Manager
Sammy grew up riding BMX bikes in New York City A transition to racing downhill led him to NH, and eventually CO. Sammy moved to the Vail Valley in 2012 and started volunteering with the VVMTA . When he caught word that the Minturn Bike Park was going to be built right down the street from him, he couldn’t resist getting involved. One thing led to another and volunteering turned into a full-time job. Sammy is thrilled to have an opportunity to work with our local community to maintain and improve a cherished resource in our valley, our trails.
Shawna Wood, Operations & Engagement Director
Originally from Chicago, Shawna (she/her) moved to Colorado in 2005 after being accepted to Colorado State University to study natural resources. Now an Eagle resident, dog mom, and experienced nature lover, you can find her on the mountain or the river—biking, snowboarding, or paddle boarding. As a passionate outdoor equity advocate, Shawna works to ensure that everyone has access to the healing power of nature and the joy of outdoor experiences. She is eager to share her love for the trails with the community, helping to create opportunities that foster connection, inclusion, and stewardship in the outdoors.
Natalie Neuwirth, Trail Stewardship Manager
Originally from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Natalie grew up with her “hands in the dirt”, long days exploring the backyard, and a lover of all things nature. As an adult, she continued her adventures internationally, trip guiding, teaching, and farming, unable to settle in one place longer than a few months. After moving to Colorado five years ago, she fell in love with the mountains and endless opportunities to be outside and connect with nature. Now happily settled in Minturn, she’s passionate to work with VVMTA to advocate for trail stewardship and connect with her community. In her free time, she enjoys a little of everything – farming, learning, traveling, biking, hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and cooking a big meal for people around her.
Brian Rodine, Development Director
Brian has lived on both coasts and while originally from the front range, has been in the valley since 2010. His 20+ years of experience in marketing & communications around the recreation and tourism industry has ranged from large corporations to small businesses and non-profits. Brian has also served as a local elected official and volunteered as a VVMTA Board Member from 2016-2026.
Brian started dabbling in mountain biking as a high schooler and visited Fruita and Moab while attending CSU in the early 2000’s. While skiing brought him to the area, he loves to explore local mountains on foot and wheel, and lives in Minturn with his wife and two daughters. A recent hobby running ultramarathons means Brian can often be found on long runs on local trail systems and is always on the lookout for fun loops and connections.
2025 Season Crew & Staff
Sam Armstrong, Champ, Trails & Stewardship Crew Coordinator
Back for his fourth season! Born and raised in New England, Sam is a nature lover by default. During his early teenage years, Sam volunteered for trail work to gain community service credits in high school, not realizing it would lead to his passion for many summers to follow. Sam loves getting out on any trail, hiking, biking, or skiing and enjoys sending time in creeks trout fishing. His goal for the summer is to bag is first 14er and go line dancing.
Bay Stephens, Trails & Stewardship Coordinator
Back for his fourth season! Bay was born in the Vail hospital and raised on the valley’s trails. Time in the mountains with his dad as a kid taught him 1) to enjoy the uphill as much as the downhill and 2) that it’s not an adventure until something goes wrong. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman to ski, kayak, mountain bike, and (of course) learn things in school. During his summers he raft guided and safety kayaked here in the valley for Sage Outdoor Adventures. After school, Bay did a stint as a journalist in Big Sky, got married, tried to spend a year in Ireland, got booted back stateside by a pandemic, spent a year in Tennessee, then nine months living out of a short bus. Finally, his wife, Katie, landed a fellowship at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, bringing Bay back home. Last season was his first on VVMTA’s trail crew, followed by a winter as a ski patroller at Beaver Creek. He’s stoked for another summer on the trail. Although Bay loves the mountain sports we enjoy here, he delights as much in an afternoon spent reading in a hammock.
Annie Cerovich, Trails & Stewardship Crew Member
Annie grew up in the valley and recently completed her master’s degree in France. She loves being outdoors and is excited to spend time on trail maintenance while learning new skills and giving back to her community and environment. Whether it’s hiking, skiing, fishing, or riding horses, Annie is happiest outside and passionate about protecting the places she loves.
Adrianna Hammond, Trails & Stewardship Crew Member
Adrianna grew up in Eagle County surrounded by a strong outdoor culture and a community that truly loves mountain life. She has also spent significant time traveling to Chile, which has shaped her perspective and sense of adventure. In the summer, she enjoys mountain biking and continuing to build her rollerskating skills. Winter is her favorite season, and she always looks forward to getting back on her snowboard and spending time on the slopes.
