ABSF Board Candidate: Andy Ubel

Hometown:
Cable, WI

Years of ABSF Membership:
8

Occupation:
attorney

Why are you interested in being a member of the ABSF Board of Directors? 

Like many of you I “suffer” from a chronic case of Birkie fever. At first my Nordic passions were focused on my own skiing activities (Birkie races, World Loppets, skijoring, roller training camps, etc.). As much fun as that was, I realized that helping others enjoy this passion was even more important to me. So I got involved in volunteer activities at two Twin Cities area nonprofit ski organizations that share the Birkie’s goals of growing the Nordic community and promoting it to future generations of skiers.

My career as an attorney and my many nonprofit volunteer experiences had prepared me to take a bigger role with the Birkie organization and help it through its challenges and growth opportunities. During my first term on the Board I learned as much as I could about how the organization is run, what is important to the ABSF membership and what our race and event participants and volunteers want from their experiences. I am eager to serve another term and will do my best to meet the membership’s expectations.

Three years ago, when I was first elected to serve on the ABSF Board I anticipated an exciting future for the Birkie! Since then, the ABSF has grown dramatically, into a year-round silent sports management organization. The acquisition and preservation of the Telemark property, coupled with the development of Mt. Telemark Village, presented the board with both opportunities and challenges. The foundation has met those challenges – including producing two successful Birkies, during two very low snow years. I am proud that we are financially sound and are positioned for a very promising future.

As a Board member I have been active on several different committees, including the Finance committee, the Documentation/Legal review committee, and the Capital Campaign committee.

My work on the Documentation/Legal review committee involved contract review for certain new relationships, updating the Board’s bylaws and procedures manual and handling other “back office” tasks. This work wasn’t as exciting as bombing an icy downhill, but someone has to do it and my legal background came in handy for this task.

My work on the Finance committee has involved helping the organization approve and stick to the budget. Historically, the Birkie has operated its budget on a year-to-year basis, with minimal assets to manage. We have grown into a much larger organization, with over 12 million dollars in physical assets. With the 2025 Budget the Finance committee has presented a budget, with provisions to build reserves to insure the future of the organization.

The last two years has also been a busy time for the Capital Campaign Committee. This committee, which also included some fantastic volunteers who are not currently board members (thanks Mike Cleary and John Schneider!), successfully raised over $10,000,000 to fund the MTV expansion. This work involved countless hours by staff and committee members, working with potential donors, seeking their support. Through the process I’ve met many fantastic ABSF members who share the goal of building the Birkie for the future generations. We have a few remaining projects to fund but have accomplished much with a minimal debt/asset ratio.

When not doing these traditional “Board tasks” I spent a lot of time experiencing nearly all of the different jobs that our staff and volunteers perform to pull off a Birkie. Whether it was clearing trees on the trails, leading the all-important Barkie Birkie poop patrol, loading trucks, setting up the bar at the celebration zone, setting up Main Street banners, or cleaning up the mess after the events are over, I did whatever it took to learn the different jobs and better understand how we can improve the event for future years.

What’s next as the ABSF Board looks to the future? A big part of my own Birkie fever has been helping others enjoy the silent sports by being a coach to new skiers. As an organization the ABSF has made great progress developing fun youth races, including the popular “HS wave” at the Korte, new events for women (Ski de She) and an out-outreach program enabling everyone to enjoy the Birkie lifestyle (Birkie One). I would like to expand these types of programs and explore ways the Birkie Foundation can continue to. make youth events affordable. Currently Birkie week is a huge family event. Though Birkie managed events we need continue to entice the next generation (including 20-somethings) experience all that we have. Bottomline, we need to teach the young people to ski and then find ways to promote events that young adults can enjoy so they will become part of our lifelong community.

Our new Telemark property is an ideal center for youth focused events of all kinds. It could include serious training events (where ski clubs and teams come to work out, roller ski or enjoy our many trails), fun camps for school-aged kids, and even social mixer events for young adults. But expansion into youth and young adult programing will require careful planning and governance. I would like to help grow those programs, while protecting the organization and its core Birkie events that we all love.

If re-elected as a Birkie Foundation Board member I would work to develop a volunteer-based group of “Telemark ambassadors” that helps bring teams and groups together at MTV where they can also catch the Birkie fever. Our facility is ready for this – and we now need to build these programs. I have a residence near Cable WI and have both the time and skills to help the Birkie Foundation in this manner.

In summary, please support my candidacy and I will work towards growing and expanding the Birkie events and organization and thereby spreading Birkie fever to as many others as possible.

See you on the trails.

What knowledge and skills do you possess that can benefit the organization?

I have extensive legal and business training and am able to help on the legal issues committee as well as the finance committee.

How do you see yourself helping to fulfill the ABSF vision, mission and values? 

Our new Telemark property is an ideal center for youth focused events of all kinds. It could include serious training events (where ski clubs and teams come to work out, roller ski or enjoy our many trails), fun camps for school-aged kids, and even social mixer events for young adults. Expansion into youth and young adult programing will require careful planning and governance, which I can provide. For example, if re-elected as a Birkie Foundation Board member I would work to develop a volunteer-based group of “Telemark ambassadors” that helps bring teams and groups together at MTV where they can also catch the Birkie fever.