Caden Kammerer, Trails & Stewardship Crew Member
Caden grew up in Colorado’s Front Range, always looking for ways to spend time outside. He has a strong passion for supporting his community and enjoys sharing his love for the outdoors with others.
Jack McGinley, Trails & Stewardship Crew Member
Jack is originally from Jupiter, Florida, where he spent the first 18 years of his life by the ocean. In 2017, he moved to Colorado and quickly fell in love with life in the mountains. He now works outdoors year-round and takes pride in helping keep natural spaces accessible and beautiful.
Jaime Miranda, Trails & Stewardship Crew Member
Jaime loves being outdoors, meeting new people, and making the most of every experience. Whether playing beach volleyball, exploring new places, or working with guests, Jaime brings a positive attitude and great energy wherever they go. They are always looking forward to the next adventure.
Jeff Stone, Trails & Stewardship Crew Member
Jeff moved to the Vail Valley in 2003 from the Chicagoland area. Like a lot of us he was chasing winter and fell in love with our summers. Jeff has been mountain biking and exploring the trails here in Eagle county for over 20 years and is really excited to give back to the trails that have given him so much and be making our trail system even better. On a day off you can probably find Jeff on a skin track looking for soft snow and good views or on his bike trying a different trail combination with a lot of climbing.
Zach Michaud, Trails & Stewardship Crew Member
Zach was born in New Jersey but quickly fell in love with the western half of the US and outdoor recreation after moving to San Francisco in 2018. He came to the Vail Valley in 2022 to explore a new state and be closer to the mountains and has enjoyed the amazing access to trails and public land. Since moving to Colorado he’s spent as much time outside as possible, ski instructing in the winters and working for the BLM monitoring vegetation and soil health the past two summers before joining the VVMTA trail crew. In his free time he enjoys skiing, backpacking, biking, reading and learning new things.
Melanie Morone, Trail Ambassador
Melanie is back for her third season as a Trail Ambassador! Hailing the from the great state of Maryland-home of Old Bay seasoning, the Naval Academy, and a 400 year-old feud between Maryland and Virginia over who controls the Potomac River-Melanie found herself drawn to the wide open spaces of Colorado after she graduated from Penn State University. Before VVMTA, she worked for Vail as a PSIA certified ski instructor, predominately teaching lessons to 3-6 year olds (i.e. she can handle ANYTHING)! With a background in education and many years of experience working in the outdoors, Melanie has been a wonderful addition to our team! In her free time, Mel enjoys a good hike-no matter the season-and will be out on the trails this summer educating trail users visiting and local to the Valley. She might be missing the snow but she is ready for good summer of adventures! If you see Melanie out there at a trailhead or identifying native flowers, please say hello! She has a wealth of knowledge that she is always happy to share with you!
Emily Carney, Trails & Youth Programs Coordinator
Emily joins us for her third summer with VVMTA as the Trails & Youth Programs Coordinator, after serving as Volunteer Crew Coordinator in 2024 and a Trail Ambassador in 2025. Emily grew up in Minnesota, developing a love for the outdoors through family camping trips. After college in Missouri, she moved to South Dakota and worked at Badlands National Park. She spent three summers as a camping tour guide across the US and Canada. Winters brought her to Eagle County, driving mountain shuttles. 2018 was spent living in New Zealand and working at a ski field on an active volcano. Returning to Minnesota, she taught youth and adults at an outdoor recreation school. October 2019, she moved back to Eagle County, worked as a snowshoe guide, and then as an event manager. She’s excited to re-engage with the outdoor industry and get involved in the community.
Anna Bidstrup, Soul Dirt Coordinator
Born and raised in Arlington, VA, Anna (she/her) grew up with a passion for exploring the outdoors. After spending four snowy years at the University of Rochester studying Health Policy, she moved to Eagle County in 2019 to chase even more snow as a ski instructor. While the skiing was good, it was the community that truly stuck—gracious friends shared their beta on local trails, mountain biking skills, and wilderness knowledge that transformed her connection to the outdoors. Outside of work, you can find her skiing seven months of the year, racing mountain bikes in the VRD Town Series, or hosting a dinner party for her ever-growing circle of friends.
